GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



down. At that time I was comparatively 

 new in the Master's service and training, and 

 my prayer would not compare at all with 

 that of an educated minister of the gospel; 

 but as I finished and rose up, I was aston- 

 ished to see the mother in tears. By the 

 way, friends, mother's tears — sometimes — 

 move mountains. The mother broke down 

 completely, and amid her sobs she made a 

 complete confession. She said, in substance, 

 " Mr. Root, you do not know how we toiled 

 and slaved all summer to get np that nice 

 load of grapes and other things. We were 

 all sadly in need of shoes and clothing. In 

 fact, we have not been to church or Sunday- 

 school, because we have not things fit to be 

 seen like other folks. I looked forward to 

 the time when with the proceeds of this load 

 of stuff we could get shoes and clotliing; 

 and when my husband came home with his 

 money all gone, and hardly able to put out 

 his team, I felt as if I should have to give 

 up." 



By this time the tears were running down 

 the face of Mr, B. also, and with broken 

 words he said he would do any thing in the 

 world to follow me, in any course I could 

 point out, in order to be free from the 

 " demon " of drink. 



Do you think, friends. I drove home in 

 the dark discouraged? Bless you, no. Al- 

 though it was a long cold drive over roads 

 such as we had in olden times, I felt happy, 

 rejoiced at one more victory, and sang 

 praises all the way. Next Monday morn- 

 ing, according to promise, my friend was 

 on hand. The common-pleas court was in 

 session here then. He went before the jui-y 

 and told them there as much as he could 

 remember. He could recall loaning the 

 money right and left, but remembered posi- 

 tively only one man — one to whom he had 

 " loaned " a two-dollar bill. He and I went 

 to see this man, and the man made an 

 excuse for his part of the transaction as 

 follows : He said the crowd was going to get 

 all the man's money, and he decided he 

 would get what he could, and give it hack 

 to him as soon as he could find him sober. 

 This was the saloon-keeper's excuse for his 

 part of the transaction. You can take it 

 for what it is worth. All the rest of the 

 crowd who had followed him all day long 

 denied getting any of his money. This was 

 a good example illustrating the sort of 

 friends a man has when he treats the crowd. 



Well, the outcome was surh a shaking-up 

 in the saloon business of Medina as it never 

 had before. The one down by the railroad 

 quit business, or at least it quit an open 

 business; and the whole matter was only a 

 prelude toward making Medina dry. Before 



another Sunday came around a certain busi- 

 ness man of Medina called on me and said 

 something as follows : " Mr. Root, your 

 starting Sunday-schools and looking after 

 the children, teaching them texts, etc., is 

 all right. Nobody makes any objection ; but 

 when you get out of your beat, as you did 

 last Sunday afternoon, and start up trouble 

 by poking your nose into other people's 

 business, you are out of your place; and I 

 warn you that you will get into trouble if 

 there is any more of it." 



I do not remember what answer I gave 

 him, but I had a feeling in my heart that 

 reminded me of the words of Peter — " We 

 ought to obey God rather than man." 



Now, friends, the above is an illustration 

 of the answers to prayer which I think none 

 of you will object to, no matter what may 

 be your belief. If prayer helps us to ac- 

 complish results that could never be brought 

 about otherwise, by all means let us pray 

 while we work. 



Just one more point right here : 



Of course I knew that many men start 

 out like Mr. B. with faithful promises, and 

 yet they are tripped up by devils in human 

 form. I went to the pastor of the little 

 church nearest their home. I told him all 

 the circumstances, and he promised to look 

 after Mr. B. with fatherly care. In due time 

 I received word from the pastor, saying that 

 the whole family were going to church reg- 

 ularly, and gave abundant promise of good 

 results; and Mr. B. told the good pastor 

 that my visit to him did more good than any 

 thing that had ever happened during his 

 whole life. Whenever he came to Medina 

 after that he came to my store first to let 

 me see that he was keeping the promise he 

 made before God, and before his wife and 

 children. He died years ago, a sober man, 

 and I have reason to believe he never drank 

 a drop after that Sunday night. 



" He that converteth the sinner from the 

 error of his way shall save a soul from 

 death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." 



Now, while this matter is before us let 

 me give you another illustration. Four 

 miles west of us is a place that used to be 

 called York Center. There has never been 

 a saloon there, although I think liquors were 

 at an early day sold at a hotel there. One 

 Sunday after church here in Medina a good 

 brother spoke to me something as follows : 

 " Mr. Root, unless yon stop it, a saloon will 

 be opened to-morrow morning at York Cen- 

 ter. A room has been rented, the liquors 

 purchased, and they are standing in the box 

 to be put out on the shelves to-morrow 

 morning." 



"But," said I, "Mr. C, why should I 



