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closed my eyes。 His sign in front of the door on the street would creak
in the wind； and I would sit by the window waiting to hear his footsteps。
I never saw him stagger。 He would lock himself up in the
〃Masonic Lodge〃 and allow no one to see him。 People would call for
him in case of sickness； but he could not be found。
My anguish was unspeakable； I was comparatively a child。 I wanted
some one to help me。 He was a mason。 I talked to a Mr。 Hulitt； a
brother mason； I begged of him to help me save my precious husband。
I talked to a dear friend； Mrs。 Clara Mize； a Christian； hoping to get
some help in that direction； but all they could say； was。 〃Oh； what a
pity； to see a man like Dr。 Gloyd throw himself away！〃 The world was
all at once changed to me； it was like a place of torture。 I thought
certainly； there must be a way to prevent this suicide and murder。 I now
know； that the impulse was born in me then to combat to the death
this inhumanity to man。
I believe the masons were a great curse to Dr。 Gloyd。 These men
would drink with him。 There is no society or business that separates
man and wife； or calls men from their homes at night； that produces
any good results。 I believe that secret societies are unscriptural； and
that the Masonic Lodge has been the ruin of many a home and character。
I was so ignorant I did not know that I owed a duty to myself to
avoid gloomy thoughts； did not know that a mother could entail a curse
on her offspring before it was born。 Oh； the curse that comes through
heredity； and this liquor evil； a disease that entails more depravity on
children
unborn； than all else； unless it be tobacco。 There is an object lesson
taught in the Bible。 The mother of Samson was told by an angel to
〃drink neither wine nor strong drink〃 before her child was born； and not
to allow him to do so after he was born。 God shows by this； that these
things are injurious。 Mothers often make drunkards of their own children；
before they are born。 My parents heard that Dr。 Gloyd was drinking。
My father came down to visit us； and I went home with him。 My
mother told me I must never go back to my husband again。 I knew the
time was near at hand； when I would be helpless； with a drunken husband；
and no means of support。 What could I do？ I kept writing to
〃Charlie；〃 as I called him。 He came to see me once； my mother treated
him as a stranger。 He expressed much anxiety about my confinement in
September； got a party to agree to come for him at the time； but
my mother would not allow it。 In six weeks after my little girl was
born； my mother sent my brother with me to Holden to get my trunk and
other things to bring them home。 Her words to me were： 〃If you stay
in Holden； never return home again。〃 My husband begged me to stay with
him； he said： 〃Pet； if you leave me； I will be a dead man in six months。〃
I wanted to stay with him； but dared not disobey my mother and be
thrown out of shelter； for I saw I could not depend on my husband。 I
did not know then that drinking men were drugged men； diseased men。
His mother told me that when he was growing up to manhood； his father；
Harry Gloyd； was Justice of the Peace in Newport； Ohio； twelve years； and
that Charlie was so disgusted with the drink cases； that he would go in
a room and lock himself in； to get out of their hearing； that he never
touched a drop until he went in the army； the 118th regiment； Thomas L。
Young being the Colonel。 Dr。 Gloyd was a captain。 In the society of these
officers he； for the first time； began to drink intoxicants。 He was fighting
to free others from slavery； and he became a worse slave than those he
fought to free。 In a little less than six months from the day my child
was born； I got a telegram telling of his death。 His father died a few
months before he did； and mother Gloyd was left entirely alone。
Mother Gloyd was a true type of a New England housewife； and I
had always lived in the south。 I could not say at this time that I loved
her； although I respected her very highly。 But I wanted to be with the
mother of the man I loved more than my own life； I wanted to supply his
place if possible。 My father gave me several lots； by selling one of these
and Dr。 Gloyd's library and instruments； I built a house of three rooms
on one of the lots and rented the house we lived in； which brought us in
a little income； but not sufficient to support us。 I wanted to prepare myself
to teach； and I attended the Normal Institute of Warrensburg。 I was
not able to pay my board and Mr。 Archie Gilkerson and wife charged me
nothing and were as kind to me as parents。 God bless them！ I got
a certificate and was given the primary room in the Public School at Holden。
Mother Gloyd kept house and took care of Charlien； my little girl；
and I made the living。 This continued for four years。 I lost my position
as teacher in that school this way： A Dr。 Moore was a member of the
board； he criticised me for the way I had the little ones read； for instance；
in the sentence； 〃I saw a man；〃 I had them use the short a instead of
the long a； and so with the article a； having them read it as we would
speak it naturally。 He made this serious objection； and I lost my place
and Dr。 Moore's niece got my room as teacher。 This was a severe blow
to me； for I could not leave mother Gloyd and Charlien to teach in another
place； and I knew of no other way of making a living except by teaching。
I resolved then to get married。 I made it a subject of prayer and went
to the Lord explaining things about this way。 I said： 〃My Lord； you
see the situation I cannot take care of mother and Charlien。 I want you to
help me。 If it be best for me to marry； I will do so。 I have no one picked
out； but I want you to select the one that you think best。 I want to give
you my life； and I want by marrying to glorify and serve you； as well as
to take care of mother and Charlien and be a good wife。〃 I have always
been a literalist。 I find out that it is the only way to interpret the Bible。
When God says： 〃Commit thy way unto the Lord； trust also in him he
shall bring it to pass；〃 I believe that to be the way to act。 My faith does
not at all times grasp this or other promises； but there are times when
I can appropriate them and make them mine； there are times when I can
pray with faith； believing that I have the things I pray for； other times it
is not so。
In about ten days from that time I made this a subject of prayer； I
was walking down the street in Holden and passed a place where Mr。
Nation was standing； who had come up from Warrensburg； where he was
then editing the 〃Warrensburg Journal〃。 He was standing in the door with
his back to me； but turned and spoke。 There was a peculiar thrill which
passed through my heart which made me start。 The next day I got
a letter from him； asking me to correspond with him。 I was not surprised；
had been expecting something like it。 I knew that this was in
answer to my prayer； and David Nation was to be the husband God
selected for me。 He was nineteen years older than I； was very good looking；
and was a well…informed； successful lawyer； also a Christian
minister。 My friends in Holden opposed this bec