Year: 1868

have still a VIVID recollection OF WnaC nave |
always regarded as my first perplexlng case
The recital of this may be OF use IN various
quarters, and with that end in view l now COM
NIT my first difficulty in the ministry to writing. |
The parties to whom it refers are now in
distant land, and | feel certain that if their
eyes should ever fall on this brief sketch OF
their experience, they will rejoice rather than
feel agrieved, and give me all the more hearty |
welcome should l ever have the pleasure of
seeing them in their far away home.


My early ministry was spent IN one OF the
loveliest parts of Scotland, and in the midst of
scenery teeming with historical associatiOns-a
locality that has been rendered classic by the
pen of the novelist and the song Of the bird. |
The Queen of Scottish lakes was but little
ways Off, bearing On her breast so many lovely
iSets like precious jewels on the bosom of
beauty. | soon learned, however, that even
in that charming region the outer and the in
ner man was no more In harmony with the
melodies and beauties OF external creation
than anywhere else. | found that there was
something out OF tune, and my real difficulty
was in trying to restore the broken harmony OF
home life


| had observed several times in my weekly
meeting for prayer rather tall and slender
made woman of about thirty years Of age, as
| supposed. Her make would have been de-
scribed by the word genteel. There Was
however, look of genteel lauguor about her
whole appearance-the soed dress, the faded
silk shawl that had seen better days and
brighter cOlors


In the calm cleaning of bright summer
day | was vending my Way homeward
from my weekly prayer meeting, when the
faded figure came toward me at the turn Of the
road. After some little effort to conceal her
feelings, she told me that ever since had come
to the place she had wished to speak to me
about her husband, whose name she seemed to
pronounce with mingled pride, atflictiOn and
sorrow. It was the = Old story made miser-
able through drink. She suggested, as last
res ort, that her husband should be brought
before the session. and she emphaticlly added
! that when he was sober, and away from his
b ION companions. "he was open to convic
ton" She was exceedingly anxious that her
husband should be spoken to by the session,
but preferred first Of all to see them in their
own home, and for this purpose promised to
make an early visit.


Anxious to take the case too by the fOrelock,
| made my visit the next afternoon. The cot
tage occupied a lovely situation on the banks
of the river Flowers, and trees, and water,
and the romantic freaks of nature, made it a
lovely spot What contrast everything in
the dwelling presented to the beauties without.
There were four children, but they could not
have been more wretched looking children if
they had been brought up in the dingiest Slum
in the city. | observed at once that they had


every appearance of being ill-fed, for they


were thin, pale-faced, and sckIy looking crea-


tures-unwashed, although the clear stream


passed the very door-har unkempt, and all


their little dresses in the utmost disorder.


was evidently not expected so early, aud the


mother was somewhat taken aback. The fur


niture was sadly dIapidated, and marks Of


dirty fingers were everywhere. 1t was home


without comfort, and without order, and thrift


or practical purpose Of any kind, and the only


thing that seemed to thrive in it were the large


spiders that hung on their meshes, unmolesteC


by broom OF water, in almost every corner


When l entered the mother was reading on a


low chair near the ash pit. She said that SHE
had been great reader all her days, and tina


reading was her greatest comfort. l saw tina
, she had several volumes Of trashy novels ou


of circulating library The book she wa
reading was the Castle Of Otranto.


mu have stood. agkast at first in STATE


of helpless bewilderment, and for while sht
, was allowed to do all the talking, during which


| got some scraps of her history. learned
she was brought mp genteely, as she said tina
her mother had always done the work OF th(
house, and that, after her mothers death, shC
, had been lady's maid for several years; tina


she married, but that her husband had fallel
into drink, and had become altogether such
changed man that the family was going to ruin


''He prefers " she added with sigh, thC
public house at the end of the village to- hi
own home.' ltwas now my turn to speak.


"You told me last night that John wa


open to conviction. fondy hope you are tn
same. If so, why do you not clean this hous


and put things in order, and keep your child
rem clean and tidy? Were in Johns place
would be sorey tempted, too, to spend III.
nights in public house rather than in such
3 place as this. y
, She attempted several excuses, such as, sh


had no heart to keep the house i'll order, 10
her husband seldom spent, a sing e walking
, hour in it, and was quite able out OF his earn
ings, if he would keep from drink, to provid
! her with a servant to do the work Of the house


She had not been accustomed to any drudgery
y she said, all her days.


"You need not expect your husband to re
: frain from drink till you get your house put il
g thorough order. What comfort or enjoymen


can any man have at the close of hard day
0 work in such house as this?


g | urged her TO commence at once the clean
: ing process, but she excused herself again am


again, saying that it was needless, and that sh


did not really know how or where to begln tG
q she had never been accustomed to such thing


The case seemed hopeless, and L was just apou
e leaving under this conviction when my ey


caught sight of broom in corHer' ana
asked myself, might not this be a case more 10
example than precept? l resolved to try, $
/ throwing aside my coat | seized the broom
: much to the surprise of the faded figure befor


and proceeded 6 o@bwebs to %bss snd Sep ons


molested inmates who never suffered such


siege before. / brought the broom along tn
smoke nSI bogrimmed walls, on which the dust la
, so thick that could have written any amouI
: of good advice or maxims for househol
IA management. I thus gave her a practices
. Illustration of what might be done as fir'


~ order. She stood amazed The lik
Of that / have never seen. must surely Sc
g and finish what you have begun The CT
q RAN out as if for life, and the children wei
a. round the doors telling that the minister W,
Il cleaning the house. A beginning was mac
~ and Fl was at the right end. Her S was n