按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
barrels of beer are sold in on day at the Home after Pension day。
Respectfully； OLD SOLDIER。
A TRAVELING MAN'S LETTER。
Indianapolis； Ind。〃Mrs。 Carrie Nation； Wichita； Kan：As a preface
I feel it my duty to extend to you my sincere apology for encroaching
these lines for your consideration during the trying hours of your
incarceration； but as the purport of my letter undoubtedly differs； materially
in text； from the countless hundreds you have received； I feel assured
that the sentiment involved； originated as it has； solely from the spirit
and intrepid aggressiveness you have exploited in the suppression of that
paramount curse of mankind； Drink！ will； in a measure； justify you in
condoning these lines。
For years the writer has been a traveling salesman； occupying positions
of trust and responsibility。 As is the universal trait among the
larger element of my class； I contracted the indulgence of liquor。 From
its inception and social intercourse； it gradually developed until I became
an irresistible slave to those base affinitieslewd women and whiskey。 The
result； inevitable as death； produced its dregs； shattered health； separation
of family； and social and business ostracism。 Prior to a month ago；
reparation and redemption from medical arid spiritual aid； had proven
valueless； with no alternative； I became resigned to the results of a mis…
spent life； when； from the West came the voice and heroic deeds of a
woman。 Simple yet fervent； intrepid yet unique。 You aroused the press
and the people。 Your mission was born。 Thousands； you may have
〃influenced；〃 but me you have 〃redeemed。〃 I have read your words with
intenseness。 Your forcible acts have impressed me。 I resolved and have
conquered。 God bless you！ I am now organizing a temperance league
among my brother traveling men； paradoxical as it may sound； and am
meeting with a fair support； yet I believe an impetus and a stronger
influential lever can be extended through the expression of your well wishes
and any timely topics you care to extend in furtherance of the cause。
Asking your kind indulgence； and with best wishes for your ultimate
welfare； believe me。 Your loyal supporter； W。 S。 SANFORD。。 Care Terre
Haute House； Terre Haute； Ind。
FROM A HEART…BROKEN MOTHER。
Patterson； New Jersey； Sept。； 2nd； 1901Dear Mrs。 Nation：Will
you come to this city before going home？ The conditions here are worse
than in any place in the whole country。 One thousand saloons run day
and night； every day in the year。 Come for God's sake。 You can do so
much good； and if you smashed fifty or sixty of the hell holes here you
would be called an angel。 Do Come！ and save the young of both sexes。
Yours； A HEART…BROKEN MOTHER。
CHAPTER XIV。
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE。
The life of a soul moved on by the Holy Spirit is beyond human
expression； as well as human understanding。 〃He that is spiritual judgeth
（examines） all things。 Yet he himself is judged or examined of no
man。〃 The spiritual man can see the condition of the unregenerate for
he was once in darkness； but the unregenerate can never understand the
condition of the regenerate。 The impulses that move one born of God is
one of the puzzles not possible to be known by the wisdom of the wise
of this world。 'Tis a secret； 'tis hidden； and can come only by Divine
Revelation and is always a miracle； the greatest ever performed。 It
raises from the dead； never to die again。 It opens the eyes never to be
closed again； 'tis an armor that causes us to handle serpents （devils）
without harm and we can hear or drink deadly poisons； or doctrines but
they will not kill our soul。 〃These signs shall follow them that believe。
The real Christ life is and always will be hateful to the world。 I have
often heard it said of me； 〃I cannot bear that Carry Nation！' I would
only to do the people good。 I do not blame these as I once did； 〃For
the natural man is not subject to the law of God； neither indeed can he。〃
〃Marvel not that the world hate you； ye know that it hated me before it
hated you。〃 I know that when I was ten years old I felt the movings of
God's spiritgot an answer of peace； but like a little infant pined away；
for lack of care and nourishment。 Nothing but the divine mercy of
Almighty God could have directed the affairs of my tempest…tossed life。
I now know there are no accidents。 A sparrow falls by a special providence。
There are no sins or temptations that I can not say： 〃My God
delivered； saved and forgave me for that。〃 I go to prisons and all kinds
of houses of sin。 I say： 〃I can tell you of one who can save and forgive
you for that； he forgave me； and he will forgive you； for I was as
bad； or worse； than you。〃 I have never seen anyone whom I thought had
committed more sin than I。 Many will lift up horrified hands at this
but 'tis true。 I never saw the corruption of but one life； one heart；that
was mine。 I was never so shocked； so disgusted； so distracted with
remorse over any life； so much as my own。 My heart was the foulest
place I ever saw。 I do not know what is in other people's hearts。 Paul
meant this when he said： 〃Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners of whom I am chief；〃 Said； this； 〃is worthy of all acceptation〃
or was； a good testimony。 Because one can never see how bad the heart
is； until God sheds the light to see it。 So many people are deceived； as
a blind man。 They may be in filth； and do not know it。 It is there；
but not seen； for lack of light。
I was first condemned by reading the Psalms。 I said： 〃If Christians
have impulses to 〃rejoice〃； clap their hands； and 〃shout〃； I do not
know what it is。 I find no response of gladness in my heart。〃 I trembled
with fear to think of God and the judgement day。 This continued from
youth up to the age of forty。 At this time I received from Christ the
〃Gift of the Holy Ghost〃； the 〃Unction〃； that which 〃leads unto all
truth。〃 There are many names for this； I call it the Bible name。 〃Hold
fast the form of sound words。〃 Before this I had never spoken a word
for God or prayed in public。 At one time I was called on to do so； and
was terrified and mumbled out something； that was no prayer。 Now all
was changed： 〃I was glad when they said unto me； let us go into the
house of the Lord。〃 I was anxious for my time to come to tell how
good Jesus was to me。 When I met my neighbors I would be heavy…
hearted； because they talked of servants； house cleaning； the new fashions；
and these seemed so vain； so frivolous。 I liked to direct their minds to
speak of the Scriptures； and of the ways of doing work for God。 I
soon found out I was not welcome； I was looked upon as an intruder；
was often avoided； I could see the frowns and glances of impatience at
my presence。 These would cause me many a cry and mortification。 My
best companion was the Bible。 I then knew what David meant when he
said： 〃More to be desired are they； than gold； yea than much fine gold；
sweeter also than the honey and the honey comb。〃 I often kiss and
caress my Bible； 'tis the most precious of all earthly treasures。
I wonder how people can live any kind of Christian life without
reading the Script