Show I 1 I 1 MM ts wee r atri THE shoemakers 1 I 1 write down the following story from memory it was related by one of the original crusaders of ohio la in an audience where I 1 was present one morning during the crusade a drunkards wife came to my door she carried in her arms a baby six weeks old her pate pinched face was sad to see and she told me this story my husband is drinking himself to death he is lost to all human hurndin feeling our rent is unpaid and we are liable to be put out into the street and there is no food in the house bouse for me and the children he has a good trade but his earnings all go to the saloon on the corner near us he is becoming more and more brutal and abusive we seem to be on the verge of ruin how can 1 I feeble as I 1 am with a babe in my arms earn bread for myself and children quick as thought the question came to me and I 1 asked it why not have this husband of yours converted but she answered hopelessly oh theres no hope of such a thing he cares for nothing but strong drink til ill come and see him this afternoon said 1 I hell insult you she replied no matter said I 1 my savior was waa insulted and the servant is not above his lord that very afternoon I 1 called at the little tenement house the husband was at work at his trade in a back room and his little girl was sent to tell him that a lady wished to see him the child however soon returned with the message my pa says he wont see anyone but I 1 sent him a message proving that I 1 was indeed in earnest I 1 said gb 06 back and tell your pa that a lady wishes to see him on very important business and she must see him if she has to stay until after supper 1 I knew very well that there was nothing in the house to eat A moment afterward a poor bloated besotted wreck of a man stood before me what do you want he demanded as he came shuffling into the room please be seated and look at this paper I 1 answered pointing to a vacant chair at the other end of the table where I 1 was sitting and handing a printed pledge to him he read it slowly and then throwing it down upon the table broke out violently do you think im a fool I 1 drink w when hin I 1 please and let it alone when I 1 please im not going to sign away my personal liberty do you think you can stop drinking yes I 1 could it if I 1 wanted on the contrary I 1 think youre a slave to the rum shop down on the corner no I 1 aint any such thing 1 I think too that you love the saloon keepers daughter better than you do your own little girl no I 1 dont either well let us see about that when I 1 passed the saloon keepers house I 1 saw hs h s little girl coming down the steps and she had on white shoes and a white dress and a blue sash your money helped to buy them I 1 came here and your little girl more beautiful than she has on a faded ragged dress and her feet are bare so madam and you love the saloonkeeper saloon keeper keepers 13 wife better than your own wife never no never when I 1 passed the saloon keepers house I 1 saw his wife come out with the little girl and she was dressed in silks and laces and a carriage waited for her your money helped to buy the silks and laces and the horses and the carriage I 1 came here and find your wife in a faded calico gown doing her work if she goes anywhere she must walk you speak the truth madam 11 you love the saloonkeeper saloon keeper better than you love yourself you say you can keep from drinking if you choose but you helped the saloonkeeper saloon keeper to build himself a fine brick house and you li live in this poor tumble down old house yourself 1 I never saw it in that light before v then holding out his hand that shook like an aspen leaf he continued you speak the truth madam I 1 am a slave D do 0 you see that hand hadd ive got a piece of work to finish and I 1 must have a mug of beer to ste steady adymy my nerves or I 1 cannot canno t do it but tomorrow lf you can call I 1 will sign the pledge a temptation OZ ol the devil edid idid I 1 did not ask you to sign the pledge you are a slave and cannot help it but I 1 do want to tell you this there Is ia one who can break your chains and set you free 1 I want to be free well christ can set get you tree free if submit to him and let him break the chains of sin and appetite that bind you its ICs been many a long year since I 1 prayed sprayed no matter the sooner you begin the better for you he throw threw himself at once upon his knees and while I 1 prayed I 1 heard him sobbing out the cry of his soul to god his wife knelt beside me and followed me in earnest prayer the words wem I 1 simple and broken with sobs but went straight st t her 1 crushed heart to gok god and th the s poor man began to cry in earnest tor for mercy 0 O godl god break these chains that are am burning into my deiy soul pity me and pity toy bly wife ique and children and break the ceaf chains a that we are dragging me town iown to hell hel 0 godl god be merciful ful to me a slee annee andtius out of the depths decried he cried to 6 god azia anbe he heard hla and upon kupcin him ant and I 1 broke every chain every ey lt irden dai brogi ai zv m A za I 1 tak v aj W i M r q 1 I 1 arwa I 1 I 1 V I 1 when he rose from his bis knees lie he said now I 1 will sign the pledge and keep it and he did A family altar bases tab shed the comforts of life were soon secured tor for he had a good trade and two weeks after this scene his little girt girl came into my husbands sunday school with white shoes and white d dress ress and a blue sash on as a token that her fathers money no longer went into the saloon keepers till but what struck me most of all was that it took less than two hours of my time thus to be an ambassador for christ in d declaring ec laring the terms of heavens great treaty whereby a soul was saved from death a multitude of sins sing were covered and a home restored to purity and peace frances E willard |