,,fifteen ,,years ,,with ,,the ,,outcast ,by ,,mrs4 ,,florence 7,,mother7 ,,roberts #aiab ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,florence 7,,mother7 ,,roberts4 ,,preface4 ,a missionary1 upon returning from his field of labor in ,india1 was making an effort to stir up the sympathies of the people in behalf of the heathen4 ,by telling his countrymen of the influence of the gospel upon the ,indians and of the hundreds1 even thousands1 of them who had become ,christians1 he succeeded in creating an interest among many of his friends4 ,he told many stirring experiences of the difficulties encountered in the missionary work1 and gave affecting accounts of the persecution of the native ,christians because of their turning from their idolatry and former beliefs4 ,a noted ,english hunter had just returned from a hunting tour in ,bengal4 ,these two men were invited to speak at a certain assembly4 ,the large audience listened attentively to thrilling experiences of the hunter as he related the hairbreadth escapes in the jungles and told of the many ,bengal tigers seen and killed4 ,after he had finished his account of his hunting tour1 he was asked to give a report of the missionary work as he had found it in ,india4 ,he stated that in all his travels in ,bengal he had not seen a native ,christian and1 further1 that he did not believe there were any1 but that there were plenty of tigers4 ,he said that he had not seen a missionary on the field and that the missionaries were deceiving the people by their reports4 ,the missionary was stung to the heart4 ,he knew that the people were almost ready to cast him down in derision because of the powerful influence this noted hunter had exerted over the audience4 ,when he arose1 trusting the ,lord for wisdom that he might be able to convince his hearers of the real situation of missionary work in ,india1 he kindly referred to the statements of the eminent hunter and said3 ,he has related his exciting experiences in tiger-hunting and has told you that tigers abound in that country4 ,why should ,i believe his word8 ,though ,i spent several years in ,bengal1 yet ,i never saw a tiger outside of a cage nor any one hunting tigers4 ,he says he did not see a native ,christian or a missionary on the field4 ,i have seen hundreds of them1 have lived among them1 have taught them1 and ,i am able to verify my statements4 ,shall ,i discredit the statements of the hunter because ,i saw no tigers8 ,i was not looking for tigers2 therefore ,i did not go to the jungles to find them4 ,he was not looking for ,christians and missionaries1 and for that reason he did not go to the plains where they were to be found4 ,the words of the missionary had the desired effect1 and the cause that he represented was sustained4 ,it has often been said that the world is growing better and that the places of vice are few2 but if the veil is drawn aside only enough to give a glimpse of the pitfalls of darkness and sin1 one is made to stand aghast and lift the hands in horror4 ,how little is known of the next-door neighbor6 ,in our cities many people do not even know the names or the occupations of those living in the next room or in some other apartment of the same house4 ,oft-times dens of vice are almost at our door1 and we know nothing of their existence until we are awakened by some sad occurrence that might have been avoided had we known4 ,many parents fear to inform their children of the evils of the world and of the dives and pitfalls of vice4 ,this false modesty1 or failure to impart knowledge1 places children face to face with danger without their suspecting any harm4 ,there are gambling-dens1 houses of ill-fame1 and various other places of vice1 where young and old are led astray4 ,the white slave traders--those who decoy and sell girls and young women for such places--are ever on the alert4 ,the author of this book has spent years in trying to rescue girls from such a life1 and ,fifteen ,years with the ,outcast will undoubtedly do much to counteract the influence of these places of vice and infamy4 ,fathers and mothers should place this volume in the hands of their children and should encourage them to become sufficiently informed concerning such things not only to protect themselves but also to warn others4 ,with a desire that the influence of this book may reach the highest anticipations of the author ,i am ,yours in ,him1 ,e4 ,e4 ,byrum4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,little ,rosa--,a ,warning to ,mothers and ,guardians ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,visit to ,sacramento--,the ,outcome ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,my ,first ,autoharp--,i ,forsake ,all to ,follow ,jesus ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,i am ,introduced to the ,rescue ,home ,family--,a ,glorious ,test ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,crushing ,situation--,wonderful ,vision--,story of ,rita ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,my ,first ,call to the ,prison ,work ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,leila ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,i ,bid ,farewell to the ,sacramento ,home ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,woodland 7,continued7--,a ,boycott ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,brief ,call to ,sacramento--,i ,enter the ,san ,francisco ,field ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,i am ,introduced to the ,dives of ,barbary ,coast ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,mary ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,services in ,county ,jail1 ,branch ,no #c ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,lucy--,a ,remarkable ,experience ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,we ,plan for a ,home for ,released ,prison ,girls ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,santa ,clara ,experiences ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,callie's ,wonderful ,story ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,callie and ,i ,visit the ,jail1 the ,morphine ,den1 and the ,mission ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,still ,southward ,bound--,santa ,cruz--,lucy ,returns to ,her ,home ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,joe's ,story ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,i ,depart for ,pacific ,grove--,meet ,lucy ,again--,her ,baptism ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,anna--,we ,leave for ,san ,jose ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,northward ,bound--,the ,outcome ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,the ,suicide of ,l----4--,its ,after-effect ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,good ,news from ,home--,miss ,loraine ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,lucy's ,letter--,the ,school ,teacher ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,san ,quentin--,we ,secure a ,lovely ,property ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,god's ,best ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,dedication of ,beth-,adriel ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,the ,juvenile ,court ,commission--,henry ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,the ,annual ,board ,meeting--,dollie's ,story ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,lost ,sheep--,the ,ex-prisoners' ,home--,hospital ,scenes ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,a ,wonderful ,leading--,how ,girls ,are ,lured to the ,dance-halls ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,the ,women of ,b--- up in ,arms--,the ,sisters ,taken ,home ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,santa ,cruz--,beba's ,letter--,the ,earthquake ,,chapter ,,xxxvi4 ,relief ,duty--,san ,francisco--,miss ,b---- ,,chapter ,,xxxvii4 ,the ,home ,repaired--,mrs4 ,s----'s ,experience ,,chapter ,,xxxviii4 ,the ,annual ,board ,meeting--,results ,,chapter ,,xxxix4 ,a ,trip ,east--,i ,escape from a ,confidence ,woman ,,chapter ,,xl4 ,my ,homeward ,journey--,land for the ,training ,school and ,home ,,chapter ,,xli4 ,i ,call on the ,governor and ,then ,go ,south ,,chapter ,,xlii4 ,los ,angeles ,dance-halls and ,other ,places ,,chapter ,,xliii4 ,woman ,employed at ,dance-hall ,tells of ,many ,pitfalls ,,chapter ,,xliv4 ,sarah ,,chapter ,,xlv4 ,the ,women ,prisoners of ,san ,quentin ,,chapter ,,xlvi4 ,vallejo1 ,mare ,island1 and ,alcatraz ,,chapter ,,xlvii4 ,irene's ,awful ,fate--,the ,wages of ,sin ,,chapter ,,xlviii4 ,my ,return to the ,missionary ,field ,,chapter ,,xlix4 ,some ,precious ,letters from ,precious ,children ,,chapter ,l4 ,conclusion ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations4 ,florence 7,mother7 ,roberts ,the ,dive-keeper's ,daughter ,mary ,the ,redwood ,city ,street ,meeting ,scene in a ,morphine ,den #ii years1 ,mother ,roberts6 ,poor ,joe6 ,view of ,yard and ,prisoners' ,quarters1 ,represa1 near ,folsom ,bird's ,eye ,view of ,san ,quentin ,everybody helped grease the hill ,i was sliding down4 ,i soon reached the bottom ,poor ,elsie6 ,scene in a ,dive ,dance-hall ,the ,chittenden ,home ,some ,mother's ,wandering ,girl ,san ,quentin4 ,prison ,yard ,view of ,warden's ,house1 etc41 ,represa ,,list ,,of ,,songs4 ,words and ,music by ,mother ,roberts4 ,the ,messengers 7the ,doves7 ,her ,voice ,still ,nearer ,was ,it ,you8 ,the ,songs ,my ,mother ,sang ,the ,value of a ,song ,some ,mother's ,wandering ,girl ,,introduction ,,replying ,,to ,,your ,,question4 ,how did it happen that you became so deeply interested in rescue work1 ,mrs4 ,roberts8 ,hundreds of times has this question been asked of me in various parts of this ,state 7,california74 ,in order1 whenever time and place permitted1 to answer intelligently1 ,i have replied by relating the story of my conversion1 through a vision1 which occurred on the afternoon of ,sunday1 ,sept4 #ac1 #ahif4 ,for some time prior to this1 with my husband1 ,j4 ,h4 ,roberts1 a mining man1 also my son1 an only child of fourteen1 ,i had been living about two and one-half miles from ,angels1 ,calaveras ,county1 ,california4 ,for lack of means to carry on the development work of the mine which ,mr4 ,roberts was at this time superintending1 it closed4 ,in order to increase finances in our hour of need1 ,i gave piano lessons4 ,my health1 never in those days very robust1 soon succumbed to the severe nervous strain to which it was now continually subjected4 ,,the ,,vision4 ,on the never-to-be-forgotten date of my spiritual birth1 whilst ,i was enjoying a much-needed rest and reading a novel1 everything in the room seemed suddenly to be obliterated from my view2 ,i became oblivious of my surroundings and was apparently floating in an endless vista of soft1 beautiful1 restful light4 ,i was quite conscious of rising to a sitting position1 pressing my left elbow into the pillow1 and with the right hand rubbing both eyes in an endeavor to see once more my natural surroundings4 ,but no6 ,instead1 suspended in this endless light1 appeared a wonderful colossal cross of indescribable splendor4 ,this wonderful cross can be likened only to a gigantic opal4 ,its rays of light seemed to penetrate me through and through as over my mind flashed the thought1 ,i must have died1 and this is my soul6 ,for one brief moment ,i closed my eyes1 then opened them1 and now1 in addition to the vision of the cross1 came an added one of such a glorious ,being that words are utterly inadequate to describe him4 ,no writer1 be he ever so skilful1 could give a satisfactory word-picture1 and no artist1 be he ever so spiritual1 could possibly depict the wonderful majesty of our glorious1 loving1 royal ,redeemer4 ,his left arm slowly raised4 ,presently his hand rested on the right arm of the cross4 ,then the wonderful eyes looked into mine4 ,that one compelling look drew me--forever--to him4 ,but that was not all4 ,with the right hand he beckoned1 reaching downward toward me1 and ,i saw the sweet smiling lips move4 ,though no sound emanated from them1 yet ,i knew they framed the one word ,come6 whilst the hand slowly1 gracefully moved1 pointing upward toward the cross4 ,a ray of light revealed a healed wound extending the entire length of the palm4 ,soon this invitation was repeated1 and so great became my desire to hide 7because of my unworthiness7 beneath the cross that ,i must at this time have slipped off the bed1 for when once more conscious of my natural surroundings ,i discovered myself kneeling on the floor4 ,then for the first time in my life ,i saw myself as ,i believe ,god sees4 ,what a revelation of selfishness and carnality6 ,what a realization of utter unworthiness6 ,my righteousness was indeed and in truth no better than filthy rags 7,isa4 #fd3f74 ,could ,god1 would ,god1 forgive8 ,mentally ,i decided that1 had ,i been in his place1 lavishing and bestowing innumerable and untold blessings day after day upon one so careless1 so heedless of his wonderful love1 ,i should find it very1 very difficult1 nay1 impossible4 ,oh1 how ,i now longed1 now yearned1 to be different1 as ,i caught the reflection of carnal nature in the spiritual looking-glass6 ,with all my soul ,i implored mercy and pardon4 ,suddenly thick darkness1 indescribably thick1 seemed to submerge me4 ,i felt as though ,i were smothering4 ,i tried to find my voice4 ,presently consciousness returned1 and the room appeared as natural as ever4 ,i was crying aloud1 ,save me6 ,at the same time it seemed that something weighty was rolling up like a scroll off either side of me4 ,i felt free1 light as air1 and from that moment began to experience the ,new ,life1 the ,true ,life4 ,oh1 ,i was happy6 ,so happy6 ,one1 only one1 desire now had possession--that ,i might forever remain under this benign influence4 ,did ever the birds chirp so sweetly6 ,was ever parched nature or dried-up grass more beautiful6 ,oh1 why did ,i have to come back to this world6 ,but how selfish6 ,now came the longing to share my joy with others2 ,i was eager to do so4 ,would my husband's visitor never go8 ,finally ,i heard him making his adieus4 ,bathing my face and smoothing my hair1 ,i went forth to impart the glorious news to ,mr4 ,roberts4 ,well1 he listened attentively1 as with soul filled and thrilled with divine love1 ,i endeavored to describe my wonderful vision4 ,what do you think of it1 dear8 ,i asked4 ,i think you were dreaming1 he replied4 ,oh1 but not so6 ,i heard you talking to ,mr4 ,rouse from the time he came1 though ,i was paying no attention to your conversation4 ,how could ,i8 ,i inquired4 ,nevertheless1 my dear1 it was only a dream1 he insisted4 ,something 7an inner voice hitherto unrecognized7 suggested that ,i ask what he thought of it1 even though it might be but a dream4 ,he admitted that it was wonderful and beautiful4 7,afterwards he told me that he would not have paid so much attention to my recital had it not been for the unusual light on my countenance4 ,you can't think how you looked1 he said4 ,your face shone like satin67 ,,the ,,aftermath4 ,immediately following this ,god-given experience came the desire to search the ,scriptures 7,john #e3ci74 ,i regret having to tell you that my ,bible lay very near the bottom of a trunk and that the blessed volume had not been opened for a shamefully long time4 ,it took me1 in my spare time1 something like three months to read the book carefully from cover to cover4 ,not one word escaped me4 ,i found it to be so interesting--at first as a matter of history--that ,i began it all over again4 ,thus it has been ever since2 for to the ,spirit-born child nothing will1 nothing can1 take the place of the ,bible4 ,it is always new1 always refreshing4 ,it is the voice of the tenderest1 most loving of parents1 ever ready to answer our questions1 comforting when sorrowful1 healing when sick1 warning when in danger1 ever directing1 admonishing1 and encouraging under any and all circumstances4 ,oh6 but you say1 the chastening6 ,you forget that4 ,no1 dear one1 ,i do not4 ,all wise parents chasten their offspring4 ,would to ,god they would lovingly1 wisely administer more corrections than they do4 ,the outcome1 ,i verily believe1 would be a wonderful foretaste of heaven on earth4 ,but ,i find ,i am digressing4 ,immediately following my conversion came the desire to impart the knowledge received1 to my friends and neighbors4 ,the result was that a report somewhat like the following was soon circulated3 ,poor ,mrs4 ,roberts6 ,have you heard the news8 ,her husband's financial losses have affected her mind2 she is going crazy4 ,thinks she had a vision6 etc4 ,then ,i began to realize what it means literally to forsake all to follow ,christ4 ,heavier troubles followed1 but they did not affect me as heretofore4 ,i had had the vision1 and it had come to stay4 ,illness presently brought me to the very threshold of eternity4 ,with animation temporarily suspended1 but my soul and brain never more keenly alive1 ,i mentally implored the dear ,lord to spare me for a little while1 because ,i did not now want to come to him empty-handed4 ,oh6 the longing to win souls1 as ,i lay there helpless yet realizing what it might mean to be forever debarred from the things which ,god had prepared from the foundation of the world for him that waiteth for ,him 7,isa4 #fd3d74 ,how eager ,i was to tell the news to any one1 no matter to what depths he or she might have fallen6 ,it was the immortal soul that ,i was now anxious to reach4 ,lying there1 ,i made an absolute consecration1 promising my heavenly ,father that if he would restore me to health and strength1 ,i would go to whatever place he thought fit to send me1 and never hesitate to stoop to the lowliest for his sake and theirs4 ,,restoration4 ,god takes us at our word4 ,i wonder how many of us realize this8 ,returning health and strength found me located with my family in ,redding1 ,shasta ,county4 ,here my husband and ,i1 in the spring of #ahig1 followed our ,lord's example in baptism4 ,in ,redding came many delightful opportunities to engage in church and personal work for the ,master4 ,while ,i was visiting in ,sacramento in the fill of #ahig and attending revival meetings conducted in the ,first ,baptist church1 came my first real knowledge of the unfortunate of my sex4 ,previous to this revival the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,banks1 now deceased1 anxious for these special services to be well attended1 asked for volunteers from his flock to distribute in every house in their immediate neighborhoods a printed invitation4 ,whoever undertook this work was to pledge themselves not to pass one house nor miss any opportunity for personal work4 ,not two blocks from the place where ,i was rooming was a district that ,i hitherto had never explored--in fact1 had purposely avoided4 ,god now gave me strength to take up this cross1 for which may ,i be forever humbly grateful4 ,but ,i shrank at first2 for1 unable to persuade any of my acquaintances to accompany me1 ,i had to traverse this neighborhood alone4 ,did ,i say alone8 ,never did ,i experience a greater sense of guardianship1 of protection1 of being in the best of company1 though these guardians and companions were visible only to the eye of faith 7,psa4 #ia3aj-ab74 ,that day ,i saw tears fall1 and heard experiences of which ,i had hitherto had scarcely any conception4 ,touched by a loving hand1 wakened by kindness1 ,chords that were broken will vibrate once more4 ,soon after this the first little rescue home for girls in ,sacramento was started by some consecrated young people4 ,it was located on ,second ,street near ,o4 ,i did not have the pleasure of attending the opening of this shelter1 because of a direct call to service about this time with some traveling evangelists4 ,i assisted them by giving out the good news in song4 ,while ,i was traveling northward with these evangelists1 there came into my possession1 in answer to prayer1 my treasured1 ,god-given little autoharp1 ,no4 #a4 ,my second was at one time the property of a now pardoned ,state prisoner--his companion in his lonely hours when locked in his cell4 ,where were your husband and your son all this time8 you inquire4 ,the former was away prospecting--his favorite occupation4 ,the latter1 because of his love for the water and his desire to see other countries1 was an employee on an ocean-steamer4 ,,my ,,spiritual ,,mother4 ,on ,sept4 #a1 #aijb1 there passed into eternal rest one of the oldest members of the ,first ,methodist ,episcopal church of ,san ,francisco1 ,mrs4 ,salemma ,williams4 ,for more than twenty years this dear sainted friend1 though ,i knew it not1 daily prayed and believed for my conversion4 ,five years before she was made aware of the fact1 her prayer had been answered4 ,her joy1 when one day ,i called upon her to impart the welcome news1 knew no bounds1 and until she passed away we spent many happy days in each other's company4 ,a few hours before she went home1 she gave her children and me her parting blessings4 ,the precious prayer of this dying saint as she held her aged hands on my head comforts1 sustains1 and encourages me now1 even as it did then1 and ,i believe that it ever will4 ,,her ,,blessing4 ,lord1 ,i thank thee for answered prayer4 ,make this1 thy child1 wonderful for thee1 ,lord1 wonderful for thee6 for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,though she spoke with great difficulty1 yet every word was distinctly audible4 ,about two hours later she sang 7with me7 the following lines as she passed into eternal rest3 ,oh6 if there's only one song--,i can sing ,when in his beauty ,i see the great ,king1 ,this shall my song in eternity be3 ,oh1 what a wonder that ,jesus loves me6 ,i am so glad that ,jesus loves me6 ,jesus loves even me4 ,,summary4 ,would that it were in my power to relate better1 in ,fifteen ,years with the ,outcast1 the few incidents of the many which have come under my personal observation4 ,the real names of the principals of the stories are withheld1 but not so the names of personal friends4 ,dear readers1 ,i am well aware that this book1 judged from a literary point of view1 would be regarded as a failure2 but ,i make no pretensions as a writer1 nor do ,i entertain any aspirations for literary fame4 ,my sole object in endeavoring to present faithfully a few experiences of my brief years of service for the ,master is to warn many who are in danger4 ,interspersed between these covers are a few songs1 the words of which1 with scarcely an exception1 were written in the night1 and1 for the most part1 were culled from incidents of personal observation and experience4 ,much valuable assistance has been rendered by a dear friend in the transcribing and arranging of the music4 ,for those of my readers who do not yet know the dear ,lord as their personal ,savior and ,redeemer1 my sincere prayer is1 ,may they while perusing these pages catch a glimpse of ,him4 ,may they1 by faith1 wash and be made clean1 determining1 ,god helping1 to shun forever all evil and evil companions4 ,the sinful life never pays4 ,in order to make this book suitable for young people to read1 much concerning rescue work has been withheld4 ,parents will readily understand why and will appreciate the omission4 ,doubtless they will have little if any trouble in reading between the lines4 ,god grant them love and wisdom to interpret to their questioning boys and girls1 and may countless blessings from the ,shepherd of our souls attend all into whose hands this book may chance to come4 ,yours1 in precious service for ,him1 7,mrs47 ,florence ,roberts4 ,p4 ,s4 ,since the above was written1 ,i had the occasion to visit one of our ,california ,state prisons 7,san ,quentin74 ,i went at the urgent request of a young man whom the officials recommended for parole4 ,i had a portion of the manuscript of this book with me1 which the captain of the guard1 at my request1 kindly allowed the young man and his cell-mates to read4 ,in consequence1 we are indebted to one of these dear boys 7,god bless him67 for some of the illustrations appearing in this book4 ,others have been contributed by a young brother and sister who are devoting their lives to ,god's service at the ,gospel ,trumpet office4 ,,explanatory4 ,this book was originally prepared for the press under the title1 ,the ,autobiography of an ,auto-harp4 ,it was then written in verse and liberally interspersed with foot-notes4 ,upon more mature consideration and also upon the advice of one of much experience as a writer1 ,i have rewritten the work and given it the title1 ,fifteen ,years with the ,outcast4 ,although the change necessitates a continuous repetition of the personal pronoun ,i1 a word whose avoidance was the primary object in writing under the original title1 yet the new form is1 ,i believe1 much more interesting4 ,furthermore1 time and experience have occasioned many needful additions4 ,for fifteen years ,i have fought a good fight1 though not so good as ,i would have desired1 and although ,i am in the evening of life1 ,i realize that ,i have not yet finished my course4 ,there is still much more for me to do in this sorrowful1 sin-cursed world4 ,god has1 among other blessings1 given me a strong physique4 ,by his unmerited power ,i am keeping the faith1 growing in grace and in the knowledge of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ4 ,my greatest longing and ambition is some day to see ,him whom my soul loveth1 face to face1 especially to have the joy of bringing some priceless trophies to lay at ,his blessed feet4 ,most sincerely yours1 ,florence 7,mother7 ,roberts4 ,gospel ,trumpet ,company1 ,anderson1 ,indiana4 ,september #bg1 #aiaa4 ,,fifteen ,,years ,,with ,,the ,,outcast ,,chapter ,i4 ,,little ,,rosa--,a ,,warning ,,to ,,mothers ,,and ,,guardians4 ,what ,i am about to relate is my first experience in rescuing a girl and occurred not long after my conversion4 ,at this time my husband1 my son1 and ,i were living in ,redding1 ,shasta ,co41 ,cal4 ,in the house that we were occupying lived another family also1 the little four-year-old daughter of which was an especial pet of mine4 ,while she was acting naughtily one day1 thus hindering her mother with the household duties1 ,i bribed her to be good1 by promising to go down-town for some particularly nice candy made by a man who sold it every day at a certain street corner1 displaying it on a tray suspended from his neck and always handling it with the whitest of cotton gloves4 ,when ,i reached the place1 he had not yet arrived4 ,desirous of not disappointing my little friend and having learned where the man lived--in a tent on a lot near by--,i immediately repaired to the place designated4 ,there ,i found a disreputable-looking middle-aged woman and a forlorn little girl about twelve years old4 ,the girl was in tears4 ,upon my inquiring what was the matter1 the woman immediately berated the child in my presence4 ,turning to me1 she said that this girl was one on whom they recently had taken pity1 and had hired to do chores4 ,as there was but one tent1 ,i questioned also as to sleeping accommodations4 ,it contained a full-sized bed and one narrow cot1 between which was suspended a thin calico curtain4 ,the cooking1 eating1 etc41 were done out of doors4 ,the poor little one continued to cry bitterly4 ,with aching heart ,i laid my hand on her bowed head and bade her to be a good girl and try her best to please and obey her employers1 then inquired of her whether she had ever attended ,sunday-school or knew anything about ,jesus4 ,she did not reply4 ,this caused the woman to accuse her of sulkiness1 at which the girl looked up with swollen eyes1 full of tears4 ,oh that look6 ,it astonished and puzzled me at the time4 ,hatred8 ,yes1 and despair1 and misery1 and yearning4 ,there was a volume in that look1 which ,i could not then interpret4 ,beyond words1 it troubled me4 ,silently praying1 ,i went on my way4 ,i had walked only a few yards toward home1 when ,i heard the quick patter of bare feet behind me1 and some one calling1 ,lady6 ,lady6 ,turning1 ,i saw the little girl breathlessly trying to overtake me4 ,quickly she poured into my ears a horrible story of wrong1 of indescribable wickedness perpetrated on her for the vile gratification of that man--so celebrated as a candy maker4 ,soon ,i was in the presence of ,judge ,sweeney 7now superintendent of the ,united ,states mint in ,san ,francisco7 relating the awful story of little ,rosa4 ,immediately after my rehearsal the man and woman were arrested4 ,previous to going to live with these people ,rosa had made her home with a young married sister4 ,the sister had a family of little children and was poor3 so when an opportunity presented itself for an apparently good home for ,rosa in exchange for light services1 she quickly1 gladly availed herself of it1 without making the very necessary inquiry as to who this man and woman 7strangers in ,redding7 were or whence they had come4 ,thus thoughtlessly did she relieve herself of a solemn responsibility1 the dying request of their mother1 who had passed away when ,rosa was much younger4 ,a physical examination proved1 beyond a doubt1 the unfortunate child's condition1 and the law proceeded to take its course4 ,the sister was 7temporarily7 made responsible as ,rosa's legal guardian4 ,here ,i quote from ,the ,morning ,searchlight the article headed3 ,a ,,sensational ,,case4 ,a little ,girl ,held ,captive by ,g---- ,e----4 ,a petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed in the ,superior ,court ,saturday by ,mrs4 ,m---- ,s----4 ,this is the process by which she hopes to obtain possession and care of her sister1 ,rosa ,l----4 ,the girl is but twelve years of age1 her mother is dead1 and she has been deserted by her father4 ,somehow1 she has become acquainted with ,g---- ,e----1 the street candy-vender1 and has1 of late1 been living in his tent in the southeastern part of the city4 ,the petition further states3 ,that as your petitioner is informed and believes1 and therefore alleges the fact to be1 that said restraint of said minor by said ,e---- is for immoral purposes ,the hearing of the petition will take place before ,judge ,sweeney ,monday morning4 ,if the points alleged in the petition are true1 ,e---- should be dealt with severely4 ,the trial was held behind closed doors4 ,poor little ,rosa was too nervous and frightened to give her testimony with sufficient intelligence so that the law could deal with the couple as they deserved4 ,through some technicality they escaped legal punishment1 and hurriedly stole out of ,redding for parts unknown1 fearing the vengeance of an insulted1 righteously indignant community4 ,the child was soon under the kindly care of a consecrated ,christian couple1 and the last time we saw her she wore a smiling and happier countenance4 ,this dreadful experience1 however1 permanently wrecked her health1 so that she could be of but slight service to her new guardians2 but they1 through wise and loving treatment1 through portrayal of ,jesus in word as well as in deed1 were doing all they could do for this little shorn lamb1 doing their best to aid in helping to eliminate her awful past--a task by no means easy4 ,poor unfortunate1 sinned-against little ,rosa6 ,her life forever blighted through the shifting and shirking of responsibility on the part of the older sister1 who had promised the dying mother to carefully guard and guide the little helpless girl4 ,poor ruined child6 ,shunned1 whispered about and pointed at by her schoolmates1 she1 sensitive girl that she was1 suffered so intensely from such treatment that it was deemed advisable to have her study1 as best she could1 at home4 ,there she need not be subjected to the thoughtless torture of children1 who1 as children will1 had undoubtedly listened to1 and learned from1 the conversations carelessly carried on in their presence by parents and other older people1 this unfortunate little girl's cruel1 heart-rending fate4 ,did this experience affect my future career8 ,it certainly did4 ,let me tell you4 ,i firmly resolved1 ,god helping1 to live closer to the ,master2 to aid in rescuing the outcast at any cost2 to see and love their souls1 forgetting the sinning exterior2 to help win them to ,christ1 then encourage and further their advancement2 constantly to sit so low at the ,savior's feet as to be ever able to discern and obey his still1 small voice2 to be sufficiently strong in body1 soul1 and spirit1 as gladly to respond to his call at any and all times1 whether that call should be in the highways or hedges1 streets or lanes1 among rich or poor1 the prison boys or the outcast girls4 ,earnestly ,i prayed1 still ,i pray1 for courage to address and warn parents and guardians of the pitfalls concerning which ,i have1 in answer to prayer1 increased knowledge1 having been granted much practical experience1 sharing many a sorrow with others1 mingling my tears and sighs with many a parent1 many a wanderer1 and many an outcast1 who have poured their troubles into my listening ears4 ,the one cry1 ever and always1 from both parent and child1 has been1 ,if ,i had only known1 ,i should have been less heedless1 but now it's too late1 too late6 ,o ,god6 forgive me for ,christ's sake4 ,does the bird with the broken pinion ever soar as high again8 ,only through ,christ1 the precious ,redeemer of souls1 the ,great ,physician4 ,are we to take warning from the fate of little ,rosa--we to whom our heavenly ,father has entrusted the care and keeping of his priceless jewels until he comes to claim his own8 ,may the ,lord help us to learn and love our lessons2 to learn and love them well4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,sacramento--,,the ,,outcome4 ,at the time of the preceding experience ,i was the organist of ,redding's ,baptist church and also superintendent of its ,sunday-school4 ,aside from this1 there were my household duties--duties never to be neglected1 as some erroneously think1 because of drinking in the deep things of ,god4 ,also1 there were now many outside calls to rescue or to warn poor1 foolish boys and girls4 ,the heart-aches now commenced in real earnest2 for too many refused to heed1 and in many cases the home environments were of such a nature as to prohibit even an ordinary moral tone1 the unfortunate offspring being the victims of both pre-natal and post-natal conditions4 ,business now demanded my husband's absence from home for some time4 ,taking advantage of the opportunity thus afforded1 ,i1 with my son1 a youth aged fifteen1 made a necessary visit to ,sacramento4 ,here1 in the ,first ,baptist church1 ,i taught a class of young men in their teens4 ,soon after my coming1 a revival in the ,first ,m4 ,e4 church1 which ,i constantly attended1 brought me great blessing from the ,lord4 ,this revival was followed by a similar one at the ,first ,baptist church4 ,in order to insure the success of the latter meeting ,rev4 ,a4 ,b4 ,banks1 the pastor1 now deceased1 a most eloquent and lovable man1 whom we delighted in calling ,father ,banks1 announced the necessity of distributing handbills and asked for volunteers to place one in every home in the districts in which they lived1 and also1 wherever possible1 to give a verbal invitation4 ,it so happened that the district in which my son and ,i lodged contained the resorts of the wandering girls4 ,some of these places were less than two blocks away4 ,,no ,,one ,,volunteered ,,for ,,this ,,locality4 ,there was a prolonged pause1 a painful pause4 ,i felt as though every eye were upon me1 and ,i experienced a sharp struggle2 but hallelujah6 the next moment the ,lord had the victory--and my hand went up4 ,father ,banks fervently said1 ,god bless you for this1 my little sister6 and he will4 ,you may be sure ,i did not want to go alone4 ,i invited several to keep me company2 ,i prayed the greater part of that ,sunday night2 ,i visited several ,christians on ,monday morning1 stating to them that ,i had never been in such a quarter1 and was timid4 ,they all with one accord began to make excuse4 ,luke #ad3ah4 ,oh1 how ,i prayed for grace and strength6 ,as ,i traversed that district1 believe me1 ,i felt almost the visible presence of angels1 and was soon giving ,god's message of tender love to inmate after inmate of those awful dens4 ,how did they accept1 you ask8 ,many with tears coursing down their cheeks4 ,very few but manifested some feeling4 ,scarcely any1 however1 promised to come out to the revival services4 ,nearly all declared that they did not believe they would receive kind treatment if they did come1 and none of them wanted to be looked upon or treated as an outcast4 ,one girl allowed me to come in and pray for her4 ,later on she was most wonderfully saved and sanctified in the rescue home of which ,i shall now speak4 ,yes1 a rescue home for girls was about to be opened and established in answer to the prayers of many1 especially some of the dear ,christian workers of the ,peniel ,mission situated on ,k4 near ,fourth ,street4 ,some of these ,i had become acquainted with since the revival meetings commenced4 ,i learned that ,mrs4 ,glide1 a consecrated lady of much means1 had guaranteed the payment of a year's rent on a ten-roomed cottage on ,second and ,o4 ,streets4 ,desirous of seeing this home for myself and of assisting1 if requisite1 ,i soon wended my way to the locality named4 ,the building was old and rather dilapidated1 and as yet it contained but one piece of furniture1 a cheap washstand bureau4 ,some of the young men were putting new panes of glass into the windows1 others were papering the walls with odds and ends1 which had been donated4 ,sister ,jennie ,cloninger was busy scraping an old bathtub with a piece of glass1 preparatory to painting it1 and ,sister ,eva ,shearer had her dress tucked up whilst mopping one of the floors4 ,every one was busy and happy in the ,lord's service4 ,sister ,shearer dear1 what can ,i do to help this blessed work8 ,i inquired4 ,sister ,roberts1 that washstand is all the furniture we have4 ,please go in the name of ,jesus and ask for donations1 she replied4 ,prayerfully ,i started on my errand1 and soon had many promises from hotel proprietors and others4 ,shortly after this my son1 having an ambition to see more of the world1 grew restless4 ,all effort on my part failed to keep him near me4 ,i simply commended him to the ,one who has promised that if we are faithful our righteousness shall be for our children1 and comforted myself with this promise as ,i sorrowfully bade him farewell and returned to my lonely lodgings4 ,did ,i say lonely8 ,i made a mistake4 ,to be sure1 ,i greatly missed my boy1 but he was in our ,father's keeping1 and ,i was dwelling in the secret of his presence who doeth all things well4 ,soon afterward ,i returned to my home in ,redding1 taking the journey as a singing evangelist with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,c4 ,e4 ,thurston1 an elderly couple then in undenominational gospel-wagon work4 ,it was on this trip that1 in answer to repeated prayer1 ,i acquired my first autoharp1 which ,i shall frequently mention in connection with my work4 ,how did ,i come by it8 ,i will tell you in the next chapter4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,my ,,first ,,autoharp--,i ,,forsake ,,all ,,to ,,follow ,,jesus4 ,there it lay1 all covered with dust1 in that auctioneer's window in ,chico4 ,we had just arrived from ,sheridan1 ,sutter ,county1 where we had conducted a successful series of meetings4 ,in the latter place we had been able to borrow a small organ1 and ,i had a splendid choir of little children1 who crowded our commodious wagon an hour each evening before service1 that time being devoted to serenading the neighborhood with gospel song4 ,there ,i saw the drunkard and the saloon-keeper yield to the blessed influence of the singing by these sweet1 innocent little children of songs such as ,wash me in the blood of the ,lamb1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow4 ,but the time soon came when we must part with the little organ as well as with the dear children4 ,how ,i longed and prayed for an autoharp6 ,at this time my pocket-book was well-nigh empty1 my husband having met with total loss in mining enterprises4 ,i possessed exactly #b4ej on the day when we reached ,chico4 ,as ,i looked in that auctioneer's window1 somehow ,i felt that that humble1 little three-barred autoharp was to be mine4 ,i stepped in1 priced it1 and presently told the proprietor what use was to be made of it4 ,he had at the first asked #e4jj2 now he offered it1 for such a cause1 at half price4 ,hallelujah6 ,how gladly ,i parted with my last cent and joyfully walked out with my precious little musical instrument1 destined to go with me on my visits to comfort and help save the lost4 ,i will tell you of my present one later on4 ,leaving ,chico that afternoon1 we camped in the evening under some beautiful live-oak trees1 beside a clear1 running creek4 ,this was in ,tehama1 ,tehama ,county4 ,there1 before retiring1 and following our family devotions1 ,i dedicated my little instrument to the ,lord's work1 praying as ,i did so that he would use it absolutely1 together with me and my voice1 in helping to win precious souls for his kingdom4 ,soon afterwards ,i was once more in my ,redding home and resuming my former avocations in the church and ,sunday-school4 ,but what had come over me8 what had wrought such a change8 ,for1 strange to say1 ,i was no longer satisfied with simply the church work4 ,i spent evening after evening and all spare time in the humble little mission down-town or amongst the outcasts1 though never neglecting my home4 ,my husband1 always a reserved1 proud man1 one day gave me an unexpected shock4 ,without forewarning he quietly1 coldly informed me that ,i must decide between the rescue work and him4 ,do you mean it8 ,i inquired4 ,i certainly do1 was his reply4 ,oh1 how ,i agonized with my ,lord in prayer as soon as ,i could have the privilege6 ,then ,i opened his ,word for comfort1 and my answer was1 ,ye are bought with a price2 be not ye the servants of men4 #a ,cor4 #g3bc4 ,what did this mean8 ,i was too young a child of the ,king to comprehend1 and therefore could only wait and pray4 ,so troubled at heart was ,i at my husband's pride and growing coldness that ,i at last visited the pastor of the church where my name was enrolled4 ,he tried to persuade me to refrain from any but church work1 and also did his utmost to effect a reconciliation between my husband and me1 but all to no effect4 ,mr4 ,roberts refused to listen1 and the breach widened4 ,i seldom crossed my threshold those days1 yet yearned to be out in ,god's field4 ,circumstances1 which it is neither pleasant nor profitable to relate here1 soon necessitated the breaking up of my home4 ,i was looking to ,god for guidance4 ,i did not have to wait long1 for a door was soon opened4 ,a letter from ,sister ,belle ,trefren1 of ,sacramento1 with whom ,i had much correspondence1 especially relative to the rescue home already referred to1 now for several months occupied1 informed me of the severe illness of its matron4 ,is it not strange1 she wrote1 that in all this great city none come to her aid excepting for a few hours at a time8 ,if help does not arrive soon1 ,i fear she will die4 ,why could not you spend a while with her1 and thus relieve her of this very heavy burden until she is sufficiently recovered to take her accustomed place again8 ,besides1 dear ,sister ,roberts1 ,i have long felt that the ,lord wants you to cut loose from the shore-lines and 'launch out into the deep1' where are to be found the biggest1 best fish4 ,pray over this1 as ,i am now doing1 and the light will surely come to you4 ,i prayed1 and the light came quickly4 ,i wrote ,sister ,trefren that ,i might soon be looked for in ,sacramento1 and that ,i was simply waiting on the ,lord4 ,i soon resigned my church office1 and early one bright1 beautiful morning ,i bade farewell to ,redding4 ,just before the train drew out of the depot1 ,i opened my ,bible4 ,my eyes were focused on these words 7many friends had gathered to bid me ,godspeed73 ,and let us not be weary in well-doing2 for in due season we shall reap1 if we faint not4 ,gal4 #f3i4 ,i stood on the rear platform of the train1 holding up the open ,bible1 and soon ,redding and friends disappeared from my vision4 ,i was indeed and in truth now alone with my ,lord and on the road to the little rescue home in ,sacramento1 with my precious autoharp lying by my side4 ,in the afternoon1 as time seemingly dragged and many passengers showed signs of weariness1 ,i picked up the little instrument4 ,soon from one end to the other of the car different ones sang with me familiar song after song of ,zion4 ,the journey ended joyously1 some being strengthened in their faith on that trip1 and more than one acquaintance being made which later ripened into warm ,christian friendship4 ,praise the ,lord6 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,i ,,am ,,introduced ,,to ,,the ,,rescue ,,home ,,family--,a ,,glorious ,,test4 ,my cherished friend1 ,sister ,trefren was at the depot to greet me1 and ,i spent that first night under her roof4 ,early in the morning came a message from the home1 requesting that1 if ,i felt sufficiently rested1 to come to them as speedily as possible4 ,she was a beautiful girl--,i mean the one who responded to my ringing of the door-bell4 ,oh1 how she surveyed me 7though not rudely7 from head to foot6 ,we shall hear ,leila's story in another chapter4 ,soon ,i was at the bedside of the sick matron1 who1 though hardly able to speak1 greeted me lovingly and tearfully4 ,in a few minutes a trusted girl was given some directions1 and then ,i was invited into the sitting-room4 ,there were assembled all the inmates of the home1 and ,i was soon warmly greeting1 first collectively and later individually4 ,my1 what an opportunity to study character6 ,i said to myself as ,i observed the twenty-four faces into which ,i had a bare glimpse4 ,i presently asked them if they would please kneel and pray with me and for me1 and soon ,i found myself1 for the first time1 listening to the humble1 earnest petitions of these precious jewels in the rough4 ,brokenly and tearfully1 they thanked ,god for rescuing them from lives of sin1 shame1 and despair2 for providing so good a home1 food1 and shelter 7it was all very modest and humble74 ,some praised ,him for sanctification as well as salvation4 7,perhaps my reader does not know the interpretation of that word1 sanctification4 ,briefly1 it refers to a second blessing1 following justification1 or the forgiveness of sins2 a second work of grace1 whereby the nature becomes purified and kept free from sin by the operation and power of ,god's ,holy ,spirit--now the indwelling presence47 ,then how fervent were the prayers for the healing of the sick matron6 and now1 ,o ,god1 please bless ,mrs4 ,roberts for coming to her aid and ours1 ending by thanking him for answering their earnest appeal for help in their time of great need4 ,i forgot all my own heartaches as ,i drank in and indorsed every word1 and then1 with all my being1 offered the closing prayer4 ,soon the trials and testings commenced in real earnest4 ,in such a place it does not require many days1 nay1 many hours1 to discover the subtlety of the enemy of souls4 ,for some time my nerves1 never too strong1 were so wrought upon that ,i was under a constant strain1 and more than once1 fearing a breakdown1 felt that ,i should be compelled to relinquish my arduous duties4 ,in answer to prayer1 our ,father1 ever mindful of his own1 strengthened me and bestowed the necessary knowledge and wisdom1 so that ,i was soon able to cope with the situation1 which was this3 ,none of these precious ones had long been established2 some were not yet saved4 ,cravings1 in one form or another1 for the old life1 perhaps a thirst for liquor1 would at times secretly take possession of one or another1 and frequently some saved girl would come to me1 saying1 ,sister ,roberts1 ,mamie or some other has gone out without permission4 ,then ,i would quickly telephone to police headquarters to be on the lookout for her and to have her privately detained until some one from the home could come4 ,often we were compelled to tell the erring one that the law would have to take its course if she rebelled or refused4 ,sometimes such a one would almost hate us because she did not comprehend how much we had the interest of both body and soul at heart4 ,ah6 reader1 do you realize what it means to stand still in the trying hours8 to watch our ,father's ,spirit working in the lives and natures of the outcast8 ,truly it is marvelous1 marvelous6 ,soon ,i will relate the story of one of our family1 but before ,i do so1 permit me to give you my first ,sunday's experience4 ,i think it will be interesting4 ,i arrived at the home on ,tuesday4 ,on ,friday morning1 ,sister ,b----1 the sick matron1 said as ,i stood by her bedside3 ,sister ,roberts1 all our family of girls whose health will permit are in the habit of attending ,sunday morning worship in one of the churches2 in the afternoon1 those who wish1 attend the mission2 and in the evening we have prayer-service at home4 ,i shall not1 as you know1 be able to go with them for some time to come4 ,that duty devolves upon you1 dear1 for the present4 ,imagine1 if you can1 my feelings4 ,sister1 ,i fail to see that the ,lord requires any such sacrifice on my part1 ,i impulsively replied4 ,i think it sufficient to work with and for them here in the home4 ,what would my former society friends say or think should any chance to meet me with them8 ,and the tears of 7righteous87 indignation filled my eyes4 ,my dear1 she gently replied1 take a little time in your room alone with ,god4 ,he will make it clear1 what he would have you to do4 ,soon ,i was locked in1 where ,i sat for a few moments on the side of my little bed1 as rebellious and indignant as ever ,i was in all my life4 ,when ,i grew somewhat calmer1 ,i fell upon my knees and sobbed out my troubles at the foot of the cross4 ,painfully1 ,i at last submitted1 provided it was the will of ,god2 and in my prayer ,i requested ,should such be thy will1 please see that none of my friends of social standing chance to cross my pathway on this occasion4 ,then ,i arose from my knees4 ,sunday morning found thirteen girls neatly clad and all impatiently waiting for my appearance4 ,never in all my lifetime did ,i start on a trip more fearfully or timidly4 ,we had not traveled half a block when1 on turning a corner1 ,i saw a family whom my family and ,i held in high estimation4 ,we both received a never-to-be-forgotten shock4 ,i was greeted with a surprised bow of interrogation from the wife1 whilst the husband very slightly raised his hat4 ,my girls behaved beautifully1 little dreaming the state of my feelings4 ,old ,adam dies very hard sometimes1 doesn't he8 ,i soon met others and still others4 ,never did ,i so long for even a knot-hole into which to crawl1 but no such place presented itself4 ,precious ,lord1 thou knewest what was for my best interest when thou didst in thine infinite love and wisdom thus answer such a selfish prayer4 ,the next chapter will introduce you to the naughtiest girl in the home4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,crushing ,,situation--,,wonderful ,,vision--,,the ,,story ,,of ,,rita4 ,we had not been very long in the second-from-the-front pew of the ,first ,baptist church1 when ,rita1 who1 at the private suggestion of the matron1 ,i had placed next to me1 began to embarrass and disconcert me by her actions1 causing the rest of the girls to titter 7sometimes audibly7 and thus to attract the congregation1 also the pastor1 so that finally an usher had occasion to whisper to me1 admonishing me to retire with her1 to which she replied1 ,i ain't agoing out4 ,mortified beyond measure1 ,i let my head sink forward on the back of the pew in front of me4 ,i soon became oblivious of my surroundings1 for ,i was being blest with a wonderful vision4 ,i saw the ,garden of ,gethsemane4 ,it was night1 and sleeping souls lay all around4 ,one there was who was not sleeping4 ,he was prostrate in agony of prayer4 ,as he wrung his hands1 the blood started through his pores1 and dripped down upon the ground4 ,then a light shone around him1 a glorious light4 ,presently he arose1 and the place filled suddenly with soldiers who led him away1 shouting in triumph as they did so4 ,quickly the scene changed4 ,christ was now before the high priests4 ,again the scene changed4 ,he was passing by a man who was strenuously1 indignantly denying that he knew or had had anything to do with the man under arrest4 ,oh6 would that words of mine could picture the suffering1 sorrowful countenance1 as ,jesus gave poor ,peter that parting1 yearning look4 ,pilate's hall was soon in sight1 and the men in charge of ,jesus were mocking and smiting him4 ,it was cold1 and scarcely dawn of day4 ,what a throng1 as they crowded into the presence of ,pilate4 ,again the scene changes4 ,the ,christ is being mockingly arrayed in a once gorgeous1 now old1 shabby robe4 ,soon he is wearily pulled and pushed back to ,pilate's hall1 where they strip the ,son of ,god in the presence of that howling mob1 and beat him1 until the blood streams down his poor1 lacerated back4 ,surely that is sufficient2 but no6 they spit in his face4 ,they press a cruel crown hard down upon his brow4 ,now ,pilate has washed his hands1 and the ,savior of the world is led away4 ,the soldiers are compelling him to bear some heavy wooden beams in the form of a cross4 ,oh6 can't they see that he is too weak1 suffering too much1 to be able to carry such a weight8 ,they do not care2 but look6 he has fainted6 ,some one is helping him now4 ,god forever bless him6 ',tis ,simon the ,cyrenean who enjoys that precious privilege4 ,simon1 the cross-bearer4 ,i can not bear to witness any more4 ,but ,i must4 ,i must watch to the end4 ,oh6 the awful thud1 thud1 ,,thud1 as they hammer the spikes1 the cruel spikes into his hands and feet1 and he never once cringes4 ,how can he be so courageous8 ,i am looking up at him now1 and he is looking down with such an uninterpretable look on me1 and ,i hear him faintly say3 ,for you4 ,yes1 ,lord1 ,i know4 ,and now won't you try to love my poor shorn little lambs8 ',tis for them also4 ,yes1 dear ,lord1 ,i am trying to4 ,would you be willing to lay down your life for little ,rita1 for the sake of her soul8 ,blessed ,savior1 surely that will not be required1 but fill me full of love1 a great love for her soul and other souls4 ,i promise that with thy help ,i will do my best1 for oh1 how ,i love thee now6 how ,i love thee6 and ,i will do anything thou dost require to prove my love4 ,some one is pulling my sleeve4 ,i turn my head to find ,rita leaning against me and quietly whispering1 ,mother1 don't cry2 ,i'll be good4 ,don't cry4 ,from that time on the change in ,rita was unmistakable1 and although she had many hard battles to fight1 to lose1 and to win1 she came out gloriously victorious4 ,who was ,rita8 ,i'll tell you4 ,rita was a roguish1 fun-loving1 childish little woman1 twenty-one years old1 who neither acted nor looked her age4 ,her mother had been a waitress in one of the dives of a locality called ,the ,barbary ,coast1 ,san ,francisco1 where are many low1 vile haunts of vice4 ,her father1 she never knew4 ,she was very dark1 apparently part ,spanish1 quite attractive1 and rather pretty4 ,some time prior to my advent she was brought to the home in a semi-intoxicated condition by one of the ,lord's consecrated missionaries4 ,full of mischief and depravity1 she was1 from the first1 a trouble-maker4 ,from her earliest recollection1 her companions had all been of the type with whom her mother associated2 therefore it would take time1 great and loving patience1 and a constant waiting on the ,master for her to harmonize perfectly with new environments4 ,this poor girl had seen no other life1 up to within a few weeks of my meeting her1 than a life replete with vice from one day's ending to another4 ,much of the time she had participated4 ,but be it recorded to the credit of her mother that1 to the extent of her knowledge1 she had guarded her girl from criminal assault as long as she was able to control her1 and that1 when told of ,rita's being in the rescue home1 she seemed greatly pleased that at last her daughter had found friends who would do their utmost to help her lead a better life4 ,rita had an uncontrollable temper1 in consequence of which the entire household was sometimes made to suffer keenly2 but she would eventually yield to earnest persuasion1 then kneel down and ask forgiveness of ,god and the family4 ,she was very ambitious to learn to read1 being entirely devoid of education4 ,different members would take it in turn to teach her1 and it was a proud day when she could decipher a few words in her ,bible4 ,i never shall forget the evening of her first realization of the price ,jesus had paid for her4 ,it dawned upon her soul so suddenly1 so beautifully1 following a mid-week prayer-meeting1 in which some of the ,christians interested in this work often participated1 that a great shout of joy went up1 and when we retired that night1 some of us were too grateful and too excited to sleep4 ,oh1 how the adversary attacked and tried over and over again to get her back to his territory6 ,he once so well succeeded that we finally deemed it necessary to exchange her into another home4 ,i was the one deputized to take her there1 and very soon was introducing myself to ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,kauffman1 whose noble work for the erring1 in ,san ,francisco and other places1 is known to the thousands4 ,after placing ,rita under her kind care in the rescue home1 then situated on ,capp ,street near ,twenty-first ,street1 in ,san ,francisco1 ,i returned to my post of duty in ,sacramento1 little dreaming at that time what an important place ,i was destined1 in the future1 to occupy with ,sister ,kauffman4 ,erelong ,i learned1 through correspondence1 that my little ,rita 7who1 by the way1 was the first one outside of my own family to give me the endearing title of ,mother1 which title has clung to me ever since7 had found a warm friend in a deaconess whose name ,i have forgotten1 but who took a loving interest in her and greatly aided her1 especially from the spiritual point of view4 ,rita1 with the approval of her guardians1 married a ,christian young man4 ,together they are bringing up their little ones to know and love the ,savior so precious to them2 and1 through the daughter's example the mother1 so long a wanderer in paths of degradation1 was1 ,i have understood1 finding purity and peace for her soul4 ,at the time of the earthquake and great fire in ,san ,francisco1 ,rita and her loved ones1 ,i am told1 escaped without so much as the loss of a dish4 ,this remarkable fact proves that ,god is ever mindful of those who put their entire trust in him and who live as does this precious jewel and her family1 on the promises of the ninety first ,psalm4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,my ,,first ,,call ,,to ,,the ,,prison ,,work4 ,after ,i had been in the ,sacramento home about a month1 the matron became sufficiently recovered to go into the country in order to recuperate4 ,in the meanwhile the dear ,lord had laid it upon the hearts of two consecrated workers to assist me1 so that ,i was now occasionally free for some outside work4 ,taking advantage of this1 a lady who had been a constant attendant at the jail services for many years1 urged me to come on the following ,sunday afternoon with my little autoharp4 ,this1 by the way1 was an every-day friend in our family1 for most of our girls could sing1 and we were soon learning many beautiful hymns1 with either my modest instrument or the parlor organ for an accompaniment4 ,when something would go wrong1 the matter would be laid before the ,lord in prayer1 and singing was the next thing in order4 ,how you would have appreciated and enjoyed hearing our family joining in with all their hearts-- ,i must tell ,jesus all of my trials1 ,i can not bear these burdens alone2 ,in my distress he kindly will help me1 ,he ever loves and cares for his own4 ,they would repeat it over and over until sweet peace filled their souls once more4 ,but to return to the invitation to the county jail4 ,i begged to be excused on the ground of sensitiveness4 ,i felt that ,i could not bear to look upon any more distress than ,i was a daily witness to outside of prison walls4 ,to see human beings caged up like so many wild animals ,i thought would be more than ,i could bear2 therefore ,i unhesitatingly said so4 ,she continued her pleadings1 adding1 ,o ,sister ,roberts1 you will never know how much good you could accomplish or how much precious seed might be sown if you would only come with that little autoharp of yours4 ,but ,i was unyielding4 ,she left me with sorrow on her countenance4 ,this refusal was followed by deep condemnation--condemnation which lasted a whole week4 ,when1 at last1 ,i promised the ,lord ,i would take up this cross and go if once more invited1 the burden lifted4 ,about two o'clock the next ,sunday afternoon ,i found myself1 with a band of about twenty workers1 behind iron bars1 looking into the faces of nearly two hundred men and boys and a few women4 ,oh6 but the tears flowed from my eyes1 especially for the boys1 many of whom were so young1 as ,i wondered what would be the outcome of their present association and environment4 ,it seemed awful6 awful6 ,i sang song after song2 then ,i was invited to speak4 ,my heart was too full for many words1 but when the invitation was given to seek our ,savior1 many hands went up for special prayer4 ,the meeting soon closed4 ,then as those terrible but necessary iron doors again unlocked and the prisoners filed past us one by one to their lonely1 cheerless quarters1 ,i made up my mind to come whenever ,i could1 and1 whenever permitted1 to do and say what ,i could to help he whosoever wills1 also to use my influence in certain quarters for the betterment of the children prisoners1 not one of whom but doubtless had been cheated out of his birthright by untutored1 ofttimes wilfully ignorant parents or guardians4 ,let me call your attention to one of the women prisoners1 whose peculiarly repulsive countenance was so remarkable that when we came away from the jail ,i interrogated one of the workers concerning her4 ,to my amazement1 ,i was informed that the woman 7,nell7 was regarded as a hopeless case1 and also that she had enjoyed musical educational advantages1 her people having sent her to ,paris to complete certain accomplishments4 ,there1 in that wicked capital1 she became very gay1 soon acquired the absinth habit1 and rapidly descended in the social scale1 and now she was scarcely ever out of prison4 ,it was very difficult to realize that this poor soul1 who now was never known to use any but vile language and oaths1 was once a beautiful young woman1 a linguist1 pianist1 singer1 also otherwise accomplished person4 ,though all efforts 7there had been many7 in her behalf had proved futile1 ,i determined to make an attempt to save her4 ,accordingly ,i paid a special visit to the women's quarters4 ,so far as she was concerned1 it was all to no purpose2 but oh6 praise the dear ,lord6 ,i found others who would heed1 and ,i had a blessed time of ,bible reading1 song1 and prayer with them4 ,one of these was a young girl1 ,anita1 who had been arrested at the request of her mother--yes1 her own mother4 ,why1 what kind of unnatural mother could she have been8 you ask4 ,not different from many others with whom ,i have been brought in contact4 ,the daughter implored me to call on her mother and beg her not to consent to her being sent to the reform school1 the girl solemnly promising good behavior in the future4 ,how she clung to me as ,i tried to picture the merciful1 loving ,savior4 ,we knelt in prayer in her lonely1 dismal cell1 where she followed me in a petition for ,god to save her soul and show her the way4 ,anita appeared to be about seventeen years old2 but her mother with whom a few hours later ,i had an interview1 and a most distressing one1 ,i assure you1 told me that the girl was but fourteen1 that she had been so petted and spoilt from her babyhood up 7parents and others1 please take note of this7 as to be absolutely unmanageable1 that she was out at all hours of the night1 in all sorts of places1 with all sorts of company4 ,the mother appeared to regard herself as a very much wronged1 greatly abused parent1 and when ,i gently but firmly endeavored to place the blame where it belonged1 she all but ordered me out of her house4 ,her conduct led me to the conclusion that her daughter would be better off in the place to which she was about to be sent than under the jurisdiction of such a parent4 ,sad at heart1 ,i returned to poor expectant ,anita1 remaining some time to comfort her as best ,i knew how and promising to write to her and1 ,god willing1 to visit her in her new home4 ,the first promise was soon fulfilled1 and about one year later ,i had the pleasure of personally hearing her expressions of gratitude4 ,the discipline had been most beneficial1 and1 besides1 she was learning to be a good cook and housekeeper--something that could never have happened in her mother's home4 ,a few years later1 while ,i was holding a meeting in one of the local churches1 many came forward at the close to greet me4 ,among them was a fine-looking young woman with a pretty baby in her arms4 ,don't you remember me1 ,mother ,roberts8 she said4 ,i'm ,anita4 ,soon she was telling me of her marriage to a young farmer about eighteen months previously4 ,the next morning she came in her buggy to take me to enjoy a few hours in her cozy home4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,leila4 ,leila was that beautiful girl1 the first to welcome me as ,i crossed the threshold of the home4 ,she was a rather reserved1 high-strung1 aristocratic-looking girl1 who did not always take kindly to requests made with regard to little household duties required from each member of the family1 health permitting1 of course4 ,one day shortly after my advent in the home ,i had occasion to reprimand her4 ,she turned on me with such language and so evil1 so distressing an expression as to shock and grieve me terribly4 ,presently the dear ,lord gained a glorious victory4 ,i hunted her up2 for1 in her anger1 she had gone into hiding1 and1 putting my arms about her1 lovingly implored her to forgive1 as ,i had not intended to offend or in any way remind her of her dreadful past4 ,from that time on we were great friends4 ,before long she confided to me her troubles1 past and present4 ,her people were poor and proud1 and she did not take kindly to her environments either at home or at school1 and did not go quite through the grammar grades4 ,her mother1 from whom she inherited her temper1 frequently quarreled with her and also disparaged her4 ,at the age of fifteen1 partly because of her restlessness and partly because of her desire to earn money1 for she would no longer go to school1 she1 being quite a tall1 well-developed girl1 procured a situation as waitress in a wealthy family near her home in the city of ,san ,francisco4 ,she was a ,catholic4 ,because of her duties1 she attended early mass4 ,one ,sunday morning1 whilst she was returning from church1 her prayer-book accidentally slipped out of her hand4 ,upon stooping to pick it up1 she discovered that she was forestalled by a well-dressed gentleman 7871 who handed it to her with an admiring look and most respectful bow4 ,raising his hat1 he politely passed on4 ,as ,leila never expected to see him again1 imagine her astonishment at meeting him the following ,sunday1 when again1 with a glance of recognition1 which flattered this poor victim1 he most respectfully raised his hat4 ,the third ,sunday the same thing occurred again1 but now instead of passing by1 he politely accosted her with words to this effect3 ,good morning1 young lady4 ,i trust you will please pardon the great liberty ,i am taking4 ,i never more earnestly wished to know of some one to introduce me1 but because ,i do not1 will you not kindly take the will for the deed1 waive all formality1 and permit me the honor of walking at least a portion of your way with you8 ,i am a gentleman with whom you need not for a moment hesitate to be seen2 and now1 may ,i have the pleasure of learning your name8 ,mine is ,claude ,forrester4 ,poor innocent1 ignorant1 flattered ,leila began blushingly to confide to this villain her true name1 her occupation1 and much concerning her home life4 ,as they neared her employer's residence1 they parted1 she promising to meet him for a walk one evening during the week4 ,her heart fluttered with joy1 her silly head was completely turned at having captured so fine an admirer1 and she could hardly wait for the time to come when she was to enjoy that promenade4 ,you may be sure he was on hand at the designated corner4 ,leila1 in order to keep the appointment1 resorted to falsehood4 ,she asked permission of her mistress to be allowed to go home for some trivial article1 promising to return by a given time4 ,she kept her word as to the time1 but the leaven of the adversary was rapidly working4 ,he led her to believe that he was the son of a wealthy widow who expected him to make a good match1 but that he was in the habit of gaining his point with this indulgent parent whenever he so desired4 ,he intended1 he said1 to confess to his mother that he had fallen in love with the most beautiful1 innocent1 and virtuous girl in all the wide world1 and to tell her that he should never be happy again unless she would see ,leila and eventually consent to her becoming his dear little wife4 ,he told the confiding girl that he intended to lavish on her all his wealth4 ,he pictured the beautiful garments that she was to wear1 the jewels1 the carriage1 the home4 ,he promised also to give her private lessons in order to fit her for her position as his wife4 ,poor1 poor little girl6 ,who does not pity this worse than motherless child8 ,how distasteful her position now appeared1 and how she longed for ,sunday morning when she again would see her grand1 wealthy sweetheart6 ,when they met1 he informed her that his mother would like to meet her1 requested her to look her prettiest on the following ,tuesday evening1 and to be at the appointed street corner1 and said that he would take her to his home and introduce her to the one now so desirous of making the acquaintance of the girl with whom he had fallen so desperately in love4 ,alas1 poor ,leila6 ,by another falsehood she procured permission to go out4 ,she was ushered into a fine-looking room in a house on ,mason ,street1 and soon a grandly dressed lady1 young looking to be this villain's mother1 greeted her very cordially1 asked many questions1 and then rang for refreshments1 which a ,chinaman servant soon carried in on a tray--and when ,leila next awoke it was broad daylight4 ,what was she doing in this strange room8 ,it wasn't long before she succumbed to all the vices and evil influences governing the life she was now destined and even resigned to lead4 ,about a year later1 when she was no longer of value to her betrayers1 when she was an outcast whom no one wanted--no one but her ,savior and some of the consecrated children of ,god--at this time she was sitting on a table in a ,ladies' entrance department of a saloon4 ,there one of ,god's rescue missionaries so lovingly approached her that ,leila1 longing to get away from ,san ,francisco for fear of being recognized by her mother and friends1 was easily induced to come to the home1 where she had lived for several months when ,i first met her4 ,the time came when she gave her heart to her ,savior and then followed his example in baptism4 ,it was one of the sweetest experiences of my ,christian life to help prepare her and some others that evening for this beautiful1 sacred ceremony4 ,what a happy1 happy family returned to our home and retired to our rest an hour later6 ,but alas6 some acquaintance discovered ,leila's whereabouts and conveyed the information to her mother4 ,one day1 on coming home from some errand of mercy1 ,i was informed by the matron1 now sufficiently recovered to be with us once more1 that she had a surprise for me1 and she asked me to guess4 ,my first guess was1 ,my darling boy has come back to me4 ,no2 guess again4 ,then it must be my husband4 ,no2 ,i am going to tell you4 ,listen6 ,do you hear that loud weeping in the parlor8 ,yes4 ,it's ,leila's mother4 ,she is in a fearful state because her daughter is an inmate of a rescue home4 ,come in and help me to try to pacify her4 ,it was a difficult task1 but on our promising to bring her daughter in if she would be calm1 an effort on her part soon proved successful4 ,soon mother and daughter were alone4 ,in about fifteen minutes ,leila called us1 and in our presence the mother promised that1 if we would only let her dear child return with her to her own home1 under no circumstances would she ever remind her of the past and also would make her life pleasanter for her in the future4 ,it was impossible to refuse4 ,leila1 with tears and prayers1 soon bade farewell to us all4 ,i would that ,i might record that in the future it was well with her and her soul1 but alas6 ,i can not4 ,one day her mother1 because of some trivial offense1 forgot her solemn promise4 ,poor ,leila flew into a rage and1 without even waiting for her hat1 rushed out of the house never to return1 and once more the enemy had her back in his territory4 ,long but vainly did we search for her until she was so far gone that she coldly refused all ,god's and our overtures of mercy1 and no language of mine could describe her awful physical condition4 ,she was only nineteen1 but an utter wreck1 morally as well as otherwise4 ,her own mother would not now have been able to recognize her4 ,we find no occasion to moralize in closing this story4 ,we know that your tears will fall and that your heart will ache1 but oh6 be warned1 and warn others4 ,full well do we who are rescue workers know there are thousands of cases today parallel with this one4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,i ,,bid ,,farewell ,,to ,,the ,,sacramento ,,home4 ,god's still1 small voice bidding me to prepare for other fields of labor came very definitely soon after his ,spirit gave me the song entitled ,the ,messengers1 a song which has proven of great value1 especially in the prison work4 ,i informed the matron1 who insisted upon it that ,i was mistaken and deliberately laying down my cross1 but ,i knew better2 for ,god's ,word makes no mistakes1 and the ,spirit always agrees with that ,word1 which now told me what ,i must soon prepare for1 saying1 ,go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in hither the poor and the maim1 the halt and the blind4 ,luke #ad3ba4 ,it was most difficult to cut loose from these dear ones1 but to obey is better than sacrifice4 #a ,sam4 #ae3bb4 ,requiring a rest1 ,i took lodging in my former quarters1 where1 on first coming to ,sacramento1 my son and ,i resided1 and there quietly waited on the ,lord2 for my having received no monetary compensation whatsoever from any one placed me in a most blessed position of faith and trust1 which our ,father did not long permit to go unrewarded4 ,i told nobody of my needs1 but simply asked ,god for the things needful1 which he sent through his children4 ,soon ,i was supplied with remunerative work sufficient for my immediate requirements1 and1 as did ,paul of old1 ,i labored with mine own hands because ,i would not be chargeable unto the brethren4 ,during those few days ,i was a regular attendant each evening at the ,peniel ,mission1 already mentioned1 and there once more met ,brother and ,sister ,thurston1 who1 as you will recall1 were using a gospel-wagon4 ,they were now about to respond to a call from ,woodland1 ,yolo ,county1 to open a mission4 ,again ,i was invited to join them4 ,feeling led of the ,lord1 ,i accepted1 and soon we were in our new field of labor4 ,illustration3 ,,sheet ,,music ,,the ,,messengers 7,the ,doves47 ,words and ,music by ,mrs4 ,,florence ,,roberts4 ,the messengers tap on the windows4 ,the windows of the soul4 ,they carry this news from our ,savior1 ,i died that ye might be made whole4 ,i died that ye might be made whole1 ,i died that ye might be made whole4 ,the messengers tap on the windows4 ,and beat their wings on the bars2 ,they carry the news to the sinner1 ,you can become bright as the stars4 ,you can become bright as the stars4 ,you can become bright as the stars4 ,the messengers tap on the windows4 ,three times they come and they go2 ,jesus saith1 ,tho' your sins be as scarlet4 ,trust me4 ,i will make them like snow4 ,trust me4 ,i will make them like snow4 ,trust me1 ,i will make them like snow4 ,the messengers tap on the windows2 ,behold1 ,i freely forgive ,whoso-ever will come1 let him do so1 ,partake of salvation and live4 ,partake of salvation and live4 ,partake of salvation and live4 ,the messengers tap on the windows2 ,sweet peace from our ,savior they bring2 ,sweet peace which is past understanding1-- ,the windows now open4 ,come in4 ,the windows now open4 ,come in4 ,the windows now open4 ,come in4 ,it was very precious1 very blessed4 ,erelong1 however1 my companions in the work received a call to other places1 whilst ,i received a definite call to remain4 ,that first evening alone on the rostrum--shall ,i ever forget it8 ,all day ,i had been praying 7not always on my knees7 for a text for my first public message or sermon1 but not one could ,i settle on4 ,whilst the audience was gathering1 we sang many hymns4 ,this was followed by a few voluntary prayers2 then came the embarrassing moment4 ,i was compelled to inform the congregation--and it was a large one--of my predicament1 and besought them to kneel again with me in brief supplication for a text4 ,praise ,god from whom all blessings flow6 my ,bible fell open1 my eyes riveted on these words3 ,and immediately the angel of the ,lord smote him because he gave not ,god the glory1 and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost4 ,acts #ab3bc4 ,positively the message came from the ,lord4 ,as ,i spoke ,i was as though in a trance4 ,the altar filled with seekers1 and souls stepped into that precious fountain still open in the house of ,david4 ,how happy ,i was6 ,to ,god be all the credit1 all the glory4 ,amongst the seekers was one who presently told me that for forty-one years he had been a drunkard4 ,he certainly looked as if he had--poor1 bloated1 filthy1 loathsome1 ill-smelling creature4 ,i can not find adjectives enough to describe him4 ,everybody avoided him4 ,it surely was a testing time for me4 ,also1 ,i had trying experiences thereafter with this particular soul2 for1 though he certainly found salvation1 he was such a weakling that he was ever leaning upon the arm of flesh2 in consequence of which ,i endured much persecution4 ,he haunted me much of the time1 morning1 noon1 and night1 so that ,i was subjected to unkind remarks and ridicule2 but1 remembering the words of our ,master in ,matt4 #e3aa1 #ab and ,paul's in ,phil4 #b3g1 ,i endeavored to bear this for the sake of his soul4 ,much later1 when ,i was in the work in ,san ,francisco1 he took up his abode there1 and shortly afterward the blessed ,lord saw fit to provide him with an earthly companion 7he was a widower71 a most worthy ,christian woman1 who tenderly ministered to his needs until ,father called him home1 little more than a year following the earthquake and fire of that great city4 ,concerning that catastrophe he wrote me as follows3 ,san ,francisco1 ,potrero ,camp1 ,opp4 ,s4,p4,r4,r4 ,depot1 ,third and ,townsend ,streets1 ,april #bi1 #aijf4 ,my dear ,sister ,roberts3 ,we are alive and well4 ,praise the ,lord4 ,on the morning of the eighteenth we were roughly thrown from our bed by earthquake1 and our house broken all to pieces1 and it was afire before we were rescued4 ,two men 7,god bless them67 took my dear wife and me with ropes1 and by the time we were in the street the house was burning furiously4 ,two poor women on the lower floor were burned to death4 ,we lost all we had except the clothes we had on and our ,bibles4 ,these we had been reading the night before and had left at our bedside4 ,as we went out1 we each took a ,bible4 ,i had a very fine collection of religious books1 some very valuable1 but all went in smoke2 but1 thank ,god6 he saved our lives4 ,i assure you we have thanked him in prayer many times since we escaped4 ,we got over on the ,potrero and we had to sit in the hot sun all day the eighteenth1 nineteenth1 and twentieth1 and in the cold night wind1 and we had nothing to lie down on nor to cover us to keep the cold out4 ,my wife asked a woman to loan her a blanket to throw around me4 ,she would not do it1 yet she had enough extra ones for a dozen people4 ,finally near morning of the second night a lieutenant from the ,presidio 7regular army7 came along and saw us sitting in the cold1 and asked if we were so bad off as that4 ,i told him yes4 ,he said he would see about that4 ,he went and took a heavy pair of blankets from that woman and brought them to us4 ,we wrapped ourselves up in them and sat down again4 ,after that we got along comfortably until morning1 but the woman took the blankets away as soon as morning came4 ,then we got into a ,santa ,fe car1 which kept us out of the wind1 but we had no bedding4 ,after two days we all had to get out of the cars1 as the company had to send them to ,los ,angeles to load them with sugar4 ,then we were out of doors again2 but1 praise the ,lord6 ,mr4 ,john ,a4 ,hedges1 a showman1 gave us a comfortable house1 and he says we can have it as long as we stay4 ,his dear wife gives us hot coffee and food every day1 and good coffee and food1 too4 ,they have two fine boys1 sixteen and eighteen years of age4 ,the boys have found jobs to work to help their father and mother4 ,there are hundreds of able-bodied men around the camp1 but they will not work4 ,they can get from #b4jj to #b4ej a day1 but they would rather live off the liberality of others4 ,but when the soldiers find them they are forced to work1 and they get no pay1 only something to eat4444 ,i am alone in our little house today4 ,my dear one is out visiting some friends4 ,she will soon be with me4 ,sister1 she is a dear one to me4 ,god bless her6 ,mr4 ,a4 ,d4 ,porter1 a banker of ,woodland now deceased1 came down to hunt me up1 and had a hard time to find us2 but day before yesterday while looking around and asking for us he met ,mr4 ,hedges1 and he brought him to us4 ,he told us to come to ,woodland1 and we could have rooms without cost4 ,he is going to fit up rooms with kitchen and cooking utensils1 etc41 so we can live comfortably and without charge4 ,we will go on ,tuesday or ,wednesday1 first or second of ,may4 ,he also pays our car fare4 ,we are thankful to him for his kindness4 ,so you can write to us in ,woodland4 ,you have no idea how often my wife and ,i have said we wished we could see our dear ,sister ,roberts4 ,we can not begin to say all we want to in a letter4 ,there is so much to talk about at this time4 ,my wife got out in her night clothes4 ,she did not have a chance to get her hat to cover her head4 ,some of the people are very kind to us4 ,my wife has got back to camp and is sitting by me while ,i write4 ,i will not try to say more at this time4 ,good-by4 ,i hope you had no trouble at ,beth ,adriel the ,san ,jose rescue home to be referred to hereafter4 ,god bless you and your work4 ,with love from ,brother and ,sister ,mosby4 ,god wonderfully strengthened me and aided me to be faithful to this aged brother's soul1 who through that awful demon1 liquor1 for years had been well-nigh an imbecile when first we met2 and ,i expect one of the first ones to welcome me when ,i reach the glory-land will be my old friend1 ,brother ,mosby4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,woodland 7,continued7--,a ,,boycott4 ,one of the greatest and most agonizing trials of faith and trust occurred shortly after my being placed in charge of the ,woodland undenominational gospel mission4 ,the test well-nigh prostrated me4 ,a letter from my son1 then in ,san ,francisco1 abruptly broke the following news3 ,dear ,mother3 ,by the time you receive this ,i shall be on my way to ,manilla4 ,it will be a good opportunity for experience1 and to see the world4 ,i go as an employee on board the ,logan4444 ,hoping to see you again in about three months1 ,i remain4 ,your loving son1 ,charlie4 ,to leave me1 with only this for a farewell6 ,o ,god6 ,i cried1 ,i am indeed bereft of all my earthly treasures4 ,no word from my husband had reached me for many months1 although occasionally ,i had1 through interested friends1 been able to locate him4 ,he never1 from the time of my leaving home1 contributed one cent toward my support4 ,so ,i was given1 as but few are given1 a glorious opportunity to trust daily1 hourly1 and prove our dear heavenly ,father--and he never has1 nor ever will be1 delinquent1 unless ,i fail in my love and duty4 ,no collections were taken in the mission4 ,freewill offerings supported this work1 which system gave occasion for some blessed testings2 for sometimes rent-day would find us with an empty treasury1 together with ,god's warning not to appeal to any but him4 ,my cupboard was empty at times4 ,i prayed1 and he bountifully replenished it4 ,the first ,christmas season in ,woodland was a notable one4 ,we were to give a dinner to the converts4 ,many were the gifts of edibles4 ,christmas eve found ,sister ,simpson and me very busy preparing and cooking1 aided by two prospective guests4 ,while ,i was thus engaged1 a message arrived requesting me to go quickly to a certain street and cabin1 where a girl lay dying4 ,carrying my ,bible and little autoharp1 my constant companions1 ,i soon arrived at the place designated4 ,poor ,nell6 ,how grateful ,i am that ,god ever permitted me to meet you1 for now--not until now have you felt your great need4 ,we spent a very precious1 profitable time in that mean1 forlorn abode4 ,soon ,nell gladly yielded to ,jesus2 then whilst ,i was softly singing1 ,jesus knows all about our struggles1 she went to sleep4 ,commending her for all time and eternity to ,his loving keeping1 ,i stole softly out4 ,early on ,christmas morning word arrived that ,nell had never awakened1 but had passed quietly away1 shortly after midnight4 ,hers was the first funeral service at which ,i officiated4 ,it was well attended4 ,instead of eulogizing the dead1 as is common on such occasions1 ,i delivered1 for the blessed ,master1 a precious fruit-bearing message to the living4 ,hallelujah6 ,the passing of ,nell did not prevent our having a happy ,christmas4 ,all my guests1 save two sisters1 who were gospel workers1 were wonderfully redeemed1 blood-washed men and boys4 ,after all of us had enjoyed to our hearts' content the good things to eat1 we lingered round the table relating one experience after the other4 ,some of the boys had been in prison time and again1 and they rehearsed some of their escapades whilst serving the devil4 ,all agreed that the primary cause of their downfall was disobedience to parents or guardians when very young1 a continuation of this in youth1 then the tobacco and liquor habits in connection with disobedience4 ,then1 nothing but sorrow2 now1 nothing but peace and joy if they would only remain true to our wonderful ,redeemer4 ,doubtless most of my readers have never attended such a dinner party4 ,let me tell you something4 ,we had for our guest--the ,king4 ,to be sure1 we did not see him with these fleshly eyes1 but the spiritual vision wonderfully revealed his presence1 beyond a doubt1 to each of us4 ,it was a feasting with my ,lord4 ,in the days gone by1 before becoming acquainted with my ,savior1 ,i had both entertained and been entertained sumptuously2 but never1 never had ,i so enjoyed a banquet1 never had ,i been more happy than with these guests4 ,in the summer-time of that year following these occurrences we were boycotted4 ,strange and various worldly procedures for the raising of money in the different churches were causing much comment4 ,the matter reached my ears1 and1 like ,jeremiah and some of the other prophets of old1 ,i proceeded to tell ,father what a stumbling-block this was to both sinner and saint and how it grieved my soul1 and besought him to warn them4 ,he gave me answer from ,isaiah1 sixth chapter4 7,please read it47 ,he spoke to my soul in the night1 saying1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 ,say unto these people1 ,thou shalt read1 mark1 learn1 and inwardly digest1 ,ezekiel1 third and fourth chapters1 also ,matthew1 sixth chapter1 twenty-fourth verse4 ,he brought ,isa4 #f3f-h so before my mental vision that ,i lay on my bed trembling from head to foot4 ,a union prayer service1 the last of the season1 was to take place in one of the churches on the following ,wednesday evening4 ,i was impressed on ,tuesday to announce to the mission audience that we should on that occasion attend this union service4 ,i made no mention to them of the message the ,lord was trusting me to give1 nor did ,i know how he would have it delivered4 ,my soul was heavily burdened1 and a great fear took possession of me1 as ,i entered the basement of that church1 which was soon filled with members and pastors representing the various denominations1 also many of the mission attendants4 ,the subject ,i well remember--,the ,forgiving ,spirit4 ,it was beautifully discussed and handled1 causing me to think that under these circumstances the ,lord would possibly excuse me4 ,in order to find out1 ,i reverently opened my ,bible4 ,my eyes fell on one word in big capitals--,,jonah4 ,oh6 ,i must obey2 but how8 ,i waited and watched4 ,soon came a call for voluntary prayer1 and ,i received my cue when ,brother ,smith of the ,seventh-day ,adventists prayed4 ,testimony was next in order4 ,following one or two brief testimonies1 ,i mechanically arose1 and gave out the message just as it had come to me from the ,lord1 and then sat down--a great burden now off my soul4 ,painful silence followed1 but finally a brother 7,sunday-school teacher7 arose4 ,let us see what this means1 he said4 ,i will read ,ezekiel #c2 and he proceeded to read4 ,then a brother on the opposite side spoke--,i will read ,ezekiel #d4 ,pastor ,m--- next said1 ,and ,i will read ,matt4 #f3ba1 after which we will proceed with our testimonies4 ,but they did not4 ,they could not4 ,after a long silence only one arose4 ,she gave an honest answer1 promising ,god never so to offend him in the future4 ,on my way home ,satan said to me1 ,now you're in for it4 ,sure enough4 ,i comforted myself by audibly singing as ,i walked along1 ,jesus ,lover of ,my ,soul4 ,maybe you think ,i was frightened and miserable4 ,not so4 ,i could not have been happier2 for the load was lifted1 my conscience was clear4 ,on the following ,monday evening we expected one of the pastors1 by previous appointment1 to preach in the mission4 ,we waited4 ,he never came4 ,i was sent for to come to his parsonage the following morning1 and there ,i learned this3 ,at a special ministerial meeting1 which took place on ,monday morning1 the ,woodland pastors took action with regard to the attitude assumed toward the churches by the woman1 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 now in charge of the ,city ,gospel ,mission4 ,a motion was made1 seconded1 and unanimously adopted to boycott said mission and said worker4 ,was the mission thereafter a failure8 ,no1 praise the ,lord6 ,it prospered1 and it still prospers in the hands of the various workers the ,master sends from time to time4 ,he kept me there three years1 and never did ,i lack for the things needful4 ,in that time was ,i absent twice for short periods1 but the mission nightly continued its precious office work under the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,,brief ,,call ,,to ,,sacramento--,i ,,enter ,,the ,,san ,,francisco ,,field4 ,both those periods of absence were occasioned by the return of my son1 who now had made two trips to and from the ,philippines4 ,after the second one he decided to return to ,sacramento1 if ,i would make a little home for him4 ,his stay was of but a few months' duration notwithstanding our cozy1 comfortable quarters1 for the spirit of roving still possessed him1 and erelong he shipped as an employee on one of the large passenger steamers bound for ,australia4 ,then1 at the repeated requests of many1 ,i returned to ,woodland1 from which place ,i eventually accepted a call to the rescue work in ,san ,francisco4 ,there ,i made my home with ,sister ,kauffman1 whose name and calling has already been briefly mentioned4 ,for a long time we worked together for the inmates of ,the ,home of ,peace1 and each ,sunday morning at #i3cj o'clock ,i1 with other ,christians1 could be found at the county jail1 ,no4 #c1 adjacent to the ,ingleside district and about three and one-half miles distant from the city center4 ,of this branch of the work we will speak hereafter4 ,the duties and the expenses of the ,san ,francisco home were great2 for there was always a large family1 most of whom1 on coming1 were destitute of decent apparel1 and1 with scarcely an exception1 all needed physical treatment1 some permanently1 so that we toiled incessantly either in the sewing-room1 the sick-room1 or the nursery1 where were several dear little babies4 ,who does not love a baby8 ,you can not imagine how attached we were to them1 soon forgetting their unfortunate advent1 and doing what we could to instruct and aid their untutored young mothers4 ,the feeding of the family was alone often a problem 7,i mean as to the source71 so that we had to be very much in the spirit of prayer4 ,sometimes our ,father would see fit to test us to the limit1 for instance3 ,shortly after my coming1 the one in charge of food supplies said1 ,sister ,kauffman1 we are out of everything4 ,there is only enough for today1 and perhaps tomorrow morning's breakfast4 ,the worker whose business it was to visit ,the ,mission merchants for any donations of food1 etc4 came home late that afternoon with but meager results for her day's hard labor4 ,in the morning1 following earnest prayer with the family gathered around that poorly supplied breakfast table1 ,sister ,kauffman and ,i started out to plead for absolute necessities4 ,all without exception commended this laudable work for the wandering girls1 but oh6 the excuses4 ,to this day ,i am amazed at many of them4 ,in one office was a portly1 good-natured-looking gentleman puffing away at an expensive cigar4 7,reader1 there was a time in my life when ,i enjoyed the fragrance of a good one1 for my husband was a smoker47 ,he declared that he could not afford to assist one cent's worth1 that he was too poor4 ,i dared to inquire gently how many cigars he smoked daily and if they were not at least twenty-five cents for two4 ,worse than that1 he proudly replied2 twenty cents apiece4 ,but ,i only smoke half a dozen a day at the most4 ,i'm not an inveterate smoker2 besides1 it's my only bad habit4 ,when ,i told him that the cost of one day's smoking would feed all our hungry family with a substantial meal1 he turned his back and began to get busy at his desk1 and thus we considered ourselves dismissed4 ,there was excuse after excuse1 refusal after refusal1 principally on the plea of there being so many appeals for charity equally worthy and only a limitless pocket-book being requisite to meet the many demands4 ,noon-time discovered us in front of the ,call building1 corner of ,market and ,third ,streets1 both of us faint1 weary1 hungry1 and slightly discouraged1 yet still hopeful4 ,we stood on the street corner for a few minutes holding each other's hands1 and1 unknown to the passers-by1 praying for strength of body and soul1 imploring our heavenly ,father to renew our faith and courage4 ,after resting a little while on one of the stone seats near ,lotta's ,fountain1 we once more began to toil up office stairs or ride in elevators4 ,at four o'clock we were near the city front in the wholesale district4 ,still our faith was being tested1 for most of those from whom we had expected help had either gone for the day or were absent from some other cause4 ,at last ,i weakened4 ,sister ,kauffman1 ,i can stand this awful strain no longer1 ,i said4 ,perhaps ,god has sent in food to the girls during our absence4 ,let us try to get back home4 ,we could not telephone4 ,that would mean a nickel1 and we didn't have it4 ,once more1 dear1 once more we'll try1 replied courageous ,sister ,kauffman4 ,so we ascended a long flight of stairs1 only to find the door fast locked4 ,bless her noble soul6 she was just as tired1 weak1 and hungry as ,i1 but infinitely less selfish4 ,as we came out on the sidewalk1 she suddenly remembered one who had some time previously promised help whenever she happened in that vicinity again4 ,it was but half a block distant4 ,thither we dragged our weary bodies4 ,when we reached the top of that stairway1 a gentleman was just in the act of locking a door4 ,his greeting was3 ,well1 well1 ,sister ,kauffman1 how do you do1 and how are all your family8 ,you're just in time4 ,i was about to go home4 ,glad to make your acquaintance1 ,sister ,roberts4 ,ladies1 come in a moment and rest after your hard climb4 ,he handed a piece of money 7five dollars7 to ,sister ,kauffman1 remarking as he did so that he had been saving it for her several days4 ,then something happened--something totally unlooked for by any of us three4 ,sister ,kauffman and ,i burst into tears and wept unrestrainedly for several minutes1 whilst the kind friend retired1 ,i suppose1 to a remote corner of the large room4 ,presently1 when we had become somewhat calm1 we told him what we had endured since early morning4 ,it was not at all strange 7now was it87 that this good-hearted man1 during our short recital1 resorted to frequent use of his handkerchief4 ,but it was now fast growing dark1 and we had to hurry4 ,many samples of canned goods were upon the shelves4 7,this was a wholesale commission merchant's office47 ,he filled my net shopping-bag1 made up another package1 then forth we went with smiling faces and happy hearts4 ,presently he helped us on to our car1 then left us4 ,oh6 ,sister ,roberts dear1 we'll have to break our five dollars to pay our car fare1 said ,sister ,kauffman4 ,when the conductor came our way and she inquired whether he had change for five1 he answered1 ,your fares are paid4 ,god bless that noble-hearted1 thoughtful gentleman4 ,i do not remember his name1 but ,i do hope he will read or hear of this4 ,whether he does or not1 the generous deed is1 ,i feel sure1 recorded to his credit in heaven4 ,when we turned the corner of our street1 some of the family1 disregarding the rules1 rushed out to greet us and to help us in with our load4 ,soon our five dollars was purchasing bread1 potatoes1 and other things for an immediate meal1 to which we all quickly sat down1 and1 after reverently thanking our heavenly ,father ate--shall ,i say8--yes1 ravenously4 ,reader1 do not imagine this as being a common every-day experience4 ,by no means1 although we were ever subject to tests in one form or another4 ,this taught us to pray more1 and not to labor quite so hard--an excellent and profitable lesson2 also1 to pray ,god to reprove those who1 though well able to help1 had refused4 ,for inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these1 ye did it not to me4 ,matt4 #be3de4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,i ,,am ,,introduced ,,to ,,the ,,dives ,,of ,,barbary ,,coast ,sister ,kauffman was well acquainted with the dives of ,barbary ,coast1 she having occasionally to seek some one inquired for1 or perhaps a lost member of the family returned to former haunts of sin4 ,the next time she had occasion to go1 ,i requested that ,i might accompany her4 ,she very gladly consented4 ,at nine o'clock that night we were in a horrible neighborhood4 ,i had a tight grip on her arm1 and no wonder1 for we were now where every vice and crime were common and reigned supreme4 ,plainly do ,i still see the first place we entered4 ,it was called ,the ,klondyke4 ,come1 sister1 don't be afraid3 ,god is watching over us1 whispered ,sister ,kauffman as she walked me through a screen door and into that gaudy1 low barroom1 where were congregated a most deplorable mixture of degraded men and youth in various stages of inebriety4 ,the place reeked with the vile odors of whiskey1 beer1 tobacco1 uncleanliness of body1 etc41 so that my stomach revolted1 and ,i felt as if ,i should be compelled to return to the fresh air2 but ,sister ,kauffman1 who had obtained permission from the proprietor 7tending bar71 took me through another doorway1 which led into a dance-hall4 ,positively ,i was as though rooted to the spot1 and ,i said to myself1 ,this is even worse than anything of which ,i read or hear4 ,i do not dare to describe the situation2 for ,i know that young people are going to read this book and ,i have not the least inclination to sully their minds4 ,suffice it to say1 ,i was looking upon a shameful scene of total depravity participated in by both sexes1 some of whom were little more than in their teens4 ,an intoxicated girl sidled up to me4 ,how sickening was that vile breath in my face as she said4 ,say1 what yer got in that case8 ,it was my auto-harp4 ,sing something for her1 ,sister ,roberts1 said ,sister ,kauffman1 at the same time drawing the girl and me into a remote corner4 ,i sent up to the throne of grace a quick1 silent petition1 and the answer immediately returned1 for strength came4 ,taking my little instrument in my arms4 ,i commenced1 with shaky voice1 the song that you will find between these pages entitled1 ,her ,voice4 ,don't1 oh6 don't6 ,oh6 for ,god's sake don't6 sobbed and shrieked that poor wanderer as she threw herself upon me and buried her head1 with its tawdry covering and matted mop of dirty hair1 in my lap4 ,illustration3 ,,sheet ,,music ,andante ,,her ,,voice4 ,words and ,music by ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts4 7,illustration7 #a4 ,hark6 ,i hear the sweet-est music ,float-ing #b4 ,once a-gain ,i hear sweet voi-ces ,i've not #c4 ,years have passed since they have left us1 ,still the 7,illustration7 round me o'er and o'er1 ,such a min-gling of sweet heard for man-y years1 ,join-ing in the heav'n-ly ten-der mem-o-ry ,of these sing-ing saint-ed 7,illustration7 voi-ces1 ,sing-ing as in days of yore2 ,and ,i cho-rus2 ,and my eyes are filled with tears1 ,as ,i loved ones ,lin-gers round my heart to-day4 ,now ,i'm 7,illustration7 feel such peace and glad-ness ,steal-ing o'er me ten-der-ly1 hear my saint-ed moth-er1 ,with the loved ones free from care1 wait-ing and ,i'm lis-t'ning ,for the one that ,i love best4 7,illustration7 ,as ,i hear my moth-er sing-ing1 ,je-sus ,sing a-gain as in my child-hood1 ,of no ,je-sus1 bid-ding me to blend ,my voice in 7,illustration7 loves me1 e-ven me1 loves me1 e-ven me4 sor-row o-ver there2 sor-row o-ver there1 sing-ing with the blest2 sing-ing with the blest4 ,refrain4 #ast ,verse4 7,illustration7 ,i am so glad that ,jesus loves me1 ,je-sus loves e-ven me4 ,refrain4 #b;d ,verse4 7,illustration7 ,there'll be no more sor-row there1 ,there'll be no more 7,illustration7 sor-row there2 ,in heav-en a-bove1 where 7,illustration7 all is love1 ,there'll be no more sor-row there4 ,refrain4 #c;d ,verse4 7,illustration7 ,in the sweet bye and bye ,we shall 7,illustration7 meet on that beau-ti-ful shore2 ,in the sweet bye and 7,illustration7 bye1 ,we shall meet on that beau-ti-ful shore4 ,this drew the attention of the dancers1 causing a temporary halt4 ,one of her companions tried to pacify her and to draw her away1 but she resisted and only clung the closer4 ,i forgot the awful surroundings as my heart went out in tenderest pity4 ,placing my hand on her shoulder1 ,i offered soothing words and inquired if ,i could help her1 if ,i could comfort her4 ,presently she said3 ,lady1 ,god must have sent you here tonight4 ,i'm sober now2 ,i was drunk when you came in4 ,i want to let you know my mother is dead4 ,how she sobbed6 ,the dancing was resumed1 whilst the girl1 somewhat recovered1 continued her story4 ,she only left me a year ago4 ,she was a good ,christian1 my mother was2 and just before she died1 she sent everybody out of the room so as to have a talk with me4 ',hazel1' she said1 ',you've given me a heap of trouble and anxiety1 but ,i forgive you1 dear1 ,i forgive you4 ,now kiss ,mother1 and promise to be a better girl4 ,i've been praying many a long day for you1 my child4 ,i'm going to leave you4 ,the doctor says ,i may not see morning4 ,don't cry1 dear4 ,don't cry4' 4444 ,and then she prayed aloud4 ',o ,god6 make my naughty girl a good girl4 ,save her soul1 ,o ,god1 and may ,i some day meet her in heaven4 ,please1 ,god4 for the dear ,savior's sake4 ,amen4' 444 ,just look how ,i've kept my word6 ,what's your name1 lady8 ,you may call me ,mother ,roberts1 dear1 and1 furthermore1 you may come with me and that other lady over there1 to our home if you wish4 ,before we left that place1 and between dances1 a man sitting in drunken stupor on a bench suddenly tilted back his hat1 stared at me1 and accosted me thus3 ,howdy-do1 ,mother ,roberts4 ,my6 who is this that recognizes me in such a den8 ,i questioned myself4 ,who are you1 my man1 and where have we met8 ,i inquired4 ,imagine my chagrin at his replying3 ,in the jail at ,sacramento4 ,how awful6 ,what will these people think--that ,i am an ex-jail bird8 ,such were the thoughts that were running through my mind4 ,yep2 you gave me a speel there1 and ,i don't forget it4 ,say1 kids1 this 'ere woman's all right4 ,i wish ,i'd a minded wot she said1 'n ,i wouldn't be 'ere ter night4 ,hearing these last words1 ,sister ,kauffman1 who had been busy dealing with many souls all of this time1 said3 ,if you mean that1 come with ,mother ,roberts and me down to the mission1 a block away4 ,the dear young men workers there will be only too glad to help you4 ,then we immediately wended our way out4 ,i with my precious autoharp under one arm and the infinitely more precious human treasure's arm tucked safely under my other4 ,we soon reached the humble mission1 left the man in safe keeping1 and took a homeward-bound car1 retiring about #b ,a4,m41 grateful and almost too happy to sleep4 ,hazel stayed with us some time and then obtained a permanent situation in a ,christian family as their trusted domestic4 ,the ice1 now broken1 soon thawed1 and night after night two or three of us workers went to the slums1 dance-halls1 and dives1 endeavoring to rescue some mother's wandering boy or girl4 ,did we always succeed8 ,by no means4 ,often the small hours of the morning found us wending our way homeward weary and disappointed1 but never greatly discouraged4 ,at the least1 we sowed the precious seed1 claiming ,god's promise in ,isa4 #ee3aa as we did so4 ,many a time ,i have seen a girl quickly tuck away in the bosom of her dress some little tract 7we always were well supplied71 perhaps bearing these words4 ,jesus the ,savior loves you1 and sent me to tell you so2 for not always1 by any means1 would the proprietors or proprietresses permit us to converse with their victims4 ,sometimes we were so fortunate as to procure a girl's lodging-house address2 then we had the gratification of calling there in the daytime and privately dealing with her1 always with more or less good results4 ,on such visits ,i took the autoharp2 for singing is a great1 indeed ,i may say1 an invaluable aid in this work4 ,on one occasion1 when three of us were seeking the lost1 making saloon to saloon1 dance-hall to dance-hall visits1 we went into a place where my attention was immediately drawn to a beautiful1 modest-looking young lady 7about seventeen years old7 standing alongside of a gorgeous bar and trying to repel the advances of a pompous1 sporty-looking middle-aged man4 ,the man behind the bar was frowning and saying to her1 ,here1 none of those monkey-shines1 miss4 ,you tend to business4 ,d'you hear8 ,sister ,kauffman and the other worker had gone into the dance-hall in the rear4 ,quickly stepping up to the girl1 ,i inquired of her what he meant1 what so young and modest a girl was doing there1 and whether she did not desire to leave1 and implored her to let me aid in rescuing her from her wretched life4 ,quickly she told me that she was motherless and also that she had been home from an ,eastern school only about twenty-four days4 ,my child1 what has happened that you are here8 ,i inquired1 astonished beyond measure4 ,before she could reply the big blonde man tending bar said3 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,dive ,,keeper',s ,,daughter ,here you 7addressing me71 make yourself scarce4 ,you and your kind are ---- ---- hoo-doos to our business ,please1 please go1 the girl pleaded4 ,just at this juncture ,sister ,kauffman and her lady companion came through the dance hall double doors4 ,the latter held them wide open and in her loud1 penetrating voice slowly uttered these words3 ,what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul8 or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul8 444 ,come1 ,sister ,roberts4 ,yes1 in a minute1 ,i replied as ,i motioned to them ,i would join them outside4 ,i will not leave1 ,i said to the girl1 unless you give me some good reason for not accompanying me1 seeing you express a desire to be rescued4 ---- ---- ----6 shouted the man1 if you don't clear right out1 ,i'll brain you ,he held suspended in the air a full soda water bottle1 one of the heaviest4 ,the girl1 pushing me away from her1 said1 ,go6 go6 ,he'll do it4 ,and then she whispered3 ,he's my father4 ,i rushed out1 excitedly informed my companions1 and then quickly sought a policeman1 who1 when ,i informed him1 simply shrugged his shoulders and remarked3 ,i can't interfere4 ,the man has a license1 his daughter isn't of age1 he's her legal guardian4 ,don't know what you can do about it2 you'll have to consult higher authority than me--a course which we proceeded to follow in the morning4 ,in the evening we visited that same place1 accompanied by an officer in private clothes4 ,a large1 showy woman and also a bar-tender stood behind the bar4 ,are you the party what was here last night trying to make trouble8 she inquired4 ,well1 you're left4 ,the bird has flown4 ,ha6 ha6 ,i'm running this place now1 and ,i don't need your help1 neither4 ,don't you come here while ,i'm in charge of it1 etc4 ,evidently1 the policeman first accosted had given the alarm4 ,i have never heard what became of that poor girl and her wicked1 unnatural father4 ,a tenderhearted woman in that awful neighborhood1 one who had tried to protect her1 told me this3 ,the girl's mother died when she was a babe4 ,the father 7not then a saloon man7 sent her to ,new ,york to be raised by her aunt4 ,when old enough she was placed in school4 ,the aunt died4 ,she was removed to another school1 and there she remained until called for by her father1 who all these years had been her provider4 ,he brought her to ,san ,francisco1 where he now kept a dive and dance-hall4 ,she being a rather timid girl1 it can be readily understood why she submitted to his authority and tyranny4 ,my mind now reverts to two of the soldier boys1 returned from the ,philippines and seated one night in one of those places where we were permitted to work and also to sing4 ,toward the close of the song1 ,can a boy forget his mother's prayer1 ,when he has wandered ,god knows where8 ,i discovered them with their arms about each other's shoulders and both with the tears silently coursing down their cheeks4 ,setting my instrument on one side and remembering my own dear son1 the daily object of my prayers1 ,i essayed1 in earnest1 gentle tones1 to admonish them4 ,both acknowledged having been carefully reared by ,christian mothers1 one of whom was dead4 ,had they been my own1 ,i could not have more earnestly pleaded with them4 ,in consequence of my admonition they soon took their departure1 promising as they did so never again to cross the threshold of any place where they would be ashamed to have their mothers find them1 and also to seek once more their neglected ,savior4 ,both were soon reclaimed2 for ,i had the pleasure of meeting them later in a house of worship on the ,army's camp-grounds1 at the ,presidio4 ,christian parents1 you that through death or other means have been deprived of the companionship of your children1 why not occasionally join some of the rescue workers in their efforts to save somebody's wandering boy or girl1 instead of sitting in a rocking-chair1 nursing your sorrows8 ,speak the kindly1 loving word of warning or advice2 encourage the wayward son or daughter to reform2 and thus better your condition as well as theirs4 ,this will surely bring an indescribable peace and satisfaction to the soul1 assuage much grief1 and help to promote the ,master's kingdom4 ,he takes us at our word4 ,we sing3 ,i'll go where you want me to go1 dear ,lord4 ,over mountain1 or plain1 or sea1 ,i'll say what you want me to say1 dear ,lord1 ,i'll be what you want me to be4 ,do we mean it8 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,mary4 ,of all the pathetic stories from members of our family1 ,i deem ,mary's far in excess of others though all1 without exception1 are woefully sad ,god knows4 ,one day a telephone call came to us from the city and county hospital1 situated in a suburb known as ,the ,potrero1 inquiring if we had room for a delicate young mother with her three-weeks-old babe4 ,they informed us that her time as a patient had expired and1 moreover1 that they had just been quarantined for smallpox1 but that she had as yet suffered no exposure4 ,the workers were quickly consulted1 also a few trusted converted girls1 and together we knelt in prayer and then consulted ,god's ,word4 ,praise his name6 we opened it on the ninety-first ,psalm4 ,what better assurance than in verses #aj1 #aa1 and #ab8 ,soon we were welcoming one of the most forlorn specimens of humanity the home had ever received4 ,jack1 the delicate-looking baby1 had the facial expression of a tiny old man1 but oh6 such beautiful eyes6 ,we realized that both would require very tender care for some time to come4 ,when ,mary became able to work1 she rendered valuable service1 for she liked to cook and was efficient and economical4 ,whilst she was thus occupied1 her babe was being well cared for in the nursery4 ,several months passed by1 during which every means was resorted to in order to help ,mary learn to seek and find her ,savior1 but all without avail4 ,little ,jack1 never very strong1 was taken seriously ill and soon1 from the waist down1 was paralyzed4 ,mary now relinquished all other duties in order to nurse her sick treasure4 ,we never witnessed greater love and devotion4 ,for ten days before he died1 she did not leave his bedside one moment longer than necessary1 never changed her clothes1 excepting once1 and never lay down to sleep4 ,on more than one occasion it became my privilege to share the night vigils1 for which she was sincerely grateful4 ,how my heart yearned for this poor1 hopeless mother6 ,how ,i longed to impart to her the secret of salvation and of the ,burden-bearer6 ,mary1 ,i said1 if you would only try my ,savior1 dear1 ,i assure you that you would feel better1 body and soul1 ,i've never heard your story2 won't you tell it to me whilst we're watching beside ,baby8 ,i've never felt as if ,i could before1 but ,i will1 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i will4 ,i lost my father and mother when ,i was quite small1 and my grandparents raised my little brother and me4 ,i never remember when they didn't have beer on the table for dinner and supper1 and if company came in1 they always treated them4 ,if ,i didn't feel quite well or was tired1 ,grandmother would say1 ',have a drop of beer1 ,mary child1 it'll do you good and put new life into you4' ,it took some time to get used to liking it4 ,i didn't enjoy the bitter taste at first1 but by and by ,i loved it--yes1 really loved it4 ,i grew up1 and1 like many another girl1 had my young friends come calling4 ,i liked ,tom ,s---- best of all1 and one day promised ,i'd marry him if the old folks would agree4 ,they were awfully pleased1 and soon let ,tom and me go about alone everywhere4 ,he was a baker1 and a good one4 ,earned fine wages1 so that ,i was expecting to have a very comfortable home4 ,i wish ,grandmother or some one had talked plainly and honestly to me about a few things1 but they didn't2 so what did ,i know when ,tom told me that in ,god's sight an engagement was as good as a marriage and that we'd soon1 for the sake of appearances1 and to comply with the law1 go through that ceremony4 ,my ,god6 ,why didn't some one warn me8 ,oh6 ,mother ,roberts1 very few girls loved a man better than ,i loved ,tom4 ,by and by ,grandmother says1 ',what's become of ,tom8 ,i haven't seen him lately4 ,i didn't know he'd left his job4' ,so ,i told her his work was slack and he'd gone away to hunt a place where he could get better pay4 ,you'll not be surprised to hear she soon grew suspicious1 and one day ,i was obliged to confess4 ,did ,i tell you ,tom drank beer8 ,oh yes1 and enjoyed it with me and them many's the time4 ,was he a stranger to me and my folks when ,i first met him8 ,well1 no1 not exactly1 although ,i must confess ,i knew very little about him before he was introduced by one of my girl friends at the baker's and confectioner's ball4 ,oh but he was an elegant dancer6 and that got me1 in the first place4 ,my6 but didn't ,grandmother take on something awful6 ,she ordered me out of her sight up to my little bedroom till ,grandfather should come home4 ,i sat there listening to her wailing and moaning and asking the dear ,mother of ,god what she had done that such a cruel1 cruel misfortune should have befallen her4 ,poor ,granny6 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i was longing to go down and comfort her1 but ,i durs'n't4 ,so all that ,i could do was to walk the floor1 or sit and cry4 ,sometimes ,i tried to tell my beads1 but ,i couldn't take any pleasure in them4 ,they didn't comfort my poor1 sinful soul one bit4 ,i wished ,i could die then and there1 but what was the use8 ,i couldn't1 though ,i thought fear would indeed kill me when ,i heard ,grandfather come in and knew ,grandmother was telling him4 ,i heard him raving and cursing while she was begging him to keep quiet for fear the neighbors would hear4 ,pretty soon he opened the door that led upstairs4 ',mary1' he shouted1 'you --- ---- come down and be ---- quick about it1 ,i tell ye4' ,and when ,i did1 he said1 ',i'll see whether we'll own any one what will disgrace their poor1 respectable1 honest grandparents1 what has brought ye up in the way ye should go1 in their old age6 ,out ye go1 and be ---- quick about it4' ,i can see him now1 and ,grandmother1 who was sitting at the kitchen table1 sobbing with her head buried in her apron4 ,i crawled on my hands and knees toward him2 ,i begged him not to turn me out2 ,i clung to him so that he could hardly walk1 while he1 in his rage1 was backing along the hall out toward the front door1 and then he managed to open it1 me still clinging to him1 and threw me1 with a curse1 out into the dark1 cold1 wet night4 ,i lay there on the doorstep until ,i found ,i was getting a soaking1 and then ,i went to a neighbor about a block away1 who always had been very kind to me1 and had a girl of her own a little younger than me4 ,did ,i tell her8 ,of course ,i did2 ,i had to4 ,so she took pity on me and let me sleep there that night on a shake-down in the parlor1 although ,mattie 7her daughter7 had a large bed to herself1 and ,i told her not to go to so much trouble1 that ,i could sleep with her as ,i'd done before1 many's the time4 ,but she said girls would get to talking1 and she didn't want her innocent ,mattie to know a girl could ever bring such disgrace on honest1 respectable parents4 ,but she didn't know how ,mattie and ,i used to talk for hours after we'd get in bed at night1 about our 'fellers' and such like1 but now1 who was ,i that ,i should tell her mother this8 ,in the morning after breakfast 7she kept ,mattie out of sight somewhere7 she took me into the parlor1 shut the door1 and said3 ',mary child1 ,i'm sorry for you1 ,i am indeed1 but ,i can't keep you here4 ,you know where the county hospital is1 don't you8 ,well1 you go there1 and they'll take you in4 ,they'll take such cases as yours4 ,here's a quarter to pay your car fare4 ,you needn't let on you stopped with me4 ,you may be sure ,i won't1 for ,i respect your ,grandfather and ,grandmother highly4 ,i don't want them to find out ,i know anything about your trouble or that ,i took you in4 ,why1 they'd never speak to me again4 ,there1 there1 don't cry4 ,good-by and good luck to you1 ,mary4' ,i got on a car and pretty soon was asking the gate-keeper of the city and county hospital how ,i should apply to get in4 ',patient8' he asked4 ',yes1 sir1' said ,i4 ,so he directed me to the office4 ,a lot of people were there1 waiting their turn4 ,after a while a doctor interviewed me in a little office4 ,he asked me a good many questions4 ,no1 ,i didn't lie to him1 but ,i told him as little as ,i could4 ,he said1 ',we can't take you in yet4 ,come on such a date1' and put my name on a book1 then wrote on a card something about admitting the bearer1 ,mary ,h----1 maternity ward1 with his name and the day ,i was due there4 ,i told him ,i'd no place to go2 he said ,i was able to work for a while4 ,so ,i went out to try and find some work4 ,before evening ,i got a job washing dishes and preparing vegetables in a small restaurant1 for the sake of my board and bed1 and ,i stayed there until it was time to go back to the hospital4 ,i forgot all my troubles for a while when ,jack came4444 ,mother ,roberts1 how can ,i think ,god is good8 ,he's going to take my baby from me2 he's going to let him die4 ,i can't stand it4 ,i'll kill myself--yes1 ,i will4444 ,two nights later little ,jack still breathed1 though scarcely perceptibly1 and again ,i shared poor ,mary's vigil4 ,about midnight ,i asked if she felt able to finish her story4 ,presently she continued3 ,when my little ,jack was three weeks old1 the nurse of our ward took down the card from the head of my bed1 and told me ,i could go now4 ,i was dismissed1 and they wanted my corner for another patient4 ,i stood outside the big gate that afternoon wondering where ,i could go and holding my pretty little ,jack against my breast4 ,i'd a nice warm shawl1 so he was good and comfortable4 ,a thought like this struck me4 ',grandfather is so fond of babies4 ,i'll go there4 ,perhaps when he sees the dear1 innocent little baby1 he'll forgive me and take me back4' ,it seemed as though ,i would never reach their house in the neighborhood of ,sixth and ,clara ,streets1 reader1 and ,i had to rest on some one's doorsteps very often1 ,i was that weak4 ,it was pretty near dusk when ,i knocked on the door1 and the fog was coming in4 ,grandmother opened it4 ,she threw up her hands when she saw me2 didn't ask me in1 but hollered for ,grandfather to come1 and come quick1 which he did4 ,oh6 ,mother ,roberts1 to my dying day ,i'll remember how he cursed me when he saw me and my baby's darling face1 and then he closed the door with an awful bang4 ,well1 ,i was dazed like for a little bit1 then ,baby cried4 ,i sat on somebody's doorstep and nursed him1 then kept on walking and resting2 going1 ,i hardly knew where4 ,it must have been well after seven o'clock when ,i found myself on ,montgomery ,avenue and not very far from ,north ,beach4 ,my6 but ,i was faint1 although ,i'd had a good meal at the hospital at noon1 but you know a nursing mother needs plenty of nourishing food and often4 ,i saw a light in a little notion shop1 and went in and asked the woman if she could spare me a bite to eat4 ,bless her kind heart1 she gave me a big bowl full of bread and milk1 and warmed some stew1 and helped me make ,jack clean and comfortable1 but she had no place for me to sleep1 which she told me sorrowfully4 ,her family was large1 and she did not have a bit of extra bedding1 besides she was poor4 ,i was feeling better now and more cheerful4 ,my6 'tis wonderful what a good meal can do for you when you're hungry1 isn't it8 ,i thanked her kindly and told her ,i'd soon find friends2 then went out on the street and began to watch the faces4 ,at last ,i stepped up to an elderly laboring man1 told him ,i had lost my way1 was broke1 a stranger1 and a widow1 and asked him if he could direct me to a respectable lodging-house1 which he did 7bless his kind heart67 and paid the woman for a night's lodging1 she asking no questions2 and soon ,i was in a clean little bed with my ,jack4 ,i don't think my head had hardly touched the pillow when ,i was fast asleep1 all of my troubles forgotten4 ,morning came all too soon4 ,and now what was ,i to do8 ,i dressed1 then made baby as comfortable as ,i could under the circumstances1 went down the stairs1 meeting no one as ,i passed out of the house into the street4 ,pretty soon ,i'd made up my mind4 ,i'd walk down to ,meigg's wharf 7not far away7 and with my darling would drop quietly off the end of it into the bay2 and ,i was soon looking into the nice quiet water1 just about to fall in when ,i heard a voice1 for sure ,i did1 ,mother ,roberts1 saying1 ',don't ,mary4' ,maybe you don't think ,i was scared as ,i looked all around and could see no one nearer than a block and a half away1 and that was a man piling up some lumber on a wagon2 besides1 the voice ,i heard was a woman's1 not a man's4 ,i began to back away from the water1 wondering if ,i'd heard an angel speak4444 ,yes2 ,i admit ,i am naturally superstitious1 but don't you think in a case like this1 it's a good thing8 ,yes2 ,i do1 ,mary1 but go on1 dear1 ,i'm anxious to hear what became of you4 ,illustration3 ,,mary4 ,i went back to the woman who gave me my supper1 and she gave me my breakfast1 then advised me to put my baby with the sisters of ,mount ,st4 ,joseph4 ,but ,i never could do that1 could you8 ,i said good-by to my kind friend and started out for where1 ,i did not know4 ,all of a sudden ,i said to myself1 ',i'll go back to the hospital and offer to scrub and do chores2 anything1 so they'll take me and my baby in4' ,it took me till nearly one o'clock to reach there4 ,every time ,i sat down to rest and a policeman came along1 ,i'd get up quickly and walk on1 for fear he might arrest me as a suspicious character4 ,the man at the gate didn't want to let me in2 said they had been obliged to quarantine2 but ,i rushed past him up to the office1 threw myself at a doctor's feet1 and begged him for ,god's sake not to send me away4 ,he sent for the head nurse2 they gave me my dinner1 made ,baby nice and clean and comfortable1 and pretty soon one of the nurses came and told me they had found me and ,baby a good home1 and here ,i've been1 as you know1 ever since4 ,but oh6 ,mother ,roberts1 my little ,jack is going to die1 he's going to die6444 ,four days since you opened your beautiful eyes and looked at ,mother1 ,precious4 ,four long1 long days4444 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i think ,i would believe and trust ,god if he would only let my baby look at me once more before he goes4 ,i really think ,i would4 ,kneel down with me1 ,mary1 and we'll ask him1 ,i said4 ,we clasped hands over the foot of that little bed1 and if ever ,i prayed1 ,i prayed then that the merciful ,father would1 for the sake of his ,son our ,savior1 and for his own glory1 open the eyes of the babe once more before the angels took him home4 ,the poor worn-out mother sobbed herself to sleep1 her head resting on little ,jack's lifeless feet4 ,i watched1 earnestly and intently watched1 for my prayer to be answered4 ,toward daylight ,i observed a slight movement of the little head4 ,wake up6 wake up1 ,mary6 ,i cried1 whilst ,i shook and continued to shake her4 ,the voice awoke many of the family1 who quickly hastened to the sick-room4 ,mary with bloodshot eyes gazed at the baby4 ,soon his beautiful eyes opened wide1 with a long1 loving look at the faithful mother1 then closed2 and now the angels had him forever in their keeping4 ,o ,god1 ,o ,god1 you are good1 you are good1 sobbed poor ,mary4 ,i'll never1 never doubt you any more4 ,and she never did4 ,from that day1 and1 so far as ,i know1 up to the present time1 ,mary has been one of our ,father's and ,savior's loyal subjects4 ,as soon as able1 she took a situation1 so as to earn money to pay ,jack's funeral expenses and to purchase the lot where lie his earthly remains4 ,i was told that her mistress accepted the ,savior because of her faithful daily walk4 ,later1 her brother1 returned from the ,philippines1 claimed and took her back there with him1 where1 doubtless1 she is seeking and finding jewels for the ,master's crown4 ,what became of the grandparents--the ones responsible before ,god for her misfortunes8 ,during the first few weeks of ,mary's stay under our roof1 ,sister ,kauffman and ,i called on them1 hoping so to picture the ,savior's tender mercy and love as to be able to touch their hearts1 to discover to them their self-righteous condition1 and to get them to realize where the blame really lay4 ,all our efforts were fruitless4 ,the earthquake and fire of ,san ,francisco swept away all their property1 and in all probability they perished in the flames1 for they were never again heard of4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,services ,,in ,,county ,,jail1 ,,branch ,,no4 #c4 ,come with me this beautiful ,sunday morning4 ,join with me and this faithful band of young workers from various denominations1 in the nine o'clock services1 and satisfy yourself as to the good they1 by the grace of ,god1 are able to accomplish4 ,good morning1 gate-keeper4 ,have the rest of the band arrived yet8 ,yes8 ,then we'll pass in4 ,we enter the beautifully laid-out grounds surrounding the women's quarters4 ,what lovely lawns6 ,what a variety of fragrant flowers6 ,but we must hurry1 for we can not afford to miss the services4 ,we ascend the long flight of steps and are now greeted by the superintendent and his wife1 the matron4 ,next we traverse a long1 wide hallway4 ,turning to the left1 we mount a few steps1 and then come up against a solid iron double door4 ,through an aperture in one side of it we get a glimpse of the throng within4 ,the door is unlocked for our admission1 and1 passing through1 we find ourselves facing anywhere from forty to sixty girls and women1 for the most part neatly attired in dark blue-print gowns4 ,what a heterogeneous gathering we are confronting6 ,some look so refined2 doubtless they are from the better walks of life4 ,why are they here8 ,for offenses of various kinds too numerous to mention4 ,that dignified1 white-haired woman1 third row on our left8 ,ask me about her later on4 ,i will tell you on our way home4 ,that pretty fair-haired girl about sixteen8 ,vagrancy4 ,her sentence expires in two weeks4 ,we're trying to persuade her to come to our home1 because her own is undesirable4 ,both of her parents drink2 her older sister has taken the downward course and refuses all our overtures2 and her two brothers are constantly in drunken bouts and then imprisoned4 ,that old1 old woman2 what of her8 ,she's awaiting her trial for malpractice4 ,she'll probably have to serve time in ,san ,quentin penitentiary4 ,but ,i'll tell you more by and by4 ,brother ,edstrom of the ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 speaks--,let us all heartily join in singing1 ',pass me not1 ,o gentle ,savior1' ,gospel ,hymns ,no4 #bg4 ,how they sing6 and what beautiful voices some of the prisoners have6 ,brother ,st4 ,john1 will you lead in prayer8 ,illustration3 ,,sheet ,,music ,,still ,,nearer ,words and music by ,mrs4 ,,florence ,,roberts 7,illustration3 music7 #a4 ,oh1 help me live near thee1 my ,savior1 ,oh1 keep thou me #b4 ,i love thee1 my ,fa--ther1 and ,sav--ior1 ,for what thou hast 7,illustration3 music7 close by my side2 ,i need thee1 ,lord1 dai--ly and hour--ly1 done for me2 ,me1 one of the great-est of sin-ners1 7,illustration3 music7 ,my ,coun-sel-or and my ,guide4 ,i can--not have thee too ,i mar--vel1 such welcome from thee6 ,won-der--ful con-quest o'er 7,illustration3 music7 near me1 ,ei-ther by day or by night2 ,for when thou art nigh the ,sa-tan's ,al--lur--ing paths of sin2 ,my ,sav-ior1 to thee the 7,illustration3 music7 tempt-er doth fly1 ,thou dost help me to put him to flight1 glo--ry all be1 ,now help me some lost ones to win4 ,,refrain4 7,illustration3 music7 ,near--er1 still near--er1 ,come to me o'er and o'er4 7,illustration3 music7 ,near-er to thee1 ,sav-ior1 ,i'd be1 ,now and for--ev--er--more ,without exception all kneel as the consecrated young brother makes fervent1 passionate appeal to the throne of mercy and grace4 ,will one of our congregation now call for a song8 ,no4 #ah4 ,very good1 we will sing ,no4 #ah4 ,rescue the perishing1 care for the dying1 ,snatch them in pity from sin and the grave2 ,weep o'er the erring one1 lift up the fallen1 ,tell them of ,jesus the mighty to save4 ,you can't keep back the tears as you listen1 and this is not to be wondered at4 ,sister ,burton1 we will now listen to your reading of the fifty-fifth chapter of ,isaiah4 ,sister ,roberts1 ,i see you have your autoharp with you4 ,please favor us with one of your ,god-sent songs4 ,nearer1 ,still ,nearer4 ,the prisoners sing refrain twice over with me and then request a repetition4 ,it is inspiring to hear them1 it surely is4 ,we will now spend a few minutes in testimony4 ,who will be the first to witness for ,jesus this morning8 ,three or four are on their feet at once1 some thanking ,god that1 even though they are behind prison bars1 he has washed away their sins in the precious blood of ,jesus1 and declaring their intention of leading clean lives1 lives that will honor the ,lord2 adding that they are asking him to give them honest jobs in respectable quarters1 so that they need never again be obliged to return to their former environments of vice and degradation4 ,and so on1 until time for testimony is up4 ,how many desire an interest in our prayers1 that you may lead lives that will fit you for heaven instead of sending you down to an awful hell8 ,please raise your hands4 ,one1 two1 three1 six1 ten2 nearly all who have not testified4 ,god bless you6 ,let us pray4 ,brother ,edstrom so earnestly petitions the loving ,father for mercy and pardon for these poor souls that some of them weep audibly4 ,again we all join in singing2 the benediction is pronounced2 then those conducting the meeting repair quickly to the men's quarters in an adjacent but separate enclosure4 ,there a similar service is held1 after which the majority hurry away to the various houses of worship for the eleven o'clock services4 ,when not otherwise engaged1 ,i find it pleasurable as well as profitable to linger1 but on this occasion ,i shall not remain4 ,as we walk along1 ,i will keep my word concerning some of the inquired-about inmates4 ,the dignified1 white-haired woman spends the greater part of her time in that prison-house4 ,she is addicted to the morphine habit1 and1 in consequence1 she resorts to any means to procure the drug4 ,it has made a petty thief of her1 thus causing her frequent arrest and incarceration for three or six months4 ,she was the wife of a prominent professional man1 and1 so far as this world's goods are concerned1 she enjoyed everything that a loving husband was able to lavish on her4 ,at the time of1 and following1 the birth of her third child1 the attending physician1 in order to assuage her excruciating pain1 administered morphine4 ,she continued to resort to it1 and soon she was its slave4 ,everything known to human skill was done to cure her of the habit1 but without much effect4 ,she began to inject the drug into her flesh with a hypodermic needle and also to mix it with cocaine4 ,thus she soon became a mortification to her husband1 relatives1 and friends1 and erelong they felt that she had forfeited all claims to their consideration4 ,they forsook her1 absolutely refused to recognize her4 ,in process of time the husband procured a divorce and sole guardianship of the children4 ,soon she disappeared from her home neighborhood and for the future was lost sight of by all except police judges1 and officers1 prison companions1 and habitue of morphine dens4 ,every home missionary ,i know of in ,san ,francisco had made some attempt or sacrifice for the redemption of this unfortunate woman1 but apparently with little1 if any1 effect4 ,one day she told me that ,i was wasting my time1 for she loved her drug better than her ,god4 ,i wondered if she really meant it4 ,you ask if this is an exceptional case8 ,not by any manner of means4 ,i am able to relate many others1 all different in detail1 but all alike in the main1 the family physician being primarily responsible4 ,my heart goes out tenderly for the younger inmates of the prison1 most of whom are there for a first offense1 and who are now in great danger of contracting bad habits1 such as cigarette-smoking1 from older offenders4 ,what6 you exclaim1 do they permit women and girls to smoke8 ,i'm sorry to tell you it is only too true4 ,furthermore1 the weed is procured from those in authority over them4 ,and from that habit and others acquired during incarceration1 deeper demoralization results1 so that many come forth worse than they ever were before their imprisonment4 ,nevertheless1 realizing the limitless value of even one soul1 the home missionary keeps1 ever keeps in view ,gal4 #f3i--;,and let us not be weary in well doing2 for in due season we shall reap1 if we faint not4 ,with but very few exceptions the prisoners of both sexes admit that liquor or drugs1 or both have cursed their lives1 made every type of criminal out of them1 forfeited them their liberty1 some for life1 aye1 even life itself4 ,i have dealt with some of the ones condemned to die4 ,i learn this from their own lips4 ,when1 oh6 when will that awful octopus1 that curse of the world be destroyed8 ,when1 oh6 when will our lawmakers and our officers eliminate forever the accursed poisons that ruin men and women both physically and morally8 ,what chance do ,god's consecrated workers have1 with this band of demons confronting them on every hand1 dragging souls down to hell every hour of the day1 yea1 every minute8 ',how long1 ,o ,lord1 how long8' ,psa4 #id3c4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,lucy--,a ,,remarkable ,,experience4 ,following the services one ,sunday morning1 several of the inmates waited on me in a body4 ,mother ,roberts1 the spokesman began1 there's a dying girl in one of the cells in the smaller dormitory4 ,she's spitting blood something dreadful1 and she's so bad4 ,bad and all as some of us are1 we're scared the way she goes on4 ,her language is just awful6 ,she never comes out to the services1 yet she's been here for months4 ,says she has no use for 'them hypocrites1' and 'don't want none of 'em near her4' ,says she'll curse 'em if they do come4 ,say1 ,mother ,roberts1 couldn't you make some excuse to get into her cell8 ,we haven't the heart to see her deliberately go to hell4 ,for a few minutes silence reigned1 whilst ,i thought and inwardly prayed4 ,then ,i felt it to be of the ,lord to carry out an impression to walk quietly into her cell as though by mistake1 trusting the ,divine ,director for results4444 ,propped up in one corner of her bunk1 wrapped in grey blankets1 reclined a hollow-eyed1 ghastly-looking girl1 gasping for breath4 ,some blood was trickling from the corners of her mouth4 ,she glared at me1 tried to speak1 but failed4 ,quickly ,i took out my handkerchief1 dipped it into the granite ewer close by1 and wiped her poor face and mouth2 then she whispered1 ,again4 ,repeatedly this was done1 the ,spirit of ,god all this time impressing me not to utter one word aloud1 yet giving me a wonderful1 most blessed realization of his presence and power4 ,after ,i had made her as comfortable as surroundings would admit1 she presently slept4 ,then ,i quietly tip-toed out2 exacted a promise from her companions not to reveal my identity1 which promise they faithfully kept1 though under difficulties2 had a conference with ,mrs4 ,kincaid1 the matron2 then went away4 ,i returned the following morning and for four more consecutive days4 ,still the dear ,lord did not permit me to speak4 ,on ,friday afternoon as ,i was about to leave her 7by the way1 she had observed almost stolid silence so far71 she called me to come back4 ,what is it1 dear8 ,i asked4 ,say1 do you mind telling me who you are8 ,why8 ,why do you wish to know8 ,after a prolonged silence ,i once more was about to depart1 but she called again3 ,i'll have to say it4 ,say what1 ,lucy8 ,say this3 you act like a ,christian4 ,oh6 praise ,god1 praise ,god6 the ice was broken1 and my pent-up soul gave vent to a copious flow of refreshing tears1 as ,i bowed in gratitude at that prison bunk1 beside that wandering sick girl1 and poured out my heart in earnest prayer for the dear ,father to guide her into all truth1 and to make me ever-wise in my administrations to the needs of herself and others4 ,then1 kissing her on the brow1 ,i left her4 ,illustration3 ,,sheet ,,music ,,was ,,it ,,you8 ,words and ,music by ,mrs4 ,,florence ,,roberts4 ,some one spoke to me of ,je--sus1 ,said he'd come to call on me1 ,some one told me how he suf-fered1 ,said1 ,for you and me he died4 ,some one gave the in--vi--ta--tion1 ,and we bowed in humble prayer2 ,lov--ing ,sav-ior1 how ,i thank thee ,some one came to me that day-,oh1 ,i know that man-y oth--ers ,would be glad if some one came4 ,said no mat-ter how ,i'd fall--en1 ,he from sin would set me free4 ,does1 oh1 does he love so dear--ly8 ,tell me more of him1 ,i cried4 ,soon ,i felt my sins for-giv--en2 ,thro' his grace ,i'll meet you there1 ,some one rep-re-sent-ing ,je--sus1 ,and ,i turned thee not a--way4 ,bring-ing lov--ing in--vi--ta--tion ,from their lives of sin and shame4 ,some one told me how he loved me1 ,and was knocking at my door2 ,some one told me he is com-ing ,soon to take his loved ones home1-- ,there in mansions bright with glo-ry4 ,oh1'tis won-der-ful to me ,bless1 oh1 bless that loving some one1 ,sent by ,je-sus ,christ our ,lord2 ,in--to lives of peace and glo--ry1 ,thro' the blood of ,christ the ,lamb3 ,he had oft-en stood there plead-ing1 ,had been man-y times be-fore4 ,told me he was there to par--don1 ,if ,i now to him would come4 ,that the vil-est he is seek-ing ,from their sins to set them free6 ,help me1 now that ,i am blood-washed1 ,wit-ness to thy precious word4 ,send me pray-ing1 bless-ed ,je--sus1 ,with that song1 ,just as ,i am4 ,was it you8 ,was it you8 ,was it you8 ,on the following ,sunday ,i returned and found her eager to see me1 also much improved in health4 ,after our greeting she told me that she had been trying to discover who ,i was1 but that no one would inform her4 ,ain't they the limit8 was her smiling expression4 ,you'll tell me1 won't you8 ,say1 who was that singing out in the big dormitory a while ago8 ,every one was singing1 ,lucy4 ,oh1 yes1 ,i know1 but ,i mean some one sometimes alone and playing something that sounds like a guitar-mandolin like we have at home8 ,would you care to hear her8 ,sure ,i would4 ,please go ask her to come in4 ,soon ,i returned with my precious little instrument4 ,is that it8 ,wouldn't she come8 ,of course she would4 ,listen4 ,lucy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,oh6 those blessed tears she shed as she pillowed her head on my breast2 those blessed1 blessed tears6 ,come tomorrow1 please come4 ,god willing1 ,lucy1 yes4 ,why do you say1 ',god willing'8 ,of course he'll be willing4 ,and ,i went forth1 scarcely able to contain myself for very joy4 ,the next morning ,i returned and spent many hours with this precious1 very precious jewel4 ,there was no longer any restraint4 ,she listened eagerly whilst ,i imparted choice portions of the ,word4 7,reader1 the utmost precaution had to be used1 for she had not yet accepted her ,savior4 ,believe me1 there is danger of excess in surfeiting with the ,bible4 ,i lovingly admonish you to seek earnestly for divine wisdom with regard to dealing with souls4 ,my lessons on those lines have thus far been dearly purchased2 for ,i have ignorantly1 zealously1 made many mistakes1 thus for the time being1 hindered1 more than aided their spiritual progress4 ,to illustrate3 ,a janitor's child has a toy broom4 ,papa has just swept one part of the hall and is about to remove the accumulated dust4 ,papa1 let me help you1 and forthwith the child sweeps a large portion of the dust over the already cleaned floor4 ,papa sighs1 sadly smiles1 says nothing1 but patiently proceeds to clean up again4 ,reader1 ,i'm sure you see the point47 ,not many days thereafter1 when ,lucy was again able to be up and dressed1 she asked me to pray for her1 and before we rose from our knees1 she knew my ,savior was hers4 ,even so1 yet she still smoked cigarettes4 ,this grieved my soul1 but ,i waited until of her own accord she inquired whether ,i thought it a sin to smoke4 ,she excused herself on the plea that smoking quieted her nerves and also induced sleep4 ,she told me1 however1 that she was now trying to curtail1 as she had hitherto indulged in as many as twenty a day4 ,i asked if she would wish her dear ,redeemer to see her rolling and smoking cigarettes1 referred her to ,rev4 #bb3aa1 and soon1 without further comment1 took my departure4 ,she was able to attend services the following ,sunday4 ,i still see her eagerly absorbing everything said and sung4 ,as soon as the meeting closed1 she took possession of me1 marshaled me to her cell1 kissed and seated me1 and then said3 ,i want to tell you something so badly1 ,i could hardly wait until the others were through4 ,mother ,roberts1 after you left last ,wednesday1 ,i got to thinking about my filthy habit1 so ,i went on my knees1 and did what you told me2 ,i prayed1 if it wasn't right1 for ,god to make me hate it4 ,my6 but ,i was nervous an hour later1 and had to have a smoke4 ,i woke up in the night wanting another1 so rolled my cigarette and was just in the act of lighting it when something seemed to say1 ',lucy1 if you'll let it alone you shall never need one again6' ,i put out the match and lay down1 but ,i couldn't sleep4 ,i was that nervous2 so ,i reached over to the window ledge1 picked up my cigarette1 put it between my lips once more and struck a light1 when again ,i distinctly got that impression4 ,oh6 but ,i was tempted1 so for fear ,i would weaken ,i got out of bed1 and with my bare feet crushed the dirty weed all to smithereens4 ,i slept soundly till morning1 and woke up smelling the odor of tobacco-smoke4 ,mother1 ,i want to tell you the strange part of it2 the smell actually made me sick at my stomach4 ,how do you account for that8 ,to be sure1 ,i'm very nervous1 but nothing on earth could tempt me to smoke again4444 ,dear ,lucy grew in grace very rapidly4 ,erelong she confided who her family were1 also read me portions of their letters1 and at her request ,i wrote to her mother1 who soon replied at length4 ,the time was approaching when my dear spiritual daughter would soon have her freedom2 but ,i learned that1 for good and sufficient family reasons1 it would be impossible for her to return to them for some time to come4 ,the mother wrote1 asking if it would be possible for me to assume temporary guardianship4 ,owing to impaired health1 ,i was not at this time residing at the ,home of ,peace1 but instead was occupying quiet quarters in the cottage of a sister missionary1 who was absent much of the time and who1 in return for light services1 gave me the use of a nice large room furnished for light housekeeping4 ,i asked and obtained her permission to have ,lucy share the room with me--this with the proviso that ,lucy's identity be closely guarded4 ,also1 ,i obtained sanction from the judge 7who1 when sentencing her1 ordered her removed from ,san ,francisco at the expiration of her term7 to keep her with me1 but under close surveillance4 ,lucy joyfully placed herself in my keeping1 without knowing what disposition was to be made of her4 ,frequently she petitioned to be lodged in my immediate neighborhood4 ,in reply1 ,i simply smiled4 ,you can not imagine how much ,i was enjoying my delightful secret nor with what pleasure ,i prepared new clothing purchased with the money sent by her own dear mother4 ,lucy and ,i were now counting the days1 soon the hours4 ,my pretty room1 with its folding-bed1 organ1 sideboard1 decorations of glass and chinaware1 underwent1 the day before her freedom1 an extra cleaning in preparation for my guest1 and ,i arose at three o'clock the following morning in order to add finishing touches and also to prepare for an immediate meal on our return4 ,at five o'clock ,i boarded a car1 which shortly before six landed me in front of the long driveway leading to the prison grounds4 ,lucy was ready even to her hat and gloves4 ,she was regaled with such remarks as1 ,oh1 but you're the lucky girl6 ,wish some one would take a like interest in me1 ,come back and see us once in a while1 or1 ,won't you write me8 ,it'll be such a comfort to hear from you1 ,lucy4 ,next she received very kind1 parental advice from the ,captain and ,mrs4 ,kincaid4 ,then we went down the steps and terraced walks1 the door in the prison wall swung wide open1 and once more ,lucy was free4 ,but why does she stand stock still8 ,why inhale such long1 deep breaths8 ,isn't it lovely1 ,mother ,roberts1 lovely1 lovely6 ,the air is just as fresh in the garden we have just left1 ,lucy dear4 ,no doubt1 but this is freedom6 ,praise ,god1 this is freedom6 ,good-by this to the guard on the lookout4 ,when ,i come again1 it will be to preach the gospel4 ,god bless you4 ,good-by4 ,come1 ,mother1 ,i'm ready4 ,i was loathe to check her enthusiasm on the way home1 but had to do so1 in order not to attract the attention of the passengers4 ,we reached our street4 ,i opened the door with my latch-key1 led the way up-stairs1 entered my room1 and bade her welcome in the name of the dear ,lord4 ,she had prostrated herself at my feet1 but ,i quickly raised her1 and we knelt in prayer and thanksgiving4 ,it was worth all the gold in the ,klondyke to me to hear that girl's prayer4 ,she couldn't eat1 and ,i didn't do much better4 ,the rest of the day ,lucy spent in writing a long1 long letter to her parents4 ,if ,i remember right1 she covered thirty pages of ordinary letter paper4 ,bedtime arrived4 ,where am ,i to sleep1 ,mother dear8 ,lucy inquired4 ,with me1 ,lucy1 here in the folding-bed1 ,i answered4 ,mother1 do you mean it8 ,would you let me sleep with you8 ,why not1 dear8 ,you're my honored guest4 ,you're my spiritual daughter4 ,jesus says1 ',inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these1 ye have done it unto me4' ,don't you understand1 ,lucy8 ,in entertaining you1 ,i am entertaining ,jesus4 ,my6 ,mother1 how you must love me6 ,oh but ,god will bless you for this6 ,sure-enough he has1 over and over1 countless times1 aye1 even up to the present moment4 ,we shall hear more of ,lucy in the next chapter4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,we ,,plan ,,for ,a ,,home ,,for ,,released ,,prison ,,girls4 ,hours had slipped away4 ,we had both been silent1 but ,i wondered whether ,lucy1 like myself1 was not sleeping1 but simply resting quietly for fear of disturbing me4 ,one-thirty1 then two o'clock4 ,i whispered3 ,are you asleep1 ,lucy8 ,no1 ,mother dear1 she answered2 ,i haven't slept a wink for thinking of the goodness of ,god and wishing lots of other unfortunates had such good luck as me tonight4 ,i also1 ,lucy2 furthermore1 ,i'm pondering how to proceed to procure them a home with nice large grounds in which they can work and take pleasure1 but ,i haven't any means4 ,all ,i now own is my bicycle4 ,i left it for sale in ,woodland4 ,perhaps ,god will soon find a purchaser2 if so1 ,i will take it as a sign that he wants me to travel from place to place in their behalf4 ,give me your hand1 ,lucy4 ,she clasped mine under the covers whilst ,i prayed in a low tone1 ,father1 art thou impressing us to seek a home for the girls1 a home removed from city temptations and environments8 ,if so1 ,i pray thee1 seal the impression with thy ,word4 ,in ,jesus' name ,i ask this2 and ,lucy fervently echoed my ,amen4 ,next ,i lighted the lamp on the little stand by our bed side1 on which lay a writing tablet1 a pencil1 and my ,bible4 ,reverently opening the latter1 we found ourselves looking down upon ,genesis1 twelfth chapter1 first and ninth verses4 ,thus did our ,father seal the impression of the ,holy ,spirit with his ,word4 ,we will prepare for a long trip1 ,lucy1 ,i said1 and when we start we will journey toward the ,south4 ,without further notification1 ,i received by mail1 within the following fortnight1 a cheque for twenty dollars 7purchase price of wheel74 ,this amount procured us some necessaries1 paid a few small bills and our fares to ,redwood ,city1 leaving us with the sum total of sixty cents4 ,before proceeding on this undertaking1 we occupied every hour of the day1 with but few exceptions1 in active preparation2 our evenings and ,sundays we spent in church or prison1 or among the outcasts4 ,i am indebted to ,lucy for admission into many heretofore forbidden places1 where she would be invariably welcomed with such a greeting as this3 ,well1 hello1 ,kid6 glad to see you4 ,when did you get out8 ,how's all the rest of them8 ,this is my dear ,mother ,roberts1 she would say4 ,please welcome her for my sake4 ,i want to tell you ,i'm not one of you any longer4 ,i've found my ,savior4 ,don't ,i look different8 ,don't ,i look happy8 ,you bet yer life y' do1 ,kid4 ,say1 we don't mind being preached to if you'll do the preaching4 ,go on girlie1 pitch in1 we-uns would like to hear from the likes of you1 cause we know you1 etc4 ,the precious girl6 ,how she enthused all of us as she told the wonderful story and implored them to seek the ,savior6 ,always we finished with prayer4 ,even bar-tenders1 saloon-keepers1 and women overseers over the girls in the various dives were touched by ,lucy's brief messages from ,god4 ,the time was all too short on these occasions4 ,as we said our final farewells 7,july #a1 #aijc71 it was impossible to count the number of those who said3 ,y've done me good1 ,lucy1 ,y've done me good4 ,yes1 ,i mean to heed what y've said4 ,i know it's right4 ,stick to it1 girlie1 stick to it4 ,and not a few said they had sold their last drink or had drunk their last drop4 ,i wish you could appreciate how wonderful all this is to me now 7,sept4 #e1 #aiaa7 whilst recalling and writing it1 here in my quiet1 pretty room in the ,gospel ,trumpet ,company's home for their consecrated workers4 ,it seems as though but a few days1 instead of years1 have elapsed since that marvelously profitable time4 ,in the interval between her coming to me and our departure we visited1 as frequently as possible1 the prison1 the place of her incarceration4 once taking a modest treat1 purchased by a little of ,lucy's pocket-money4 ,i can not describe the appreciation of each prisoner as they received1 at her hands1 a small package of something toothsome done up in a pretty paper napkin1 with an appropriate text inscribed thereon4 ,this distribution was followed by a special meeting1 for the most part conducted by my dear ,lucy4 ,after the tearful farewells had been said1 we went into ,captain and ,mrs4 ,kincaid's quarters1 where the latter furnished us with the names of some for whom she desired our special interest in the event of our coming in touch with them4 ,they were all ex-prisoners1 some of whom we will hereafter mention4 ,as though to give us a specially bright send-off1 the sun arose in glorious splendor on that second day of ,july4 ,following a very light early breakfast1 ,lucy and ,i1 accompanied to the depot by some ,christian friends1 one of whom was the late ,brother ,mosby1 soon boarded the train at ,twenty-fourth and ,valencia ,streets1 and in a short time arrived at ,redwood ,city4 ,what are we going to do next8 inquired ,lucy4 ,you don't know any one here1 do you1 ,mother8 ,no1 dear4 ,i'm going to ask the depot-agent if he can tell me who is the most consecrated ,christian in this town4 ,imagine1 if you can1 his astonishment4 ,say that over again1 madam1 he said4 ,i repeated my inquiry1 whilst he scratched his head and pondered over this simple but no doubt perplexing question1 and also glanced at us as much as to say1 ,i wonder if you are altogether right in your minds8 ,leaving in his keeping our two telescope baskets1 containing all our earthly belongings1 we soon reached the residence of the ,congregational minister1 only to discover that he1 with his family1 had left that very morning for his summer vacation4 ,his neighbors directed us to the ,methodist minister1 an old gentleman1 who received us very cordially1 said many encouraging words on learning of the nature of our errand1 and wished us ,god's blessing as we took our departure to the next place1 at that moment unknown4 ,i now decided to make our errand known to the editors of the local papers4 ,we found two1 in close proximity to each other4 ,they received us kindly1 inspected the letters of endorsement with which ,i had provided myself before leaving ,san ,francisco1 and took notes4 ,noon-time found my faith not sufficient to invest our capital or even a portion of it for the food we now so much needed4 ,moreover1 it was extremely warm1 and we were clad in heavy garments1 suitable to the colder climate from which we had come4 ,i made the same inquiry of the editor of the ,gazette as ,i had made of the depot-agent1 and ,i shall never forget the editor's surprised smile as he replied3 ,really1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i'm the last one of whom to inquire1 as ,i make no profession whatsoever of religion4 ,there is a lady living on the edge of town1 formerly of the ,salvation ,army2 she might do4 ,it was a long walk1 or rather seemed so4 ,we soon discovered that this lady was in no position to entertain us over night1 and as it was long past noon1 she must have taken it for granted that we had dined4 ,before leaving ,i requested a season of prayer4 ,her aged mother preceded her1 ,i followed1 then ,lucy1 who drew tears from our eyes by her fervent petition for guidance4 ,after we had made our adieus and had walked a few yards1 the daughter called and ran after us1 to inform us that she had just thought of the landlady of the ,tremont ,hotel 7,mrs4 ,ayers74 ,her dining-room is closed for the season4 ,she is a very kind-hearted woman4 ,i have no doubt of her inviting you to remain under her roof when she learns your errand1 said this newly-found friend4 ,i thanked her most sincerely1 and we proceeded once more to town4 ,i again called upon the ,gazette editor1 for ,i had it in mind to hold a street-meeting that evening and make public announcement of our errand4 ,he promised the presence of himself and of others in the event of my doing so4 ,mother dear1 inquired poor1 tired1 hungry1 over-heated ,lucy1 ,i wonder if ,god really wants us to hunt a home for the girls1 after all8 ,i can't stand much more4 ,neither can ,i1 dear child1 ,i replied1 but we'll ask him4 ,give me your hand4 7,we were walking toward the hotel47 ,father1 ,i prayed1 hast thou sent us on this errand8 ,if so1 please seal it with money before the day ends4 ,i ask in ,jesus' name4 ,and ,lucy sighed1 ,amen4 ,may ,god forever bless dear ,mrs4 ,ayers1 who cordially welcomed us1 giving us one of her best rooms and expressing her regret for inability to supply meals2 ,god abundantly bless her and her dear ones4 ,we shut ourselves in1 knelt together at the bedside1 and wept--wept tears of gratitude1 hope1 and joy4 ,still weeping1 both of us1 in broken language1 thanked the ,one who never makes any mistakes for guiding us aright and raising up friends in our trying hour1 and closed our prayers by imploring his pardon for our having not better stood his testings and by promising with his aid to be braver in the future4 ,i now invested a quarter to have our baggage immediately brought from the depot1 then refreshed ourselves1 and soon ,i crossed the street1 returning presently with a nice fresh loaf of bread and a dime's worth of bologna4 ,on these and water1 we humbly1 gratefully dined4 ,i have partaken of many costly1 delicious viands1 but never in all my experience have ,i enjoyed a meal as ,i did that simple one4 ,hallelujah6 ,the sun was gradually disappearing when ,lucy and ,i crossed the street and stood on the corner in front of ,mr4 ,behren's bank4 ,we had carried one of the hotel chairs over with us1 for ,i have never yet learned to play on my autoharp while standing4 ,i now sat at a convenient angle in the street4 ,lucy composed one of my audience on the sidewalk4 ,at first ,i felt somewhat timid and very nervous1 but not for long4 ,while the crowd was gathering1 ,i sang the song1 ,i know my heavenly ,father knows ,the storms that would my way oppose ,but he can drive the clouds away ,and turn my darkness into day4 ,the people gathered so fast that before ,i had finished the second verse ,i was well surrounded4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,redwood ,,city ,,street ,,meeting ,there was a fair sprinkling of women1 also carriages4 ,before singing another song1 ,i took advantage of the situation to tell my audience why ,i was in ,redwood ,city and on that street corner4 ,if ,god ever gave me liberty of speech this was the occasion4 ,after ,i had finished my address1 which was not very long1 one of my audience1 named ,lewis as ,i soon learned1 stepped forward1 took off his hat1 and spoke as follows3 ,ladies and ,gentlemen3 ,i for one am convinced of this stranger's earnestness and the needs of such a home as she desires to get4 ,let's give her a collection4 ,we're going to squander lots of ,fourth of ,july money day after tomorrow4 ,here's my quarter1 whose next8 ,the money kept dropping1 dropping1 dropping into that hat1 nickels1 dimes1 quarters until the sound made me nearly shout for joy4 ,it was all ,i could do to contain myself4 ,then some one in a carriage sent a request for me to sing again4 ,i gladly responded1 after which my audience bowed with uncovered heads whilst ,i thanked the loving heavenly ,father and pronounced the benediction4 ,thus gloriously ended my first street meeting conducted without other human aid4 ,we were the happy possessors of #ac4bj toward the fund for the promised home1 and no mortals on earth retired that night more grateful and happy than dear ,lucy and her ,mother ,roberts4 ,to ,god be all the glory and praise forever4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,santa ,,clara ,,experiences4 ,,the ,,san ,,jose ,,home4 ,all the next day we remained in ,redwood ,city in anticipation of receiving mail1 and our hopes were realized4 ,there were letters of cheer and encouragement from ,mrs4 ,dorcas ,spencer1 ,state ,secretary ,w4,c4,t4,u42 ,mrs4 ,augusta ,c4 ,bainbridge1 ,state ,superintendent ,purity ,w4,c4,t4,u42 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,kauffman1 matron of the ,home of ,peace2 the chaplain of the ,sailors' ,home1 in which place ,i had held frequent meetings2 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,george ,s4 ,montgomery2 ,judge ,george ,cabaniss2 ,captain and ,mrs4 ,kincaid1 the superintendent and matron of the county jail1 ,branch ,no4 #c1 and other friends alike interested4 ,also1 ,lucy heard from her people4 ,it gives me pleasure to copy one of my letters3 #fbb ,golden ,gate ,avenue1 ,san ,francisco1 ,cal ,june #cj1 #aijb4 ,mrs4 ,roberts4 ,my dear ,sister3 ,how ,i do praise the ,lord for laying that burden on you6 ,i have prayed for it so long4 ,i knew he would lay it somewhere soon4 ,the ,woman's ,christian ,temperance ,union have a special department for jail work1 and some lovely ,christian women in charge4 ,the ,state1 county and local superintendents of jail1 hospital1 purity1 mother's work1 evangelistic and other departments would be glad to help you4 ,i am ,state superintendent of purity4 ,let me know now ,i can help you4444 ,if you want the directory you can get it at headquarters1 #acb ,mc,allister ,street4 ,you can show this letter to either of the ladies there1 and they will know ,i endorse you and your work4444 ,yours in love1 ,a4 ,c4 ,bainbridge4 ,we decided to go to ,santa ,clara on the morrow4 ,accordingly1 the next day we were mingling with a great throng of merry-makers--with them1 but not of them4 ,mr4 ,lewis' mother1 with whom we had dined the previous evening1 had recommended a certain private boarding-house4 ,hither we repaired1 and were fortunate in finding a ,christian hostess1 who made us very welcome4 ,lucy helped her1 she having a great ,fourth of ,july crowd for meals1 whilst ,i rested4 ,on the following day ,i went forth in quest of means to help swell the fund started in ,redwood ,city4 ,i walked and talked all day2 toward evening ,i returned to our boarding-house with only a poor report4 ,lucy greeted me cheerfully and said3 ,i'm going to earn your board and mine1 ,mother dear4 ,the landlady needs help2 so as long as we're here1 it will not be necessary to touch the fund4 ,you needn't think you are to bear all the burden4 ,no1 indeed4 ,i'm going to do my part1 too4 ,god bless you1 ,lucy6 ,i'm so thankful6 ,i replied4 ,how good the dear ,lord is and how wonderfully he provides6 ,at the end of nearly a week of toil1 ,i had apparently made little impression4 ,one night as ,i sat in our room1 too tired to go to the dining-room1 ,lucy came in1 took off my shoes and stockings1 cried over the swollen1 blistered condition of my feet1 bathed them1 made me retire1 and brought to the bedside a tempting meal4 ,the next day1 after making a few calls and receiving some small sums by way of encouragement1 ,i felt impressed to return to our room and then go to a handsome home directly across the street from the boarding-house4 ,soon ,i was ringing the bell4 ,a lady greeted me with a lovely smile1 bade me enter1 and encouraged me in making known my errand4 ,calling her husband1 she asked me to repeat my story4 ,when ,i took my departure1 after receiving overwhelming kindness and a cordial invitation to return when convenient1 ,i held in my hand my first gold piece for the fund4 ,the donors were ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,chas4 ,e4 ,moore1 who have been my warm1 interested1 personal friends from that time to this4 ,they did all in their power to aid me1 particularly through introductions to people of means in their home town4 ,soon ,i was led to make myself known to the pastors of the various churches1 one of whom agreed to give me an opportunity of addressing an audience from his pulpit4 ,his name was ,thurston1 and ,i shortly learned that he was a nephew of the people with whom ,i had traveled in gospel-wagon work4 ,the following notice in the ,santa ,clara ,news of ,july #g1 #aijc1 heralded the prospective meeting3 ,,for ,a ,,rescue ,,home ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 who is known in ,san ,francisco as the ,rescue ,missionary and ,singing ,evangelist1 will address the public in the ,baptist church next ,sunday on the subject of the establishment of a non-sectarian home for women near ,san ,francisco4 ,she comes highly endorsed by prominent citizens and ,christian societies4 ,there are1 she states1 thirty-five thousand women on this coast to be reached1 and she is endeavoring to procure funds for a home to which they can come for reformation4 ,a free-will offering will be taken at the conclusion of the address4 ,prior to this meeting ,i learned of a little rescue home in ,san ,jose1 the adjacent city1 and one afternoon ,lucy and ,i visited it4 ,we went without previous announcement1 for ,i wanted to satisfy myself as to its merits4 ,it was a pretty old-fashioned cottage of about eight rooms1 located at #fcg ,east ,st4 ,john ,street4 ,there were but two girls--one a mother1 the other a prospective one--and1 sad to relate1 a most inefficient matron4 ,i quickly took in the situation1 and1 for the sake of the inmates1 privately decided to accept erelong her invitation to sojourn temporarily under that roof4 ,after ,i had thoroughly canvassed ,santa ,clara1 ,i1 acting upon divine directions1 took ,lucy and went to the ,san ,jose rescue home4 ,before long it became my sorrowful duty to report conditions as they existed4 ,the president of the board of managers1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,n4 ,crawford1 was absent on his summer vacation4 ,upon learning that the vice-president1 ,mrs4 ,remington 7now deceased71 was sojourning in ,san ,francisco1 ,i boarded the train and a few hours later was in earnest discussion with ,mrs4 ,remington and her friend1 ,miss ,sisson4 ,this consultation terminated in their sincere plea for me to take upon myself certain responsibilities1 concerning which ,i promised to pray4 ,the result was that ,i felt led to go further south for a while1 but not before some better conditions existed for those two poor girls and others who might follow4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,callie',s ,,wonderful ,,story4 ,one day while ,i was visiting ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,helms1 ,sr41 in ,santa ,clara1 good friends of the cause1 the latter said3 ,sister ,roberts1 have you ever met ,callie----8 ,no1 ,sister ,helms1 ,i answered1 but ,i have heard of her4 ,she was often1 before my missionary work there1 an inmate of the county jail1 ,branch #c1 and gave much trouble when a prisoner4 ,i want to let you know she is wonderfully converted and one of our most remarkable missionaries4 ,try and take time to call on her4 ,she works in the ,r---- boarding-house and will be glad to see you1 for she knows of you quite well4 ,ask her to tell you her story4 ,you never heard anything equal to it2 furthermore1 you never have1 ,i doubt ever will1 meet any other like her4 ,she is a living marvel of ,god's power to save to the uttermost4 ,the following afternoon1 leaving kind-hearted ,lucy 7without offense to the matron of the home7 to administer to the comforts of the inmates1 ,i went to the place designated4 ,soon there came into my presence a smiling1 healthy-looking woman about forty years of age1 who told me that she was the person for whom ,i had inquired4 ,no sooner did ,i mention my name than she threw her arms about me exclaiming1 ,god love you1 ,mother ,roberts6 ,god love you6 ,it's good for sore eyes to see you--and she rattled on4 ,when ,i told her the nature of my errand1 she replied that she would come to the home that evening and would then relate the story of her life and wonderful conversion4 ,she was on hand at the appointed time1 and soon ,lucy and ,i were listening to what ,i will now relate4 ,i first saw the light of day in the slums of ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4 ,i never knew1 nor did any one ever tell me1 who my father and mother were4 ,all ,i know about those days and up to my fourteenth year is that one or another of the women of that neighborhood fed1 clothed1 and sheltered me4 ,i had no schooling2 didn't know how to read or write till a few years ago4 ,i never heard much besides bad language1 seldom saw anything but drinking1 gambling1 and so forth2 never saw the inside of a church and seldom saw the outside1 'cause ,i wasn't out of my own neighborhood very much4 ,it was too much like a fish being out of water4 ,never heard the name of ,god or ,jesus ,christ except when they were taken in vain1 and never troubled my head to find out who was ,god or who was ,jesus ,christ4 ,before ,i was fifteen years old1 ,i married a gambler4 ,he was a fine-looking fellow1 considerably older than me1 and sometimes had a pile of money4 ,yes1 he gave me what ,i asked for4 ,sometimes ,i spent quite a bit on dress and treating my friends1 'cause there ain't a stingy bone in my body4 ,i've no use for stingy folk1 have you8 ,tom wasn't a heavy drinker1 but he used to 'hit the pipe4' ,what is 'hit the pipe'1 ,callie8 ,i inquired4 ,don't you know8 ,why1 smoke opium4 ,also1 he had the morphine habit1 and if anything1 that's the worst one of the two1 but1 between you and me1 there's little or no choice4 ,it wasn't long before ,i1 too1 commenced taking morphine1 and kept it up until two years ago4 ,look here6 ,with that she stripped up the sleeves of her dress1 and we were gazing at arms which from the shoulder to wrist were one mass of tiny bluish spots4 ,i doubt if there was room to place a pin between them4 ,oh6 ,callie1 what are they8 ,shots--shots from the hypodermic needle that we used to inject the morphine4 ,hurt8 ,no1 not much2 besides1 we get to be such slaves to it that we'd gladly hurt our bodies for the sake of it4 ,it's the most demoralizing1 hard-to-break habit on earth4 ,but glory to ,god6 ,i'm saved and sanctified now1 and ,i'll tell you how it came about4 ,i suppose ,i'd been serving my fifteenth sentence1 to say the least1 in ,branch ,no4 #c1 and they'd put me down in the dungeon1 as usual1 as they most always had to do for the first few drays1 'cause ,i wanted the drug so bad 7they give you some there1 but it never was enough7 that ,i used to disturb everybody1 and besides1 was very troublesome4 ,i'll never forget the day when ,i tried to knock my brains out on the dark cement floor1 but couldn't2 so ,i cried1 ',o ,god6 if there is a ,god1 and some of these missionary folk that come here say there is a ,god1 and a ,christ what can save1 save me1 save me1 please save me6 ,i don't want to go to hell6 ,i've had hell enough6 ,i don't want to go to hell6' 99 99 99 99 99 ,there was a little quiet-looking old lady visiting the jail that day1 and she asked ,matron ,kincaid if she couldn't go down and try to help that poor afflicted soul in the dungeon1 and ,mrs4 ,kincaid gave permission4 ,mother ,roberts1 her very presence was soothing1 and pretty soon she put her arm around me and prayed4 ,oh1 how she prayed to her ,god and ,savior to come1 and come quickly1 to help and save me through and through6 ,by and by she told me of ,jesus who died for sinners4 ,i couldn't bear to part with her1 but ,i had to let her go soon1 she promising to come back again4 ,i was still suffering1 but after hearing her1 and her being so kind to dirty1 loathsome me1 ,i made up my mind ,i'd try to 'grin and bear' the misery if it took my very life4 ,next time she came1 ,i was out of the dungeon1 up on the next floor in my cell4 ,say1 ,mother ,roberts1 you wouldn't have known me if you had seen me then and as ,i look now4 ,i didn't weigh ninety pounds4 ,now ,i weigh close onto one hundred and seventy4 ,praise the ,lord6 ,i was always a mass of filth and rags whenever the cops police would run me in4 ,what did they arrest me for8 ,why for stealing of course4 ,we'll swipe anything to supply ourselves and our chums with 'dope' morphine1 cocaine1 opium1 etc44 ,that last time ,i'd been sentenced for three months4 ,when my time was up1 my missionary friend called for me1 and we came down on the train to ,san ,jose4 ,she hired a hack at the depot2 wasn't she considerate8 ,god bless her6 ,when we reached this home1 the matron ,sister ,griffith met me at the door1 and1 said she1 ',welcome1 dear child1 welcome in the name of the ,lord4' ,then she put her arm around me1 and led me into this very room we are sitting in now4 ,i fell in love with her right on the spot4 ,she had a lovely face and the beautifullest white hair ,i ever saw4 ,i asked her to please let me go to bed1 and would she gave me a room where ,i couldn't escape2 also to please take away all my clothes1 all but the bedding and a nightdress4 ,i told her ,i'd come there to fight it out1 that ,i'd been in hell on earth for years1 that for twenty-seven years ,i'd been a 'dope' fiend1 and that ,i wanted all of them who knew how to pray to pray for me1 'cause ,i knew there was a ,christ and a ,god1 but ,i hadn't found him yet4 ,she did as ,i asked1 and after a while tried to get me to eat1 but ,i couldn't4 ,did you know the 'dope' fiends lose their appetites for everything but the drug8 ,yes1 they do4 ,i often wondered what kept us alive4 ,it surely wasn't the food we ate4 ,my1 what a struggle ,i had6 what a fight for the next three weeks6 for ,i was determined from the time my sentence expired1 never1 if it killed me1 to touch the poison again1 and ,i was bound to keep my word4 ,god alone knows what ,i suffered4 ,one morning a little before daylight 7,i'd heard the clock strike one1 two1 three1 somewhere7 all of a sudden the room was lit up with a strange soft light1 and somebody was whispering 7or it seemed like whispering71 ',daughter1 be of good cheer4 ,thou art healed4' ,oh but ,i felt beautiful1 beautiful6 and soon slept the sweetest4 ,not an ache or pain4 ,just like a new-born baby4 ,when ,i woke up ,i could tell the girls were at breakfast4 ,i took my stick and knocked on the floor4 ,pretty soon ,sister ,griffith came up1 and ,i told her4 ,she cried with me for very joy1 and knelt by my bedside to thank ,god for answer to prayer1 then went down to tell the family4 ,glory1 glory be to ,god the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit6 ,i was saved and ,i knew it--saved through and through4 ,illustration3 ,,scene ,,in ,a ,,morphine ,,den ,from that on ,i gained rapidly1 enjoyed my meals1 and pretty soon was able to go down-stairs4 ,no fear any more4 ,i've never wanted the drug from that day to this1 and ,i'm trying by the grace of ,god to help other poor souls like afflicted4 ,say1 ,mother ,roberts1 when you go to ,san ,francisco again1 will you let me go with you8 ,i want to surprise the folk at the jail and in the morphine dens2 besides1 ,i'll show you a place you never have seen or heard tell of1 where these poor souls live--a place condemned by the authorities1 but not torn down yet4 ,i told her that1 ,god willing1 ,i should be very glad to have her accompany me4 ,then she took out of her pocket a letter1 saying1 as she did so1 ,i wrote this to some one you know4 7,here she described one of the poor prisoners47 ,you can take it up to your room and read it if you like1 and mail it for me tomorrow1 please4 ,soon we joined the rest of the family in their evening devotions1 and ,callie went back to her place4 ,i read and reread that wonderful letter before retiring1 and as soon as convenient the next morning ,i telephoned to ,callie to ask whether ,i might copy it before mailing it4 ,she gladly gave me permission1 and now ,i give you the letter almost word for word3 ,san ,jose1 ,cal4 ,aug4 #ah1 #aijc4 ,dear ,nan3 ,no doubt you will be somewhat surprised to receive this from me1 but it is surprising--and wonderful the way ,god has of lifting us up out of sin4 ,now what has been done for me will be done for you if you will only let him have his way with you4 ,surely the way of the transgressor is hard1 and the devil is a poor pay-master4 ,i know you are so tired of that life that you will be willing to say1 ,o ,lord1 anything but this2 'better a dry crust of bread with quietness than a house full of sacrifice1 with strife4' ,the truth is a bitter pill1 and many have choked to death on it1 but while the mourners go about the streets1 the truth goes on just the same4 ,now my greatest sacrifice was -- --4 ,with him the house was full of strife1 for ,i had to produce for it all1 and no peace in the end2 so to get away from the whole thing and keep out of ,san ,quentin one of the ,state prisons ,i had to not only die to him1 but myself4 ,so now1 glory to ,god6 ,i am sanctified and my sins and dead yesterdays are under the blood1 and ,just as the branch is to the vine1 ,i am joined to ,christ and ,i know he is mine4 ,nan1 as ,i look back to ,mrs4 ,j----'s time a former jail matron and the hell we had1 trying to live through1 and of poor ,minnie ,b---- and ,minnie ,e----1 who have gone out in the darkness--,minnie ,b---- was dead1 ,minnie ,e---- dying1 when the trusty rushed into the room where the matron1 ,mrs4 ,j----1 was engaged in a game of cards1 and begged her to come quickly1 to which she replied1 ,let her die2 'tis a pity a few more of you don't go the same way and then coolly continued the game she was playing4 ,if we had continued along on that plane1 such would have been our fate also2 but he1 our ,lord1 is so patient and long-suffering that the moment we are willing to give up and let him have his way with us1 then the work begins for our good4 ,now1 ,nan1 ,i am only too glad to be able to help you in any way ,i can4 ,i owe the ,h---- of ,t---- #aj4 ,i stole #dj for dope from them while in the hypo state4 ,i have now paid back #cj1 and when your time is up1 ,i will be able to pay your fare down here1 and your board until you can see and know for yourself what real liberty there is in ,christ4 ,everything did not go just as ,i liked at first2 but1 as you know1 a good thing is not easily gotten1 and if you will only try half as hard for liberty in ,christ as you do for those you love1 it will not be long ere you are out and out for ,christ1 and your dead yesterdays will be as though they never had been1 and if you will let me be a mother to you1 ,i would divide my last drop of blood to save your soul4 ,o ,god6 bless my erring sisters1 who love not wisely1 but too well1 bearing their sorrows alone in silence with an anguish none can tell4 ,now1 dear1 weigh this well1 and choose this day which you will serve1' ,god or mammon4 ,t am not the only hypo fiend that the ,lord sees fit to take out of hell2 so be of good cheer1 for he has said1 ,i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4 ,start in with a fervent prayer1 saying1 ,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god1 and renew a right spirit within me4 ,just as soon as you are willing to take your ,savior for your satisfying portion every door of hope will be open to you with outstretched arms4 ,my strength is in ,god and ,i want you to feel some of it4 ,i do not know the extent of it4 ,poor ,m--6 ,i feel sorry for her4 ,mrs4 ,roberts called on me4 ,she is ,o ,k1 and her heart is in her work4 ,dear child of ,god1 she is sowing seeds of kindness all along her line4 ,may ,god bless her6 ,the little lady who is with her ,lucy speaks highly of you4 ,nan1 and we all see the ,lord in you if you will only give up all to him4 ,tell ,mrs4 ---- ,i still have faith for her the dignified-looking white-haired prisoner already spoken of1 for ,god is still looking around for the impossible things1 to move mountains4 ,love to ,k--1 ,g--1 ,mrs4 ,s--1 ,mollie ,r--1 and all the rest of the girls4 ,now1 ,nan1 we have seen the tough side of life together1 so come on out and up1 and say1 ,with the help of ,god ,i will be a woman4 ,that is not your element by right1 ,nan1 so the sooner you seek1 the sooner you will find4 ,now1 good-by1 and may ,god and his holy angels guide and protect you1 and may your whole spirit1 soul1 and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,give my love to all the girls4 ,i pray for you all every day4 ,callie ---- ,p4,s4--,to ,mrs4 ,captain ,kincaid4 ,i know you will be happy to know ,i am still true to ,god4 ,it pays in the end for if we sow to the flesh1 we reap corruption1 and if to the ,spirit1 everlasting life4 ,i am a ,bible student1 and as soon as the ,lord can trust me with the seal of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,i am to preach the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 the power of ,god unto salvation ,glory1 glory1 glory for liberty in him6444 ,i still have your present in mind4 ,it is forthcoming in the near future4 ,respectfully yours1 ,callie ----4 ,the only alterations ,i made in this remarkable letter were in some real mines1 the spelling1 capitalization1 and punctuation4 ,otherwise it is her language1 word for word4 ,oh6 bless the dear ,lord forever6 ,what an example of ,whilst the lamp holds out to burn1 ,the vilest sinner may return6 ,later we paid our proposed visit to ,san ,francisco4 ,our experience on that occasion will be found in the next chapter4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,callie ,,and ,i ,,visit ,,the ,,jail1 ,,morphine ,,dens1 ,,and ,,the ,,mission--,,the ,,outcome4 ,some time elapsed before we took that trip together4 ,i have much to relate regarding the occurrences during the interval1 but first let me write about our ,san ,francisco trip4 ,shortly before ,christmas occasion required my presence in ,san ,francisco4 ,i notified ,gallic1 and one morning bright and early we reached that city4 ,we immediately repaired to ,branch ,no4 #c4 7,before ,i give an account of our experiences1 please allow me to relate an incident that occurred on the train4 ,in a seat almost parallel with the one we occupied sat two women1 one of whom was richly dressed4 ,she repeatedly looked my way4 ,her face seemed familiar4 ,presently ,i ventured to accost her with that fact4 ,she smilingly replied3 ,of course it is4 ,i'm ---- ----4 ,you came to my house in ,santa ,cruz dressed in a ,salvation ,army bonnet4 ,if it hadn't have been for that1 you would never have got in4 ,one of my girls left because of what you said and did that day4 ,i'll be glad to have you call4 ,i always want to help save a girl if ,i can4 ,perhaps you can persuade her sister4 ,hallelujah6 ,it came to pass less than a month later47 ,the gate-keeper passed us into the grounds1 and soon ,i was being warmly greeted by ,mrs4 ,kincaid4 ,presently ,i inquired if she recognized my companion4 ,she smilingly shook her head4 ,you've met her many times1 ,mrs4 ,kincaid1 ,i said4 ,she guessed any but the right person4 ,finally she said slowly3 ,it might be ,callie----2 but she was nothing but a bag of bones2 as forlorn-looking a specimen of humanity as ,i ever looked upon1 whereas this woman is fine-looking1 robust1 and has a splendid expression4 ,surely it can't be ,callie6 ,but it is ,callie4 ,look6 ,and ,callie proved her identity by pulling up her sleeve--convincing evidence beyond a doubt4 ,never did ,i see matron more delighted4 ,presently1 following some rapid questions and answers1 she said1 ,how would you like to surprise your former companions1 ,callie8 ,just what ,i was hoping for1 ,mrs4 ,kincaid1 ,callie answered4 ,very well2 ,i'll have all of them called into the large dormitory4 ,you wait here a few minutes4 ,there was an enthusiastic welcome for me1 but no one recognized my companion--no1 not one4 ,she stood beside me1 speechless and trembling4 ,finally ,i said3 ,speak to them1 dear4 ,i can't1 she whispered1 and the tears were in her eyes4 ,girls1 ,i've brought some one with me today whom you all know and know well1 but ,i see you do not recognize her4 7,a long silence47 ,who is she8 some one asked4 7,another long silence47 ,show them who you are1 ,callie4 ,callie8 ,callie ----8 ,surely not1 ,mother ,roberts4 ,she was1 etc41 etc4 ,but she was showing them2 choking down her sobs of joy1 or rather1 trying to1 as she rolled up her sleeves to convince them4 ,even so1 they found it very difficult to believe1 very1 very difficult4 ,i gladly retired to a remote part of the dormitory1 a grateful observer temporarily forgotten1 whilst ,callie was being questioned and overhauled by about seventy delighted women and girls4 ,they went into raptures of joy1 they shouted1 they wept1 they hugged and kissed her1 until she was obliged to say1 ,sit down4 ,i want to talk to you4 ,do1 please4 ,intense silence reigned whilst she related the wonderful story of her conversion and sanctification4 ,there was not a dry eye present4 ,then she gave an invitation4 ,without one exception all responded and then knelt4 ,she prayed--oh6 how she prayed6 and some of the women wet the boards with their tears whilst they1 too1 called upon ,callie's ,savior for pardon and mercy4 ,how ,i wish we might have stayed there the remainder of the day6 but we could not1 for my time was limited4 ,feelingly and reluctantly we said our farewells1 promising to come at some future time if ,god so willed4 ,before we left1 they all lovingly inquired for ,lucy1 sending her many kind messages of love and remembrance4 ,when we returned to ,mrs4 ,kincaid's quarters1 she inquired if ,i should like to see a photo of ,callie as she formerly looked8 ,indeed1 ,i would1 ,i replied4 ,well1 to this day ,i do not wonder at their failure to recognize her4 ,in that picture she looked like a dirty1 emaciated1 old vagabond4 ,this is the best ,i can do in the way of description1 dear reader4 ,i wish ,i had a copy of her ,before and ,after to put in this book4 ,you would be sure to say1 ,mother ,roberts did not exaggerate one iota4 ,if any of you know ,mrs4 ,kincaid1 go to her and ask her whether she won't please show it to you4444 ,we were soon on the street-car1 and then downtown1 where ,i quickly transacted my business1 after which ,i was once more at ,callie's disposal4 ,i followed her to a place on the south of ,market ,street1 to a building which resembled a deserted1 tumble-down stable or blacksmith's shop plastered with old hand-bills and posters4 ,there were some dirty old window-frames in the second story1 but ,i do not believe there was one whole pane of glass left4 ,this is the place1 ,mother ,roberts1 said ,callie4 ,surely no human beings dwell in such a terrible place as this1 ,callie1 ,i replied4 ,you come with me and see for yourself1 she rejoined4 ,don't you remember what ,i told you8 ,i said ,i would take you to a place you didn't dream existed4 ,this is the one4 ,sure enough4 ,and this was once her home6 ,she opened a disreputable door1 and we climbed a dirty and fearfully rickety stairway2 next we groped our way along a dark passage4 ,mind1 there's a broken board6 ,look out you don't break your ankle1 said ,callie4 ,she spoke none too soon4 ,i narrowly escaped an accident4 ,now we turned a corner and got a little better light1 this disclosing another old partly-broken-down stairway with nearly all the balustrade gone4 ,up these we climbed1 hugging1 as we did so1 the filthy wall1 for safety4 ,on reaching the top she rapped gently an a cracked door1 but received no answer4 ,she rapped louder4 ,still no answer4 ,presently some one called from somewhere below4 ,then she rapped still louder4 ,this time a man's voice inquired1 ,who's there8 ,there was the sound of shuffling footsteps1 and then the door opened1 disclosing two women1 one young1 one old1 and three men1 all young1 but all old-looking1 cadaverous1 starved1 ragged1 filthy1 and indescribably loathsome4 ,furthermore1 the odor issuing through that open doorway was almost intolerable4 ,callie knew all1 with the exception of the young girl1 and called each by name2 but1 as usual1 they did not recognize her1 and1 in the same manner as heretofore described1 had to be convinced1 whilst she again rehearsed her wonderful experience4 ,presently she said3 ,i'm going to hunt up some of the others1 and ,i'm going to ask this lady to sing for you while ,i am gone4 ,she's brought her autoharp with her4 ,illustration3 ,,sheet ,,music ,,the ,,songs ,,my ,,mother ,,sang4 ,words and ,music by ,mrs4 ,,florence ,,roberts4 ,,duet ,or ,,solo4 #a4 ,one day ,i found a precious book ,containing many a gem ,of song my mother used to sing ,it takes me back again ,across the vista of the years1 ,when1 by her loving voice1 ,melodious invitation came ,to make the ,lord my choice4 #b4 ,she sang about the previous blood ,christ shed on ,calvary2 ,and how1 to save our souls from hell1 ,he died in agony4 ,come1 sinners1 to the gospel feast ,methinks ,i hear her still ,singing1 as silently she prayed ,lord1 break that stubborn will4 #c4 ,this blessed soldier of the cross ,to her reward has gone2 ,but oh1 the tender memories ,she left in sacred song4 ,and1 tho' ,i wandered far from ,god1 ,and wasted many years1 ,the songs my mother used to sing ,will oft-times bring the tears4 ,up to this time ,i had not uttered a word4 ,the scene had practically rendered me temporarily speechless2 but now ,i took a few steps into the room1 whilst one of the men found an old soap box and turned it upside down for me to sit on4 ,at a glance ,i saw vermin crawling in the cracks of the filthy floor4 ,oh6 it was awful6 ,soon1 however1 ,i lost sight of my loathsome surroundings1 for in answer to silent prayer the dear ,lord was giving me a message in song4 ,never was there closer attention than while they listened to the song which you will find between these pages1 entitled ,the ,songs ,my ,mother ,sang4 ,then ,i knelt and prayed1 and prayed4 ,on that dirty floor8 you ask4 ,yes1 dear reader2 ,i quite forgot the dirt and the vermin4 ,i only saw souls going to hell if they didn't get help from ,god4 7,afterwards ,i observed that neither vermin nor dirt clung to me47 ,when once more conscious of my surroundings1 ,i discovered how dirty their faces were1 for now there were clean channels on many cheeks4 ,their tears6 ,one girl and two men agreed to forsake sin1 and ,i was happy in the thought of conveying her to ,san ,jose on our return next day1 whilst ,callie planned for the men4 ,we did what we could for the time being and then went out into the fresh air4 ,i asked ,callie how many lived under that roof4 ,to my amazement1 she said1 ,all told1 about forty just at present4 ,her next mission was to the various places from which she had pilfered1 and they were many4 ,one was a harness-shop4 ,she addressed the old man thus3 ,how d'you do1 sir8 ,do you remember me8 ,no1 mam1 ,i don't4 ,who are you8 ,i'm a woman who once stole a dog collar from you while your back was turned4 ,i've come to pay for it4 ,i'm converted now1 but ,i used to be a 'dope' fiend4 ,you were8 ,you don't look like it4 ,no1 because ,god1 for ,jesus ,christ's sake1 forgave all my sins1 cured me of all my bad habits1 and has set me on the solid ,rock1 and ,i'm on my road to heaven4 ,when you knew me ,i was on my road to hell4 ,but ,i never knew you4 ,yes1 you did4 ,i'm ,callie ----4 ,what6 ,you don't say so6 ,well1 well6 wonders will never cease4 ,it's enough to make a man believe there is a personal ,god1 ,i declare it is6 ,callie availed herself of this opportunity1 and when we left there1 the harness-maker had promised to serve her wonderful ,savior and he kept his word4 ,next we visited the rescue home1 where we were received with open arms by dear ,sister ,kauffman4 ,after having a precious time with her family and partaking of her hospitality1 we went down-town again4 ,there we spent a glorious evening at a street-meeting4 ,callie testified4 ,afterward we went to the ,emmanuel ,gospel ,mission1 where she gave a message from that most precious parable1 ,the ,prodigal ,son4 ,when the invitation was given1 the altar filled with seekers1 most of whom went from there with victory in their souls4 ,we were the guests of the mission superintendent and family over night4 ,callie was my room-mate4 ,then it was that ,i saw what the hypodermic needle had done for her4 ,there was no place 7save down her spine7 that was not marked1 and no wonder1 she had been a morphine slave for twenty-seven years--its abject slave4 ,the next morning1 as soon as we could politely leave our kind host and family1 we returned to that 'dope' den1 ,callie to prepare the two young men1 ,i to take charge of the girl1 and all of us to return on an early train to ,san ,jose4 ,alas6 my girl weakened1 and nothing would induce her to part with her drug2 but the men went with ,callie to an adjacent barber-shop for baths1 hair-cutting1 and shaving4 ,during these operations ,callie and ,i quickly went to the ,salvation ,army's secondhand shop1 where ,callie procured the men complete outfits of respectable clothing4 ,what a transformation when we beheld them again6 ,then we took them to breakfast2 but they ate sparingly1 and were not satisfied until they had taken some of their favorite drug4 ,two and a half hours later ,callie and ,i were it home once more1 and our young men were in the safe keeping of two sanctified brothers4 ,although these brethren were severely tried and tested time and again1 they so held on to ,god for these precious souls that they are now saved and sanctified and on their road to heaven4 ,gallic kept her situation for some time longer and then went forth to preach the glorious gospel4 ,the last time ,i heard of her1 she was being wonderfully blest in preaching in southern ,california4 ,may ,god forever guide this precious woman and keep her true until ,jesus calls1 ,well done1 thou good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,still ,,southward ,,bound--,,santa ,,cruz--,,lucy ,,returns ,,to ,,her ,,home4 ,the occurrences of the previous chapter took place several months after the happenings now to be related4 ,the latter part of ,august found ,lucy and me in ,santa ,cruz1 one of ,california's beautiful ocean resorts1 where again we were fortunate in securing lodging with a ,christian landlady1 ,mrs4 ,hedgepeth1 who took pleasure in furnishing much information4 ,she also introduced us to several1 who1 later on1 became warmly interested in the cause we represented4 ,in the main1 ours was now a house-to-house work4 ,lucy would take one street1 and ,i another1 seeking for means to be applied to the home fund4 ,for days we met only at noon and eventide1 weary in body1 often somewhat discouraged1 but always with new and varied experiences4 ,a few of these we will relate4 ,one evening ,lucy said3 ,mother1 ,i called at a lovely home today where were a great variety of beautiful birds and strange little animals in big cages in the yard4 ,the gentleman who was feeding and caring for them seemed pleased at my interest1 leaned over the fence and conversed with new about them1 telling where he had discovered some1 how costly were others1 what special care and food most of them required1 and much more2 but oh6 ,mother dear1 he had no use1 no time for ,jesus1 or anything relating to him4 ,he turned away and left me when ,i tried to tell him4 ,isn't he to be pitied8 ,i had better success a few doors higher up4 ,the lady was very kind4 ,she put her name down for one dollar4 ,i've collected ---- for the fund today1 and she smiled with joy as she handed me the money4 ,one reputed wealthy woman1 after hearing my story1 highly commended the enterprise and said1 ,i would be glad to help you1 but all ,i can spare ,i contribute to the ,salvation ,army4 ,i pleaded further1 but in vain4 ,later1 and quite by accident1 we learned that her contribution consisted in occasionally purchasing a ,war ,cry4 ,what a sad1 sad accounting will have to be given by many on that day when the ,judge of all the earth shall sit upon his throne6 ,several of the local pastors manifested most kindly consideration1 some gave lists of names of charitably disposed people1 and a few invited me to share their pulpits4 ,never shall ,i forget the day when ,lucy and ,i called at a handsome residence on ,washington ,street4 ,the door was opened by one of the most spiritual-countenanced young ladies ,i have ever had the pleasure of meeting1 and from that day to this she has been one of my warmest1 most loyal friends--,sister ,b---- ,g----4 ,more times than ,i can count ,i have acted upon and profited by her wise and kindly advice1 and never did she fail me with sympathy and help in a trying hour4 ,her widowed mother was the first large contributor to the fund4 ,only ,god knows my heart's gratitude the day she handed me that cheque for one hundred dollars4 ,through the daughter ,i learned who had spiritual charge of the jail work1 and soon1 acting on her suggestions1 made the acquaintance of ,mrs4 ,mason4 ,she invited us to attend the following ,sunday morning services at #i3cj o'clock4 ,in consequence of my responding1 the next chapter will relate the sad story which came to me from the lips of a youth sentenced to ,folsom penitentiary for ninety-nine years4 ,we soon located the neighborhood of the poor wandering girls1 where many gladly bade ,lucy and me welcome4 ,also1 we were informed that1 owing to circumstances at that time1 the only religious people who would be admitted to certain houses were ,salvation ,army lassies4 ,learning our errand1 one of these kindly disposed women of ,god accompanied us1 we wearing bonnets loaned for this occasion4 ,the landlady of one of these houses was the one we met on the train1 when ,callie accompanied me to ,san ,francisco on that important trip4 ,at this time a gospel-tent was pitched in the rear of the court-house and city hall4 ,each night there congregated large numbers of people1 most of whom came from the humble walks of life4 ,in that precious little tabernacle many souls sought and found salvation4 ,at this time the services were conducted by ,brother ,williams and his wife1 whilst ,i served as organist1 and also1 occasionally1 as the ,lord would lead1 delivered ,his messages4 ,one night whilst a girl was at the altar pleading for pardon and mercy1 she was suddenly seized by a dark-haired1 portly woman1 dragged off of her knees1 and hurried away4 ,this unusual procedure took us workers off our guard and so startled us as temporarily to disable us from acting as we otherwise would have acted4 ,the woman ran down the aisle1 firmly gripping the speechless1 frightened girl1 declaring as she did so that it was her daughter1 that she would see to it that this would not happen again2 then both disappeared in the darkness4 ,how subtle1 how powerful is the adversary of souls6 ,later we learned that that poor1 poor girl had just escaped from this madam 7the pretended mother71 who1 suspecting her victim's whereabouts1 had stealthily followed4 ,we worked for her release1 but in vain4 ,the girl being of the age of consent1 the authorities could not act4 ,besides1 she was now once more subservient to the devil's hypnotic power and influence4 ,all we could do was to hope and pray that the tender ,shepherd would1 in his own wise way1 set her free from her wretched life and save her from the fate awaiting her4 ,when it became known that two newcomers1 practical rescue workers1 were in town1 we were soon overwhelmed with responsibilities too many to shoulder4 ,moreover1 the ,san ,jose and ,san ,francisco rescue homes1 hitherto but little heard of in ,santa ,cruz1 began filling to overflowing with wandering girls4 ,one day ,lucy received a special letter1 requesting her immediate presence at home on account of the sudden illness of her mother4 ,we temporarily parted1 ,i promising to join her 7,god willing7 in ,october1 in order to spend my birthday with her and her dear ones4 ,how much ,i missed my ardent1 loving companion ,i can not say2 but as the ,king's business requireth haste 7#a ,sam4 #ba3h71 ,i stifled my feelings and busied myself more1 if possible1 than heretofore in meeting representative people1 calling on unfortunates1 and1 as often as permitted1 visiting the prisoners4 ,in one of these ,i became so greatly interested that ,i am sure you also will as you soon read his story4 ,before ,i left ,santa ,cruz1 the ,lord had graciously raised up many friends in that place4 ,time and again it has been my pleasure to return there1 always to be warmly welcomed in many homes1 and especially entertained by ,sisters ,green1 ,mary ,perkins1 ,van ,ness1 and ,brother ,westlake and wife4 ,the latter were traveling in gospel-tent work when first ,i met them4 ,it was when making my home in ,redding1 where occurred the rescue of little ,rosa4 ,whilst ,i recall these precious times1 so many instances of special seasons of prayer1 special answers1 personal kindnesses1 and loving considerations come before my vision that ,i more than ever desire to bow humbly before the wonderful heavenly ,father in thanksgiving and praise for graciously permitting so many1 many of his loved ones to cheer1 advise1 and help me2 also for enabling me to look past the sinful exterior and to see1 by faith1 the priceless souls of humanity1 souls that are starving and perishing for lack of proper nurture4 ,and ,i am still praying for more strength1 more grace1 more wisdom1 more love1 to aid me and his other chosen missionaries in the winning of souls and the rescuing of the perishing1 for ,i do not want to go into his heavenly kingdom empty-handed4 ,do you8 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,joe',s ,,story4 ,in giving you ,joe's story1 ,i realize that ,i am taking considerable liberty1 having not asked his permission1 but ,i am confident of his willingness because of the lesson of warning to other boys--and they are so many--whose early lives correspond to his4 ,i am one of ,joe's interested friends4 ,i have frequently visited him in the prison adjacent to ,folsom1 near ,sacramento1 ,cal41 and have learned from ,warden ,reilly that he is a model prisoner4 ,i am hoping1 and praying that1 if it be the will of ,god1 he will soon be out on parole4 ,whilst he was detained in the ,santa ,cruz jail awaiting a rehearing of his case1 it was frequently my privilege to visit that place through the week and1 with my little autoharp for accompaniment1 to sing for the prisoners4 ,one afternoon1 whilst ,i was sitting by the bars in front of ,joe's cell1 and just following that blessed song1 ,tell ,mother ,i'll ,be ,there1 he broke into agonizing sobs and tears1 and for a long while could not control himself as he lay prostrate face downward on the cold stone floor4 ,i waited and prayed1 my very soul in agony for his1 as ,i began to appreciate and realize his awful situation4 ,stretching forth my hands through those iron bars1 ,i reverently placed them on his head1 and with all my heart implored our ,lord for comfort1 mercy1 and pardon for the soul of this stricken young man1 who that morning had learned that the sentence already pronounced at a former trial had been confirmed and that it was immediately to go into effect4 ,there was no escaping his fate now4 ,i was permitted1 by the kind-hearted sheriff1 to spend hours with ,joe on that occasion4 ,when his grief had somewhat spent itself1 this is what he said3 ,o ,mother ,roberts1 ,mother ,roberts6 if ,i only could recall the past6 ,if ,i only could6 ,i started in wrong from the time ,i can remember4 ,lots of naughty little things ,i would do even when ,i was quite a small shaver4 ,some things ,i did the folks would think smart and cute4 ,they would laugh and brag of me to the neighbors1 right in my heating1 too1 and that's where they made a mistake2 for1 young as ,i was1 it only made me bolder1 also saucy4 ,some of the youngsters in our neighborhood were awful4 ,i do believe they were born bad2 anyhow1 ,i knew they swore1 and so did some of their parents4 ,they gave them many a cuffing1 but they didn't care1 only swore worse than ever4 ,my folks used to forbid me to go near them1 and when any of them came into our yard1 used to say1 ,you go right home2 ,i don't want you here4 ,joe can't play with you4' ,but ,joe did1 and that's the reason ,joe has to suffer now4 444 ,illustration3 ,,ninety-,,nine ,,years1 ,,mother ,,roberts6 ,,poor ,,joe ,poor boy6 don't tell it1 if it distresses you so badly1 ,i said2 but he continued4 ,the time came when ,i was old enough to go to school4 ,these same kids went to the same one ,i did1 and do you think ,i could shake 'em8 ,no1 mam2 they stuck to me like leeches4 ,they were now harder than ever to get rid of4 ,in fact1 ,i couldn't1 but managed never to let my folks see me with them if ,i could help it1 and they knew they dare not come near our house4 ,it didn't take me very long to learn to swear like them1 when in their company4 ,i thought it sounded big and smart1 although deep down in my heart ,i knew it was wrong4 ,one day one of them got hold of a deck of soiled playing cards1 and the oldest kid undertook to teach the rest of us how to play casino4 ,it didn't take long to learn4 ,i used to often get home late from school now1 and when asked what kept me1 always told a lie4 ,i hated to do that at first1 but it soon got to be easy4 ,the folks so loved me1 had such confidence in their 'smart little ,joe1' that they never suspected1 because ,i learned my lessons quickly2 besides1 always had a pretty good report from school4 ,we used to play sometimes in a vacant lot4 ,there was a saloon near by1 and sometimes the man would treat to soda-water1 sometimes we paid for it1 and by the time ,i was thirteen ,i had learned to love beer and whiskey1 also to smoke cigarettes1 which we would make from the tobacco we kids stole from our fathers' and other people's pockets when their backs were turned1 though sometimes we'd buy it4 ,it began to be hard work to get up in time for breakfast and school of a morning1 and ,i'll tell you why4 ,when the folks thought1 after ,i'd said ',good night' that ,i'd gone to bed1 ,i'd lock my door1 then pretty soon1 in my stocking feet1 holding my shoes in my hand1 ,i would drop quietly out of my window into the garden1 and as quick as ,i could1 by previous arrangement1 would join the others in a game of cards for the smokes or the drinks4 ,father more than once said1 ',joe1 ,i've heard you're keeping bad boys' company4 ,i hope it isn't true4 ,if ,i have your word for it that it isn't1 ,i'll believe you1 because ,i've never yet caught you in a lie4' ,i confess ,i used to feel awfully ashamed and guilty as ,i'd say1 ',whoever told you that told you a lie4 ,you know where ,i am at nine o'clock1 sir4' ,and he'd say1 ',that's so1 my boy4 ,they must have mistaken somebody else for you4' ,but ,i knew better4 ,when ,i was about sixteen1 ,i went to work driving a bakery wagon1 so that ,i didn't see quite so much of my former pals1 but delivering bread took me into places where no honest or moral man or boy ought to even dare to set his foot1 let alone one like me2 so ,i fell still further4 ,for all that1 a pure1 good girl fell in love with me1 and ,i with her4 ,i hated to deceive her1 but made up my mind that ,i would cut it all out when we were married1 if she'd promise to be my wife2 and so we became engaged4 ,but--,i didn't cut it out4 ,more than once she said1 ',o ,joe1 you've been drinking6 ,i smell it4' ,i'd laugh1 and make some kind of an excuse1 and she'd forgive me every time4 ,say1 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i hated myself from head to foot for lying as ,i did to that pure1 sweet girl4 ,go on1 ,joe1 ,i'm listening4 ,one night ,i joined the boys in a game of cards in a saloon on ,sequel ,avenue4 ,it appears that ,mr4 ,l----1 the proprietor1 who1 by the way1 was a veteran ,g4 ,a4 ,r4 man1 had received quite a sum of money that day--his back pension4 ,as ,god is my judge1 ,i did not know this when ,i went in there that evening4 ,we had a round of drinks after the first game1 and after the second1 another round2 then ,i said ',good night' and went home4 ,father and ,i slept in the same room1 and ,i hadn't been in bed very long when a knock came on our door4 ',who's there8' asked father4 ',me1 ,constable ----1 where's ,joe8 ,i want him4' ',joe's out1 ,constable4 ,what do you want him for8' asked father4 ',no1 ,i'm not out1 ,father4 ,here ,i am1' ,i said1 at the same time jumping out of bed4 ',what's up8' ',joe1 my boy1 ,i'm sorry for you1 but you're my prisoner4 ,dress as quick as you can and come with me4 ,mr4 ,l---- was murdered tonight4 ,he isn't dead yet1 but he's dying4 ,you were in his saloon a while ago1 drinking and playing cards1 and you are one of the three accused of the crime of murdering him for the sake of robbing him4' ,the shock was so awful that ,i couldn't speak1 and oh6 poor old father6 ,he shook me1 saying1 ',speak1 ,joe4 ,tell the constable it's not so4' ,constable1 my boy doesn't drink anything to speak of1 and ,i don't suppose he knows one card from another2 do you1 ,joe8' ,nobody answered this1 and pretty soon we were in the presence of the dying man4 ,oh6 ,mother ,roberts1 it was like a horrible nightmare4 ,i was dazed with the shock and the fright of it all4 ,i could hardly get my voice when some one asked me where ,i had spent the evening1 and at what time ,i had left that saloon4 ,he must have been murdered right after ,i left4 ,they tried to rouse him to see if he'd recognize me4 ,he claimed to1 but ,i'm sure he didn't2 for he couldn't see and didn't know what he was talking about4 ,what of your two companions1 ,joe8 ,i asked4 ,one of them was there1 in charge of the sheriff2 ,i don't know where the other one was4 ,from that night up to this we have been here in prison1 though we haven't met4 ,he's in a cell on another floor4 ,he's sentenced to ,san ,quentin for life4 ,father mortgaged our pretty home he afterwards lost it1 the mortgage being foreclosed and has done everything under the sun he knows of to clear me1 so have my lawyers2 but they've failed6 ,mother ,roberts1 they've failed6 and ,i'm to be sent to the penitentiary for ninety-nine years4 ,think of it1 ninety-nine years6 ,that means that unless the real murderer turns up1 some day ,i'll die and be buried in a dishonored grave--and all through starting out wrong to begin with1 then keeping it up4 ,my heart felt torn all to pieces for this poor unfortunate lad4 ,how ,i should have liked to sit beside those bars all night in order to comfort him6 but as that could not be1 ,i presently1 after commending him to an ever-merciful ,god and ,savior1 whom he could not1 as yet1 accept or understand1 took my departure1 as sad and burdened a soul as ever walked the earth4 ,as the tears coursed down my cheeks1 ,i resolved to try to help him1 and1 moreover1 by repeating his story1 to warn mothers and fathers to guard their little ones closely every hour of their young lives4 ,also1 ,i purposed not to spare myself in addressing them1 whether individually or en masse1 but to confess my own carelessness and shortsightedness1 when1 as a young mother1 ,i was much of the time heedless with regard to my little spoilt son1 for whose soul and body ,god was some day going to hold me responsible4 ,had it not been for ,god's tender mercy and love in pardoning and directing my future life1 in answering my earnest prayers for his tender watch-care over me and mine1 who knows but that my only and well-beloved son might have shared a similar fate8 ,if he had1 ,i alone would have been to blame4 ,many and many a time ,i have been used of ,god in trying to comfort stricken mothers who were visiting their children now behind bars4 ,o ,god6 they have cried1 what did ,i ever do that my child should get into such trouble as this8 ,poor mothers6 ,you were guilty as was ,i1 but you haven't recognized that fact4 ,yes1 you were2 and now you begin to realize it when well-nigh too late4 ,but it isn't yet4 ,just kneel down and throw yourself on the mercies of a merciful1 loving ,god4 ,confess to him4 ,plead with him to forgive you4 ,ask him to direct every hour1 every moment1 of your future4 ,surrender your children to him2 tell him you've made a blunder of their lives as well as of your own2 then wait on him4 ,listen to what he says3 ,come now1 and let us reason together1444 ,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow1 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool4 ,if ye be willing and obedient1 ye shall eat the good of the land2 but if ye refuse and rebel1 ye shall be devoured with the sword3 for the mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4 ,isa4 #a3ah-bj4 ,they that wait upon the ,lord1 shall renew their strength2 they shall mount up with wings as eagles2 they shall run and not be weary2 they shall walk1 and not faint4 ,isa4 #dj3ca4 ,i have proved1 daily am proving1 all this1 to my constant peace and satisfaction4 ,so may you1 dear reader1 if you will4 ,god bless you and yours4 ,illustration3 ,,view ,,of ,,yard ,,and ,,prisoners' ,,quarters1 ,,represa1 ,,near ,,folsom ,not long ago ,i visited ,warden and ,mrs4 ,reilly at ,folsom and had a long interview with ,joe4 ,he told me that his poor old father was dead and that he was now alone in the world4 ,i asked him if he wanted to apply for parole4 ,no1 ,mother ,roberts1 he answered2 parole is for guilty prisoners4 ,i want a pardon4 ,but1 ,joe1 ,i replied1 if you are paroled1 in two years afterward you can apply for and receive your pardon4 444 ,i did not prevail1 but ,i am hoping that before finishing this book ,i shall receive good news concerning ,joe4 ,if so1 ,i will surely tell you4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,i ,,depart ,,for ,,pacific ,,grove--,,meet ,,lucy ,,again--,,her ,,baptism4 ,not very long after poor ,joe was removed to ,folsom1 the call of ,god took me to another beautiful ocean-resort--,pacific ,grove4 ,it was only a short journey4 ,there was no one to welcome me1 for ,i was a stranger1 but in less than twenty-four hours one of the ,lord's loved ones1 a widowed sister1 ,mrs4 ,hill1 now departed to her eternal home1 welcomed me under her roof4 ,on the following evening ,i was introduced to ,miss ,fannie ,rowe and her mother4 ,the former lady1 in gratitude to ,god for wonderfully raising her up instantly from a state of helplessness and affliction of many years' duration1 had consecrated her all to him1 and1 in addition to innumerable responses to calls for prayers and financial aid1 had opened and was supporting a mission in the ,grove1 another in the adjacent town of ,monterey1 and one for the ,indians1 situated at ,the ,needles1 ,ariz4 ,i gladly responded to her kind invitation to address the patrons of ,bethel mission one evening4 ,she gave liberally toward helping to procure the home for the wandering girls4 ,many were the private requests for personal work with those who were too young and inexperienced to realize that their attitude and heedless words and deeds were having a demoralizing tendency upon themselves1 their schoolmates1 and others4 ,this work1 let me assure you1 dear reader1 calls for special prayer for wisdom1 diplomacy1 and deep love4 ,young people1 especially girls at the difficult age 7between thirteen and eighteen71 are very hard to persuade1 if their earlier training has not been as wise as it should have been4 ,therefore permit me to advise much and earnest fellowship and prayer with the ,father before making any efforts of this nature with them4 ,a false move too often creates rebellion1 frequently followed by disastrous results4 ,but to proceed4 ,an invitation came from the chaplain of the ,presidio of ,monterey to visit army quarters1 situated between the two towns4 ,there ,i was taken through every department and afterwards invited to address a large body of stalwart young soldiers4 ,you may be sure that1 as ,i did so1 my mother heart tenderly went forth to them1 as ,i thought of my own precious son1 who was now on the high seas and whom ,i had the privilege of seeing so seldom1 and then only for short visits4 ,after luncheon with the chaplain and his wife we visited the hospital4 ,i was1 as usual1 accompanied by my autoharp1 and so was able to give a little cheer to the many lonely1 suffering ones as well as to speak briefly about the ,great ,physician and also pray for them4 ,it was all very sad1 yet so precious4 ,i would that ,i could1 in the name of ,jesus1 have temporarily mothered one and all of them4 ,they appeared to be so appreciative1 and to be suffering as much from homesickness as from the many other ailments4 ,every church threw its doors open to me1 the interest grew1 ,god blest my every step1 and ,i 7by faith7 saw our hopes soon realized4 ,about this time a letter forwarded from ,santa ,cruz1 postmarked ,san ,jose1 reached me1 telling of the return of the president and also the vice-president of the board of rescue home managers1 and urging my return for a conference with them in regard to much renovation and also enlargement of their borders1 for the present home was now altogether inadequate to its necessities4 ,earnest prayer failed to bring me light on this matter4 ,i could only await ,god's time4 ,then came a loving letter from my dear ,lucy1 stating that her mother had fully recovered and reminding me of my promise to spend my birthday with her and her dear ones4 ,there being no reason why ,i should not accept1 ,i bade farewell to many newly-found friends1 and in a few hours ,i was being warmly embraced1 also overwhelmed with kindness and gratitude1 by my spiritual daughter and her refined1 delicate-looking mother4 ,imagine1 if you can1 how ,i1 for several days1 fared4 ,it was most embarrassing1 but very1 very precious to my soul1 especially so when one day ,lucy followed her ,savior's example in baptism in the presence of her family1 her mother1 and me4 ,placing her wet arms about my neck1 she rejoiced my heart by saying1 ,o ,mother ,roberts1 ,i've just had a wonderful vision of ,jesus1 and ,i want to say this to you3 ,much as ,i love my mother and dear ones1 ,i would rather continue with you in the work if you'll take me2 will you1 dear8 ,will ,i8 ,i should say ,i will1 ,i answered1 and gladly1 humbly1 thanked and praised ,god for the blessed privilege4 ,so not long afterwards we took our departure for ,los ,angeles1 our next field of labor1 and1 permit me to add1 at this time a difficult one4 ,there was an agitation on foot for the closing of all the questionable resorts1 and this meant much strenuous1 problematical work on the part of the agitators4 ,amongst these ,i make mention of the1 late ,rev4 ,sidney ,kendall1 a noted writer and rescue worker1 a person who proved to be one of our very valuable friends and advisers during our sojourn in that great and beautiful city 7,author of the ,soundings of ,hell1 etc47 ,matters1 through correspondence with the ,san ,jose board1 were now assuming such shape that indications were that we should soon return to that place4 ,in the meanwhile we were much occupied1 through the daytime largely1 in making personal visits to the poor outcasts1 who were in great stress of mind at this time4 ,consequently1 many returned to their parental homes1 others were taken care of or furnished with situations1 but not nearly so many as we could have wished1 and all for lack of finances4 ,oh1 how ,i have wished that those who pray ,god's will to be done in their lives would only mean it and live up to their prayers1 professions1 and privileges4 ,what a rich harvest the ,master1 at the final summing up1 could then reap6 but alas6 not many live the prayer4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,anna--,,we ,,leave ,,for ,,san ,,jose4 ,one evening1 during the temporary absence of ,lucy 7on a few days' visit with friends71 ,sister ,taylor1 matron of the ,door of ,hope1 home for girls1 and ,i were invited by ,brother ,trotter of the ,rescue ,mission1 then situated on ,main ,street near ,st4 ,elmo ,hotel1 to take charge of the meeting4 ,when the invitation to seek the ,savior was given1 the altar filled with many mothers' boys1 both young and old1 and in all sorts of condition--semi-intoxicated1 ragged1 dirty1 etc4 7,reader1 ,i have seen this sight scores of times in similar places47 ,several workers joined us on the platform in aiding the seekers4 ,as ,i was kneeling with my autoharp lying across my lap and my eyes closed1 ,i inadvertently opened them4 ,out at the open door1 about forty feet away1 stood a throng of observers1 amongst them a girl4 ,never did ,i so long to leave the platform1 but ,i feared that an interruption might mean disastrous results to both workers and seekers4 ,soon the meeting gloriously closed1 the doors were shut1 and we were hurrying home4 ,as ,i walked up the street with ,sister ,taylor and presently stood waiting with her for her approaching car1 my lodging being in close proximity1 ,i told her of my seeing that girl by the door and of my longing to have obeyed the impulse to go and speak to the stranger4 ,sister ,taylor comforted me with the assurance of ,god's never-failing response to the prayer of faith for even the unknown1 and urged me to pray for the girl4 ,i replied that it would have been infinitely more satisfactory to have dealt with her face to face4 ,suddenly some one gently touched me on the shoulder4 ,turning about1 ,i beheld a tall1 pretty1 but weary-looking young woman4 ,it was the girl whom ,i had noticed in that open doorway4 ,may ,i speak to you a moment8 she asked4 ,yes1 dear1 gladly6 ,i was wishing ,i might only meet you1 for ,i saw you looking into the mission just now4 ,come with me to my room1 and ,i placed my arm through hers4 ,no1 no6 she replied1 you wouldn't want my kind to visit you there4 ,indeed1 ,i would1 and do1 dear child1 so come along4 ,good night1 ,sister ,taylor4 ,remember us in your prayers4 444 ,it was nearly two o'clock in the morning1 and ,anna had told me her story--her sad1 sad story4 ,girls1 you ought to hear it2 so presently ,i'm going to relate it for your benefit1 but first ,i want you to know that before we left my room1 she had surrendered her future to her loving ,savior4 ,before we were off of our knees1 she1 with the tears in her eyes1 suddenly exclaimed3 ,oh6 ,i quite forgot1 ,i quite forgot4 ,let's go quickly4 ,poor ,flora1 my chum1 is awful sick1 and ,i came out to hunt her friend and take her some medicine4 ,we hurried away4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there lay a dark-haired girl moaning and gaping for breath4 ,she managed to inquire3 ,who's this1 ,anna8 ,who've you brought with you8 ,soon ,i was reassuring the poor sufferer1 whilst endeavoring to make her more comfortable4 ,dear1 have you a mother8 ,i inquired4 ,yes1 only two blocks from here2 but she doesn't know ,i'm anywhere near her4 ,she never comes near such a neighborhood as this4 ,don't tell her4 please don't4 ,it would break her heart4 ,very well1 my child2 ,i won't4 ,but she hadn't told ,anna not to tell2 so ,i excused myself1 called ,anna out of the room1 and whispered3 ,get me a certain medicine2 and if you know where her mother lives1 go there1 gently break this news1 and tell her that if she still loves her child to come immediately with blankets1 pillows1 and a hack2 to be very1 very gentle and quiet with her2 to talk as little as possible4 ,and we will help to take her home2 then she must send quickly for a doctor4 ,before five o'clock poor1 forgiven1 suffering ,flora was in bed in her mother's home1 where we shall leave her for the present1 in order that we may hear ,anna's story4 ,she said3 ,i'm not seventeen years old till next month1 and ,i'm the oldest of five children--three girls and two boys4 ,my father is a mechanic1 but sometimes he's out of work1 and then didn't he used to scold6 ,just as though we were to blame6 ,poor ,mother6 ,i've often pitied her for marrying my father1 who was naturally cross and ill-tempered even when things didn't go wrong4 ,half the time mother daren't say her soul was her own1 and1 besides1 she was naturally one of those meek1 timid kind that would put up with anything for the sake of peace4 ,winter before last when he was out of a job for quite a while and mother was having a hard time of it trying to keep us warm and fed1 ,i heard of a place in the next town1 just a car-ride away1 where ,i could work for my board and get my fifty cents a day and car-fare if ,i wanted to go home at night4 ,it was to work in a nice1 genteel restaurant2 so ,i coaxed mother to let me take it1 which she did4 ,i didn't ask father4 ,no1 he wasn't what you'd call a drinking man1 though he liked a glass of beer once in a while4 ,i soon caught on now to do my work well2 sometimes used to get tips1 but not often1 'cause ,i had the family and ladies' department to wait on4 ,there was one swell-looking lady used to eat there1 and used to come to my table whenever she could4 ,we weren't allowed to chat with the customers1 though sometimes we did1 if the boss wasn't looking4 ,one day she told me she was very much taken with me1 asked if ,i had a mother and father1 and several other questions4 ,so ,i told her just how it was with us and how ,i happened to take a situation until father got back to work4 ,then she asked where ,i lived4 ,i told her1 but that now ,i was only going home once a week in the afternoon for a little while1 it being too dark and cold to get up so early to take my car1 and that1 besides1 ,i had to work late sometimes1 so the boss gave me one dollar and fifty cents extra a week to pay my room rent4 ,she asked if ,i liked my room4 ',well1 nothing extra4 ,one can't expect much of a place for one dollar and fifty cents a week1 can they8' ,she said no1 certainly not2 but as she had taken a fancy to me1 and had a nice house with a nice little spare room in it1 if ,i liked it better than where ,i was stopping1 she would rent it to me1 and for me to come and see it that afternoon2 which ,i did4 ,of course ,i took it4 ,it was fine6 ,worth double4 ,she said she did it to encourage me1 and for me not to say a word to any one about it1 as it might make the other girls jealous2 besides1 she didn't keep lady roomers4 ,so ,i promised1 and ,i kept my word4 ,some way1 ,i can't just tell how1 ,i got acquainted with one of her roomers4 ,he soon began to say nice things and make love to me1 and we got so well acquainted that he'd leave his door open when ,i was off duty of an afternoon and would call me in for a chat4 ,but one day--oh6 ,i hate to tell it--he closed the door1 and by and by who should walk in on us but ,madam herself4 ,i was scared half to death1 she raged so1 said ,i'd lose my job1 threatened to tell my father1 and ordered me to leave her house4 ,by and by she cooled down1 and as ,i'd been crying till ,i was a sight1 said ,i needn't go back to the restaurant1 she'd take care of me1 because1 after all1 she was sorry for me1 and as things were so bad for me at home1 she'd see what she could do for another situation for me1 so for me to stay in and keep quiet4 ,the next day she said she'd just fortunately received a letter from a friend of hers in ,council ,bluffs1 ,iowa1 who wanted a girl like me right away4 ,i wanted awful bad to go and say good-by to ,mother and the children1 but ,i was too ashamed1 so ,i did as she advised4 ,i just wrote a little note to tell them ,i had got a fine situation out of town1 and would soon send full particulars and my address2 but ,i never did1 no not from that day to this4 ,i couldn't4 ,you know ,i couldn't1 and you know why4 ,yes1 dear child1 ,i know4 ,you fell into the awful clutches of that procuress and her accomplices4 ,poor1 poor ,anna6 ,there are thousands of cases similar to yours1 my poor child4 ,of course you did not know4 ,they all say that4 ,but go on with your story1 ,anna4 ,i was awful homesick1 ,mother ,roberts1 and my conscience was hurting me2 my1 how it was hurting6 ,there was ,i decked out in gay cheap silks and laces1 drinking1 and smoking cigarettes1 and carrying on and doing things to please people that ,i just hated2 but ,i had to2 there was no getting out of it4 ,all the time ,i was longing to go home or to send money to my mother1 though ,i didn't want to send any that came out of that house4 ,no1 indeed4 ,besides1 ,i had to give it nearly all to ,madam4 ,one day ,i told her ,i was going back home and for her to give me my money4 ,she told me she didn't owe me any1 that ,i owed her4 ',what for8' ,i asked4 ',for your clothes1 jewelry1 board1 lodging1 and the good will of my house1' she said4 ',i thought you gave all that to me1' ,i said4 ,mother ,roberts1 you ought to have heard her laugh4 ,it makes me shudder when ,i think of it1 it was so cruel and fiendish6 ,presently she added3 ',you can't leave till you've paid your debts4 ,i'll have you arrested if you do4' ',how much do ,i owe you8' ,i asked4 ',pretty near six hundred dollars1' she said4 ,i nearly fainted with fright1 but what was ,i to do8 ,i was afraid to die1 or else ,i'd have ended it then and there4444 ,that night ,i told a friend of mine1 a railroad employee1 and he said for me to keep a 'stiff upper lip1' and he'd get me out of there next trip2 so ,i kept my own counsel1 and ,madam concluded ,i'd decided to stay where ,i was and make the best of it4 ,she didn't know ,i was counting the hours for three days1 until my friend got back4 ,when he came1 he advised me to play drunk1 and to go out with him to dinner4 ,he said ,i need never go back2 he'd take me with him on his train when it went out that night4 ',what about my debt8' ,i asked him4 ',debt nothing6 he said4 ',she can't have you arrested4 ,she can't collect one cent of a debt like that4 ,don't take any clothes1 for fear she'll suspect4' ,pretty soon ,i staggered down the stairs1 but ,i wasn't drunk2 no1 indeed4 ',where are you going1 ,anna8' she inquired4 ',out to dinner with ----4 ,any objection8' ,i asked4 ',no1 only be in in time for business4' ,oh1 thank ,god6 ,i never laid my eyes on her again1 nor she on me from that day to this4 ,but ,i don't want you to get the idea that that escape from her ended my troubles4 ,by no manner of means4 ,listen6 ,and then she told me of experiences too dreadful for publication--experiences in ,ogden and ,salt ,lake1 ,utah2 ,reno1 ,nevada4 ,now she was in ,los ,angeles--farther away from mother and home than ever2 as unhappy1 as homesick1 as miserable a girl as ever trod the earth4 ,when she happened to be passing the mission door1 some one was singing1 ,just as ,i am without one plea4 ,after that door had closed for the night1 she followed ,sister ,taylor and me1 trying to summon up courage enough to approach me1 fearing that if she did not ,i should soon get on a car and her opportunity of ever meeting me would be lost4 ,at the time of our meeting1 ,anna was well-nigh homeless1 friendless1 penniless1 and1 worst of all1 ,christless4 ,in less than four hours1 praise ,god6 she had her greatest needs supplied1 and1 best of all1 she had found her ,savior4 ,in memory of this1 one of the songs appearing in this book was written--,the ,value of a ,song4 ,it was a particular favorite with our family in the rescue home1 some girl often remarking1 ,doesn't it just seem to fit my case1 ,mother ,roberts8 ,then she would get me to relate the story of ,anna or of some other poor unfortunate4 ,alas6 their name is ,legion4 ,,the ,,value ,,of ,a ,,song4 ,words and ,music by ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts #a4 ,a poor girl was wand'ring alone on the street ,of a great busy city1 thro' dust and thro' heat1 ,with despair in her heart as she walked to and fro1 ,when she heard a sweet voice singing softly and low3 ,,chorus ,just as ,i am1 without one plea1 ,but that they blood was shed for me1 ,and that thou bidd'st me come to ,thee1 ,o ,lamb of ,god1 ,i come1 ,i come6 #b4 ,as she noted the words of this beautiful song1 ,her thoughts wandered back to the days that were gone2 ,and in fancy she hears her dear mother once more ,sweetly singing the song she now hears thro' that door4 ,,chorus #c4 ,o ,god1 ,i have sinned1 ,i will do so no more1 ,if thou wilt forgive and a sinner restore2 ,for the sake of my ,savior1 for mercy ,i pray3 ,lord1 give me a home with some ,christian to stay4 ,,chorus #d4 ,thou knowest my weakness1 my sorrow1 my sin1 ,now grant me1 dear ,lord1 a new life to begin4 ,and soon came the answer to this earnest prayer1--,a pardon1 a home1 and motherly care4 ,,chorus4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,northward ,,bound--,,the ,,outcome4 ,more correspondence1 also the return of ,lucy1 decided our length of sojourn at ,los ,angeles4 ,after prayerful consideration1 we1 with ,anna1 soon took our departure for ,san ,jose1 where we were warmly welcomed by a now former matron 7,callie's dear ,sister ,griffith74 ,at this time the family consisted of fifteen girls and two workers4 ,imagine our crowded condition6 ,the following day the entire board of managers convened1 specially to meet me4 ,after prayer and the reading of ,scripture1 there was an earnest discussion regarding the need of an evangelistic and field worker4 ,because of my being constantly referred to as the person for such office1 ,i requested permission to retire for brief prayer1 also to give them more freedom4 ,going to the matron's room1 ,i bowed before the ,lord1 earnestly petitioned to know the mind of his ,spirit1 and sought a test4 ,the test was this3 ,if it was his will that ,i accept this office1 the board should1 on my return for further conference1 give satisfactory answers to the following questions3 ,are you willing to incorporate8 ,are you willing to change the name of the home8 and ,are you willing to purchase desirable property8 ,when ,i was once more in their midst1 the president1 in the name of the board1 honored me with the above-mentioned call1 stating in detail its necessities4 ,responding with words of appreciation1 ,i propounded the three questions named4 ,answer ,no4 #a3 ,yes1 quite willing1 but unable to do so1 for lack of funds4 ,an empty treasury4 ,answer ,no4 #b3 ,can you suggest a better name8 ,yes1 a ,god-given one1 ,i answered4 ,then ,i stated the objection of many who disliked being styled1 ,one of the ,rescue ,home girls4 ,i suggested ,beth-,adriel1 meaning ,house of the flock of ,god4 ,all being delighted with this name1 it was adopted4 ,answer ,no4 #c3 ,yes1 if you will accept the office of field representative4 ,in the name of the ,lord ,i accepted2 then agreed to pay for incorporation 7a matter that was immediately attended to7 and to place the remainder of the money in my possession1 minus five dollars1 into the ,beth-,adriel treasury4 7,this sum amounted to over three hundred dollars47 ,before the board adjourned1 ,lucy1 at my request1 was appointed assistant matron1 and a most efficient one she proved1 until illness compelled her resignation several months later4 ,all the details of the preliminaries being duly attended to1 ,i now proceeded to fill official engagements1 the first of which the following press notice announced3 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 a singing evangelise and noted speaker1 will sing and speak in the ,presbyterian church of ,los ,gatos1 ,sunday evening4 ,mrs4 ,roberts is the field secretary of the non-sectarian industrial home for women in ,san ,jose2 the same is now being incorporated under the name of ,beth-,adriel4 ,the ,lord graciously encouraged me with a large and deeply interested congregation1 who contributed liberally toward the fund4 7,this was in ,november1 #aijc1 four months from the time of my leaving ,san ,francisco for ,redwood ,city with sixty cents in my purse4 ,traveling and other expenses came out of the fund4 ,praise1 oh6 praise the blessed ,redeemer forever67 ,the following notice is copied from the ,san ,jose ,mercury1 ,may #g1 #aijd3 ,,land ,,for ,,beth-,,adriel ,,home4 ,the ,california ,non-sectarian ,home for ,women4 ,three years ago last ,september a number of ,christian men and women established a home at #fgc ,east ,st4 ,john ,street for unfortunate women and girls4 ,the work still continues at the same place4 ,last autumn it was incorporated1 but to adequately carry out the intentions of the home1 there has always been felt the need of a permanent building1 planned with reference to the work4 ,through the generosity of parties interested1 there is a little sum on hand toward the purchase of land4 ,the board desires to secure a piece of land from two to five acres1 where the inmates of the home can raise chickens also cultivate flowers1 plants1 etc41 giving them a percentage on their efforts to encourage them4 ,the opportunity is now given to some philanthropic party to either donate or sell on easy terms land1 as above described1 on or near any one of the car lines4 99 99 99 99 99 ,immediately following our first ,christmas in ,beth-,adriel ,i was taken suddenly and dangerously ill1 so that my life was despaired of4 ,many were the prayers for my restoration4 ,how devoted were my dear young friends1 especially ,lucy and ,anna6 ,praise ,god6 ,i was unable to resume my duties until ,april1 #aijd4 ,then ,i responded to a call from ,boulder ,creek1 a lovely town in ,santa ,cruz mountains2 next ,i went to ,watsonville and vicinity2 and after that ,i returned home for a rest1 for ,i was not yet very strong4 ,i arrived at home ,june first4 ,being impressed that my next field of labor was to be in a city in the extreme northern part of ,california1 ,i1 after a week of loving intercourse with my precious girls1 sailed for ,eureka1 ,humboldt ,county1 arriving there on ,june #h1 #aijd4 ,as usual1 the local papers immediately announced my coming1 one saying1 through the interviewing reporter1 that ,i had #a1bjj toward purchasing property4 ,two days later ,i was the guest of ,rev4 and ,mrs4 ,franklin ,baker1 whose home became my headquarters during my stay of over two months' duration4 ,i was now in an excellent field of labor amongst the fallen4 ,moreover1 ,i fulfilled pulpit engagements in practically every church and organization in ,humboldt ,county4 ,from noon until about #e ,p4,m4 each day 7with very few exceptions7 ,i was engaged in house-to-house work in the undesirable districts4 ,after word had been passed around that ,i was sincerely the friend of the fallen1 many a poor wandering girl listened with profound respect to ,god's loving message in word and song4 ,even most of the landladies of these houses of sin and shame invited me in1 when convenient4 ,frequently have ,i been humbly asked to join them at their repasts4 ,never did ,i refuse4 7,reader1 our ,savior ate with publicans and sinners2 are we1 professed ,christians1 better than he8 ,god forbid67 ,what golden opportunity to converse whilst we ate6 ,how the best1 the very best1 would then rise to the surface6 ,on one of these occasions ,b---- ,f----1 soon to quit forever this mode of living1 said3 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i've a friend close by4 ,she's taken to drinking heavily lately2 otherwise she's refined and accomplished4 ,can you spare time to see her today8 ,most assuredly1 ,b----4 ,can you accompany me8 ,she gladly1 hurriedly changed her attire1 and soon appeared1 heavily veiled4 ,why are you veiled1 ,b----8 ,i asked4 ,i don't suppose you will want to be seen walking on the street with me1 ,mother ,roberts1 she replied4 ,with my own hands ,i removed the veil whilst the tears of tender1 humble appreciation and love1 gathered and flowed down her cheeks4 ,we were soon at ,j----'s place1 where ,b---- knocked at a side door1 because of the noise of carousal in the front of the house4 ,a beautiful but greatly intoxicated young woman opened the door and began upbraiding ,b---- for bringing me4 ,but ,b---- marched right in1 pulling me after her4 ,we'll go into your bedroom if no one's there1 ,j----1 she said1 and forthwith proceeded to do so4 ,b----1 you shouldn't have done this4 ,i'm drunk4 ,i don't want a lady like this one to see me in such a beastly state4 ,you shouldn't have done it1 ,b----1 said poor ,j----4 ,such a noise of rowdyism was proceeding from the front room that presently she said3 ,i'll stop that6 and to me1 ,please excuse me a moment4 ,there was a hush and then sounds of several footsteps4 ,she threw her door wide open1 marched them all in1 turned the key in the lock1 and put the key in her pocket4 ,what did this mean8 ,i soon found out4 ,talk to them1 too4 ,they all need it as much as ,i1 she said4 ,they surely did4 ,all told1 there were nine1 not including ,b---- and me4 ,four were mere lads1 who were so ashamed that they tried to hide their features by pulling their hats as far over their faces as possible4 ,i sang a song2 they called for another1 and still another4 ,during the singing of the third one1 ,j----1 with her beautiful hair streaming about her face and shoulders suddenly threw herself lengthwise on the floor1 crying out1 and calling on ,god for mercy4 ,mary ,magdalene1 prostrate at the ,master's feet1 was being reenacted once more4 ,i quickly knelt1 put my arms around her1 and prayed and prayed and prayed4 ,before ,i finished1 every boy and girl in that bedroom was kneeling4 ,some of them ,i again met1 though never in such a place4 ,as for ,j----1 she immediately disappeared1 and ,i have never heard of her since4 ,b---- went ,east and became a trained nurse1 one who spiritually administers to the patients in her charge4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,suicide ,,of ,l----4 ,,its ,,after-,,effect4 ,after much effort and following repeated calls with not at home responses1 ,i at last was able to meet one ,miss ,blank4 ,seated in her private reception room1 ,i listened respectfully to her recital of vindication because of her present position1 and then told her the nature of my errand4 ,the door was partially open4 ,a beautiful1 very beautiful blonde girl attired in pale blue stepped partly in1 saying as she did so1 ,may ,i come in4 ,miss ,blank8 ,no1 not just now1 was the answer4 ,i'm engaged for the next few minutes4 ,at her request ,i sang4 ,i sang a song entitled ,my ,mother's ,voice4 ,i was sitting where ,i had a view of a portion of the stairway1 and1 as ,i sang1 ,i saw a little blue slipper and part of a dress4 ,that girl sat there listening4 ,i soon left4 ,before doing so ,i asked if ,i might call again1 and received permission4 ,the following ,sunday evening1 after ,i had addressed a large audience in the ,presbyterian church and just as the meeting closed1 two ladies hastened forward and thus excitedly addressed the pastor 7,reverend ,s----7 and me3 ,oh6 we thought the meeting would never end4 ,do you know a girl shot herself just now in ,miss ,blank's house8 ,she may be living yet4 ,hurry6 ,you may be able to get there in time to save her soul before she dies4 ,i ran1 without even my hat1 the pastor quickly following4 ,when we rang the bell1 ,miss ,blank came to the door and1 throwing herself into my arms1 exclaimed3 ,oh6 if ,i had only let her in6 if ,i had only let her in6 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 it's the girl who asked to come in the other day when you were calling on me4 ,is she living yet8 ,quick6 let me see her4 ,this is the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,s---- who accompanies me1 ,i said4 ,too late6 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 too late6 ,she died in awful agony about twenty minutes ago4 ,those two men in the hall whom you saw as you came in are the coroner and the doctor4 ,oh6 my ,god6 my ,god6 ,pray1 please pray for her soul1 wailed poor ,miss ,blank4 ,miss ,blank1 she's gone1 never to return4 ,we want to pray for your precious soul1 pleaded ,brother ,s----4 ,no1 no1 oh6 no1 wept ,miss ,blank1 and nothing we could say or do would induce her to kneel with us4 ,she only clung the closer to me1 and wept and mourned piteously4 ,it was early morning before we left4 99 99 99 99 99 ,all that was mortal of beautiful unfortunate ,l---- had been removed to the morgue1 and1 the name and address of her parents having been discovered1 the following telegram had been sent3 ,daughter ,l---- died suddenly4 ,what disposition of remains8 ,as quickly as possible came this reply3 ,embalm4 ,leave for ,eureka immediately4 7,father's name47 ,on ,monday afternoon ,i was once more with ,miss ,blank1 now sufficiently calmed to relate this3 ,l---- was taken with a spell of despondency ,saturday4 ,i was there ,friday afternoon4 ,it wasn't like her1 for she usually was the life of the house4 ,she didn't get up all day ,sunday4 ,i went up after dinner to try to jolly her up1 and soon left her1 as ,i thought1 more cheerful4 ,presently we all were startled by the firing of a pistol1 followed by some one screaming3 ',oh6 my ,god1 my ,god6 what have ,i done8 ,help me1 please1 for ,god's sake help me6' ,but she was soon past all earthly aid4 ,all of us were paralyzed with fear1 as you may readily understand4 ,then she wept1 as few weep1 whilst ,i also in tears sought to comfort her and to point her to the merciful ,savior1 but she would have none of him4 ,all ,i could do was to wait patiently and pray4 ,i went to the undertaker's to view the remains4 ,he and his wife remarked that they had handled many a corpse1 but none so beautiful as this one4 ,but ,i was grieving for the lost soul4 ,where1 oh6 where was it now8 ,where1 where were the others going8 ,the steamer arrived1 and on it not alone the father but also the mother of beautiful ,l----4 ,no one had expected the mother4 ,to me was assigned the painful task of breaking the news to her4 ,i believe ,i was the most burdened woman on earth at that hour and time4 ,rev4 ,s---- introduced me to the stricken father in the hotel office1 who presently took us up to their room4 ,to my dying day ,i shall see that scene4 ,after the introduction to the mother1 the father and ,brother ,s---- retired to another room4 ,i was standing there alone with the mother1 who leaned against the dressing-case1 her hands behind her back1 gripping the woodwork4 ,she was a magnificent1 majestic-looking lady2 the father also was a tall fine-looking man4 ,it was easy to discover whence the daughter had inherited her beauty4 ,who are you8 she gasped4 ,i explained4 ,tell me1 did you know my darling girl8 she inquired4 ,no1 dear lady1 not in life1 although ,i had seen her1 ,i replied4 ,where8 where had you seen her8 she next interrogated4 ,in the house where she boarded1 ,i answered4 ,was her husband with her8 she inquired4 ,no1 not that ,i heard of1 was my reply ,next came that dreadful1 dreadful question4 ,she shrieked it3 ,tell me1 madam1 was--it--all--right--with--my--baby--gir l8444 ,my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth4 ,i tried to answer4 ,not one word could ,i utter4 ,the mother with the exclamation4 ,o my ,god6 went down in a heap on the floor and ,i with her4 ,for a long time the silence remained unbroken4 ,she was the first to speak3 ,it is so kind of you to come2 so kind to help me in my terrible trouble4 ,god will reward you4 ,i never can4 ,now1 dear1 ,i must have particulars1 if its kills me4 ,to help get them1 ,i must tell you this3 ,my ,l---- was my youngest1 my petted1 spoilt1 baby girl4 ,her every wish was gratified from the time she drew her first breath4 ,nothing was too good for her1 and no expense spared4 ,we sent her to ,europe to complete her education4 ,did you ever hear her sing8444 ,erelong this soul-stricken mother lay in her bed sleeping as only the grief-exhausted can sleep2 then ,i left for a much-needed rest4 ,after a few hours ,i returned4 ,when ,i left her late that night1 she had sent for poor terrified ,miss ,blank4 ,when ,i came down-stairs the following morning1 ,mrs4 ,baker told me that some one was anxious to talk with me over the telephone--some one who would not give her name1 only her number4 ,going to the telephone1 ,i soon recognized ,miss ,blank's voice4 ,good morning1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 she begin4 ,i've been very anxious to get you1 but would not have your rest disturbed1 as ,i was sure you must be worn out4 ,i've been talking to ,l----'s poor mother all night long1 and she has agreed to a funeral service which we can attend4 ,neither she nor her husband will be present2 only our kind4 ,we want to know if you will conduct it for us4 ,where1 ,miss ,blank8 ,i inquired4 ,in the undertaker's chapel tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock4 ,they are going to take her remains back to her old home on ,monday's steamer4 ,do say you will1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 please4 ,i consented1 provided ,i should be allowed to give a message to the living4 ,she gladly acquiesced4 ,with difficulty ,i made my way through the crowd that blocked the street in front of the undertaker's the following afternoon4 ,none were admitted but ,l----'s associates4 ,there she lay1 apparently sleeping sweetly1 but this was only the beautiful1 fast-decaying mortal form4 ,the remains were surrounded by fragrant tributes of exquisite floral pieces1 and girls dressed in black robes1 heavily veiled1 and weeping bitterly4 ,with great effort ,i at last spoke and sang4 ,i do not remember if ,i had a text2 ,i do know that the message came to the living straight from the throne of grace4 ,even until recently some one has occasionally reminded me that she was present on that occasion and that it brought about her reformation4 ,the father and mother departed with their precious burden the following morning4 ,they came early on board1 in order to avoid curious eyes4 ,i spent the time with the mother in their stateroom until they sailed4 ,when that casket was lowered into the hold of the steamer1 ,i so obstructed the doorway that she could not look past me4 ,before our final parting the poor mother gave a farewell message for other mothers4 ,it was this3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i was too indulgent1 too weak1 with my little girl4 ,all she had to do was to tease until she got her own way even though ,i knew it would prove to be detrimental to her good4 ,if ,i resisted or advised ever so little1 she would overrule every time4 ,when she returned from ,europe1 she sang in our church choir and proved to be a great attraction4 ,she and the tenor singer1 ---- ----1 were betrothed1 and with our consent4 ,he was a schoolmate of hers4 ,for some trifling offense on his part1 she became angry and unfortunately showed a relentless spirit2 consequently1 the breach widened4 ,poor darling6 ,she was so impetuous1 so impulsive4 ,i have never quite recovered from the shock ,i received when she suddenly announced her marriage to an utter stranger--an educated young scoundrel1 as we soon learned to our sorrow4 ,papa and ,i decided to make the best of it now the deed was done2 so he took him into his employ in order that our baby girl might be near us4 ,he robbed us in less than six weeks of several hundred dollars2 then ,papa told daughter that she was welcome to her home as long as she lived1 but that he must go2 that she would be compelled to choose4 ,i know she did not want to2 but1 oh6 she was so proud1 and she would not give in4 ,she chose her husband1 and that was the last ,i saw of her until--,oh6 ,i can not1 can not bear it4 ,mrs4 ,roberts6 ,it is killing me6 99 99 99 99 99 ,miss ,blank knows him4 ,she had more than once ordered him out of her house for abusing ,l---- and living off her dreadful earnings4444 ,when the steamer was far away1 almost out of sight1 ,brother ,s---- at last turned to me and asked whether ,i had seen ,l----'s dairy1 now in her father's possession4 ,no1 ,i replied2 ,i had no idea she had kept one4 ,then1 as we walked home1 he repeated some recent entries in it4 ,i give them to you as best my memory serves me3 7,date7 ,just as ,i feared3 ,bert has been grafting again and has lost his job4444 7,date7 ,we're going to ,spokane4 ,my6 but ,i'm homesick2 ,i'd like to give in1 but ,i won't6 ,i won't6444 7,date7 ,bert has secured a job at last4 ,better than nothing--clerking in the soda fountain department of ----'s drug store4 ,hope he'll quit grafting4 7,date7 ,i've a good position now in ---- ----'s cloak and suit house4 ,afraid ,i can't keep it long1 my health is so poor lately4444 7,date7 ,bert and ,i had words tonight4 ,he's quit4 ,i suppose he had to4 7,date7 ,there's a very pleasant lady in the next bed to mine sanitarium4 ,i'm going back with her when she goes home1 and until ,bert is on his feet again4444 7,date7 ,how much has happened since ,i last wrote in my diary6 ,i've some fine clothes and jewelry4 ,bert is sporting a suit of fine clothes and diamond pin1 but--,i can't write any more4 7,date7 ,miss ,blank says ,bert will have to keep away4 ,i'm glad of it4 ,how ,i hate him6444 7,much later7 ,a lady called yesterday4 ,wish ,i might have talked with her4 ,sang about mother ,i wish1 oh1 how ,i wish--what nonsense ,i'm writing4444 7,next morning7 ,i'm so wretched1 so very wretched4444 ,oh6 mama1 mama1 mama6 ,if you could only read between the lines-- ,and that was all4 ,no name was signed4 ,but--we can all of us read between the lines1 yes all of us4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,good ,,news ,,from ,,home--,,miss ,,loraine4 ,letters from different members of ,beth-,adriel board were now constantly reaching me4 ,they contained interesting accounts of the doings at home and also much concerning various properties1 none of which1 from all accounts1 appealed to my fancy4 ,reader1 ,i was hard to please4 ,i wanted something better than had as yet been described4 ,somehow ,i felt ,god had it for us4 ,sure-enough1 as ,i discovered on my return home in ,august4 ,a letter from the vice-president described a property of ten acres of orchard and grounds1 all under cultivation2 a commodious dwelling1 partly furnished2 outhouses1 etc41 situated just outside of the city limits4 ,it was not for sale2 but as the owner1 who resided on the premises1 was a ,christian man1 it was thought that he might1 for such a purpose1 be induced to sell4 ,it was deemed best1 before approaching him to await my return4 ,you will be pleased to hear more concerning this later4 ,just now ,i want to tell you about ,miss ,loraine4 ,there was one house in ,eureka into which ,i had never been admitted4 ,one day whilst ,i was visiting another1 the landlady asked3 ,have you ever called on ,miss ,loraine8 ,i have been there more than once1 ,i answered1 but as yet ,i have been unsuccessful in gaining admittance4 ,would you still go if you could8 ,i can get you in4 ,i am a personal friend of hers1 said ,miss ----4 ,thank you1 ,i shall be very glad to have you make the necessary arrangements1 ,i replied1 upon which she went to her telephone1 took down the receiver1 and held the following conversation3 ,hello6 is that you1 ,h----8 ,good morning4444 ,quite well1 thank you4 ,how are you8444 ,i called you up to tell you of a lady who is calling on me1 and who would like very much to meet you4 ,we all call her ',mother' ,roberts4 99 99 99 99 99 ,no1 she isn't a crank4444 ,now1 look here1 ,h----1 you'll have to see her4 ,you ought to know better than refuse me4 99 99 99 99 99 ,well1 when will you be at home8 ,at five o'clock8 ,wait a minute4 ,putting her hand over the mouthpiece and turning to me1 she asked3 ,can you call at five this evening8 ,i could2 so she made arrangements1 hung up the receiver1 and then wrote a note of introduction1 wording it thus3 ,dear ,h---- ,this will introduce my friend1 ,mother ,roberts4 ,she is all ,o4 ,k4 ,hoping you will have a pleasant time together1 ,yours as ever1 ---- ---- ,this ,i presented with my card at ,miss ,loraine's door at exactly five o'clock4 ,a ,japanese page dressed in uniform ushered me into a conventional but well-furnished reception-room4 ,there sat a young woman in a handsome silk negligee1 who invited me to be seated1 remarking that ,miss ,loraine was out1 but would soon return1 and that she was to entertain me in the interval4 ,in a few minutes there came up the steps and then entered the room three splendid-looking young women1 richly attired4 ,the one in black silk1 ,miss ,loraine1 received me with all the manners of a lady of birth and good breeding1 and soon asked me if ,i would come with her to her private quarters1 so that we could converse undisturbed4 ,i followed her up-stairs into a ,dresden-draped bedroom1 where ensued the following conversation3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i feel ,i owe you an apology for not sooner receiving you4 ,to be candid with you1 my door is closed to all who have not made previous engagements2 then1 too1 ,i shrink from the embarrassment of meeting any ladies from the better walks of life1 etc4 ,whilst endeavoring to reassure her1 ,i happened to look at a silver-framed photograph of a handsome1 white-haired old gentleman4 ,quickly remarking this1 she reverently handed it to me1 saying3 ,i notice you are attracted to this4 ,would you think there was anything out of the common in any of these features8 ,upon my replying in the negative1 she added3 ,this is the photograph of my dearly loved father4 ,he is stone blind4 ,i expressed my astonishment1 for there was no indication in the picture4 ,after a pause she said1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 will you please do me a favor8 ,if it lies in my power1 ,i replied4 ,it does1 was her rejoinder4 ,will you honor me by dining with me this evening1 half an hour hence8 ,for one second ,i hesitated1 but on interpreting her expression ,i instantly replied1 ,with pleasure1 for like a flash came a mental vision of the ,king of kings dining with ,simon the leper 7,mark #aa3c-i74 ,then she absented herself for a few minutes1 doubtless to make necessary arrangements4 ,i feel disposed1 if you care to listen4 she said on her return1 to give you a synopsis of my life4 ,i assured her of a great desire to hear it and1 if possible1 to prove more than simply a hearer4 ,briefly1 it was this3 ,she was an only child of rich parents4 ,she was reared in a luxurious home1 where card-playing1 theater-going1 dancing1 and all other high society amusements were continually indulged in4 ,when she was entering her teens and most needed a mother's care1 her mother died1 and her father placed her in a fashionable boarding-school4 ,she remained there until she was seventeen1 when he sent her1 under the chaperonage of friends1 on a trip to ,europe4 ,whilst she was in ,rome1 she received from her father a cable message reading1 ,come home on next steamer4 ,upon arriving in ,new ,york1 she soon learned from her father's lips of his total failure in business 7he was a stock broker7 and also of the fast approaching affliction--blindness4 ,property of every description was swept away4 ,she soon secured a position as nursery governess1 but erelong she realized that she was unqualified1 never having been coached for any but high social life4 ,the gentleman 787 whom she had expected to marry some day proved untrue as soon as her riches fled4 ,just at a time when her employer had gently informed her of her inability to fill her position of governess satisfactorily and of her 7the employer's7 intention of dismissing her1 the tempter1 in the form of an unprincipled but well-to-do man about to make a trip to the ,pacific ,coast1 crossed her path and ensnared her4 ,under promise of marriage1 she agreed to go with him4 ,after telling her now blind father1 who was being provided for out of her earnings1 that she had secured a position for better pay1 but that it would take her away from ,new ,york for a time1 she bade him a tearful farewell4 ,before long the rich reprobate deserted her1 but he was merciful enough not to leave her penniless4 ,with a considerable sum at her disposal1 and for advisers one or two whose morals were at a low ebb1 she came ,north and furnished the house in which ,i was now sitting4 ,she was in constant correspondence with her father1 who supposed that she was married and that the fifty dollars or more 7never less7 which he monthly received came from his wealthy son-in-law4 ,and now hear her own words3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i believe you will give me an honest answer to my earnest question4 ,would it be possible for me to secure any honorable position whereby ,i might continue to send my dear father fifty dollars a month1 as well as live respectably myself8 ,reader1 what answer would you1 had you been in my place1 have made8 ,i was in an awkward position--in the presence of one who had never attended any but a fashionable church and hence--who knew little or nothing of ,god and his ,son1 one who had never been taught anything which in the event of accidents or business failures would prove practical4 ,she was indeed and in truth to be pitied4 ,my reply was a question3 ,could you not have kept a respectable lodging-house1 my dear ,miss ,loraine8 ,perhaps1 had ,i been advised by the right kind of people1 but ,i met the wrong ones1 she replied4 ,as long as my dear father lives1 she added1 ,i must send him this sum for rent and ordinary comforts4 ,the moment word reaches me of his demise1 ,i will forever cease living such a life4 ,i will quietly disappear to some remote corner of the globe4 ,then she showed me a letter just received1 one beginning1 ,my dear ,son and ,daughter4 ,how my heart ached as ,i silently prayed to know what to do6 ,what about the inmates of your house4 ,miss ,loraine8 ,how do you procure them8 ,pardon me1 but ,i can not explain that4 ,i will say1 though1 each of them has a sad story4 ,they are1 as you will presently infer from what you see1 refined1 more or less talented girls2 but they will soon drift downward4 ,the life is too rapid1 and nature will not long stand the strain and abuse4 ,i never interfere if a girl shows an inclination to quit2 on the contrary1 ,i gladly help her4 ,here a gong sounded1 announcing dinner4 ,she preceded me to the dining-room4 ,when we entered1 ,i saw five handsome young women1 whose ages varied 7,i should judge7 from eighteen to twenty-six4 ,they were all attired in quiet dress1 surely in honor of the occasion1 which courtesy ,i greatly appreciated4 ,permission being granted1 ,i invoked a blessing4 ,the meal was served in courses1 and we were waited upon by the ,japanese page4 ,i ate very sparingly1 in fact1 made only a pretence of eating1 for ,god's message lay so heavily on my heart that ,i had to deliver it4 ,they listened with rapt attention1 and all but one shed tears4 ,how stolid she appeared to be6 yet she was possibly the one many months later most impressed4 ,i met her again4 ,she was home then in her father's house once more1 but was not yet a ,christian4 ,as for ,miss ,loraine1 ,i never saw her again1 but about a year later ,i learned that her father had died and that she had taken her departure for parts unknown4 ,i can only pray and trust that she will1 if living1 turn to the ever-merciful ,savior4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,lucy',s ,,letter--,,the ,,school ,,teacher4 ,on ,july #bi1 ,i received several letters1 one of which is well worth copying3 ,beth-,adriel1 ,san ,jose1 ,july #bg1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 ,dear ,mother3 ,i wrote you a letter several days ago1 but have had no answer to it as yet1 but thought ,i would write again1 as it seems so long since ,i saw or heard from you4 ,i wrote and told you all about my trip to ,san ,francisco1 and what a good time ,i had on that occasion she visited the jail where she was once a prisoner and where she was converted on or about ,feb4 #ad1 #aijc1 but ,i presume you have been very busy1 or you would have answered4 ,well1 ,i can praise ,god for some wonderful victories1 and ,i do praise him every day4 ,just last night ,i was talking to our matron ,mother ,weatherwax and saying how perfectly wonderful his strength was2 for it is his strength1 and not mine1 that has kept me up and is still keeping--me up from day to day4 ,the home is full now4444 ,we have one case of clear-cut answer to prayer1 where it just took real faith to hold on4 ,but isn't it just like our dear1 good heavenly ,father to do and answer just the impossible4 ,it was a case of abduction and attempted seduction of a lovely ,christian girl1 the daughter of a ,free ,methodist minister1 into a terrible house of ill-fame1 one of those notorious road-houses1 and it was such a filthy1 vile place1 that the chief of police ,carroll would not let ,mother ,w---- and another lady go with the officers and the lady's husband after the girl4 ,thank ,god1 ,he gave us the law on our side1 and we have the girl here safe and well and doing fine2 and ,i can say the same for all of the rest of us girls4 ,the girl referred to had come from her ,eastern home to southern ,california for her health4 ,as her means were limited1 she sought employment1 and one day answered an attractive advertisement for a housekeeper for an invalid lady4 ,a favorable reply1 urging her to come at once1 quickly came1 stating that in the event of her paying her fare it would be refunded on her arrival1 also that she would be met at the ,san ,jose depot by a lady wearing a bunch of red roses on her left breast4 ,when she arrived1 she was welcomed and taken in a hack to the awful place of which ,lucy wrote4 ,she managed to write a note with a match stem1 wrapped the paper round a small piece of rock which she found in the room where she was imprisoned1 and prayerfully threw them through the grating3 toward a man who was watering his horses at the trough and who evidently knew the nature of this notorious resort4 ,praise ,god1 the stone did not miss its mark4 ,the man was wise enough to notify the authorities1 and that place was compelled to go out of business in short order4 ,i have not been able to go to church for three weeks now1 but ,god is here at home with me1 and ,i am learning more of him every day4 ,my verse for today was ,ezek4 #cd3ab1 and ,i think it is so beautiful1 especially about the dark and cloudy days4 ,we went to ,alum ,rock a beautiful resort adjacent to ,san ,jose three weeks ago ,thursday1 and ,i got so badly poisoned poison-oak that there was not an inch of my body that was not covered and my eyes were swollen shut for two days4 ,i was sick in bed with it all day the ,fourth and here alone2 but not alone1 for if ever ,i had a happy day1 it was that4 ,lots of times ,i feel discouraged to think ,i can not remember the ,scriptures that ,i read1 but it was just marvelous the way they would roll over my mind on those two or three days that ,i could not see even to read4 ,i believe ,god just wanted me to see when my eyes1 hands1 tongue and feet were quiet how active my mind was4 ,my head and throat are still very bad1 and ,i go to the doctor about three times a week1 but still have those terrible ulcers gathering and breaking in my head4 ,i am so thin that ,i can not wear the black dress you made me at all4 ,mother ,w---- says she is afraid something will give way in my head one of these days4 ,she wants me to go home for a rest1 but if ,i did1 then ,mama her own mother wouldn't come here for a rest1 and ,i want her to have a rest1 and then1 too1 ,i would have to ask them to send me money to go home on4 ,lucy's services were gratuitous4 ,just the other day ,i was reading how much ,delia did for the ,lord in her short ,christian life ,before conversion known as the ,blue ,bird of ,mulberry ,bend of ,new ,york1 and it has made me feel bad2 for here ,i have been saved over a year1 and what have ,i done8 ,it is said that she had over six hundred souls in three months1 and ,i can not claim one that ,i know of4 ,i know that ,i have tried to be what ,god would have me be1 if ever a girl did try4 ,indeed1 indeed you have1 dear child1 and ,god smiles on you for it4 ,there is one thing sure4 ,i have prayed a great deal for you lately for ever since two weeks ago ,tuesday night1 which was our prayer-meeting night of course1 ,i had a real hard fight with ,satan1 and he had tried to get the better of my better self1 and ,miss ,sisson came and told of your being at a house to see the landlady and then of your going back in a few days to preach the funeral services over the dead body of one of the girls suicide4 ,oh1 how it helped me to see what ,i had been spared from and how much ,i had to praise ,god for6 and it also showed me how many prayers you needed to help you in your work1 and so ,i have held you up more than ever before ,his throne1 and maybe if ,i can not reap myself1 ,i can pray for those that are in the field4 ,god has been so good that all through my sickness ,i have missed but two days' work1 that is1 there were but two days that ,i was not able to get the meals 7all of them74 ,it is perfectly wonderful1 the strength1 willingness1 and determination ,he will give us if we but want it4 ,sometimes lately when my head has been so bad1 ,i have thought1 what if ,i should be taken now4 ,it would be grand to go home2 but ,i have talked with ,mother ,w---- so much lately1 and ,i do not feel ,i could go till ,i have done something for ,him who did so much for me4 ,pray for me1 ,mother1 that ,i may get better and do something4 ,i want to go and tell ,mattie a former companion in sin and the girls1 that what ,god has done for me he will do for them4 ,i'll tell you what ,doctor ,a---- says is the matter with me4 ,she examined me1 tested my blood1 and said it was not in the system from disease of myself1 but that sometime1 when my throat was sore1 ,i inhaled the germs from some sick person1 that the throat was just in the condition for them to germinate1 and now my throat and ear are eaten out terribly4 ,cigarette-smoking the probable cause ,she hasn't said she couldn't cure me1 but that it will take a year's solid and continuous treatment1 without any neglectfulness whatsoever4 ,oh6 isn't it true that if we sow to the flesh1 we must reap corruption4 ,i know that ,i did1 and am willing to suffer the pain and endure if ,i can only tell others--yes--warn them4 ,but ,i know that ,i can not do it away from here until ,i can do it better here1 so ,i want more courage to do it better here4 ,mania doesn't know much about my throat1 only what ,mother ,w---- wrote her that tune4 ,oh6 this is an awfully long letter1 so ,i must close it4 ,i am nervous and can't write well4 ,pray for us1 as we pray for you4 ,everybody sends you their love1 and ,god bless you4 ,your daughter in faith1 ,lucy ----4 ,how ,i loved to receive her appreciative1 newsy letters6 but oh1 how they saddened me as ,i more than ever realized the truth of that statement that whatsoever we sow1 that shall we also reap1 ,gal4 #f3g4 ,but one more incident and story before we leave ,eureka4 ,one day1 on one of my house-to-house visits1 and following considerable disappointment1 for so few were at home1 or else the inmates did not want to receive me1 ,i at last received a response from a frail-looking woman of about twenty-four years of age1 who said1 ,i should very much like to have a heart-to-heart talk with you1 but this is no place for it4 ,can you come to my private room in the ---- ---- lodging-house4 ,go to room ,no4 --1 first floor at #a3cj tomorrow1 where we can converse undisturbed4 ,at the appointed time ,i was kindly received1 and soon ,i was listening to her troubles2 but before rehearsing them she called my attention to a framed diploma on her wall1 a teacher's certificate4 ,have you taught school8 ,i inquired4 ,she simply answered1 ,yes4 ,are you not taking great chances by having that where strangers can see it8 ,i asked4 ,no1 she replied2 ,i do my own work1 and have a patent lock1 so that none but my husband and me have access to this room4 ,i was still more at sea4 ,over the head of her bed hung a picture which ,i never shall forget4 ,let me endeavor to describe it3 ,the beautiful nude form of a young woman lay on a couch4 ,horror was depicted upon her countenance1 and she was frantically but vainly struggling to free herself from the great boa-constrictor which had coiled his ugly thick body about her4 ,standing beside her and looking on with a dreadful expression of devilish satisfaction was a representation of ,satan1 whilst coming in at the open door reeled a young man in a woeful state of intoxication4 ,the old1 old dreadful story6 ,when1 oh6 when will they ever profit by this only too true picture1 being really enacted every day1 every hour1 by some mother's wandering girl8 ,would that ,i might be able to tell you that this ex-school-teacher yielded to our ,lord and ,savior1 but alas6 that boa-constrictor had too firm a grip on her4 ,listen to her story3 ,less than four years ago1 ,i was a happy young woman1 living with my parents in the ,south1 in a modest but very happy home1 and surrounded by loving friends4 ,my downfall dates from a picnic4 ,i was exceedingly fond of dancing1 with no ill effect from indulging in what hitherto ,i had regarded as a most innocent pastime1 but that day ,i was introduced to one who peculiarly affected me4 ,why1 ,i used to laugh to scorn1 and express contempt for1 any one who could be so very weak as to succumb to evil influences through the dance1 never dreaming that my day of doom would come4 ,how ,i loved him6 and how ,i hugged my secret6 ,at least1 so ,i thought2 but he read me1 read me like a book4 ,he was a traveling man1 and showed me many excellent letters4 ,i told my parents1 who felt interested1 and the next thing ,i was enjoying his company in our home1 where he made himself very agreeable to the old people4 ,soon ,i was attending several social functions1 some at his invitation1 particularly where there was dancing1 for ,i loved to feel his arms about me1 his breath on my cheek4 ,a day came when1 for love of him1 ,i bartered my soul4 ,the remorse which soon followed was so deep that ,i took what little money ,i had1 stole away from home1 and my relatives haven't seen or heard from me since1 although ,i hear of them through a trusted friend1 who has promised not to further bruise the old folks' hearts by letting them know of my downfall or whereabouts4 ,i'm dead to them forever2 dead to them forever6 99 99 99 99 99 ,i was the supposed wife of my first love for over a year4 ,how ,i begged him to marry me6 but he only laughed and asked if ,i wanted to have him arrested for bigamy4 ,then he left me4 ,my baby was born dead4 ,thank ,god for that6 and now as soon as able1 ,i must move on4 ,some of these girls on the downward path are so kind-hearted1 ,mrs4 ,roberts4 ,yes1 ,saidie1 ,i know it well1 ,i said4 ,i've been their friend for several years1 and ,i know many of them and their good traits and deeds2 but pardon me for interrupting4 ,i drifted from place to place1 she continued2 now ,i'm here--here facing an awful future4 ,no ,god1 no home1 sick in body and soul1 not fit to live and certainly not fit to die4 ,how happened it that you met the man you called your husband1 ,saidie8 ,i asked4 ,just as nine-tenths of them do1 she replied4 ,we take up with some one who is seemingly kind4 ,it's an awful mistake4 ,they profit at our expense every day4 ,they take our earnings of sin1 and are often brutal besides1 she sobbed4 ,but does not the vagrancy law protect you8 ,i asked4 ,no2 not so long as they can prove they are working1 she answered4 ,he is a bar-tender4 ,saidie1 ,i want you to leave this life1 ,i pleaded4 ,come with me1 dear4 ,i will treat you as though you were in deed and in truth my own daughter4 ,listen1 ,i will even go further2 you shall travel with me4 ,i need an amanuensis and secretary4 ,i am overworked1 dear4 ,say you will1 and ,i will make all the necessary arrangements4 ,how ,i begged her to consent6 ,i wanted to take her then and there1 but1 unfortunately1 no one ,i knew would harbor1 even temporarily1 such a girl1 until ,i was ready to leave--not one4 ,i could linger no longer that day1 excepting for short earnest prayer1 in which she took no part4 ,we agreed to meet the following day at noon in a certain restaurant1 where we could enjoy privacy4 ,she kept the appointment1 but something--,i could only conjecture--something had cooled her ardor4 ,i apparently made very little headway with the ,master's message4 ,she was silent1 obdurate1 and she soon left4 ,the next day ,i followed her up1 only to learn from the scrub-woman that ,saidie was intoxicated4 ,again ,i called2 for ,i was to take the next steamer1 and felt ,i must make one more effort in her behalf4 ,i was told that she had received bad news1 that she was drinking deeper than ever to drown her misery1 and that it would be worse than useless to see her4 ,after returning to ,san ,jose1 ,i wrote a renewal of my offer1 but received no reply4 ,in all probability poor ,saidie1 another victim of the dance1 now lies in one of the nameless graves4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,san ,,quentin--,,we ,,secure ,a ,,lovely ,,property4 ,on or about ,august #ah1 #aijd1 ,i was in ,san ,francisco4 ,thence ,i went to ,san ,quentin1 ,state's prison1 where ,i was graciously given an opportunity of addressing over one thousand prisoners and also of having many individual heart-to-heart talks1 the latter a favor which has been granted me for many years4 ,at this time there was no admission into the women's quarters2 under the new and present administration ,i have been allowed this valuable privilege4 ,to see the faces light up and to hear the hearty expressions from warden1 officers1 and prisoners was always well worth a special trip at any time2 consequently1 ,i looked forward with pleasure1 though sad at heart1 to visiting our penitentiaries whenever opportunity afforded4 ,sometimes my efforts seemed barren of results1 but only in eternity may we learn of the good accomplished through faithful seed-sowing4 ,on this particular occasion ,i had requested of ,captain ,ellis 7captain of the guard7 an interview with a young girl1 sentenced for two years 7,i think7 for robbery4 ,before leaving me1 she told me of an old woman1 a life prisoner1 who had not seen the outside of the women's quarters in over twenty years1 and asked me if ,i would not please give her the next call4 ,captain ,ellis having consented1 ,i was soon shaking hands with a very neat1 white-haired life prisoner4 ,in a few moments she asked me if ,i would have any objection to her gazing out of the window at the beautiful bay and scenery1 it having been so very many years since she had enjoyed that pleasure4 ,you can never know the impression made on me by this humble request2 my only regret may be readily surmised4 ,how ,i do praise ,god that he put it into the heart and mind of the present matron1 ,mrs4 ,genevieve ,gardner-,smith1 to appeal to kind-hearted ,warden ,hoyle and the board of prison directors for a special concession in behalf of all the well-behaved women prisoners4 ,she asked for a monthly holiday1 to consist of a two-and-a-half hours' walk within the grounds on ,god's beautiful green hills1 so that these poor women might briefly feast to their heart's content on the lovely landscape and view of ,san ,francisco's unsurpassable bay4 ,a motion being made and passed1 one of the many new and excellent concessions is this one of a ,sunday walk on the hills once a month in charge of the matron1 after the male prisoners are locked in for the day4 ,the first time this occurred1 some of these poor women knelt on mother earth and bathed it with their tears4 ,ah6 reader1 are you not1 with me1 daily demonstrating the fact1 that only godly wisdom1 coupled with love1 can win8 ,illustration3 ,,bird',s ,,eye ,,view ,,of ,,san ,,quentin ,my visit was all too short4 ,i had to hasten to ,san ,jose1 where the board of ,beth-,adriel managers were awaiting my arrival to inspect some properties4 ,please1 if you can1 imagine the welcome home from my dear ,lucy1 ,anna1 and the rest of the family4 ,a warm attachment soon developed between the new matron1 ,mother ,weatherwax1 and me4 ,she held the matronal office until health no longer permitted4 7,our readers will probably have observed the tendency toward illness on the part of the workers4 ,in this branch of home missionary work there is a great need of strong physique and nerves2 otherwise there will be frequent prostration from the constant strain on the system47 ,the first joyous greetings over1 next in order was inspection of property4 ,after many trips for this purpose ,i at last saw a place which delighted my heart2 but--would the owner part with it8 ,it was the one spoken of previously--the one consisting of ten acres1 a commodious house1 etc4 ,some of the members of the board knew the owner1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,d4 ,norton4 ,we were all in the spirit of prayer whilst they laid the matter before him4 ,he asked for time to consider1 the ultimate result of which was his decision to sell it for such a purpose4 ,oh1 how we thanked and praised our kind heavenly ,father6 ,the purchase price was #aj1jjj--b1jjj to be paid by ,october #i1 the remainder on time at six per cent interest4 ,above all expenses1 there was now in our treasury #a1cjj4 ,we gladly agreed to accept the proposed terms and to wait on the ,lord for enough means to make up the deficit4 ,on ,october #h while ,i1 with the other members of the board1 was in ,judge ,rhode's court negotiating for the mortgage1 word was sent over the telephone that ,mrs4 ,mary ,hayes-,chynoweth1 now deceased1 would like to have me come to her residence1 ,edenvale1 a most beautiful spot adjacent to ,san ,jose4 ,there was barely time to make the train1 but the ,lord was on my side4 ,it being a few minutes late1 ,i caught it1 and was shortly in earnest conversation with this charitably disposed elderly lady4 ,she asked me many questions and introduced me to her daughters-in-law1 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,o4 and ,mrs4 ,e4 ,a4 ,hayes1 who listened with marked attention to my recitals4 ,presently ,mrs4 ,chynoweth said1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i am going to request you to excuse me briefly4 ,i wish to pray with regard to this matter2 my daughters will be pleased to entertain you during my absence4 ,in about a half hour she called both of them for private conference1 leaving me with some of the grandchildren4 ,soon ,i was invited into the next room4 ,with a smile1 this dear lady said1 ,i feel that ,god wishes me to give you #ejj4 ,before ,i had a chance to speak1 the ,mmes4 ,hayes said1 ,we will add #ajj apiece4 ,reader1 ,i was too happy to reply immediately2 and when ,i did1 ,i could but poorly express my gratitude1 first to ,god1 then to them4 ,in answer to prayer we had our #b1jjj--;first payment--according to agreement4 ,hallelujah6 ,a #aj1jjj home for my dear prison friends1 in one year1 three months1 and six days from the day ,lucy and ,i arrived in ,redwood ,city1 strangers1 with two telescope baskets containing all our earthly possessions1 sixty cents1 and a little ,god-given faith4 ,hallelujah6 ,did ,i regret the past toil1 privations1 and disappointments8 ,never1 never2 but soon went on my way rejoicing1 to secure future support and payments4 ,during my absence of little less than one month 7for ,i was to return for the dedicatory exercises of the new ,beth-,adriel1 to take place ,tuesday1 ,november #bb1 #aijd7 sad news reached me4 ,my poor ,lucy was taken so alarmingly ill as to necessitate her immediate removal to her own home4 ,although ,i have often heard from her1 ,i have never since had the privilege of meeting her face to face4 ,her fond dreams of seeing the beautiful new home she had so greatly aided in procuring1 were never1 so far as ,i know1 realized4 ,if she is still living1 ,i hope she may have the pleasure and satisfaction of reading this book and of knowing how dearly ,i loved her and how much ,i appreciated her every effort4 ,this ,i know1 that she sufficiently recovered to resume work for the ,master2 but on account of the removal of her people1 ,i temporarily lost track of this trophy for the ,master's crown4 ,god forever bless her wherever she is4 ,the night previous to our removal from the little old home on ,st4 ,john ,street1 ,i was lying on my couch in the parlor1 sleepless for very joy1 and reading ,god's blessed ,word4 ,i happened to look up4 ,on the wall hung a motto bearing these words3 ,god has his best for those ,who dare to stand his tests2 ,his second choice for those ,who will not have his best4 ,lord6 ,i said1 ,i want your best4 ,my child1 came my soul-answer1 ,it is for you2 but there are hard roads still to travel1 hard battles to fight and win1 privations1 disappointments1 losses1 much more4 ',can thine heart endure1 or can thine hands be strong1 in the days that ,i shall deal with thee8' ,ezek4 #bb3ad4 ,lord1 thou knowest1 ,i answered4 ,then came a desire to write4 ,i took up tablet and pencil1 always ready to my hand on the little stand by my couch1 and spent the rest of the night writing the verses that you will find in our next chapter4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,god',s ,,best4 ,child1 did ,i hear you say you want my best8 ,with nothing less--will you be satisfied8 ,you add you'll follow where ,i choose to lead1 ,though all forsake1 e'en to be crucified4 ,you ask you know not what 444 ,well1 let it be ,as you desire 444 ,and now1 a little test3 ,your social standing ,i shall first require2 ,a humble place must bring to you--my best4 ,it hurts8 444 ,of course it hurts--the snubs1 the slights1 ,from those whose favor you delighted in1 ,when they were told you'd found ,the ,priceless ,pearl ,and willingly renounced this world for ,him4 ,the step you've taken1 they pronounce insane6 ,wilt go a little further on this road8444 ,your reputation4 ,how you shrink6 ,too much to pay8 ,child1 ,i do only take you1 at your word4 ,beloved one1 still more ,i now desire2 ,your worldly comforts -- e'en your home which you enjoy4 ,can't part with them8 ,step out1 my child1 and try2 ,i promise you ,i'll substitute -- my joy4 ,you do not understand8 ,but soon you shall3 ,i'm going to trust you in a hard1 hard place2 ,therefore destruction of your idols ,i must make1 ,to help you run --and win- this glorious race4 ,come6 take your place within these rescue homes1 ,where ,i have brought some priceless gems of earth1 ,to cleanse1 to cut1 then polish for my crown3 ,your services ,i need to enhance their worth4 ,the world has long rejected them with scorn1 ,these human gems from out the mire and dust2 ,a lapidary ,i would make of you1 ,whilst ,i some precious gems with you entrust4 ,your patience and forbearance will be taxed ,beyond endurance6 ,and you've none1 you say4 ,then ,i must teach these lessons to you1 child2 ,you promised to go with me all the way4 ,the trials are too great6 ,nay1 say not so4 ,privations too6 and disappointments sore6 ,and just as the gem begins to scintillate1 ,my search-light doth disclose some dreadful flaw4 ,and you must start anew the task again4444 ,cheer up1 dear child4 ,i never will forsake4 ,come1 dry those tears and rest a while with me4 ,i soon will rectify your very sad mistake4 ,think not you are the only one who fails1 ,for all have failed4 ,not all have tried again2 ,thus have they missed my best1 for which they prayed4 ,courage4 ,be brave4 ,the attempt was not in vain4 ,now then1 that gem with such a dreadful flaw1 ,bring it to me4444 ,ah yes6 ,i now will prove ,too soon the surface you did undertake ,to polish--e'er the ugly flaw's removed4 ,plunge it anew into the precious blood of ,jesus1 ,thus anew--the work's begun4444 ,you're wining8 ,my beloved1 obedient child1 ,not many live the prayer1 ,thy will be done4 ,i'm going to prove this precious gem by fire2 ',tis next in order4 ,this1 to consume the dross4 ,it's size will be reduced4 ,nay1 do not fear2 ,perfect and flawless gems must suffer loss4 ,for further process1 see these varied wheels ,for grinding1 till the blemished spot we reach4 ,not too much haste6 ,be careful4 ,watch and pray2 ,soon then you'll learn each lesson as ,i teach4 ,you wish to know the names of all these wheels8 ,these two are ,joy and ,peace1 and this1 ,long-suffering4 ,this one is ,gentleness1 then ,goodness next4 ,now to the front the wheel of ,faith ,i bring4 ,and are these all8 ,not quite4 ,the ,meekness wheel ,so gently polishes4 ,then ,temperance comes in ,to aid in handling gems with special care3 ,thus give the final touch of polishing4 7,the nine fruits of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,gal4 #e3bb-bf47 ,you ask what motive power propels these wheels4 ,dear child1 your teacher is the ,god above4 ,he tells you4 ,surely you have learned his name2 ,his motive power is ,love1 and only ,love1 ,press on1 press on4 ,the secret now you know2 ,the willing1 the obedient stand the test4 ,supported by my love1 your eye on me1 ,surely ,i have--for you--my very best4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,dedication ,,of ,,beth-,,adriel4 ,we now busied ourselves putting our new home in order4 ,it was a blessed1 blessed day1 that day on which the dedicatory exercises took place 7,nov4 #bb1 #aijd74 ,they were participated in by an immense gathering of representative men and women1 and account of which you may1 if you so desire1 read in the ,san ,jose and ,san ,francisco dailies of that evening and succeeding morning4 ,amongst others who delivered addresses was my now personal friend1 ,mrs4 ,mary ,hayes-,chynoweth1 the report of whose speech it gives me pleasure to quote3 ,she expressed her thankfulness at being present and seeing so many interested in a line in which she had been working over fifty years4 ,she emphasized the necessity of having the spiritual life of ,god in the heart to live a ,christ-like life4 ,she spoke trenchantly of the need of purity1 not only on the part of young girls1 but young men and old men1 too4 ,she bespoke the help of all for those engaged in this work4 ,young men need much attention1 too4 ,if they had more1 there would be less need to work for women4 ,if the heart is pure1 no temptation outside can have the power to overcome4 ,if every man were in that condition1 there would be no temptation for girls4 ,let all work together1 men and women1 nor one think or claim to be better than the other1 etc4 ,the pastors of all the denominations were present1 some making brief addresses1 and a most excellent program was enjoyed by all4 ,for some time my work1 with the exception of taking an occasional trip after some dear child1 lay in the immediate suburban towns1 or in ,san ,jose proper1 so that ,i was able to spend ,thanksgiving1 ,christmas1 and ,new-,year with our now large family4 ,in ,february1 #aije1 ,i again started out on a protracted trip1 through central ,california1 making brief stops to address audiences in ,mountain ,view1 ,palo ,alto1 ,san ,mateo1 and1 before going further1 ,redwood ,city4 ,there was no trouble now to obtain a church in the latter town in which to plead the cause so dear to my heart4 ,the only trouble was that the building could not admit the overflow of people4 ,thence ,i went to ,san ,francisco4 ,there ,i was warmly received by dear ,sister ,kauffman1 whose hospitality ,i accepted whilst ,i was filling church engagements and visiting once more the county jail ,no4 #c4 ,numberless were the questions propounded by the inmates4 ,many had gone1 but alas6 many more had filled their places4 ,the work promised to be endless4 ,it was early in ,may when ,i returned to ,san ,jose4 ,no sooner had ,i arrived than the chief of police telephoned me to come to his office at my earliest convenience4 ,this was by no means uncommon4 ,frequently ,chief ,carroll had some one whom he preferred should have the benefits of ,beth-,adriel rather than be sentenced to a term in jail4 ,i hurried to town and was soon in conference with him concerning a young woman that had arrived in ,san ,jose that morning with a youth1 who was caught in the act of trying to secure lodging for her in a disreputable house4 ,evidently it was her first incarceration behind iron bars4 ,when we approached her cell1 we could hear her screaming and crying with both fear and distress4 ,upon seeing me1 she ceased temporarily4 ,i put my arm about her in tender pity and tried to say words of comfort4 ,the ,chief had informed me that she had applied to the health officer for medicine as soon as placed in a cell1 her physical condition being by no means good1 in consequence of the sinful life she had been living4 ,i prevailed upon him to have her committed to ,beth-,adriel1 where she was taken late that afternoon4 ,at the time we had a new matron1 of whom ,i had heard through correspondence with the board1 but had only just met4 ,my impression of her was by no means satisfactory1 nor was ,i wrong in my estimate1 for she telephoned to my lodgings to say that1 on account of this poor girl's physical condition1 ,i should have to remove her immediately4 ,on receiving this word1 ,i made application and obtained a pass from one of the supervisors for her admission into the county hospital1 and then went to ,beth-,adriel to convey her thither4 ,poor1 poor child6 ,that matron had barely allowed her to sleep under the roof1 and at daylight had ordered her out on to the back porch and there had given her her breakfast in discarded dishes4 ,in fact1 the matron treated her as though she had leprosy or smallpox4 ,by the grace of ,god ,i kept silence1 but resolved what should be done when the board convened the following week4 ,i left ,martie at the hospital1 only to receive word before the day was over that ,i had made another mistake1 that they did not take cases like hers4 ,what is a county hospital for8 ,i inquired of the one who was talking to me over the telephone4 ,answer3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 were we to take in those kind of cases venereal there wouldn't be a building in ,california large enough to receive them4 ,we're sorry1 but she must be removed from here4 ,however1 as it was late1 they isolated her for me until the morning4 ,in the meanwhile ,i again conferred with the chief of police1 and also ,i received a severe reproof from the supervisor for not informing him of the nature of poor ,martie's complaint4 ,upon our discovering that she came from ,oakland1 ,alameda ,county1 ,i was requested to remove her early the following morning to that place4 ,poor wronged child6 ,she was perfectly pliant in my hands4 ,i felt as though ,i could not be tender enough4 ,on the train she told me her story4 ,her father and another man were hung by a vigilance committee in northern ,california for highway robbery and murder4 ,the shock and horror of this cost her mother her life4 ,martie was an orphan as soon as she came into the world4 ,her grandmother cared for her two years1 and then she died4 ,on her death the baby was placed in the ,salvation ,army home for homeless children at ,beulah4 ,at the age-limit 7fourteen7 she was hired out as domestic for a lady about to become a mother1 who1 as soon as able again to resume her household duties1 discharged the girl4 ,then ,martie began to drift4 ,no one really cared for the poor wronged child4 ,for about a year she procured one temporary situation after another in inferior places1 visited cheap vaudeville shows and dances1 and made the acquaintance of undesirable people1 amongst whom was the young man now awaiting trial for vagrancy in ,san ,jose4 ,upon reaching ,oakland1 ,i at once repaired with my charge to the office of the chief of police4 ,he referred me to the mayor1 who1 in turn1 referred me to the supervisors4 ,not knowing any of the latter1 ,i threw myself on the kind mercies of the chief1 who1 after much difficulty1 succeeded in locating one2 and late in the afternoon ,i procured a pass for ,martie into a certain ward of the county infirmary of ,alameda ,county4 ,rest assured ,i did my utmost in the short while at my command to convey the ,master's message of love and pardon for her and whosoever will2 promised to write1 also soon to visit her2 and then1 my heart heavily weighted1 bade the poor1 wronged girl farewell4 ,it was indeed and in truth farewell4 ,i never again laid eyes on her1 for she disappeared within two days1 and not until ,i read two years ago of her death by carbolic acid1 did ,i learn the ultimate fate of this another victim of pre- and post-natal conditions4 ,in consequence of this and other similar cases that were being refused the home1 ,i realized that we must have a sanitarium on our grounds as soon as the bulk of the debt had been wiped out4 ,on returning1 ,i had a heated discussion with our board1 only succeeding in gaining the reputation of being rather ill-tempered and hard to please4 ,but oh6 dear reader1 ,i was not4 ,i was only zealous1 so zealous for the cause4 ,god knows4 ,nevertheless1 ,i refused to work until they promised to be on the lookout for a more efficient matron2 consequently1 the next time ,i met with them1 an elderly couple1 husband and wife1 were in charge4 ,i perceived1 however1 that the work was drifting from its original purposes and fast becoming that for which it was not incorporated--a maternity home4 ,this tendency was hardly perceptible at first1 but ere-long ,i discovered to my keen sorrow that apparently much of my labor had been in vain4 ,what to do or what course to take ,i did not know4 ,i prayed earnestly and continued to work1 though with less fervor than at the first4 ,how could ,i8 ,during my absence such new rules and regulations were being adopted as made it no easy matter for any needy girl to become an inmate of ,beth-,adriel4 ,feeling1 after constant prayer1 that my loving ,lord would have me exercise patience and forbearance until the annual board meeting in ,january 7it was now ,november74 ,i refrained from further interference or discussion1 and again put a distance between them and me1 though ,i kept in constant communication with several of the family4 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,juvenile ,,court ,,commission--,,henry4 ,whilst ,i was in one of the ,coast towns1 the mail one day brought me the following notification1 which1 rest assured1 was at the time as the balm of ,gilead1 leading me to believe that ,god1 who never makes any mistakes1 was going to take me into more definite work for the unfortunate children4 ,office of ,county ,clerk1 ,santa ,clara ,county1 ,california4 ,san ,jose1 ,dec4 #ac1 #aije4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 ,san ,jose1 ,cal4 ,dear ,madam3 ,you will please take notice that pursuant to an order made this #acth day of ,december1 #aije1 by the ,honorable ,m4 ,h4 ,hyland1 ,judge of the ,superior ,court1 in and for the county of ,santa ,clara1 ,state of ,california1 in ,dep't #b thereof and duly entered into the minutes of said ,court1 that you have been appointed a member of the ,probation ,committee of the ,juvenile ,court1 and you are hereby directed to appear in said ,court on ,monday1 ,december #ah1 at #aj o'clock1 ,a ,m4 ,very respectfully1 ,henry ,a4 ,pfister1 ,clerk4 ,by ,j4 ,c4 ,kennedy1 ,deputy4 ,this changed the nature of my plans1 though at first not interfering to any great extent with the work already in hand4 ,as never before ,i began to get insight concerning the disadvantages under which many a wronged child was1 and is laboring1 and oh6 how ,i thank and bless ,god that there is now protection and help for many through the officers and the instrumentality of the ,juvenile ,courts4 ,this subject1 however1 will furnish material for another book2 therefore it will be but lightly touched upon at this time1 for ,i want to have you again visit with me ,san ,quentin and on this occasion become acquainted with ,henry4 ,i first heard of him through ,captain ,randolph1 captain of the yard1 and next through ,captain ,sullivan2 then ,i obtained permission from ,captain ,ellis to interview this young man4 ,he was sentenced from ----- ,county to serve twenty-five years for homicide4 ,over seven years had now expired1 and seven1 ,i assure you1 seems like twenty-seven1 even more1 to every one of these poor prisoners4 ,he was a very bright young man1 aged about twenty-five years1 and he had the record of never having yet lost a single credit since his incarceration4 ,i listened with intense interest whilst he told me this3 ,i don't suppose ,i differed much from other boys in my school days1 was just as full of fun and mischief as any of them1 but there was no real harm in me that ,i knew of4 ,my father is a miner1 a prospector1 always on the lookout for1 and locating1 claims4 ,mother was always a hardworking little woman1 and raised a large family4 ,we had a neighbor who didn't like us1 neither did he like my dog1 which1 just as any dog will1 intruded on his premises once too often2 so he shot and killed him1 remarking with an oath as he did so1 that there'd be more than one dead dog if we didn't make ourselves scarce--anyhow1 words to that effect4 ,the killing of my pet made me very mad4 ,i am1 unfortunately1 very quick tempered1 though ,i soon cooled down4 ,i felt as thought ,i could have killed him then and there for his dirty meanness1 but pretty soon father and mother succeeded in quieting me4 ,we had no more trouble or communication with these neighbors for some time2 then one day1 when ,i was playing ball with some of the neighbor boys with some potatoes1 he happened to pass and one of the potatoes struck him4 ,it didn't hurt him a bit1 but he ripped out an awful oath at me1 and called me and my mother by a name that no man with a spark of spunk in him would stand for a minute4 ,he threatened me at the same time4 ,i hurried home1 changed my clothes1 and told my father ,i was going over to the county seat 7near by7 to have him bound over to keep the peace1 as ,i was afraid he would carry out his threat4 ,before ,i left the house ,i took down father's gun4 ',henry1 what are you doing8 ,you put that gun right back where you got it1' he said4 ',i'll not do it1' ,i replied4 ',he's threatened to kill me4 ,i'll need it for protection1' and on ,i walked1 too quickly for him to overtake me4 ,as ,i was passing ----'s warehouse on the county road1 this neighbor walked into it out of his yard1 and just as ,i came opposite the door he stuck his head out and put his hand into his hip pocket4 ,before he got a chance to shoot1 ,i had shot him through the fleshy part of his right hip4 ,he lived several days4 ,i feel sure he needn't have died1 if given proper care4 ,i laid a long time in jail before the trial4 ,my people were too poor to get me all the defense ,i needed4 ,unfortunately1 my lawyer1 though a brilliant man1 was a drunkard4 ,father impoverished the whole family to raise money to clear me1 all to no effect4 ,i am here for twenty-five years1 when ,i ought to be out trying to help make them comfortable in their old age4 ,i hear they are very1 very poor4 ,oh1 how ,i wish ,i could help them6444 ,he told me where they lived1 and ,i resolved1 ,god willing1 to take a trip1 in the interests of ,beth-,adriel1 in that direction1 and told him ,i would try to see them1 though making no promises toward aiding him in gaining his freedom1 for as yet ,i had only his word as to the truth of this story4 ,it was a whole day's journey1 and1 being very tired on reaching my destination1 ,i did not look them up until morning4 ,i can yet see that very clean1 poverty-stricken room4 ,i sat on the only chair it contained1 the little mother sat on the bed1 the father on an old trunk4 ,the father hadn't struck it rich yet4 ,prospectors are always hopeful1 sometimes realizing their hopes1 but not often4 ,the mother1 whenever able1 worked in the fruit4 ,in some way they managed to eke out a bare but honest living4 ,they could not have been much poorer4 ,we discussed ,henry's case pro and con4 ,evidently he had not overdrawn the truth4 ,before the day was over we were in consultation with a friendly disposed attorney1 who drew up petition papers4 ,before these were out of the printer's hands1 ,i had held conferences with several people and clergymen1 and had also made engagements in the interest of ,beth-,adriel4 ,the ,lord was touching hearts and money was being added to its treasury4 ,soon ,i was doing double duty1 aided by ,henry's father4 ,he went on his bicycle from place to place in the county where this homicide had been committed1 whilst ,i took the stage or the train as the case might require1 speaking in his behalf as well as securing funds for the home4 ,finally we reached the county seat4 ,there ,i learned from many--even officials--that ,henry's sentence was unjust2 but1 owing to their political positions1 ,i could obtain very few of their signatures4 ,the judge who had sentenced ,henry told me that he could not sign1 he being then the attorney for the widow of the dead man4 ,a very severe cold1 threatening me with pneumonia caused me to leave hurriedly for home1 where for several days ,i was well-nigh prostrate4 ,there were many earnest prayers for my speedy recovery4 ,these the dear ,lord heard and answered1 so that before long the work so suddenly laid down was1 through his loving kindness and grace1 resumed4 ,henry's father sent by express the package of signatures he had procured1 and ,i felt the witness of the ,spirit that we now had sufficient4 ,the next move1 as ,i thought1 was to present them at ,sacramento to the ,governor4 ,he received me most kindly1 talked at length on rescue work1 ,henry's case and other cases1 etc41 but informed me that he would have no jurisdiction to act until the matter had been duly presented after receiving the written approval of the board of prison directors4 ,at their next monthly meeting ,i was present2 but1 owing to stress of other matters1 ,henry's case could not at this time command their attention1 nor for three successive meetings4 ,then occurred an adjournment until ,july4 ,henry wrote that he could not conscientiously ask me to come again1 but the still1 small voice bade me try once more4 ,oh1 praise the dear ,lord for answering many prayers in his behalf6 ,henry was granted his parole4 ,the news was telephoned to me early in the morning4 ,i hurried down to ,captain ,ellis' office to offer ,henry my congratulations1 but1 above all1 to direct his mind toward the ,author of his freedom4 ,what a blessed opportunity to honor the ,master6 and he promised to try to serve him thereafter4 ,then he whispered something to the ,captain1 who replied1 ,certainly1 you have my permission4 ,excusing himself1 he hurried into the inner yard4 ,presently he returned with an oblong box4 ,handing it to me1 he said3 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i have long observed that your little autoharp was wearing out4 ,this one1 my companion in my lonely hours1 must now take its place4 ,i know the use you will make of it4 ,i wish1 how ,i wish1 you might be able to appreciate with what pleasure ,i make this slight token of my eternal gratitude6 ,i had not dreamed of my prayer for a new instrument being answered in this manner1 ,i having never learned that ,henry was musical or possessed any such thing4 ,it was a much finer one than mine4 ,had ,i been presented with a gold mine1 ,i could not have felt better pleased4 ,from that day to this autoharp1 ,no4 #b1 and ,i have been inseparable4 ,but ,i must proceed4 ,before taking up other matters1 ,i will add this3 ,henry made good for two years1 received pardon from ,governor ,gillett1 married his faithful little sweetheart1 and named his first little daughter after me4 ,a few days ago ,i received a letter telling of the birth of another little daughter4 ,he took up a claim1 and he is now farming his own homestead4 ,many were1 and no doubt still are1 his trials and temptations4 ,not always was there victory1 but ,i am sure as he reads this that the tears will come4 ,he will probably retire to some quiet spot1 fall on his knees in gratitude to ,god1 who pardons our sins even though they be red like crimson1 and then ask him to guide him in the way he should go and to help him to bring up his dear little family in the fear and admonition of the ,lord4 ,may ,god forever bless ,henry1 his faithful companion1 and his dear children1 is my earnest prayer4 ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,the ,,annual ,,board ,,meeting--,,dollie',s ,,story4 ,i believe the spirit of prayer rested mightily on every one of us present at that very important business meeting1 yet ,i doubt if any member realized its vital importance more than ,i myself4 ,like ,david of old1 ,i inquired of the ,lord as to whether to continue with them or start anew8 ,the token asked was a unanimous reelection to the office he had called me to fill4 ,it was by ballot1 and was unanimous4 ,i was satisfied1 and for another year cheerfully continued to fill the office of field secretary and evangelist4 ,i now visited ,sonoma1 ,mendocino1 and other counties in that locality4 ,a kindly reception awaited me everywhere1 and no wonder--,i petitioned the ,lord to go before me4 ,he answers such a petition out of ,isa4 #de3b3 ,i will go before thee1 and make the crooked places straight3 ,i will break in pieces the gates of brass1 and cut in sunder the bars of iron4 ,one day whilst ,i was making calls amongst the unfortunate1 ,i was met at a certain door by a neat1 intelligent-looking young woman1 attired as though for a journey4 ,a glance through the open doorway revealed the presence of three others2 they1 however1 were in house dress peculiar to their mode of existence4 ,one of these spoke1 ,o ,dollie1 invite the lady in4 ,it's going to be lonesome without you4 ,she1 none too graciously1 extended the invitation4 ,if ,i had any pride left1 ,i stifled it for the sake of these poor lost souls1 sitting around in their tawdry finery1 smoking cigarettes4 ,my heart went out in tender pity for them as ,i attempted to introduce our loving ,savior4 ,hold on1 said ,dollie1 at the same time looking at a beautiful gold watch on her breast1 ,i think ,i will have time before the train comes the depot was but a block away to tell you my story4444 ,when ,i was fourteen years old1 ,i had the misfortune to lose my dear mother1 who died in childbirth4 ,father was a very hard-working man1 a mechanic4 ,he broke up housekeeping for two reasons3 ,first1 because mother had been very indulgent1 so that ,i didn't know the first thing about domestic duties1 so wouldn't have been able to even get him a decent breakfast4 ,next1 because everything spoke to him of mother1 whom he fairly idolized4 ,i used to see him evenings when he came home from work to the place where we boarded4 ,seldom in the mornings4 ,guess ,i was too lazy to get up in time for anything but a hasty breakfast1 then hurry off to school4 ,illustration3 ,,everybody ,,helped ,,grease ,,the ,,hill ,i ,,was ,,sliding ,,down4 ,i ,,soon ,,reached ,,the ,,bottom ,we used to have ,friday evening dances in our neighborhood1 which ,i attended with my classmates4 ,my but ,i loved to dance6 ,it got so that ,friday evening wasn't enough1 so many a time found me with some of them at a hall down-town enjoying the public dance4 ,the school-dance was always private4 ,it didn't take long for some one to turn my silly head and make me believe he was dead in love with me4 ,what did a little fifteen-year-old fool like me know1 with no mother to teach her1 and no woman to take a real interest8 ,that wretch could fill me with1 and make me believe1 the biggest lies you ever imagined1 and ,i drank it all in as though it were gospel truth4 ,to this day ,i sometimes wonder if all men are liars4 ,i'm not going to mince matters4 ,i fell2 and pretty soon everybody was helping to grease the hill ,i was sliding down4 ,in consequence1 ,i soon reached the bottom4 ,some one told father2 but ,i denied everything1 yet ,i was so afraid he would make the statements be proven1 that in my fright ,i ran away1 and ,i have never seen him since4 ,he's dead now4 ,poor father6 ,i expert that1 with his other sorrows1 this trouble finished him4 ,two years later found me in just such a place as you have discovered me today4 ,one afternoon1 a sweet-faced ,salvation ,army lassie called4 ,she talked as only you people can talk4 ,i was but seventeen1 still tender-hearted 7wish ,i was yet72 so it was not difficult to yield to her earnest persuasions to kneel beside her while she prayed4 ,there was another girl in the room at the time1 but she had a caller1 so got up and went out4 ,i learnt my first prayer from that ,salvation ,army girl4 ,it was ',our ,father4' ,i used to see it framed on a wall in a house where my mother visited1 but never did ,i understand it till that day4 ,then she asked me to talk to ,god in my own way4 ,i felt sorry for what ,i'd done1 and the life ,i was leading1 and said so2 so when she explained how ,god would forgive me1 ,i believed her and told her ,i'd quit if she'd take me away1 and she did4 ,i left with her about dusk4 ,she took me to her lodgings and for several days ,i shared her bed and board1 until she got me a situation to do light housework at fifteen dollars a month4 ,light indeed6 ,it was the heaviest1 washing included2 but ,i did as she suggested--prayed to ,god to help me as ,i worked1 and he did4 ,they were ,jewish people and so did their own cooking2 otherwise ,i couldn't have kept my job4 ,never shall ,i forget the joy of receiving my first month's wages4 ,as ,i looked at that little sum in my calloused hand1 ,i said1 ',dollie1 it's the first honest money you ever earned2 doesn't it make you feel good8' ,before long my ,salvation ,army friend was called away to another field of labor4 ,i promised to write to her1 and to this day ,i am sorry that through my own carelessness ,i lost track of her4 ,but ,i always did hate to write letters1 so it's all my own fault4 ,a girl told me of a nice place out near ,golden ,gate ,park2 only two in family1 and twenty-five dollars a month4 ,i called on the lady and she hired me4 ,my but she had a dainty flat6 ,one peculiarity ,i couldn't help noticing4 ,she was always afraid some one was deceiving or going to deceive her1 and would often make the remark1 ',no one ever gets the second chance with me1 no indeed4' ,and ,i used to say to myself1 ',i wonder what she would do if she found out who ,dollie was8' ,she was a ,christian4 ,no1 ,i'll take that back4 ,she called herself one1 and was the secretary of the ladies' aid of her church4 ,sometimes we had teas for them1 and then she would take them all over the house and brag on my work and me4 ,i knew how to cook pretty well by this time4 ,she taught me4 ,there was nothing ,i did not do to try and please her4 ,one day ,i heard the hall door bang4 ,some one was coming up-stairs in a great hurry4 ,next she threw open the kitchen door1 and ,i shall never forget the ugly face of her as she said1 while ,i ran in my bedroom with fright and shut the door1 ',dollie6 ,i want you to pack right up and leave this house1 you ---- ----6 ,how dare you impose yourself on me8' ,oh6 ,i ran and groveled at her feet2 ,i begged2 ,i cried2 ,i besought her not to turn me away4 ,i told her that ,i had repented and that ,god had forgiven my sins and that if she was a ,christian she'd help me4 ,that only seemed to make her madder than ever4 ',pack up your things and get out4 ,here's your money4 ,i won't put up with deceit from any one4' ,i went into my room1 and in my rage and despair tore my clothes off the hooks1 emptied the bureau drawers1 jammed everything any which way into my trunk1 and in my anger went out1 called the nearest express man1 ordered my baggage to my old address1 where the ,salvation ,army lassie first found me1 told all the girls down the row what the ,christians were like1 and then plunged deeper than ever into a life of sin4 ,my heart1 once so tender1 is hardened forever4 ,save your tears for some one who is worthy4 ,you can never touch me4 ,i wish to ,god you could4 ,i must go2 but you're welcome to remain and talk to the others1 if you think it will do any good4 ,good-by1 lady4 ,good-by1 girls4 ,i'll be back in less than a week--and she was gone2 but oh6 could ,i1 could these girls1 ever get over this recital and its impression4 ,as soon as ,i could find my voice1 ,i begged1 implored them1 not to let that story further influence them on the downward course4 ,i pictured the judgment-day with that woman who turned ,dollie away being interrogated by the ,king of kings1 and the terrible doom awaiting all who did not repent and forsake sin2 but1 apparently making no impression1 ,i soon left1 unable to proceed further with the work that day because of the great burden with which this poor girl's story had weighted me4 ,i lay on my bed shortly afterwards1 meditating upon the probable results had this mistress been loyal to her ,lord1 whom she professed to love and follow4 ,i tried to picture her as saying3 ,dollie1 a distressing story has reached me4 ,it concerns your former life1 but ,i know you must have repented1 or you would not be doing hard1 honest work for your living4 ,surely there are many you know and would like to help lead better lives4 ,it is in my heart to assist them1 ,dollie4 ,let us together look some of them up4 ,i realize that few1 comparatively speaking1 attempt this line of work4 ,they think it is too humiliating1 degrading1 demoralizing1 but it is what our ,savior did whilst on earth1 and ,i have vowed to follow him4 ,what think you1 dear reader1 would have been the outcome8 ,how many trophies for the ,savior's crown would have been hers8 ,how many outcasts would have been turned from the error of their ways1 and1 having found their ,redeemer1 would have instructed their former companions in sin8 ,it may never be revealed how many souls were lost through this professed ,christian's shameful unfaithfulness4 ,christ1 when teaching occasion to avoid offense1 uttered these words3 ,it is impossible but that offenses will come3 but woe unto him through whom they come4 ,it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck1 and he cast into the sea1 than that he should offend one of these little ones4 ,luke #ag3a1 #b ,have you1 my reader1 helped grease the hill that one of these little ones was sliding down1 so that she soon reached the bottom8 or are you helping and cheering them on the upward way until they reach the goal8 ,may ,god help and bless4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,lost ,,sheep--,,the ,,ex-,,prisoner',s ,,home--,,hospital ,,scenes4 ,who does not love that beautiful1 most pathetic song entitled ,the ,ninety and ,nine8 but how many have literally helped to emulate the ,great ,shepherd's example8 ,methinks ,i hear now1 as ,i often have heard1 great throngs singing3 ,it may not be on the mountain height ,or over the stormy sea1 ,it may not be at the battle front1 ,my ,lord will have need of me1 ,but if by a still1 small voice he calls ,to paths that ,i do not know4 ,i'll answer1 dear ,lord1 with my hand in thine1 ,i'll go where you want me to go ,our ,lord takes every one of us at our word1 whether we are singing it1 praying it1 or testifying to it4 ,he does1 indeed4 ,he takes us at our word4 ,how many of us make excuses8 ,because of this1 how many souls are going to be lost8 ,oh6 the pity of it1 the everlasting pity of it6444 ,in my possession are several photos4 ,most of them have been handed to me by the weeping mothers of lost1 stray lambs2 some have come through the mail2 all contain the one cry3 ,dear ,mother ,roberts1 444 ,won't you please try to find my poor little girl8 ,she may be in prison1 or in the slums1 or perhaps sick and dying in some hospital4 ,and then follows a minute description of every feature1 height1 weight1 peculiarities of character1 etc4 ,many times the parents admit their own weak traits and failures4 ,poor1 poor mothers6 poor fathers6 ,not very often do we find them for you1 sometimes where we would rather not2 but you said that1 no matter what their condition1 ,i should tell them that you still loved them and that you would gladly welcome them home4 ,we've found them sometimes when too far gone ever to come back to their earthly home1 and but just barely in time to be rescued from eternal ruin4 ,not always is the wanderer a girl1 either4 ,sometimes a broken-hearted parent is looking for a lost boy1 and solicits our help4 ,i've met a few of them in the penitentiary1 who have all but sworn me to secrecy4 ,i'll be out soon1 they've said4 ,no need to grieve the old folks at home by letting them know ,i've been in trouble4 ,but1 my boy1 ,i've replied1 how are you going to account for your long absence and explain where you have been8 ,i'll fix it some way4 ,say ,i've been traveling or off in the mines4 ,anyhow1 ,i'll fix it so they shan't find out4 ,but don't you know1 dear boy1 you are going to live in constant dread if you do that8 ,the ,bible says1 ',be sure your sins will find you out1' and also that 'nothing that maketh a lie shall enter the kingdom of heaven1' ,i can not write a lie to your parents1 and they've written to me1 asking me to try to find you4 ,besides1 you'll need money to take you home4 ,it is not so easy as you think to step out of here and obtain immediate employment4 ,even if you do1 some one will be constantly crossing your path and demanding you to pay him 'hush money' to keep his mouth shut4 ,then ,i have recommended them to the care of ,mr4 ,charles ,montgomery1 president of the board of prison commissioners1 who1 through great self-denial1 toil1 and energy1 succeeded in establishing1 little more than two years ago1 a beautiful home and mission for discharged prisoners4 ,it is located in ,san ,francisco4 ,to it they may go and be well provided for until employment is procured for them4 ,truly this is a most blessed work for the ,master4 ,this home is the outcome of a plan long cherished by ,brother ,montgomery1 who for nearly fifty years has labored for the reformation and welfare of convicts and ex-convicts4 ,it is now situated at #aaj ,silver ,street1 near ,third ,street1 and is well worth a visit from those who have the interest of these men at heart4 ,it was opened ,june #i1 #aiji1 and it has been doing an immense amount of good1 helping many a discharged prisoner to be once more a desirable citizen and a man of honor4 ,i would also add that it is a work of faith4 99 99 99 99 99 ,will you come with me to one of our county hospitals this afternoon8 ,soon we are kindly greeted by the matron1 and almost the next words she utters after welcoming us are3 ,i'm especially glad to see you today1 ,mother ,roberts1 because in ,ward ,x a girl who is dying has been asking if ,i knew where you were4 ,you're none too soon4 ,she can't last much longer1 poor thing6 and she leads us to the bedside of the dying girl4 ,i recognize her as ,ruby ----1 with whom ,i have more than once earnestly pleaded to forsake the wretched life she was living1 warning her of the ultimate results of such a course4 ,how changed she is as she lies there scarcely breathing6 ,she opens her dying eyes at the sound of our footsteps4 ,ruby dear1 do you know me8 ,a barely perceptible nod4 ,i'm so glad ,jesus sent us to you today1 dear child4 ,won't you take him for your ,savior right now8 ,in as few words as possible she is told of the dying thief on the cross4 ,as she can not speak1 we ask her to pray with her mind1 whilst we kneel with her hand in ours1 calling on ,jesus for mercy1 for pardon in this the eleventh hour4 ,the tears which she is too weak to wipe away are wetting her pillow1 but we observe a look of peace stealing over her countenance4 ,soon we leave1 believing that some day we shall meet her among that great throng of the blood-washed4 ,following a mothers' meeting one day in a ,northern town a care-worn-looking woman invited me home with her4 ,here she related another heartrending story of a lost girl1 an only child1 for whom she had toiled day and night at the wash-tub1 so as to send her to school dressed as finely as the other girls4 ,i have had to work very hard as long as ,i can remember1 the poor mother said1 and when ,i married1 ,i made up my mind that if ,i ever had a daughter ,i would not teach her domestic duties1 for fear she also would have to be a drudge all of her life4 ,so she raised a lady 7874 ,the girl grew to be very independent and disrespectful to her breadwinner1 her mother1 who was a deserted wife4 ,at the age of sixteen ,elsie1 without even a note of farewell1 left her comfortable little home and heart-broken mother1 never to return4 ,she had intimated her going1 but the mother had attached no importance to these remarks1 but she recalled them after her daughter's departure4 ,furthermore1 ,elsie carried away nearly every dollar of her mother's meager1 hard-earned savings4 ,after a long look at a photograph ,i perceived that1 because of a peculiar mark on the cheek1 not removed by the retoucher1 perhaps overlooked1 ,i could readily recognize ,elsie4 ,therefore1 when visiting the slums1 jails1 and hospitals ,i kept a lookout for her as well as for others1 and also notified some coworkers4 ,one day whilst visiting the old city and county hospital 7where ,mary's baby was born71 ,i passed a cot where lay an apparently old woman2 she looked to be fifty and appeared to be in the last stages of some dreadful form of tuberculosis4 ,that identical mark was on her cheek1 but surely this could not be twenty-three-year-old ,elsie4 ,surely not4 ,so ,i passed on to the next cot4 ,the impression to return to the former one was so strong that it was acted upon4 ,stepping over to her1 ,i softly said1 ,don't be frightened1 dear1 but is your name ,elsie8 ,the next moment ,i was quickly calling the nurse1 for ,i feared the shock had killed the woman4 ,the nurse came and administered some restorative and then advised me not to excite the patient further1 for she was dying2 but the girl had sufficiently recovered to be able to ask questions4 ,who told you8 she whispered4 ,illustration3 ,,poor ,,elsie ,it won't hurt you if ,i tell you8 ,i asked4 ,no2 please4 ,elsie1 it was your dear mother1 who has never ceased to love you and to look for you all these years1 and has kept the home so pretty and comfortable1 waiting for you to come back4 ,where is mother8 ,don't1 oh6 don't tell me she is here4 ,no1 dear1 she is at home4 ,it is nearly a year since she asked me to try to find you4 ,elsie do you love ,jesus8 ,i continued4 ,have you asked him to forgive you8 ,it's too late1 ,i've been too bad4 ,we have all sinned1 ,elsie4 ',all have come short of the glory of ,god4' ,may ,i pray for you8 ,yes1 if you think he'll hear4 ,after my prayer she offered one--so short but oh6 so contrite1 so very1 very contrite4 ,i called again the next day4 ,she could barely speak even in a whisper1 but she managed to let me know that she had had a beautiful dream and that after her death ,i was to write her mother that ,elsie's last words to me were1 ,tell mother ,i'll meet her in heaven1 but not to let her know when and where her daughter died4 ,she passed away that night4 ,the letter to the mother was very brief1 and no address given1 so that there was no opportunity of subsequent correspondence4 ,three months later news came to me that the poor1 loving1 well-meaning1 though mistaken mother had gone to join her dearly loved1 lost and found ,elsie in that land that is fairer than day4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,leading--,,how ,,girls ,,are ,,lured ,,to ,,the ,,dance-,,halls4 ,early in ,march1 #aijf1 ,i returned to a board meeting at ,beth-,adriel1 following which ,i began speculating as to my next move1 for as yet ,i had no direct leadings4 ,before retiring ,i prayed earnestly to know the mind of the ,spirit4 ,it was in the neighborhood of #b ,a4,m4 when ,i awakened with the impression to ,go to ,b---4 ,as ,i knew it would be an expensive trip1 ,i decided to ask the ticket-agent whether he would grant a stop-over privilege on my half-rate ticket4 ,learning that he would1 ,i decided to take every advantage of this and eventually1 say within six weeks1 to reach ,b---4 ,that afternoon1 whilst on the train1 ,i suddenly remembered that ,i had ordered my trunk checked to ,b---1 and again ,i felt that strong impression to go right through4 ,so when the conductor called for tickets1 ,i forfeited all stop-over privileges4 ,i arrived there about #b ,a4,m41 and at once went to the leading hotel4 ,about ten o'clock the following morning ,i was asking the gentlemanly clerk a question similar to the one ,i had asked the ,redwood ,city depot-agent4 ,it quite disconcerted him for a moment2 but1 upon learning my object1 he referred me to a ,salvation ,army woman1 whom ,i immediately looked up and fortunately found at home4 ,she was pleased to receive one on such an errand1 and agreed to accompany me to the dance-hall and slum district that night4 ,my next errand was room-hunting4 ,very seldom do ,i remain more than one night in a hotel in a strange town1 for almost invariably many doors are soon opened to the non-salaried workers in the ,master's vineyard4 ,then the next thing is to walk around in order to get my bearings and familiarize myself with the town1 the churches1 the press1 the pastors1 etc ,as soon as possible ,i call upon the pastors and make engagements to fill pulpits4 ,this privilege1 however1 is granted only after the ministers have1 to their satisfaction1 examined my credentials and indorsements4 ,at seven o'clock that evening ,i was again with ,mrs4 ,wilson1 now attired in her regulation uniform1 and at half-past eight we stood in one of the popular dance-halls4 ,here dancing1 drinking1 smoking1 and gambling were being indulged in by black1 white1 tan1 and mulatto of both sexes4 ,barring a few exceptions1 ,i have never seen such an array of the inferior type of nationalities4 ,the place was crowded2 for this was ,saturday night and also ,st4 ,patrick's ,day4 ,illustration3 ,,scene ,,in ,a ,,dance ,,hall ,while ,mrs4 ,wilson was at the bar asking if ,i might sing and speak1 a slender1 fair-haired girl suddenly seized my left hand and quickly whispered3 ,lady1 we are trapped4 ,quick6 your number4 ,where do you live8 ,act as though you weren't speaking to me4 ,the proprietor may be watching4 ,i'll be there at ten in the morning4 ,i immediately gave my street and number1 and she skipped away1 just as ,mrs4 ,wilson returned to tell me that she had not succeeded4 ,this refusal was only what we had expected4 ,after distributing a few tracts we were requested to desist2 so we concluded to go elsewhere4 ,that sight was sickening4 ,and that refined-looking girl--who was she8 ,what did she mean8 ,we shall soon learn4 ,other places which we visited that night were equally as bad1 in fact1 indescribably so1 and they were numerous4 ,however1 we did what we could2 but only once could ,i make use of the autoharp1 and then only to sing to the poor souls coming out of the first dance-hall1 for we held a brief street-meeting4 ,i observed that not one girl or woman put her head out of the door2 afterwards ,i learned that a fine of #b4ej was imposed for every offense of this nature between the hours of #g3cj ,p4 ,m4 and #c3cj ,a4,m4 ,upon returning from my breakfast the following morning1 ,i was informed by my landlady that two young women were awaiting my return4 ,after the greeting both commenced to talk so excitedly that ,i requested one to be the spokesman for the other4 ,they appeared to be nearly of an age1 about sixteen and seventeen1 and were sisters4 ,as nearly as ,i can remember1 this was their story3 ,we were attending high school several miles from our home4 ,when we returned home at the time of the spring term1 we learned that father's crops had failed and that mother was almost disabled from rheumatism4 ,what little reserve fund they had was almost used up for medicines and necessities2 so after a discussion of the matter they agreed to let us go to the city 7,san ,francisco7 to work1 provided we should promise not to separate4 ,this would leave our fourteen-year-old sister to help mother1 and the two boys to assist father4 ,a few days later we1 alter kneeling in prayer with our mother1 started on our journey4 ,in a few hours we were asking the matron at the ,oakland ferry-depot for a respectable lodging-house4 ,she directed us1 and from there we obtained situations as waitresses in a first-class private hotel on ,bush ,street1 where we remained and gave satisfaction for some time2 but one afternoon we were foolish enough to yield to the persuasions of some of our girl companions to take a car ride to the ,park and ,cliff ,house4 ,i suppose we were enjoying ourselves so much that we did not realize how quickly the time was slipping away until some one remarked1 ,o girls1 look at the clock6 ,it was within fifteen minutes of the hour when dinner must be served4 ,we all ran for our car4 ,when we arrived at the hotel1 the landlady had put a new crew in our places4 ,she would listen to no excuses1 but told all four of us to go to the office for what wages were due us4 ,ours wasn't much1 for we had been sending most of it home right along2 so we were soon reduced to our last dollar4 ,one of the girls who had worked with us told us to go to a certain employment agency 7situated then on ,ellis ,street74 ,the man behind the counter seemed to have lots of situations1 but only one where we could work together1 and as neither one of us knew how to cook1 we couldn't take it4 ,it was for cook and second girl in a private family4 ',hold on1' he said1 as we were about to leave and try some other agency2 'would you be willing to leave town8 ,if so1 ,i have a nice place for two waitresses in a resort patronized by none but the best people of the neighborhood4' ,we told him we couldn't afford to take it unless some one would advance our office fees and our fares4 ',i'll see to that1' he replied4 ',can you be ready to leave right away8' ,there was nothing to prevent1 as our trunks were packed with the expectation of obtaining immediate employment2 so all we had to do was to go quickly to our room with an expressman1 then take a car to the depot1 where the agent would meet us1 check our trunks1 put us aboard our train1 and leave us1 with our tickets1 bound for ,b----4 ,my6 how we did hurry through6 ,the girls who roomed with us had gone out2 so as our weekly rent was paid in advance1 we didn't see even the landlady when we left our lodgings4 ,we reached the ,oakland ,mole1 took our train1 and after a long day's journey arrived at our destination in the early morning hours4 ,we were met by some woman1 who brought us in a hack to the place where my sister spoke to you last night--only she did not take us into the dance-hall1 but somewhere up-stairs1 into a comfortable bedroom4 ,in a few minutes she came with a nice meal on a tray1 told us to eat1 to put the tray outside the door after we had finished eating1 and then to go to bed and sleep as long as we wanted to1 as she knew we were tired2 then she left us4 ,it seemed to be pretty noisy in the neighborhood1 but we were too weary to care1 so were soon asleep4 ,when we went to leave that room in the morning1 we found we were locked in4 ,sister hammered on the door1 and soon the woman came4 ,she told us she had done it to keep the other lodgers from disturbing us2 but before evening we knew that something was wrong1 for she never lost sight of us for a moment4 ,then she told us there was going to be a dance that night1 and asked us to look our best4 ,about half-past seven we went with her downstairs and then along a passage-way into that hall where you found us last night4 ,sister and ,i looked around for a minute1 and then both of us said to the woman1 ',what kind of a place is this8' ,there was a long bar1 and two or three young men were cleaning glasses and wiping bottles1 and there were lots of girls in fancy dresses standing around1 chatting and some smoking cigarettes1 also a few men1 young and old4 ,we were reader1 ,i will give you their exact expression scared stiff4 ,the woman1 after introducing us to a fine-looking young man1 said to him1 ',these are the young girls sent by ----1 the ,ellis ,street employment agent4' ,then she took us into the dance-hall a few feet away4 ,she told us that the young man was the proprietor of the place and that he would be a good friend1 as would she1 if we wouldn't 'do any kicking4' ,about #h3cj the crowd began to come in earnest1 and by #i3cj1 and from that on1 men and girls drank1 danced1 and cut up until closing-time4 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i can only liken our first night in that awful saloon and dance-hall to a bad nightmare4 ,the woman didn't require us to dance unless we wanted to1 until the second night2 then she said that we must1 or else we would be fined1 and that as we already owed our fares1 also other debts for incidental expenses1 the sooner we made the best of the situation the better it would be for us4 ,she called some girls to come and tell us how much they enjoyed the life they were now leading1 and how much money they were making in percentage on the drinks that were sold across the bar to the men and them4 ,they said we needn't drink whiskey if we didn't want to1 as we would need to keep our heads if we were going to make all we could out of the men in getting them drunk4 ,why didn't you appeal to the authorities1 girls8 ,i inquired4 ,mother ,roberts1 they only laughed at us4 ,we tried4 ,it was no use4 ,they seemingly stood in with the proprietor4 ,millie went to the post-office1 accompanied by one of the girls1 an old hand1 the second day after we arrived1 to see if any mail had been forwarded1 and on the way back stepped into the ---- ,hotel to inquire if they had any vacancies for two waitresses8 ,the clerk asked1 ',what address8' ,she was too ashamed to tell him where we really were2 so told him to drop a card into the post-office general delivery as soon as he had situations for two4 ,about three days afterward she got a post-card saying there was one vacancy2 but we couldn't take it1 as we were more determined than ever not to separate4 ,when ,i told them how it happened that ,i came1 those two poor girls cried with joy and thankfulness4 ,and now to act quickly4 ,we all knelt in prayer4 ,they agreed to stay in my room whilst ,i went out to notify ,mrs4 ,wilson and the pastors4 ,never in all my life did ,i work faster1 and in an hour ,i had these sisters safely housed with ,mrs4 ,w--1 as she would not be suspected of secreting them4 ,at two o'clock the pastors met me in one of the church studies4 ,they decided to call immediately for a mass meeting of women on the following afternoon1 to be addressed by me4 ,notices to this effect were gladly inserted by editors of the daily papers4 ,the whole community was astir4 ,in the meanwhile the dive-proprietors were searching for the girls4 ,no one suspected ,mrs4 ,wilson or me4 ,in fact1 those dive-keepers had not regarded me as any more than an ordinary visitor that night of my introduction to their dance-halls1 and had not noticed the girl speaking to me4 ,before they left ,b----1 the following article came out as an editorial in one of the leading daily papers4 ,it appeared on the morning of ,march #bc1 #aijf4 ,,how ,,girls ,,are ,,lured ,,to ,,dance-,,halls4 ,the general interest in the efforts to better the conditions of the fallen women1 make timely a rough outline of the methods by which girls are lured into the haunts of vice1 and kept there until they have lost all power or desire to escape and win their way back to decency and respectability4 ,it is not pretended that this line is accurate1 or that it fits any particular case1 but the information on which it is based is gained from what are believed to be reliable sources1 and it is not likely to be misleading3 if applied in a general way4 ,,how ,,girls ,,are ,,lured4 ,in the first place1 of course1 no girl that has not made some misstep or committed some indiscretion1 could be enticed to a dance-hall or kept there for a moment if it were possible to get her inside its doors4 ,but in every city or village in the country there are persons in the guise of men yes1 and women also who are actively interested in helping girls to make the first misstep4 ,these scouts and envoys of infamy are at the public dances2 they waylay waitresses and working girls who are struggling to keep themselves on wages that are insufficient for their actual needs of food and clothing4 ,they get into the confidence of these girls1 and sometimes when they are down on their luck or when they have committed some act that makes them ashamed to look their family or their employers in the face1 these men come in the name of friendship and promise to find the overworked and underpaid girl1 or the indiscreet girl1 a place where she can earn money fast and earn it easily4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,dance-,,hall ,,life4 ,as a usual thing the girls are taken to some place in another town where they are not acquainted4 ,this suits the girl1 because she does not want to meet her acquaintances1 and it suits the man1 because it gives him greater security in his evil transaction4 ,the girl is nearly always penniless at this stage1 and the man advances the money for the railroad ticket and the necessary food4 ,the first act that lures the girl to the dance-hall is disguised as an act of friendship1 and the first bond that is placed on her to keep her there is the bond of gratitude and obligation4 ,in addition to that1 where would she go if she did not like her first glimpse of the dance-hall1 an ignorant1 friendless girl in a strange town8 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,rules ,,of ,,the ,,house4 ,one of the first things in which the recruit to the dance-hall is instructed is the rules of the house4 ,she must be on the floor1 ready to dance at seven o'clock1 and they must remain on duty until #c ,a4,m41 or so long as the patrons of the house continue to come and buy drinks4 ,between these hours they have thirty minutes for supper4 ,if they are a minute late or stay a minute over the time allowed for supper1 if they step out on the sidewalk during their hours of duty1 if they get drunk1 or if they commit other stated offenses1 they are subject to a fine by the manager of the house1 and the fines range from two dollars and a half up4 ,in the beginning of her career the new recruit usually gets fines charged against her faster than her credits mount up on the manager's book4 ,but there are other rules1 one of the chief of which is to make the men who come into the dance-hall buy as many drinks as possible1 and if a man comes in who has money1 to see that he spends it all before he departs4 ,the girl is coached in the art of getting the money from the men1 and in some of the worst dives they are told that if they get hold of a man who has money1 and who does not seem inclined to give it all up1 to give the bar-tender a wink when the refractory customer calls for his drinks1 and the bar-tender will slip him something that will make him more amenable4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,percentage ,,system4 ,the way girls make money for themselves is through percentages on the liquor which the men they dance with buy4 ,after every dance the dancers line up at the bar and drink4 ,the drinks for a man and his partner are twenty-five cents1 and the girl's percentage is ten cents4 ,if a man is liberal and will buy wine at one dollar a bottle the girl's percentage is forty cents4 ,if he is still more liberal and will buy wine at five dollars per bottle1 the girl gets two dollars and a half4 ,the percentages are punched on a little card which the girl carries1 and they are added up in the morning4 ,the money which the percentages represent1 however1 is not all paid over to the girl in the morning4 ,she is given what cash the manager thinks is necessary to keep her through the day1 and the remaining is credited against the railroad fare that has been advanced1 and against the fines that may have accumulated4 ,if a girl does not like the place and wants to leave1 she is shown her account and informed that there is a balance due the house1 and that it will be necessary to hold her clothes and other effects4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,becomes ,,schooled ,,in ,,vice4 ,in the meantime the girl is being schooled in vice and crime4 ,she learns that it is more expeditious sometimes to take a man's money out of his pockets than to wait for him to spend it twenty-five cents at a time1 buying drinks4 ,no matter whether the house profits by these thefts or not1 they form another bond to tie the girl to a life of shame2 for some one must always know of them1 and if the girl is untractable she is threatened with criminal prosecution4 ,if she commits no crime1 she can still be charged with vagrancy1 and it too often happens that police officers1 knowingly or unknowingly1 are made the instruments of persecution and the means for whipping these unfortunate women into submission to any wrong4 ,dancing all night every night1 drinking after every dance1 living in the fumes of liquor and tobacco1 and in constant jangle of profanity and obscenity1 how long is required to snuff out every spark of womanliness that a girl may bring with her to such a haunt8 ,,dog-,,like ,,devotion ,,to ,,male ,,associates4 ,and yet there is one trait of her sex that is not snuffed out4 ,it is the distinguishing trait of womankind and one of the finest traits that the human race can boast of--the trait of constancy and devotion4 ,the lower the fallen woman sinks1 the more wrongs and iniquities that are placed upon her1 the stronger it sometimes seems this devotion and constancy becomes4 ,nine-tenths of all the women of the tenderloin1 it is stated1 have some man1 or some animal called a man1 about whom this affection1 this dog-like devotion centers4 ,no matter how much he may abuse her1 no matter if he takes every cent of the earnings of her misery and shame1 no matter if he beats and kicks her because she can not give him more1 the girl in nearly every case1 is faithful to the kid and the worst fate than can befall her is that the kid should throw her down4 ,in other words1 forsake her4 ,and the kid always throws her down some time2 for the kid is not encumbered with any such inconvenient traits as constancy and devotion4 ,then there is carbolic acid1 or a long debauch1 and a sinking down of the system1 and the horrible disease against which even the county hospitals1 which are open to the criminals and outcasts of society1 who never did a stroke of useful work in all their lives1 close their doors4 ,and then there is the dishonored grave1 over which the friends and the relatives1 maybe1 are ashamed to weep4 ,,dance-,,halls ,,tabooed4 ,in the enlightened communities1 where there is a healthy public sentiment1 dance-halls are no longer tolerated4 ,their day is over in ,california1 and in only a few places are they permitted to exist4 ,in the places where they do exist the communities are still hanging on the ragged edge of frontier life1 where there is little regard for the common decencies of life4 ,sacramento recently made a clean-up of its dives1 and disreputable dance-halls were closed up4 ,it is recognized by those who are observant1 that dance-halls are more degrading than any other form of dissipation4 ,they are public institutions with their doors open to all who enter1 and those with money to spend are made welcome4 ,when the money is gone1 their welcome is worn out1 and if the person is saturated with liquor1 he is kicked out ignominiously1 only to return when he has more money to spend4 ,,the ,,recruiting ,,stations4 ,in the large cities agents ply their trade of securing recruits for the dives in the interior4 ,girls on whose cheeks the blush of innocence still remains1 are employed for various respectable positions1 and sent to the interior4 ,they are escorted to the trains1 and even in some instances the proprietors of the dives see that they are on their way safely to their dens of infamy4 ,a telegram is forwarded informing the resident manager1 that more material for the dive is en route4 ,the local manager meets the girls at the train with a hack and when they arrive at the place1 almost invariably at night1 they find their trunks have preceded them4 ,they learn little of their surroundings in the late hours of the night1 and when they do realize their positions1 they feel altogether lost1 without money or friends4 ,,recent ,,cases ,,submitted4 ,the foregoing is not always the case4 ,some know the place of their destination1 but some of them do not4 ,not long ago a ,los ,angeles girl answered an advertisement for work and was told a respectable position awaited her in ,r----4 ,just as she prepared to board the train for the mining town1 she was taken in custody4 ,on investigation it was learned that she was destined for a notorious dance-hall in ,r----1 that even the respectable people of the town had not been able to close up4 ,about two weeks ago a woman was arrested in ,r---- and is awaiting trial in the ,united ,states court in ,los ,angeles for using the mails for immoral purposes4 ,it is alleged that she was an agent for a dance-hall in ,r---- and had sought to obtain recruits for the dive4 ,those in a position to know1 state that the dance-halls are far more infamous than the real palaces of degradation4 ,they are the stepping-stones to the other places1 and lead on to destruction1 preceded by misery and shame4444 ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,,the ,,women ,,of ,b----- ,,up ,,in ,,arms--,,the ,,sisters ,,taken ,,home--,,more ,,about ,b-----4 ,,mrs4 ,,florence ,,roberts ,,stirs ,,her ,,audience4 ,addressed ,church ,full of ,women--,her ,pathetic ,stories listened to ,attentively--,much ,interest ,manifested in the ,cause--,raised ,nearly ,fifty ,dollars to ,take ,two ,girls ,rescued from ,dance-hall to ,their ,homes4 ,the above was the heading of an article which appeared in the local papers on the morning following the largest gathering of women ever congregated at one time in one of ,b-----s largest churches4 ,the morning before1 escorted by the chief of police and two officers in plain clothes1 ,i went to that dance-hall to demand the trunks of the sisters4 ,the persons in charge claimed that they did not know where the girls' baggage was2 that the proprietor was away2 that they could not give the trunks up without his authority2 and1 furthermore1 that there were debts of #bb4ej booked against one sister and #ba against the other4 ,acting under legal advice1 ,i gave them two hours1 no more1 to produce those trunks and their contents1 also two itemized bills4 ,i returned at the close of that time and found the keepers ready to accept the fares advanced 7no bills produced7 and to have the trunks immediately removed4 ,when the sisters received their baggage1 they declared that both locks had been broken and that each trunk had been robbed of many things2 but the girls were so frightened and so anxious to get home1 that they willingly stood the loss rather than be delayed through the arrest and the prosecution of the proprietors4 ,that night the two sisters and ,i went to the depot under an armed escort and started for their home1 a day and a half's journey distant4 ,i paid the porter to be on the lookout for any suspicious-acting travelers in our coach4 ,engagements for the following ,sunday necessitated my immediate return to ,b----4 ,on our arrival at their railroad destination ,i had barely time to catch my next train2 therefore ,i had to leave explanation of the situation to the sisters1 now with an aunt1 the parents being on their ranch in the mountains1 forty miles distant and accessible only by wagon4 ,they bade me a most touching farewell1 promising not to fail to correspond4 ,truly1 all through these strenuous experiences ,i was daily1 hourly demonstrating to my soul's satisfaction ,god's wonderful leading1 his strength1 his wisdom1 his great1 great care1 for no evil befell me1 neither did any plague come nigh my dwelling 7,psa4 #ia3aj-ab74 ,on my return to ,b--- on ,saturday sufficient engagements to keep me in that vicinity at least three weeks and over were immediately made4 ,after filling these ,i hoped1 ,god willing1 to take a rest in the beautiful homes of some of my ,santa ,cruz friends4 ,there was an immense audience in the ,first ,methodist church on ,sunday evening1 ,april #h1 and a large collection was taken for the ,beth-,adriel fund4444 ,before ,i left ,b---1 ,god gave a most blessed realization of his wonderful watch-care over those who are earnestly trying to serve him4 ,on ,monday1 ,april #i1 word reached me that ,i should be on my guard4 ,the proprietor of the ---- dance-hall had declared vengeance4 ,i had accepted an invitation to dine with the chief of police and family that evening1 but on account of this word of warning ,i deemed it wise to telephone to the sheriff's office and ask protection4 ,an enemy must have received the message and responded4 ,when ,i came out of the house to keep my dinner engagement1 ,i had walked but a few yards when ,i received a sudden impression to look behind me4 ,on a fenceless lawn1 not three feet away1 stood --- --- with his hand in his right hip pocket4 ,quick as a flash ,i pointed the forefinger of my right hand in his face1 saying1 ,you dare not shoot4 ,only your sex protects you1 you --- ----- ----1 he sneered4 ,never mind the vocabulary of awful adjectives and names he hurled at me1 dear reader4 ,i've never heard their equal before or since4 ,there was no one in sight until his sister presently crossed the road4 ,but ,god was protecting me1 and ,i knew it4 ,then the man sneered about my calling up the sheriff's office for protection4 ,i now knew he had a coworker there4 ,when at last there was a chance for me to speak1 ,i quietly told him that he was soon going to an awful hell unless he quickly amended his ways1 and that ,god was going to hold him and his kind everlastingly responsible for the ruination of many1 many souls1 and implored him to turn to this outraged ,god and plead for mercy and pardon before it was eternally too late4 ,as they turned to recross the street1 ,i added1 ,god wants to bless you4 ,with an oath he hurled back at me1---- ---- ---- ----6 ,i don't want ,god to bless me4 ,then ,i heard a fiendish laugh from behind a hedge2 somebody clapped their hands in great glee1 and a woman's voice shouted1 ,good for you ----6 ,give it to her1 the ---- ---- ---- ---- ----6 ,why didn't you finish her while you were about it8 444 ,the chief of police and his wife saw to it that ,i was protected the rest of my brief sojourn1 but no one can ever know how much nearer that experience drew me to my loving ,lord4 ,more than one woman told me the next day that they were watching that encounter through their lace curtains1 and that if he had laid even a finger on me they would have thrown up the windows and screamed for help1 even have attempted personal aid4 ,but there was no need of that2 for hath our heavenly ,father not said in ,isa4 #ea3ag1 ,no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper2 and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment1 thou shalt condemn4 ,this is the heritage of the servants of the ,lord1 and their righteousness is of me1 saith the ,lord8 ,and in ,psa4 #cd3g is this blessed assurance3 ,the angel of the ,lord encampeth round about them that fear him1 and delivereth them4 ,hallelujah6 ,in thee1 ,o ,lord1 do ,i put my trust3 let me never be put to confusion4 ,psa4 #ga3a4 ,before ,i left ,b-----1 that town had a well-organized law and order league4 ,the members chose me as their first honorary member4 ,i doubt whether any of ,god's stewards had more friends and more enemies at that one time1 in that one locality than did the writer of this4 ,but ,i loved all and prayed ,god to bless their precious souls for ,jesus' sake4 ,as usual1 ,i was not leaving unaccompanied1 so that instead of passing through ,san ,jose1 as ,i had expected1 ,i chaperoned a young girl to the home1 remaining there over night and reaching ,santa ,cruz the next evening4 ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,,santa ,,cruz--,,reba',s ,,letter--,,the ,,earthquake4 ,the ,lord ,god is a sun and shield2 the ,lord will give grace and glory3 no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly4 ,psa4 #hd3 #aa4 ,i was now enjoying a few days' sweet rest and fellowship in the home of my sanctified friends1 ,sister ,bessie ,green and her mother4 ,oh1 how ,i enjoyed every moment6 ,what a wonderful exchange of experiences and demonstrations of ,god's mighty love1 power1 and wisdom was ours6 and what good times we had going about amongst certain ones in whom she was interested1 visiting the mission1 enjoying the lovely ocean-breeze1 etc46 ,on ,sunday1 ,april #af1 we went with a large band of consecrated young people to assist in a meeting of song and gospel cheer for the inmates of the almshouse and county hospital4 ,my visit was destined to be of short duration1 for the next day there came among forwarded mail a letter reading somewhat as follows3 ,dear ,mother ,roberts3 ,i am just as blue if not bluer than the paper ,i am writing on1 and ,i'll tell you why1 for you know all the circumstances of our recent trouble ,when girls through no real fault of their own get into such an awful scrape as ,millie and ,i were so unfortunate as to get into1 but thank ,god1 were rescued from1 444 what kind of ,christians can they1 must they be1 who will do their utmost to help still further crush us by talking all over the town about what happened1 and everybody putting their own construction on what they hear1 then giving us the cold shoulder4 ,millie is at home4 ,she's sick from the awful effects of it yet1 and ,i'm trying to earn an honest living1 but it's no use4 ,my so-called friends won't give me a chance4 ,i've about made up my mind ,i might as well have the game as the name1 so by the time you receive this1 ,i shall probably be with ,miss---- at her house in ,c----1 for ,i'm sure she will be kinder than the folks here4 ,i don't suppose they've meant to harm us1 but just because they love to talk they've settled it for us forever4 ,i forgive them1 but it's no use to try to be good any longer4 ,don't think ,i forget you or your kindness1 and ,i will always love you no matter what becomes of me4 ,gratefully yours1 ,reba ----4 ,bessie6 ,bessie6 what shall ,i do8 what must ,i do8 ,i cried1 wringing my hands and handing her the letter to read4 ,hurriedly reading it1 she quickly said1 ,let us pray4 ,immediately suiting the action to the word1 she as briefly as possible asked the ,lord for speedy help4 ,it came--an instantaneous impression to telephone to the hotel at ,s---- where ,reba had been employed4 ,keep on1 ,bessie1 keep on praying1 ,i requested as ,i arose from my knees and hastened into the next room1 took down the receiver1 called for the long-distance operator1 asked for my party1 and emphatically declared it to be a matter of life and death requiring immediate service4 ,shortly ,i was talking to the landlady of the ,n----- ,j----- ,hotel1 who told me that ,reba was still under her roof1 but was expecting to leave for ,san ,francisco on the next train4 ,please call her to the 'phone1 ,i said1 and very soon ,i heard ,reba's voice4 ,hello2 who wants me8 she said4 ,mother ,roberts1 ,reba dear1 ,i replied4 ,stay where you are4 ,i am coming on the next train ,but ,i'm going on the next one to ,san ,francisco ,i can't2 my trunk is at the depot4 ,reba1 you must wait till ,i come1 dear4 ,i've some good news for you4 ,very well2 ,i'll wait4 ,fortunately1 ,i haven't bought my ticket yet4 ,good-by1 ,i gladly said4 ,meet me4 ,there was barely time to make the next train2 but1 as usual1 the ,lord 7bless his dear name forever67 favored me4 ,i reached ,s----- at #g3cj ,p4,m4 ,on our way to the ,hotel ,reba whispered1 ,mother ,roberts1 will you occupy my room with me tonight8 ,i want to have a long1 long talk and it's the quietest part of the house1 up on the third floor4 ,after supper we repaired to her neat little room1 and following prayer1 soon retired1 but not to sleep4 ,dear ,reba1 with many tears1 particularized the trying situation1 as she lay with my arms about her4 ,shortly after midnight she sweetly slept4 ,not so with me4 ,i heard every hour and half-hour strike1 up to half-past four1 on some clock near by4 ,it seemed very close and warm1 attributable1 so ,i thought1 to the smallness of this inside room4 ,i must have just fallen asleep when suddenly ,i was awakened by a terrible1 terrible sensation1 accompanied by fearful screams and crashing of glass and furniture4 ,reba was thrown out of bed1 then back again1 where ,i locked her fast in my arms1 gasping the words1 ,god cares6 ,god cares1 ,reba6 ',we shall see him face to face and tell the story saved by grace1' for at first ,i could only believe that the end of the world had come4 ,this dreadful noise was followed by an awful stillness in our immediate vicinity1 though we could hear1 apparently from outdoors1 mingled cries1 screams1 and groans of fright1 distress1 and pain4 ,reba leaped out of bed1 instantly grasped her clothing and mine1 and was rushing from the room when ,i called out3 ,come back6 ,come back and dress4 ,we've had an earthquake and an awful one1 but somehow ,i feel the worst of it is over4 ,never did we more quickly get into our clothing and step outside4 ,the hallway and rooms were piled with debris4 ,plaster1 laths1 broken pictures1 and furniture lay in shapeless confusion on every hand4 ,we came to the staircase4 ,part was gone2 every step was likewise covered with the ruins of broken ceiling and wall4 ,devastation was everywhere1 everywhere4 ,trusting the ,lord1 ,i landed safely on that tottering staircase1 ,reba quickly following2 and soon we were with the frightened population out on the streets1 gazing1 well-nigh speechless1 at the awful ruins which lay on every side4 ,every one was wondering1 with aching1 troubled hearts1 concerning their absent loved ones4 ,how was it faring with them8 ,how far had this earthquake extended8 ,could it possibly have been any worse in other places than in this one8 ,soon we discovered1 as we hurried to the telegraph and telephone offices1 that all communication with the outside world was absolutely cut off4 ,all sorts of dreadful rumors were afloat2 later many were verified2 whilst some proved to have been more or less exaggerated4 ,in the afternoon word reached us that ,san ,francisco was burning4 ,my dear son1 now in the employ of the ,gorham ,rubber ,company was living there4 ,i wondered if it had reached ,haight ,street3 all ,i could do was to pray and wait1 wait and pray4 ,many1 ,i suppose1 gave hunger no thought that day1 for anxiety was well-nigh consuming us4 ,the depot was crowded with people anxious to get aboard the first train that might arrive1 but there was no promise or prospect of one that day4 ,reba and ,i put in our time between the telegraph-office and the depot2 so did hundreds of others4 ,that night we had a shake-down at the home of her aunt1 whose house had not been very badly damaged4 ,i had so satisfactory a talk with her that ,reba agreed to remain with her until she could get back to her mountain home4 ,early the next morning ,i was again at the depot4 ,about nine o'clock the agent privately notified me of the prospect of a train from the south in perhaps an hour1 at the same time advising me to hang around4 ,i made a quick trip to where ,reba was staying1 bade her farewell1 managed to purchase a few soda crackers and a piece of cheese 7the stores which had not suffered severely were speedily cleaned out of all provisions71 and returned to the depot to watch and wait4 ,at last6 at last6 praise ,god1 at last6 a train1 a crowded train arrived4 ,in a very few minutes1 standing room was at a premium4 ,after a long wait we began to move slowly1 but we stopped after going a very few miles1 for the road was practically being rebuilt4 ,this was our experience the livelong day4 ,in some places we sat by the roadside for hours1 or watched the men rebuilding the track4 ,when we came to one high trestle1 only a few were permitted to cross at a time1 it being not only severed from the main land at either end1 but also very shaky4 ,here we parted from train ,no4 #a4 ,at the other end of this trestle1 we waited hours for the coming of a train from the direction of ,san ,jose4 ,this delay seemed interminable1 for all of us were now out of provisions and in an intense state of suppressed anxiety and excitement4 ,but finally a train slowly moved into view1 and we all lustily cheered1 once1 twice1 thrice1 and again1 as we gladly boarded it4 ,then we learned somewhat concerning the terrible destruction in other places all along the line1 and also of the fearful holocaust in ,san ,francisco4 ,what1 oh6 what was the fate of our dear ones there8 ,ah6 dear reader1 people who had never given much thought to ,god and their ,savior were now imploring mercy and pardon1 and making1 oh6 such promises of future loyalty and service1 if he would but spare their loved ones4 ,alas6 but few of these promises were kept4 ,these people soon drifted back into the world and the former error of their ways4 ,,chapter ,,xxxvi4 ,,relief ,,duty--,,san ,,francisco--,,miss ,b4 ,as this is not a history of the awful calamities of that trying time1 they will be but lightly touched upon4 ,suffice it to say that when late that night our train slowly crept along the streets of ,san ,jose and finally reached the station1 the people thronged the streets4 ,they heartily cheered and welcomed us4 ,upon learning that an inquiry bureau had been established right there1 we soon packed it almost to suffocation1 and oh6 bless the ,lord6 ,i was one of the few to receive news4 ,i got three unstamped1 torn-out-of-note-book letters from my dear son1 stating that the fire had not reached beyond ,van ,ness ,avenue4 ,he lived a little beyond4 ,he was anxious for my safety4 ,i at once sent similar short messages of assurance to the inquiry bureau of his residence district4 ,then ,i was passed through the line and taken to ,beth-,adriel 7martial law was in force71 there to discover all of the family lodging under the beautiful walnut-trees4 ,the house had suffered considerable damage1 but1 praise ,god6 the inmates had escaped personal injury4 ,relief duty at the depot was my next call4 ,for two days and nights a large delegation of us remained on perpetual watch2 for the refugee trains1 crowded with sick1 hungry1 homeless1 or penniless men1 women1 and children1 were now arriving1 at intervals of from fifteen to thirty minutes4 ,statistics show that ,san ,jose1 the first large city southwest of ,san ,francisco1 fed1 clothed1 and sheltered1 temporarily1 some permanently1 in the neighborhood of thirty-seven thousand refugees4 ,moreover1 its probation committee of the juvenile court handled the cases of over fifteen hundred destitute children4 ,busy times6 ,i should say so6 ,only the wonderful power of ,god sustained us1 for it was break-down work4 ,at the close of the second day ,i was compelled to rest4 ,after a good night's sleep ,i procured a furlough of forty-eight hours2 for two more notes from ,san ,francisco had reached me1 and they described the great suffering1 especially because of long waiting 7sometimes all night7 in the bread line4 ,san ,jose generously supplied me with an immense telescope basket filled to its utmost capacity with canned goods1 cooked meats1 etc41 so that it required the assistance of two to put it on the train1 it was so heavy4 ,on reaching the outskirts of ,san ,francisco1 ,i was informed that ,i could be taken no further than ,twenty-fourth and ,valencia ,streets4 ,there people seized every available rig1 even to garbage wagons1 paying exorbitant prices for conveyance to their points of destination4 ,what was ,i now going to do8 ,the eight hundredth block on ,haight ,street seemed miles away 7,i think it was about three and a half71 and ,i had nobody to help me4 ,everybody was strictly for self4 ,bless ,god6 he had not forsaken me1 as ,i soon found out1 when he gave me the strength to shoulder that stupendous burden4 ,oh1 bless ,god6 ,every few steps ,i rested4 ,i would rest and pray1 go a little farther1 and then rest and pray again4 ,i kept this up until completely exhausted2 then ,i sat on a broken-down step1 minus the house1 imploring the kind heavenly ,father to send me help4 ,did ever he fail his own in the hour of need8 ,never1 no never4 ,coming over the hill several blocks distant1 carefully guiding his horse through the debris1 was a man in a wagon or buggy4 ,like a drowning person grasping at a straw1 ,i frantically called and waved my hands4 ,it took me some time to attract attention1 but finally he turned in my direction4 ,hallelujah6 ,as he neared me1 ,i noticed the words1 ,spring ,valley ,water ,works1 on the sideboard of his wagon4 ,madam1 can ,i assist you8 he inquired4 ,most certainly he could4 ,and ,i humbly1 tearfully1 and wearily described the situation4 ,to lift that heavy basket into the vehicle required our united effort4 ,never did ,i more appreciate help4 ,the sun was at its zenith when ,i started2 it was now setting4 ,god bless that dear young man1 whose name ,i have forgotten6 ,i hope that he is living and that this book may fall into his hands1 so that he may better than ever realize that our blessed ,lord never forsakes those who truly love and trust him4 ,reader1 ,i leave you to imagine the joyous reunion of mother and son4 ,perfect peace and good will was then temporarily reigning in that stricken city4 ,would to ,god it had continued6 but alas6 it was but for a few days4 ,once more the adversary of the souls of men reigns in its midst2 the liquor devil reigns supreme2 whilst the few faithful ones are still daily crying to the throne of grace1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 how long8 ,before all this occurred and whilst ,i was in ,san ,francisco one day seeking aid for ,beth-,adriel1 ,i called at the house of a ,christian friend of mine4 ,presently1 in the course of conversation1 she informed me that her niece1 who was an employee in one of the large department stores of ,san ,francisco was at home sick with severe headache1 and asked if ,i would care to see her4 ,i gladly acquiesced4 ,then my friend took me into the next room1 where lay the young lady with her head swathed in a wet towel and evidently suffering keenly4 ,i expressed sympathy and at once offered to pray for her1 to which she replied3 ,i'll be so glad1 though ,i fear ,i haven't much faith in its efficacy4 ,yes1 pray for me1 for ,i must get down to the store to report for duty at one o'clock4 ,i must4 ,sick or not sick1 ,i must4 ,after prayer ,i inquired1 ,laura1 dear1 why must you be compelled to be on duty8 ,under existing circumstances they will surely make every allowance4 ,instead of making immediate answer1 she asked for her business dress and presently drew from its pocket a latch-key4 ,do you see this8 she inquired4 ,yes1 ,i replied4 ,yes1 but you do not know what it means4 ,let me tell you4 ,this key is to be used to unlock the door of the down-town private apartments of one of our floor-walkers4 ,i've had my place only a few weeks4 ,auntie is having a struggle to keep her lodging-house filled so as to meet her payments on the furniture1 rent1 etc4 ,i am only getting small wages1 not sufficient to support me1 as yet2 but if ,i can manage to qualify in a large reputable store like --- ---1 ,i shall have no trouble in commanding a better salary before long--having become so well acquainted with my position as to then be a necessity4 ,but what has all that to do with your possession of this key8 ,i interrogated4 ,wait1 ,i am coming to that1 she replied ,about a week ago he 7the floor-walker7 said1 among other things3 ',i observe that you are quite ambitious4 ,i intend1 if you will allow me1 to still further your interests4 ,in order that ,i may do this1 ,i must have your promise to respect the confidence ,i am about to repose in you4' ,innocently ,i promised4 ',first of all1' he went on to say1 'you have doubtless heard ,i am a married man and a father4' ,i had4 ,he has a very delicate wife and two dear little girls4 ,he then produced the key1 stating why he wanted my friendship4 ,why did you not immediately expose him to the firm8 ,i indignantly inquired4 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 said ,laura1 you don't know what you are talking about4 ,my word would not be taken against his4 ,i do not yet know what door this key unlocks4 ,i am not to know until ,i consent to use it whenever he may request a private interview4 ,every chance he gets1 he wants to know when ,i mean to yield4 ,i am1 for the sake of business experience1 resorting to all sorts of strategy2 then1 when ,i qualify1 ,i can afford to snap my fingers in the face of this profligate4 ,you've no idea how much the honor of business young ladies is menaced1 ,mrs4 ,roberts4 ,i'm not by any means the only one4 ,the trouble is1 very few have the backbone to resist these propositions1 which invariably come in one form or another to the working girls attractive of face or form1 or of both4 ,they are1 with scarcely an exception1 poor2 from infancy they have been well dressed1 too well in fact2 very few are qualified in domestic art1 and those who are would almost rather do anything than be subjected to such humiliations as some people in social standing inflict upon their maids--maids who ofttimes both by birth and breeding are their equals if not superiors4 ,i want to help ,auntie4 ,she is so good to me in giving me a home4 ,if ,i can only keep up1 ,i shall soon be able to repay her4 ,i'm glad to tell you my head is much better1 so that ,i shall be able to report for duty4 ,i'll be all right so long as ,i trust in ,god and have people like you and ,auntie pray for me4 ,i wanted to report this case to the proprietors of that store2 but ,laura was so distressed for fear of notoriety1 ultimate results1 also the deprivation of a living for that libertine's delicate wife and children1 that ,i reluctantly desisted4 ,this ,i know3 ,in answer to many prayers1 both her friends' and her own1 she won out2 but she never gave up that key1 and to this day she does not know what door it unlocked or whether some other poor1 silly girl received and made use of its duplicate4 ,in visiting among the outcasts1 ,i have learned from the lips of many that the primary cause of their downfall was the inadequacy of their wages as saleswomen1 stenographers1 etc41 for their direct necessities2 temptations became too great2 the ultimate results were1 alas6 inevitable4 ,,chapter ,,xxxvii4 ,,the ,,home ,,repaired--,,mrs4 ,s---',s ,,experience4 ,thinking to appeal for the required means to repair our home1 ,i1 after prayerful consideration1 journeyed to ,portland1 ,oregon1 for our ,state was now taxed to its utmost for finances4 ,my sojourn was brief2 for1 besides being seized with sudden illness1 ,i learned that a large sum of money 7thirty-five thousand dollars1 ,i think7 intended for the erection of a ,florence ,crittenton home in their midst had now been generously donated and sent to the general fund in ,san ,francisco1 to be applied to just such charitable needs as ,i represented4 ,in consequence1 ,i decided that1 as soon as ,i was able to travel1 ,i should go back to ,san ,francisco4 ,through the interposition of the ,y4,w4,c4,a41 ,i was furnished with free transportation4 ,upon my return ,i learned that all available funds for that purpose had already been bespoken2 but ,god1 ever mindful of his own1 had laid it upon the hearts of some people of means1 in the interior1 to pay all expenses for repairs1 so that before many months ,beth-,adriel was once more in good order4 ,in its interest1 many1 many miles were traveled and thousands of people addressed1 personally1 also collectively4 ,rarely did any service close but that one person or more had an unusual case of some unfortunate one1 demanding immediate and special interest2 for instance3 ,mrs4 ,b-----1 who personally knew me1 approached me one day in a greatly agitated state of mind and confidentially imparted some dreadful knowledge concerning her son1 aged fourteen1 and a girl schoolmate of his1 but a few months younger4 ,producing some notes1 she permitted their perusal4 ,they were from the girl to the boy1 and were couched in the most licentious1 unguarded language imaginable4 ,i was unutterably shocked4 ,mother ,roberts1 said ,mrs4 ,b-----1 ,i will deal with my son1 but what about the girl who has written these and1 as you read1 has met ,h----- clandestinely8 ,i can not go to her2 will you8 ,the girl's mother was a lady of means and fashion1 a member of one of the exclusive card-clubs of that town1 and an inveterate player4 ,pearl was an only child4 ,i admit ,i felt timid about approaching the mother1 but--,it had to be done and done quickly4 ,in glancing over the local paper1 ,i had observed that her progressive whist-club was to be entertained at ,mrs4 -----'s lovely residence that afternoon4 ,it was now #aa ,a4,m4 ,i must telephone1 for ,i knew that ,i should not be received except by previous appointment4 ,soon ,i heard her voice3 ,what is it1 please2 what do you wish8 ,a private interview immediately1 of the utmost importance4 ,impossible4 ,every moment is engaged until ,i go out this afternoon4 ,can not help it4 ,you must grant it4 ,it concerns a member of your immediate family4 ,it is of vital import4 ,very well2 you may come right away1 but be brief4 ,i will grant you only a few minutes4 ,thank you1 and both receivers were hung up4 ,in response to my ring the maid ushered me into a lovely reception-room1 where ,mrs4 ,s----- soon appeared in a high state of nervous excitement4 ,you have greatly upset me1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 she said4 ,kindly be brief4 ,to your point at once4 ,i have much to do1 also must dress before luncheon1 for our card-party at ,mrs4 -----'s this afternoon4 ,mrs4 ,s-----1 you no doubt will be able to identify ,pearl's handwriting4 ,i replied4 ,most assuredly1 she rejoined4 ,what of it8 ,simply this3 ,in my possession are three notes4 ,they were written by your daughter to a boy companion in school4 ,the boy's mother lent them to me4 ,it is my painful duty to show them to you4 ,first of all1 permit me to assure you that this matter is perfectly safe with me1 ,i said4 ,come into the next room where we can be undisturbed and unobserved1 she requested4 ,then she rang the bell and said to the maid3 ,i shall not be at home to any one who either 'phones or calls4 7,here let me say that having once been associated with ,mrs4 ,s---- socially1 ,i was not a stranger47 ,mrs4 ,s----1 doesn't ,pearl sometimes ask permission to go home with a favorite girl companion1 also at times remain with her over night1 or else she with your daughter8 ,i asked after we had retired to the other room4 ,certainly1 she answered1 and ,i may add1 ,i am quite satisfied to have her do so1 for they can both be implicitly trusted4 ,mrs4 ,s----1 please read these letters4 ,i beg of you1 prepare yourself for an awful shock4444 ,presently the great beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead and dripped unheeded into her lap4 ,after reading those notes she made mincemeat of them1 and then lay back in her chair white and speechless4 ,the silence was painful beyond description4 ,finally ,i broke the silence by saying3 ,mrs4 ,s----1 permit me to assist you to your room1 then 'phone ,mrs4 ---- of your sudden illness1 and also send for your daughter to come home immediately4 ,she gladly acquiesced4 ,before my departure she faintly acknowledged her realization of neglect of duty and confidence toward the precious soul entrusted to her keeping1 and promised to deal gently with the erring child4 ,furthermore1 she said that she had played her last game of cards4 ,pearl and her mother became inseparable companions4 ,to this day the daughter has no idea who informed on her1 but this occurrence taught a never-to-be-forgotten lesson to more than one ,i hope and pray that the mothers who read this may profit by the story4 ,one with whom ,i am well acquainted has an only son4 ,she also was a great lover of cards4 ,when the boy was quite small1 this mother in order to prevent his disturbing her and her friends in their social game1 provided him with a tiny deck of cards4 ,she often smiled approval at his and his little companion's attempts to imitate their elders4 ,time went on4 ,he grew to manhood4 ,many an anxious evening she now spent alone2 for seldom did he spend one with her1 and he always had a plausible excuse in the morning4 ,he was employed by one of the leading firms of the city and stood an excellent chance of future promotion4 ,one day1 however1 he came home1 informed her of his discharge1 refused to give the reason1 but begged her to go to his employers and plead for his reinstatement4 ,the grief-stricken mother was soon ushered into the manager's private office and there very kindly treated2 but her pleadings were all in vain4 ,her son1 she learned1 had been discharged for card-playing and frequenting the pool room4 ,he had been warned twice1 but he had failed to take heed4 ,the firm would make no exceptions4 ,on her return he eagerly interrogated her as to the results of the interview4 ,when8 she asked1 when did you ever learn to play cards and pool8 ,why1 ,mother1 don't you remember8 he answered4 ,you taught me yourself when ,i was a little shaver4 ,no1 dear1 not a real game1 she sobbed4 ,no matter if you didn't1 he rejoined4 ,it didn't take me long to become fascinated and learn how from older boys and girls4 ,then1 when it comes to playing1 ,i hate to remind you1 ,mother1 but ,i can not remember the time when you didn't play4 ,i've seen you1 time and again1 work harder to earn a dinky vase or prize than at anything else under the sun4 ,you can buy them anywhere for fifty cents or thereabouts1 and without such hard work as ,i've seen you put in for a whole evening4 ,you can blame yourself1 and you ought to1 more than you blame me4 ,then he flung himself out of the room and went up-stairs to bed4 ,the next evening he returned from an unsuccessful day's tramp4 ,his chances for further employment in that city were anything but encouraging4 ,that evening as they sat by the fireside1 ,will's mother said3 ,i've been thinking very1 very seriously during your absence today1 my dear4 ,i've made a resolution1 but with this proviso3 if ,i never touch another card1 will you promise me never to play again8 ,mother1 ,i should like to1 but ,i'm afraid to make such a promise1 he replied4 ,you don't know what a hold it has on me4 ,but ,i will try1 ,i surely will4 ,will's mother worked hard to substitute other pastimes and to make his home life as interesting as she knew how4 ,she gathered musical friends about her1 encouraged him to cultivate his voice1 and worked herself almost to a shadow in order to wean him from the hurtful habit for which she knew she was directly responsible4 ,she succeeded1 bless ,god6 she succeeded4 ,later he married a very sweet young lady1 and ,god blessed their union with three children4 ,it is safe to say that1 because of his experience1 card-playing will never be tolerated in that happy little family1 and my earnest prayer as ,i relate this is that my reader1 if a card-player1 may consider this3 ,if meat card-playing make my brother to offend1 ,i will eat no flesh no more play cards while the world standeth1 lest ,i make my brother to offend4 ,i ,cor4 #h3ac4 ,,chapter ,,xxxviii4 ,,the ,,annual ,,board ,,meeting-,,results4 ,i have mentioned the fact that the nature of the work of ,beth-,adriel had so changed that many applicants were1 for certain reasons1 debarred from the home4 ,one day whilst ,i was calling upon one of the board members my soul was greatly grieved2 for a girl who came and appealed for admission was refused--kindly but firmly refused1 on the grounds that her physical condition would be detrimental to the welfare of the many mothers and babes with whom ,beth-,adriel was now well filled2 and yet it had never been incorporated for a maternity home4 ,what was ,i to do8 ,god knew how hard ,i had ,worked4 ,the property was now more than half paid for4 ,what was ,i to do8 ,as the holidays1 which always caused a temporary cessation in fund-raising1 were approaching1 ,i busied myself in making little gifts for each member of the family4 ,whilst so doing ,i prayed unceasingly to know the mind of ,god's ,spirit and to be definitely led of him4 ,can ,i ever forget that first prayer-meeting of the new year1 #aijg8 ,it being a wet night1 there was nobody present besides the members of the family1 the matron1 and her husband1 except ,brother ,norton1 his son1 and ,i4 ,we had had the usual songs1 prayers1 and ,scripture-reading1 and we were now testifying4 ,i had testified1 as also had most of the family1 when one of the young mothers suddenly said3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i've something to ask you4 ,when you persuaded me to come to this place1 didn't you tell me ,i need give only my first name8 ,i did1 ,amelia1 ,i answered4 ,didn't you say that no questions that might embarrass me would be asked8 ,i certainly did4 ,didn't you say no girl had to sign any papers here1 and that if she had no money1 the home was free to her8 ,most assuredly4 ,then--you--lied4 ,reader1 that poor girl dealt me a blow that ,i can not say ,i have yet fully recovered from4 ,then ,i knew that modern ,tobiah and ,sanballat and ,geshem 7,neh4 #b3i7 had interfered and intercepted the building of ,god's work4 ,i felt brokenhearted and could not be comforted4 ,that night ,i spent in tears1 nor could ,i pray as ,i desired to pray4 ,the next evening as ,i was kneeling by my bedside1 worn out with sorrow1 ,i chanced to look up1 and ,i found my gaze riveted on a little wall-motto containing these precious words3 ,rest in the ,lord4 7,it hangs here on my wall as ,i now write4 ,it is a priceless possession47 ,instantly ,i said1 ,i thank thee1 ,o my ,lord1 ,i thank thee1 for reassurance4 ,somewhat comforted1 ,i then wrote the following verses3 ,i was kneeling in prayer by my bedside1 ,beseeching a comforting word1 ,when ,i opened my eyes on this motto1 ,simply telling me1 ,rest in the ,lord4 ,it hangs where ,i ofttimes can see it1 ,this message direct from our ,god4 ,as ,i ponder1 my load seems to lighten1 ,i'm resolving to rest in my ,lord4 ,for1 oh6 ,i was troubled and weary1 ,and dark seemed the road that ,i trod2 ,of this ,i was telling my ,savior1 ,when he showed me1 ,rest thou in the ,lord ,i wonder why ,i should forget this ,and weight myself down with a load2 ,why don't ,i depend more on ,jesus1 ,who loves me1 and rest in my ,lord8 ,i'm persuaded this message from heaven1 ,direct from his throne1 will afford ,perfect peace under trying conditions ,to all who will rest in the ,lord4 ,for1 oh6 if his yoke is upon us1 ,our strength is renewed and restored2 ,and the burdens1 so heavy1 are lightened ,if we only will rest in the ,lord4 ,i thank thee1 dear heavenly ,father1 ,when ,i prayed for thy comforting word1 ,for directing my eyes to that motto ',tis enough4 ,i will rest in my ,lord ,beth-,adriel cottage1 #i3cj ,p4,m41 ,january #d1 #aijg4 ,it was enough4 ,i was comforted1 and ,i was determined1 like ,paul of old1 that 'none of these things should move me4' ,the annual meeting of the board for the election of officers for the ensuing year was about to take place4 ,before the board convened1 ,i asked ,god for a test1 promising him to abide by it even though he required me to give up this hard-earned home if necessary2 then ,i quietly rested in my ,lord4 ,the day arrived4 ,the rain poured in torrents all morning4 ,i besought the ,lord for a clear afternoon and also for the presence of every member4 ,he answered my prayer4 ,when it came to the reelection of officers1 my election was not unanimous4 ,as the test ,i had besought was that if the ,master intended ,i should continue with them1 he should cause my reelection to be unanimous1 ,i read my resignation4 ,thus ended the annual board meeting of #aijg4 7,my resignation was never legally accepted47 ,with scarcely an exception1 they all forsook me and fled 7,mark #ad3ej74 ,i walked out of ,beth-,adriel unattended--one of the loneliest beings on earth1 yet in the secret of ,his presence4 ,this created considerable newspaper notoriety2 but though my resignation had cost me all1 my conscience was void of offense toward ,god 7,acts #bd3af74 ,soon ,i busied myself looking for other quarters4 ,even they were providential2 for a friend met me in the post-office and proffered me her beautiful studio1 then in disuse1 for a merely nominal rent4 ,there ,i rested and wrote for three months1 intending that the proceeds of the book entitled ,the ,autobiography of an ,autoharp should start another home4 ,but ,god willed otherwise1 as you will presently learn4 ,was the rescue work that ,i so dearly loved1 at a standstill8 ,oh1 no indeed4 ,not for one day was ,i idle2 neither was ,beth-,adriel4 ,the name ,beth-,adriel was soon dropped1 and the place became one of the chain of ,florence ,crittenton homes4 ,i have often sent there poor unfortunates that needed a refuge of that nature4 ,it was marvelous1 the strength and the courage that the blessed ,lord gave me during those trying days1 even to the turning of my other cheek 7,matt4 #e3ci74 ,soon ,i received unanimous reendorsement and much encouragement from the pastors' union and other sources2 but ,i was advised to try for a training-school and home for orphans at the limit age 7fourteen7 and also for juvenile court dependents and delinquents4 ,as is my custom1 ,i inquired of the ,lord4 ,i received so strong an impression regarding an ounce of prevention1 etc1 that ,i said1 ,yea1 ,lord1 it is worth one hundred thousand pounds of cure4 ,in a short time beautiful and practical plans were drawn up and presented to me by one of ,san ,jose's best architects1 ,wesley ,w4 ,hastings4 ,before this took place1 however1 several very striking incidents occurred1 in a few of which1 ,i feel sure1 you will be interested4 ,one was a case of casting bread upon the waters and finding of it after many days 7,eccl4 #aa3a74 ,since my coming to ,san ,jose it had been my habit to attend frequently the mission then situated on ,fountain ,alley4 ,one night a poor1 forlorn drunken man came to the altar and got salvation4 ,after rising from his knees1 he said1 ,lady1 will you trust me with a quarter8 ,i want to get a bath and bed and breakfast with it4 ,you can not get all three for a quarter1 ,i replied4 ,oh yes1 ,i can1 he said4 ,down at the ,salvation ,army lodging-house for men4 ,one of the workers whispered1 ,don't do it ,he'll only spend it for liquor4 ,he evidently surmised what the worker told me1 for he quickly said3 ,don't be afraid to trust me4 ,i promise you you shall never regret it4 ,i gave him what he had requested1 and1 in consequence1 received rebukes from several of the other workers4 ,the next night he came in looking fairly neat1 but surely clean4 ,at the close of the meeting he returned the money1 remarking that he had earned fifty cents that day mowing lawns and chopping wood4 ,he continued to frequent the mission1 a changed man4 ,after moving to the studio ,i lost sight of him almost entirely1 but often wondered what had become of him4 ,there came a time toward the close of my sojourn in ,san ,jose when ,i was financially down to bedrock4 ,money and provisions were all gone4 ,my rent1 to be sure1 was paid up to the first of the month 7three weeks hence71 but my cupboard was bare4 ,a friend partook with me of my last meal4 ,little did she realize it1 or she would never have stayed at my invitation4 ,i told only my heavenly ,father4 ,after supper ,i went home with her1 about three blocks distant4 ,it was a beautiful moonlight night1 and as ,i came up the garden walk on my return1 ,i noticed a good-sized box resting on my steps1 but simply thought the children must have been playing there and had failed to take it away after they had finished4 ,i attempted to thrust it to one side1 but discovered that it was too heavy4 ,looking more closely1 ,i could read my name on a card4 ,with considerable effort ,i lifted it into the room1 pried off a portion of the cover1 and was soon reading a note which said3 ,dear ,friend3 ,please accept a slight token of appreciation from one who is ,your true friend4 ,from whom did this come8 ,the crude handwriting was not at all familiar4 ,i wondered1 but in vain4 ,then ,i lifted up the paper cover4 ,the box was filled with groceries4 ,not even butter and bread had been forgotten2 also there were some fruit and vegetables4 ,i fell on my knees1 the tears falling fast as ,i humbly thanked ,god and prayed him to bless the donor4 ,i had told no one4 ,who could have sent it8 ,inquiry the next day of several groceries failed to throw any light on the matter4 ,i had to give it up1 but oh1 how ,i appreciated and enjoyed the contents of that box1 which lasted me until my time at the studio expired4 ,i stored my few effects with a friendly furniture man4 ,whilst walking down ,santa ,clara ,street near ,market1 ,i came face to face with ,brother ,louis1 the converted drunkard4 ,he certainly was looking his best4 ,as he greeted me1 he said3 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i was on my way to call on you4 ,i've moved this very day1 ,brother1 ,i replied1 but ,i'm so glad ,i met you4 ,where have you been8 ,he had been working out of town4 ,to honor ,god and also to help strengthen his faith1 ,i related ,his care for me through all the trying times4 ,i spoke about my being out of provisions and then finding them on my doorsteps1 adding3 ,to this day ,i haven't found out who sent them4 ,the expression that came over his countenance instantly betrayed him4 ,brother ,louis1 ,i said1 you sent that box4 ,no1 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i didn't1 he replied2 ,i brought it1 and ,i'll tell you why4 ,i read in the paper that when you quit ,beth-,adriel you only had sixty dollars of your own4 ,i calculated that couldn't last very long4 ,i knew you wouldn't take money1 and ,i wanted to express my gratitude in some way2 so ,i decided groceries would not come amiss to one who was doing light housekeeping4 ,i didn't knock on your door1 because ,i thought you were in and what a surprise it would be when you opened it in the morning4 ,i hope you aren't offended at what ,i did ,brother ,louis1 don't you realize that ,god used you to answer my prayer8 ,i rejoined4 ,he knew my needs1 and laid it on your heart to supply them4 ,i do not know where he now is1 but ,i earnestly pray that ,god may bless and prosper this kind-hearted man and finally receive him into glory4 ,still farther down the street1 near ,second1 ,i suddenly thought ,i heard some one calling my name4 ,again it was called1 and ,i turned to find a ,mr4 ,parkhurst1 an old gentleman1 endeavoring to overtake me4 ,he wished to let me know that his wife1 one of my valued friends1 was very ill1 and to inquire if ,i knew of any one who could come to their home and care for her a few days1 at least until she was somewhat recovered4 ,instantly ,i felt that ,god was providing a temporary shelter for me2 therefore ,i unhesitatingly replied3 ,i myself will go1 ,mr4 ,parkhurst4 ,what you6 ,but are you not too busy8 he asked4 ,not just at present1 ,i answered4 ,besides1 ,i gave up my studio this very day and therefore am quite free to go4 ,their appreciation was such that a few days later ,i was invited to make this lovely home mine1 or at least headquarters1 which very kind offer was1 in the name of our wonderful ,provider1 gratefully accepted4 ,,chapter ,,xxxix4 ,a ,,trip ,,east--,i ,,escape ,,from ,a ,,confidence ,,woman4 ,after ,i had enjoyed the freedom of the ,parkhurst home for a few months ,i learned through friends that a young lady whom ,i had befriended at the time of the earthquake and who had become temporarily deranged was about to be sent to the ,east4 ,the supervisors inquired whether it would suit my convenience to take the trip1 and said if so they would defray expenses from and to ,california in order to have her safely chaperoned4 ,i gladly consented2 for1 praise ,god6 this would give me opportunity to pay a brief visit to my son and his bride1 now making their home in ,allegheny1 ,pa4 ,following her safe arrival1 ,i was on the way to ,cincinnati in less than twenty-four hours4 ,thence ,i was to take train early the next morning4 ,having several hours to dispose of after securing a room in a hotel close to the station1 ,i decided to see as many points of interest as possible in this fine city4 ,accordingly ,i was thus delightfully occupied until about four o'clock1 when ,i heard some one speak of the ,zoo4 ,upon inquiry ,i learned of the wonderful gardens so called4 ,soon1 following directions1 ,i boarded a car at ,fountain ,square1 which conveyed me up a very steep incline4 ,returning in the neighborhood of six o'clock1 ,i followed the example of several persons1 who on the incline stepped out of the car on to the platform in order to enjoy the magnificent view4 ,a white-haired1 elderly lady who had sat opposite to me on the return trip1 now pleasantly remarked3 ,cincinnati is well worth a visit1 is it not8 ,upon my replying in the affirmative1 she rejoined3 ,doubtless you are a stranger4 ,may ,i inquire from whence you come8 ,from ,california1 ,i answered4 ,she clasped her hands together and exclaimed ecstatically3 ,dear1 dear ,california6 ,how happy ,i am to meet some one from there6 ,some of my most delightful1 very happiest days were spent there4 ,we were now once more in the car and at the foot of the incline4 ,presently she continued1 ,are you going to remain for some time here8 ,if so1 ,i shall be delighted to contribute to your pleasure4 ,i then informed her of my prospective visit to my son and his wife4 ,her next question was1 ,pardon me1 but have you any dinner engagement8 ,if not1 dine with me at ----'s restaurant1 unless you have choice in the matter1 in which case ,i gladly defer in your favor4 ,she had handed me her card1 and of course common courtesy required that ,i reciprocate4 ,at the table ,i quietly 7though not by request7 returned thanks1 and then followed this up with the message that the ,master had1 in answer to silent prayer1 laid on my heart4 ,her patronizing smile was rather disconcerting as she responded3 ',my dear1 ,i am much older and have had much more real experience than you4 ,i've come in touch with every phase of humanity1 and have at last reached the place where ,i have decided to get all ,i can out of life--all the fun1 all the pleasure possible4 ,i once thought and felt as you do4 ,you'll get over it when you have had a few hard knocks to contend with4 ,take my advice4 ,enjoy yourself every day and hour1 and as much as you can4 ,i do1 was my reply4 ,i would not exchange the experience of the past decade for all the former years of worldly dissipation and pleasure put together4 ,they have all been unsatisfactory4 ,this is quite the opposite1 and1 better still1 it is the enjoyment of indescribable peace and delight4 ,you are not going to be much longer in this world4 ,mrs4 ,r----1 ,i beg of you to seek the ,lord whilst he may still be found4 ,it is not too late1 but soon1 yes1 very soon it may be4 ,then where will you spend eternity8 ,her lips curled with a sinister1 contemptuous sneer4 ,nevertheless she managed to smile as she resorted to repartee4 ,you must come with me this evening1 she said4 ,i intend to take possession of you for an hour or two1 and give you a good time4 ,you will please excuse me from anything of the kind1 was my quick reply4 ,i have long ceased to enjoy worldly amusements4 ,just then the waitress came with the cheque4 ,one or two8 she inquired4 ,two1 promptly replied ,mrs4 ,r---- ,i politely wished her good evening as we stood at the desk1 and was quickly walking away when she called after me4 ,wait a minute1 she said1 and took a firm hold of my arm and sleeve1 so that it was impossible to free myself without attracting attention4 ,we were now on the street4 ,as she walked beside me1 she said3 ,you may not think so1 but ,i intend to do you a favor4 ,people in your line of work are never blest with overmuch of this world's goods1 especially money4 ,i'm going to take you with me across the bridge into ,kentucky to the house of one of my friends and win a stake for you4 ,you needn't touch a card unless you want to4 ,now don't be afraid to trust me1 because---- ,before she had hardly finished speaking1 ,i suddenly tore away from her grasp1 ran down the block to the corner1 and boarded a passing car1 not caring where it took me1 so anxious was ,i to get away from this female gambler1 this confidence woman4 ,why did ,i not have her arrested8 ,first1 because ,i had already purchased my ticket for my journey to ,pittsburg1 and secondly1 because her private conversation with me would not have warranted me in so doing4 ,moreover1 ,i knew that the all-seeing eye of ,god was taking cognizance of her actions as well as of mine4 ,he protected me1 and you may rest assured that she and her kind will not go unpunished4 ,why have ,i told you this8 ,in order to show that it is not only the young girls and youth who are in danger1 but also the more mature1 even the rescue missionary4 ,it therefore behooves us to be constantly in an attitude of watchfulness and prayer1 for ,satan goes about in all manner of garbs seeking whom he may devour4 ,nothing could better please him than to overpower or side-track one of the children of ,god1 more particularly a missionary4 ,i took a long round-trip ride on that car1 my heart overflowing with gratitude to the heavenly ,father for having made the way of escape 7#a ,cor4 #aj3ac74 ,it was after nine o'clock before ,i reached my hotel4 ,i wondered1 as ,i retired1 who would be the next to be victimized by that runner for a private gambling-house4 ,i fell asleep with earnest prayer for the deliverance of whosoever it might chance to be1 and for ,god to deal speedily with all such agents of the evil one4 ,,chapter ,,xl4 ,,my ,,homeward ,,journey--,,land ,,for ,,the ,,training ,,school ,,and ,,home4 ,after a delightful five days' visit with my son and his bride ,i was soon back in ,california1 both ready and eager to transact business for the ,master's kingdom4 ,anybody who has traveled on a tourist car can readily understand that1 even though one may not be prying or curious1 one is apt to learn more or less of its other occupants1 particularly those in the adjoining sections2 and be the porter ever so watchful1 he can not cope with every suspicious situation4 ,being a rescue missionary1 ,i particularly yet secretly kept a watchful eye over a girl just graduated with honors from a school in the old country and now about to join some relatives at a point near ,san ,francisco2 for she was fast succumbing to the influence of a woman with whom some of the opposite sex seemed very familiar1 considering the fact that the latter was as much a stranger to them 7when first we started out7 as she was to me4 ,besides1 the pretty young graduate evidently was a very guileless1 convent-raised girl4 ,matters assumed such a condition at the close of the third day of our journey that ,i felt it incumbent upon me to invite the latter into my section for the sake of some friendly advice4 ,she appeared to take it all in good part and promised to act upon it4 ,had she done so1 ,i should not now be relating that before the end of the next twenty-four hours ,i was subjected to most unkind1 uncalled-for criticism from nearly all the occupants of that car1 mostly young people4 ,the schoolgirl was foolish enough to betray every word of our conversation to the older woman1 whose actions that same night were such that the porter had to interfere4 ,notwithstanding the unkind treatment accorded me1 ,i still continued privately to chaperon the girl until she reached her destination where she was1 thank ,god1 welcomed at the depot by her relatives4 ,that porter told me that he had constantly to be on the lookout for questionable characters of both sexes1 who made it their business to travel back and forth continuously in search of victims to rob or aid them in plying their nefarious trades1 but that some acted so sanctimoniously1 as in this case1 that they were rather hard to detect4 ,i have no doubt that this adventuress obtained the young girl's address1 so that the acquaintance could1 a little later on1 be renewed in order that some of this woman's accomplices1 if not herself1 could secure this another victim for the white slave traffic4 ,moral3 ,parents and guardians1 secure reliable chaperons for your young people to travel with1 or else keep them at home pending such times as they can be accompanied by you or trusted friends4 ,a letter from a wealthy pioneer with whom ,i had had several interviews respecting land for a training school and home now sent me word that he had decided to donate six acres for that purpose1 provided ,i should secure pledges to the amount of thirty thousand dollars for building purposes4 ,the undertaking looked stupendous2 nevertheless1 what was to hinder if this were the plan of ,god8 ,at his invitation1 ,i shortly went to inspect the land1 then in grain4 ,the tract was hardly as much as was requisite for horticultural purposes and a large home1 but the situation was charming2 so1 without consulting any one as to the nature of the soil1 ,i promised to do my utmost to earn a quit title to the land4 ,i worked indefatigably for several months before being able to secure a promissory deed1 but finally1 after much effort and persuasion1 ,i succeeded in obtaining the latter4 ,then ,i worked harder than ever4 ,two years were spent in this wise4 ,everything pointed to ultimate success4 ,a board of representative business men was secured in order to meet legal requirements4 ,by faith ,i now saw the beautiful1 practical home for delinquent and dependent children looming up in the very near future4 ,one day whilst on my way southward ,i was telling an acquaintance of my hopes and also showing her the plans4 ,presently a gentleman sitting immediately back of us thus addressed me3 ,pardon me1 madam1 but ,i can not refrain from hearing part of your conversation1 also seeing your plans4 7,with that he handed me his card47 ,for over twenty-two years ,i was a resident of the place where you propose to build that home1 he continued1 and ,i know every foot of its soil4 ,would it be asking too much of you to inquire just where those six acres are located8 ,upon his receiving the desired information1 he said3 ,i am very sorry to hear it4 ,i regret to have to inform you that it is absolutely useless for horticultural purposes4 ,it is worked out1 having been in grain for at least forty years2 besides1 it is gravelly soil with clay bottom4 ,i do not ask you to take my word for this4 ,inquire of ---- ----- or any of the reputable business men4 ,it is too bad that you should have had so much work for nothing4 ,reader1 endeavor if you can1 to put yourself in my place at this moment4 ,through undescribable toil ,i had procured nearly ten thousand dollars in pledges1 though1 thank ,god1 ,i had collected no money4 ,so this distressing information almost stunned me4 ,thanking the gentleman1 ,i promised1 at his earnest solicitation1 to satisfy myself beyond a doubt4 ,what he said was all too true4 ,for a few days the effects of the confirmation of this stranger's statements almost prostrated me4 ,i humbly thank ,god1 however1 that this experience was the means of ,his getting me into a place where ,he could have a chance to talk to me4 ,he told me that zeal for ,his house had well-nigh eaten me up and that what was lacking was a need of more watchfulness and prayer on my part4 ,also1 he assured me that notwithstanding another crushing disappointment1 the home would be built1 but not in the manner anticipated2 that the silver and gold1 the cattle on a thousand hills1 everything1 everywhere was ,his4 ,the wound eventually began to heal4 ,during this trying time1 whilst ,i was one day conferring with ,lieutenant-,governor ,porter1 a lady came into his office1 to whom he immediately introduced me4 ,acknowledging the introduction with a very warm handshake and a sweet smile1 ,mrs4 ,tallman ,chittenden1 of ,chittenden1 ,santa ,cruz ,county1 said3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 for a long time ,i have heard or read of you4 ,i so much desire to know you4 ,can you not return to my home with me today8 ,my husband will be as pleased as ,i to have you for our guest4 7,they owned one of the most beautiful1 picturesque estates in ,santa ,cruz ,county4 ,the ,southern ,pacific passes through their magnificently cultivated grounds7 ,expressing my regrets1 owing to having an urgent call from the probation officer of the juvenile court of ,santa ,cruz ,city1 ,i promised to visit them on the return trip--a promise that ,i carried out on the following evening4 ,soon ,i was made to realize that ,god was adding two more to the list of true and tried friends2 for after learning the nature of my recent disappointment and that ,i did not now have any settled abiding-place1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,parkhurst having removed to ,washington1 they cordially invited me to consider their lovely home mine also indefinitely4 ,this kindness overwhelmed me with gratitude4 ,rest at last1 real rest for the body as well as for the soul2 but it was not for long4 ,the calls accumulated thick and fast1 and again ,i had to be up and doing4 ,but even to this day 7unless the place1 which is for sale1 has passed into other hands7 ,i am at liberty any hour of the day or night to avail myself of the freedom and the home comforts of lovely ,chittenden1 where a most cordial greeting has ever been mine from the generous hostess and her friendly husband4 ,thus ,god is ever providing his chosen ones with what he has promised2 for has not he said in ,psa4 #hd3aa1 ,the ,lord is a sun and shield2 the ,lord will give grace and glory3 no good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly8 ,he always knows best4 ,he never closes one door but that he opens a better one4 ,it pays to stand still1 to be true to him4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,chutimin ,,hotel4 ,,chapter ,,xli4 ,,call ,,on ,,the ,,governor ,,and ,,then ,,go ,,south4 ,acting upon the suggestion of several sympathetic1 interested friends1 who realized1 with me1 the great necessity for the ounce of prevention home and school for many of the rising generation1 ,i took a special trip to ,sacramento in order to submit specifications and plans to ,governor ,gillett1 then in office4 ,this was not our first meeting2 therefore ,i was by no means a stranger to the ,governor1 who very kindly and cordially received me4 ,almost his first words were1 ,time being at a premium with me1 tell me what ,i can do for you4 ,in as few words as possible the story of effort and apparent though not total failure was being poured into his attentive ears4 ,presently1 to my great joy1 he replied3 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 this has been a pet project of mine for many1 many years4 ,all ,i have lacked was the time1 means1 and assistants to carry it into execution4 ,let me tell you something for your encouragement3 right now ,i am considering certain offers of land for just such a purpose4 ,no paltry six acres for it either1 but three hundred or more4 ,i hope soon to see this vitally important and absolutely necessary plan receive the approbation of our next legislative session1 and an appropriation made for the purchase of a large tract of land1 together with necessary and suitable buildings4 ,i know you have been working very hard4 ,do not nurse disappointment any longer2 instead join me feeling assured of the future welfare and maintenance of the delinquent and dependent children of our ,state4 ,much more did he encourage me1 but the above was the sum and substance4 ,lighter hearted than ,i had felt for many days1 ,i now took more interest than ever in the rescue work4 ,in response to a call ,i hurried to southern ,california1 where1 with others1 ,i engaged in the ,master's service in seeking and warning the lost1 working from ,san ,diego on up the coast4 ,perhaps it would be advisable at this time to quote from the report made in the ,san ,diego ,sun of ,july #ad1 #aijh4 ,,low ,,dance-,,halls1 ,,curse ,,of ,,the ,,city4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 known throughout the ,state as ,mother ,roberts1 who has been in this city for two weeks in the interests of fallen humanity has visited the red light district of this city4 ,one conclusion that she draws is this3 ,the dance-hall is an abomination that must go4 ,it is more degrading than any other form of dissipation4 ,the future of the ,state is being ruined4 ,the young--men are being degraded past redemption2 the young women1 especially working girls1 are in danger4 ,illustration3 ,,hymn ,,some ,,mother',s ,,wandering ,,girl ,discussing her observations with a ,sun reporter1 ,mrs4 ,roberts said3 ,i visited at least a dozen of the saloon dance-halls4 ,the private houses would not admit me1 not knowing who ,i was2 but the saloons are of course public4 ,as far as ,i can see1 the traffic is not organized as it is in most places4 ,each saloon seems an individual institution4 ,we went into place after place1 dirty and squalid1 most of them1 and all very unattractive4 ,the 'glittering place of vice' was not to be found2 merely the girls1 the low dance-music1 and the catering to every bestial passion4 ,,men ,,ashamed4 ,many of the men were young4 ,almost all were well dressed and respectable looking1 and1 thank ,god1 many of them were ashamed when we came in1 and pulled their hats down over their eyes4 ,we saw1 not only the common sailors1 but the officers1 the men who command the great ships1 who plan and direct the battles of the world1 parading their gold braid in these dens of vice1 in the company of the lowest4 ,the indecent postures1 the short-skirted1 low-necked dresses1 the sensual dancing1 and the frequent trips to the places behind the saloons1 were nauseating and repulsive4 ,but the heart-sorrow1 the sometimes unconscious longing for something higher and better1 showing through the paint and powder1 the hard1 sinister lines1 the brazen1 defiant eyes1 touched my heart with the awful sorrow of it all1 and ,i would give all ,i possess to be able to touch them and to help them4 ,i said to one poor girl1 ',do you enjoy this life8' ',not on your life1 lady1' she replied4 ',we drift into it1 and we can't see the way out4' ,many are totally resigned to the life4 ,one girl said to me indifferently1 ',i don't expect ever to live any other life4 ,i'm used to it1 and it's good enough now4' ,,forced ,,to ,,leave4 ,in one place the barkeeper allowed me to sing to the girls1 but just in the middle of my song1 the proprietor came in and said something in a gruff voice to the barkeeper4 ,the latter came over to me and apologetically said1 ',say1 lady1 the boss is giving me h---- for allowing this4 ,i guess you'll have to quit4' ,two of the girls were deeply touched by what ,i said to them4 ,i spoke of the wrong influence of some kind of home life4 ',you're right1 lady4 ,that's so4 ,it was that way with me4 ,i was started wrong1 and everybody helped to grease the hill ,i was sliding down1 and ,i soon reached the bottom4' ,the girls are decoyed by some man friend1 who has so compromised the girl that she feels she is being shunned1 to the house of a 'kind woman who will protect her4' ,she is ruined4 ,she begins smoking and drinking and soon unless she takes great care of herself1 she is sent from a first-class house to a second class1 then a third class1 then lower and lower1 until she ends in some vile dance-hall1 compared to which the orthodox hell is a paradise4 ,five years altogether ,is the average life in this business4 ,,no-,,screen ,,law4 ,one thing ,i found here that ,i have found nowhere else1 and that is the rigid enforcement of the no-screen law4 ,everything was open4 ,i shall speak of it in other places4 ,and then the law forbidding the sale of spirituous liquors means so much to the girls1 the poor1 poor girls1 who are so bitter against the whole world1 and who are suspicious of every woman4 ,a barkeeper asked me1 lady1 what are you doing in a place like this8' ',i am here to do some good if ,i can4 ,i am a mother4' ',well1' he replied1 'this is no place for decent people4' ,just then a rough-looking customer spoke up1 ',don't you leave because he wants you to4 ,do all the good you can' ,i am afraid some of the girls thought ,i was there out of mere vulgar curiosity4 ,no1 indeed4 ,i have seen the worst places in the ,state1 ,i have visited the girls1 talked with them1 eaten with them1 and praise ,god1 have helped some of them to do better4 ,,christianity ,mrs4 ,roberts has no use for so-called ,christianity that forgets the virtue named charity4 ,she tells a story of a young girl who was won from the tenderloin by a ,salvation ,army lassie4444 ,here follows the story of ,dollie1 found between these pages4 ,,worst ,,resorts ,as ,i said before1 continued ,mrs4 ,roberts1 we visited all the houses1 but were not admitted to all4 ,they are very superstitious1 and to admit visitors on ,monday would 'hoodoo' the business for the rest of the week4 ,none of the houses were attractive4 ,we learned the name of only one1 which1 the girls tell me1 is the worst in the whole district4 ,there is one place1 though1 that ,i must mention4 ,it is most attractive with lights1 mirrors1 and music4 ,but ,i assure you it is the first step of its kind downward4 ,a first-class saloon4 ,this place has a most appropriate electric sign1 a winding1 twisting snake4 ',there is one thing more ,i must tell you1' ,i said to a young1 attractive-looking boy1 ',what attracts you here8' ',for the life of me ,i can't tell you1 except that there's no other place where we fellows can enjoy ourselves4' ,what an opportunity for an immense1 well-equipped reading-room1 where the boys can have games1 books1 and all sorts of harmless amusements4 ,mrs4 ,roberts will be here for some little time1 and she expects to speak several times before she leaves4 ,she spoke at the ,central ,christian church yesterday to a large audience4 ,among other things at this meeting ,i mentioned this incident3 ,in one of the ,northern towns1 the chief of police1 knowing ,i was in the town1 sent for me to confer with him on a case of strictest privacy4 ,wondering what was the matter1 ,i hastened1 and soon was hearing this3 ,in one of the houses on ---- ,street1 ,i have just learned from one of my men1 who was told by a near-by saloon-keeper1 of a young girl inmate who has been constantly in tears for the past two weeks1 a new-comer aged about sixteen4 ,i want some one to get her away from there4 ,my political situation is such at the present time that it will never do for me to figure in this matter2 at the same time ,i am aware if you are conspicuous in it1 those doors will be closed upon you1 and that will be unwise1 seeing these landladies are more or less kindly disposed toward you4 ,i understand this girl is from ,san ,francisco1 where she has a mother1 who ought to be notified and the daughter at once sent home to her2 but ,i'm in a quandary how to proceed so as not to incur ill-feeling with the politicians of that neighborhood4 ,he was a candidate for reelection4 ,what would you suggest8 ,quickly ,i replied3 ,if that landlady does not know your voice1 'phone1 asking if she has any new girls at present8 ,then ask her to send the new one to the 'phone4 ,if she does so1 have a talk with the girl of a nature calculated to lead the landlady to infer you are friendly1 and as soon as it is safe to do so1 tell her1 the new girl1 that she is to come out presently as though to go to a restaurant for breakfast1 that friends are going to rescue her from her awful predicament1 but that she must be very cautious for fear of creating suspicion4 ,tell her to look on the corner of ,fourth and ,l---- ,streets for a lady wearing a small black bonnet trimmed with white and to follow her into the building where she sees her disappear4 ,tell her to act as though she were making arrangements for an evening engagement4 ,in less than half an hour that poor child was closeted with the chief and me in his private office4 ,soon1 after reassuring her1 he left us alone in order that ,i could freely interrogate1 and this1 after many tears1 was the sum and substance of what she told3 ,i've a very comfortable home1 a dear mama and two little brothers4 ,perhaps ,i have a stepfather now1 for mama was intending to marry again4 ,he's a chef in ---- ,hotel4 ,is your papa long dead1 dear8 ,i inquired4 ,papa isn't dead4 ,mama got a divorce from him a little while ago4 ,he wouldn't support us ---- and ----4 ,has your mama known this chef very long8 ,i asked4 ,oh1 yes1 quite a while4 ,i never saw much of him though1 'cause ,mama would rather ,i wasn't around when he called2 so she often used to let me go to the nickelodeon or the dance with some of the girls ,i know1 when she expected him to spend the evening4 ,how did it happen you came here1 my child8 was the next question4 ,it was this way4 ,i got acquainted with a fine-looking young lady1 a swell dresser1 too1 at ----,hall4 ,we took a 'shine' to each other on sight1 and ,i asked her to call on me1 'cause ,i wanted ,mama to meet her4 ,mama liked her1 too4 ,she told us she lived with her aunt1 ,miss ,clark1 on ,post ,street1 who was quite nicely fixed4 ,said she must take me to see her soon4 ,well1 we met often after that1 and ,mama was pleased because ,i now had a companion old enough to take good care of me4 ,one day when ,i went home with ,tessie1 to take tea1 her aunt said to her1 ',i've just received a letter from ,louise1 and she wants to know when you are coming to make her a visit4' ,tessie said1 ',oh1 ,i'd like to go next week4 ,mamie1 ,i wonder if you couldn't come1 too8 ,louise is my cousin2 she's well off1 and will give us a good time4 ,you ask your mama and ,i'll write ,louise4' ,mama was willing4 ,tessie's aunt soon got another letter saying ,cousin ,louise would be pleased to have me come1 so we made arrangements4 ,i was to meet ,tessie at the boat ,monday morning at ten o'clock4 ,mama wasn't very well1 so ,i went down alone on the car with my suitcase4 ,we'd bought our tickets ,saturday1 and for fear of accidents ,tessie gave me mine for safekeeping4 ,illustration3 ,,some ,,mother',s ,,wandering ,,girl4 ,i went on board the boat and waited and waited1 but up to the last minute ,tessie didn't come1 but a messenger boy did--with a note saying her aunt was sick1 but for me to go and she'd come on the next boat4 ,louise would be dressed--and described how ,i would know her1 for she was to meet us4 ,tessie never came1 neither did her cousin4 ,this woman ,i'm with is named ,louise1 but she says she doesn't know ,tessie4 ,i don't know what to make of it1 do you8 ,then she told me exactly what kind of life she had been forced to lead for over two weeks1 and that when she first came the landlady dictated a letter which she 7,mamie7 wrote to her mother4 ,as big a lie as ever was told1 said ,mamie2 but ,i had to do as ,miss ,louise said1 and she mailed it4 ,i haven't written ,mama since1 'cause ,i didn't want to spoil her pleasure4 ,guess she's safely married now1 'cause she expected to be4 ,my dear child1 ,i said1 will you give me your ,san ,francisco address1 your mother's name and initials8 ,you are going home on the next steamer4 ,i am going to have her meet you at the wharf4 ,i know the stewardess1 who is a good woman4 ,she will not let you out of her sight until she hands you over to your mother4 ,poor1 frail1 pretty1 little1 sixteen-year-old ,mamie wept with joy4 ,the next morning1 long before it was time to sail1 she was safely hidden away on board the steamer4 ,the mother1 in response to the telegram1 was on hand when the ship reached the ,san ,francisco wharf1 and unless she is different from other women of that caliber1 she can not1 ,i think1 ever forget that registered letter1 in which some good wholesome advice was given and such motherhood as she represented was so scathingly denounced as to upset her honeymoon4 ,furthermore1 ,i did not hesitate to inform her that her little daughter was both physically and morally ruined and that ,god would hold her 7the mother7 and her alone responsible4 ,was that all8 ,no4 ,the right persons were put on the track of ,tessie and her aunt4 ,unfortunately1 however1 they were never1 on account of some technicality1 made to suffer1 aside from having to take their immediate departure4 ,however1 the just ,god is taking cognizance of all these things4 ,nothing escapes him4 ,vengeance is mine2 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4 ,dear reader1 ,i generally leave my audience with a heavy load on my heart4 ,why8 ,because1 as other public workers and speakers1 ,i find few1 very few1 comparatively speaking1 who heed the warnings which observation and practical experience have prompted me to give out4 ,once as ,i was walking out of a church1 two ladies directly behind me were conversing on the address just finished4 ,one said to the other1 ,weren't you immensely interested in those dreadful word-pictures from real life8 ,yes1 replied the other1 but that work is very unpopular1 and requires peculiarly adapted people1 entirely different from you and me4 ,i silently thanked ,god for so richly endowing a few of us with sufficiently peculiar qualities to seek for wonderful1 priceless jewels among the fallen who1 through lack of proper home training and companionship1 have taken the downward course4 ,many of these outcasts1 if sought and cared for1 will some day occupy an exalted place in the ,master's kingdom4 ,,chapter ,,xlii4 ,,los ,,angeles ,,dance-,,halls ,,and ,,other ,,places4 ,well1 you may call them first-class if you like2 ,i call them first-class stepping-stones to an everlasting hell4 ,furthermore1 ,i will prove my statement4 ,on ,july #bd of that year 7#aijh7 ,i was again in ,los ,angeles4 ,as usual1 ,i was interviewed1 this time by a ,times editor4 ,among other things ,i made mention of the fact that many mothers did not know what their children were doing after school-hours1 and stated that such women had better play less whist and give their children more attention4 ,and oh6 the terrifying iniquities of society4 ,do you know1 the worst enemy a girl who has fallen into error has is her own sex4 ,women simply will not have anything to do with her1 and that is what keeps the world back4 ,the cause8 ,selfishness1 of course4 ,yes1 ,i believe there are too many marriages of convenience4 ,and oh6 the dreadful race suicide that ,i know is going on around me on every hand4 ,it sounds the doom of the ,american race4 ,we are indeed on the downward path4 ,why do not our mothers bring up their girls in a full knowledge of this world and its snares for young and faltering feet1 instead of letting them run the streets and meet unknown men8 ,it is because the mothers themselves are too often unfit for the divine duties of motherhood4 ,they are lacking in a knowledge of what makes for the best life4 ,i have seen so much of it that ,i am going to try to arouse the mothers of ,los ,angeles at a special meeting4 ,the different dailies kept tab of ,mother ,roberts for some time4 ,to be a target1 a cynosure1 is an indescribable cross to the ,christian2 but some one must be willing1 else how is the world to comprehend the situation8 ,among other things said in the mothers' meeting were these3 ,too many mothers will not1 because of their false modesty1 give proper instruction to their children4 ,yes1 parents fearfully misrepresent conditions to their boys and girls1 even resorting to absolute falsehood4 ,of course the children soon learn the facts1 and instead of the parents and children making confidants of each other1 both practise deception4 ,when girls find out these things1 they often slip away to their downfall4 ,when ,i was sixteen years of age1 ,i saw in a paper an advertisement stating that an elderly lady wanted a young lady as companion and amanuensis4 ,the advertisement read very smoothly and ,i answered it4 ,the woman1 who was seemingly a prepossessing1 lonely old woman1 inspected my recommendations and at once engaged me on trial4 ,i shortly returned to her1 taking with me some of my choicest worldly possessions2 but before ,i had been with her twenty-four hours1 some of her strange actions so alarmed me that on the following morning ,i made the excuse at the breakfast table of wanting to go to my boarding-place for expected mail1 promising to return within half an hour4 ,after ,i had told the family of my experiences and suspicions1 the mother would not allow me to return even for my effects1 which ,i have not seen from that day to this4 ,it turned out that ,i was only one of about forty girls who had been engaged by that diabolical woman to fill 'positions as companions4' ,i am very thankful that 'the way of escape' had been made for me1 and though feeling badly about losing my belongings1 ,i agreed with my friends that it were better to avoid notoriety than to create a disturbance4 ,at the time of this occurrence 7it was in ,san ,francisco7 ,i had but recently arrived from ,england1 the land of my birth and breeding1 under the protection of elderly people1 who consigned me to the care of relatives in ,california4 ,as with thousands of other girls1 my education on certain lines had been badly neglected4 ,i was1 alas6 too unsophisticated4 ,in after-years1 when ,i became a ,christian in spirit as well as in name1 ,i thanked ,god for this early experience1 which has enabled me to sympathize with those who1 much of the time1 are more sinned against than guilty of sinning1 and who so often are enticed away by the various methods devised by unprincipled beings called men and women4 ,,satan ,,lurks ,,in ,,the ,,waltz4 ,yes2 ,i have watched them dance in many places1 even in ,los ,angeles4 ,is it degrading1 demoralizing8 ,you know as well as ,i that there is nothing uplifting1 nothing of a good moral tendency1 about the dance1 especially the waltz2 and ,i saw nothing else offered than the waltz1 or round dances closely resembling it1 in either of the places ,i attended last evening4 ,my heart sorely ached as ,i observed mothers with their little girls1 five to twelve years old1 allowing1 aye1 even encouraging them to get up and waltz on the same floor with questionable characters4 ,evidently there is little or no need of introductions4 ,both sexes anxiously observe who are the best dancers1 and soon these1 though perhaps total strangers1 are spinning1 sliding1 or gliding about together1 in many instances in a close embrace1 breast to breast1 and cheek to cheek4 ,but they 'must dance4' they 'love it so4' ,and the music6 ,the most sensual1 the most alluring1 as subtle as a wily serpent1 and just as harmful4 ,there were church-members there2 mothers chaperoning their young daughters2 mothers who profess to be following in the footsteps of the ,redeemer2 mothers who have promised to bring up their little ones in the way ,jesus would have them4 ,in a few instances ,i even saw fathers waltzing with their own little girls on the great crowded dance-hall floor as late as nearly midnight4 ',what6' you say1 'surely no father would think of such a thing4' ,perhaps not2 perhaps ,i am presuming4 ,perhaps it was the mother's escort to the ball in each instance4 ,i don't know4 ,this ,i do know3 ,those little children last night were eager1 hungry1 craving1 tireless dancers4 ,o merciful ,god6 ,the pity of it1 the pity of it6 ,i observed some of the young men4 ,the contour of some of their heads peculiarly interested me4 ,to be sure1 you could not tell what the girls' heads were like because of so many etceteras bulging out all over2 but as ,i looked at many of the young men's heads1 ,i was not long in deciding that those who danced the most gracefully evidently had the bulk of their brains in their heels4 ,at the first place ,i visited1 one young fellow walked up to a pretty pompadoured1 short-skirted miss who stood close to me and who had waltzed with several strangers1 and asked her to dance4 ,she refused him4 ,why8 ,he smelt too strong of whiskey and was unsteady in his gait1 but she did not give him that as her reason1 and because of his persistence she soon said to her companions 7some other young girls71 ',come on1 let's go down to----2 there isn't enough fun here4' ,it was no sooner said than done4 ,i also left for this other place1 where ,i found hundreds of couples dancing1 and many refined1 pretty-looking young girls sitting or standing around1 waiting for any strange young man to invite them on to the floor and hug them 7oh yes1 better call things by their proper names7--hug them to alluring waltz-time4 ,,even ,,on ,,the ,,lord',s ,,day4 ,there is hour after hour of this1 day after day1 night after night2 yes1 even on the one day set apart for the worship of our ,redeemer and ,creator1 and this in the so-called respectable dance-hall4 ,at the entrance is a prominent sign--',dancing every night including ,sunday4' ',no bowery dancing allowed4' ,tell me why that sign if the dance is strictly respectable8 ,a young gentleman made this comment to me3 ',you won't find one girl in a hundred today1 who is not fond of the dance4' ',why8' ,i inquired4 ',considering their training1 it isn't to be wondered at1' he answered4 ',what training8' ,i questioned4 ',because their mothers loved it before them1 and the girls do not hesitate to say so4' ,another young man said3 ',i can take advantage of the situation1 if so inclined1 every time4 ,invariably any girl who dances will drink1 and any one that drinks will go still farther4' ,one girl said3 ',it isn't what occurs at the actual dance1 but any girl that dances often has to fight for her virtue1 almost her life1 after the dance--on her way home4 ,often her escort takes her only part of the way4 ,yet1 like moths that court the candle1 even though we know that death and ruin are in the wake1 still we will dance4' ,whoever heard of any man worth the having1 seeking for a wife and the future mother of his children in a ballroom8 ,,warning ,,to ,,girls4 ,let me quote another young man3 ',if the pure-minded girls with whom we sometimes are dancing knew our thoughts1 they would never put a foot on the ballroom floor again1 as they value their lives2 but lots of young girls don't know this1 and their mothers who sometimes chaperon them1 don't suspect us4 ,i consider the dance-hall even worse than the saloon4 ,i'm a dancer myself1 but ,i won't pay serious address to any girl who dances4' ,have matters assumed such shape that we can not furnish the majority of the present generation1 pleasures so pure1 refining1 and alluring that the dance and other vices may not be relegated to oblivion8 ,this question should stir the innermost recesses of the souls of all who are interested in the welfare of the young people of today1 be they young or old1 rich or poor4 ,the next generation is cursed already1 frightfully cursed1 unless unusual sacrifice will now be made4 ,there is no time to lose1 especially on the part of those who love the title1 ',soldier of the ,cross4' ',put on the whole armor of ,god4' ,go where he wants you to go4 ,do what he wants you to do4 ,be what he wants you to be1 in thought1 in word1 in deed1 even though it may mean to part with your very life4 ,god is yearning for a few more ,calebs and ,joshuas and ,daniels4 ,what use to pray ',thy ,kingdom ,come1' if you patronize or countenance places where1 under no consideration1 could you invite the ,one you profess to love and serve4 ,,chapter ,,xliii4 ,,woman ,,employed ,,at ,,dance-,,hall ,,tells ,,of ,,many ,,pitfalls4 ,whilst contending against the dance-hall evil1 ,i received a note asking for an immediate interview4 ,the writer1 who signed her own name1 stated that she had been an employee in ----'s ,dance-hall 7rated as one of the exclusive and first-class places7 and that she believed that1 under the existing circumstances1 my granting her an audience1 would still further aid the cause1 as she could throw much light on the subject4 ,soon she was at my rooms1 also a reporter1 and the following is1 in part1 what she had to say3 ,i am utterly disgusted with dance-halls1 and am determined to do all ,i can against them4 ,mr4 ,c---- her husband and ,i came here from ,new ,york in reduced financial circumstances1 and ,i applied for and obtained a position at ----'s ,dance-hall4 ,for reasons best known to ourselves1 we posed as brother and sister1 pretending my husband was in the ,east4 ,i worked there only fourteen days1 or until my husband secured a permanent position1 but ,i left the place with a complete knowledge of the disreputable work done there under the guise of a respectable dance-hall4 ,i do not wish to be mean in my assertions1 but the facts will bear me up in what ,i actually saw and heard during the two weeks ,i was engaged at ----'s ,dance-hall4 ,i was on the reception committee to introduce the lonesome boys to the charming girls for the dances4 ,it would take me two hours to state the disgusting features ,i saw there4 ,the manager at one time asked me to drink whiskey with him4 ,i told him that ,i was not in the habit of indulging and that if ,i should get drunk he would have to take care of me1 to which he said1 ',i can do that all right4' ,one night a young man became dead drunk in the dance-hall1 in full view of the dancers1 making a disgusting show of himself1 all of which apparently passed unnoticed by the manager4 ,the friends of the young man took him out of the hall4 ,one time ,i saw a young girl dancing with a young man who was trying to hide a whiskey bottle1 with which she and her partner appeared to be mixed4 ,all this was supposed to be in plain sight of the manager4 ,a young girl on duty selling tickets asked me to bring her an empty glass from the soda fountain4 ,a young man took it and filled it nearly full with brandy and passed it to the girl4 ,she slyly wrapped her handkerchief around it to hide the brandy1 and drank it as if drinking a glass of water4 ,this was seen by several by-standers4 ,it makes me shudder to think of what ,i saw and heard in that hall4 ,one young girl unused to the ways of the world was taken out of the hall in a ruined condition1 and after an unlawful surgical operation had been performed1 she was sent to a well-known hospital4 ,she was the victim of a prominent lawyer of ,los ,angeles4 ,one night last week the manager spoke through a megaphone1 during the intermission of the dance1 asking everybody to sign a petition he had prepared stating that the place was properly run1 and to sign it in order that he could continue the dance-hall business4 ,i know of one man who signed a fictitious name to the petition1 with the remark that others were doing the same1 etc4 ,she told much more1 some of which was not fit to print1 but surely that is sufficient from her4 ,i was able one night to show a reporter that no erroneous statements had been made4 ,on the contrary1 he was shocked as he noted the wily depravity4 ,his attention was attracted to a good-looking young man who had slipped one of the reception committee young women a piece of money4 ,together we watched the outcome4 ,she made for a pretty1 graceful young girl just leaving the dance-ring and whispered audibly1 ,there's a swell young fellow wants to have the honor of dancing with you4 ,before the girl had time to think or answer1 he was right on hand1 saying1 ,may ,i have the pleasure of the next waltz8 ,my name is ,jones4 ,then the introducer manufactured a name for the pretty young girl1 the music started up1 and the next moment she was gliding over the perfect dancing-floor in the embrace of this strange fellow4 ,is that all8 ,not by any means4 ,he invited her to an innocent dish of ice-cream4 7,if a girl does not accept such an invitation1 but she usually does1 the would-be seducer knows she is a gold mine if he can ever secure her1 and he works to that end47 ,she accepted4 ,we watched our opportunity1 and1 between dances1 when no one was taking notice1 we whispered the word of warning4 ,for a moment she looked alarmed1 but did she heed8 ,evidently not4 ,possibly she resented the well-meant advice1 and1 in consequence1 soon paid the fearful price for so doing4 ,upon getting out once more into the fresh air1 we could not fail to observe the many automobiles in waiting4 ,wherefore8 ,listen6 ,shortly before this visit when ,i was accompanied by the ,times reporter1 ,i was a temporary guest in one of ,los ,angeles' representative families1 the mother of whom was one of my tried and true friends4 ,she had two noble1 handsome sons4 ,one of them came home one day in a high state of indignation4 ,after he had related to his mother an incident that had just occurred1 she besought him to repeat it for my benefit4 ,while he was resting in the park bounded by ,fifth1 ,sixth1 ,olive1 and ,hill ,streets1 a middle-aged man of good dress and appearance seated himself on the same bench and1 disregarding conventionalities1 began to make himself agreeable1 first commenting on the weather and then gradually leading up to the subject in which he was most interested4 ,presently he inquired if my young friend was occupied in business1 and received the reply1 ,no2 not at present1 but ,i am on the lookout for something that will be worth while4 ,as one word always leads to another1 the stranger soon inquired if the young man could dance4 ,receiving an affirmative answer1 he remarked3 ,good6 ,i notice you are a swell dresser also1 and a pleasant conversationalist2 in fact1 have all the requirements if ,i'm not mistaken4 ,what requirements8 asked my young friend4 ,say1 young man1 the stranger answered1 ,i can put you wise to something that will bring you the quickest returns for the least labor you ever struck1 but 'mums the word4' ,fire ahead1 replied my young friend2 'mums the word4' ,first1 ,i note that you are agreeable1 educated1 well dressed1 and a dancer1 all of which takes with the majority of girls1 at least the girls we have to reach4 ,next1 ,i need you in the ballrooms4 ,perhaps you may occasionally require an automobile4 ,to be sure1 that is expensive1 but444 ,what is he driving at8 silently wondered my young friend4 ,guess ,i will hear him through4 ,here's something out of the ordinary4 ,girls will be girls1 the man continued4 ,it's dead easy to win some1 harder with others2 but there's big money in it for each new supply you can furnish4 ,furnish for what8 inquired my young friend4 ,the necessary evil1 my boy1 the necessary evil1 of course1 was the startling answer4 ,trembling with indignation1 my young friend quickly arose and unhesitatingly shouted3 ,police6 ,police6 ,the procurer disappeared so suddenly that no one of the small crowd which quickly gathered knew what was the matter until too late to arrest the scoundrel4 ,is that stranger the only procurer8 ,common sense answers1 ,no6 ,my reader1 there are thousands4 ,therefore if nothing else1 no other reason --and they are many--should cause young ladies to refrain from a practise which means compromise or ruin1 often eternal damnation1 surely this illustration should be sufficient4 ,permit me to mention another reason1 one ,i am also able to verify1 for it came from one shipwrecked at the age of twenty-two1 and now passed into eternity1 but then lying in one of the wards of the county hospital4 ,to be brief1 he was a dancer4 ,honor1 however1 forbade his making any improper advances to his girl partners1 but the effects of their close proximity were fatal4 ,all the evil of his nature was stirred1 and it would not be suppressed4 ,he yielded2 visited places whose thresholds he would never otherwise have crossed2 then followed depravity1 disease1 and an untimely death4 ,who was responsible for this8 ,the unharmed girls with whom he danced4 ,surely a word to the wise is sufficient4 ,if dancing causes my brother to err1 ,i will dance no longer4 ,,chapter ,,xliv4 ,,sarah4 ,whilst doing a house-to-house work in one of our large coast towns1 also filling various pulpits whenever opportunity permitted1 ,i was on one occasion cordially invited to enter the lodging of a girl1 who1 when ,i was seated1 quickly turned the key in the lock1 remarking as she did so3 ,you're just the kind of a person ,i have been hoping this long time to meet4 ,excuse me for locking you in1 but ,i don't want to be disturbed while you are here1 where ,i'm truly ashamed to have you find me4 ,i want to tell you my situation and see if you can not immediately get me out of this awful predicament4 ,calling attention to the fact that there was no odor of liquor1 no signs of cigarettes about1 and stating that in consequence she was unpopular with the habitues of the other lodgings in the immediate vicinity1 she inquired3 ,do ,i look like a hardened sinner8 ,you certainly do not1 was my reply4 ,oh6 ,i'm so relieved1 she rejoined1 so relieved to hear you say so1 because ,i want to get away from this life1 and ,i am sure you can help me4 ,all that is in my power1 dear girl1 ,i assured her4 ,now tell me your story4 ,i've a little brother and sister1 she began4 ,my father1 when ,i was seventeen years of age1 ran off with another woman and deserted poor ,mother1 who took it so hard that she lived only two years4 ,this left me to provide for the children4 ,i had to get some help from the county for the funeral expenses1 and it wasn't easy to make a good appearance and provide properly for the little ones on what ,i was earning4 ,what were you doing for a living1 dear8 ,i asked4 ,i was working in a laundry1 from early morning till1 many times1 late at night4 ,i got a dollar a day and for over-time was paid extra4 7,if ,i remember correctly1 she said ten cents an hour47 ,was that sufficient to provide food1 clothing1 and shelter for all three of you8 ,i inquired4 ,no1 mam1 though ,i managed somehow4 ,i boarded them with an old friend of mother's1 who was very kind1 and ,i felt she was never paid enough for her trouble1 so you may be sure ,i was constantly on the lookout for a better-paying job4 ,at last ,i thought ,i had struck one1 but for a while it would take me away from them1 for it was away off in ,nevada4 ,i answered an ad in the morning paper for a situation in a hotel4 ,the man and woman wanted me right away1 as they were leaving on the evening train1 and would take me with them1 also two others4 ,so ,i quickly made all my arrangements4 ,two days later we were there1 and it took me no time to see that our principal work would be to wait on tables in the saloon and gambling-hall4 ,i had no money1 and was in debt4 ,what could ,i do but make the best of it8 and it is surprising how soon one can4 ,yes1 my child4 ,i've frequently heard others make the same sad remark--but proceed with your story4 ,i was making quite a bit1 besides sending money home to keep the children1 when something happened which made me so despondent she did not say what it was that one day ,i quit my job1 and one of the girls said1 ',go down to ----1 ,sarah4 ,you'll be able to get plenty of honest work there1 at good wages4' ,so ,i left2 and1 believe me1 ,i hadn't struck ---- before some one on the train recognized me as one of the girls who had worked in the ---- ,hotel4 ,it was all up with me now4 ,in my despair ,i took this den1 for which ,i pay one dollar and fifty cents a day4 ,i loathe1 ,i hate the business4 ,i am ready and willing to go into anybody's kitchen and work1 and work hard and well1 for ,i know how4 ,do you think you could get any one to hire me8 ,as she had been brought up by a ,god-fearing mother1 we knelt together in that vile den1 where we both prayed4 ,with the tears streaming down her cheeks1 she prayed her mother's ,god and her ,god to forgive her for having been so weak as to yield to the devil1 all because she wanted more money so as to be able to provide better for the little brother and sister1 and implored ,him to give her employment where she could have them near her until they were old enough to do for themselves4 ,now listen to how ,god answered that prayer4 ,on the next evening 7,sunday71 whilst ,i was addressing a large audience in the ,congregational church1 ,i related this girl's experience and then requested honest work for her1 emphasizing thus3 ,she claims to be capable2 she looks it2 therefore she can earn good wages4 ,whoever is in need of such a girl1 please privately inform me at the close of this service4 ,in less than an hour1 that girl could have had her choice of five situations in responsible families4 ,i chose one for her1 and for aught ,i know to the contrary1 she may be there still4 7,reader1 it is impossible to keep track of different ones1 there are so many47 ,she gave such excellent satisfaction that erelong her little brother and sister were provided a good home in her immediate neighborhood1 and scarcely any one is the wiser for her unfortunate error4 ,thus the rescue worker occasionally sees happy results of the travail of soul for the lost ones2 but would to ,god there were many more ,christian employers like the one ,sarah found1 who treat her so kindly1 as well as give her what she is capable of earning1 that she makes extra effort to prove her appreciation and gratitude4 ,but1 you say1 there are not many like ,sarah4 ,true2 also there are not many ,christians like ,sarah's employers4 ,in fact1 they are very1 very rare4 ,many a time have ,i wearied myself in vain in an endeavor to procure honest employment for some young girl who has been convicted and imprisoned a short time for her first offense and who has told me of her capabilities and begged me to procure employment pending her release1 so that she would not have to return to her undesirable home and surroundings1 with their accompanying temptations4 ,we dare say she means well enough now1 but we could not think of hiring her until some one has first tested and proved her trustworthy4 ,besides1 there are other members of our family2 they must be taken into consideration1 is the frequent excuse4 ,thus the responsibility is shifted1 and1 sick and sad at heart1 we go away to inform the poor girl who wants honest work that our efforts have proved futile4 ,we then implore her to make her home in one of the refuges until she can once more become established1 only to hear her say3 ,that would hoodoo me for sure4 ,you know as well as ,i do that scarcely any wages are offered to a girl who is hired out of a rescue home1 even if she is quite capable4 ,reader1 it is shamefully true4 ,oh6 why will professed ,christians take so mean an advantage of the situation and expect girls who have made some mistake1 but have the courage to live it down1 to go to work at menial employment for little or nothing8 ,under such circumstances1 what inducement have they who1 if encouraged1 would do better8 ,may the dear ,lord as never before give us an introspective vision of ourselves as he sees us4 ,this will surely clothe us with the mantle of ,christ-like charity1 in the event of our determination to live up to our profession and numberless privileges4 ,illustration3 ,,san ,,quentin1 ,,prison ,,yard4 ,,chapter ,,xlv4 ,,the ,,women ,,prisoners ,,of ,,san ,,quentin4 ,the present kind wardens 7,hoyle and ,reilly7 of the two penitentiaries of ,california have granted me many more opportunities to enjoy heart-to-heart talks with the prisoners than ,i am able to relate4 ,in but one of these places 7,san ,quentin7 are the women incarcerated4 ,in this department let me endeavor to awaken your interest4 ,it is situated in a remote corner1 inside the prison walls1 and is accessible only through the passage-way underneath the central building seen in the illustration on next page4 ,it is built two stories high around a hollow cemented square1 with windows looking into the same4 ,it affords no view1 excepting barely the tops of the hills1 the sky1 and the matron's house4 ,truly these poor women are shut in4 ,not so with the men1 as will be seen in the same picture4 ,it shows a portion of the beautiful garden into which many a cell door opens4 ,one corner of these quarters may be seen on the right1 the women's being inside of the building near the tree on the left4 ,frequently have ,i1 attended by the matron1 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,g4 ,smith1 a very warm friend of mine1 come through that iron gateway in the wall1 always to be greeted with smiles and warm words1 of welcome by my less fortunate sisters4 ,these meetings were1 without doubt1 profitable to all concerned4 ,i enjoyed their orchestra 7some are very musical71 and they enjoyed the songs to my autoharp accompaniment4 ,as ,i have previously mentioned1 the present matron1 after much intercession and with the warden's aid1 succeeded1 a few months following her accession to the matronal office1 in prevailing upon the board of prison directors to grant the women prisoners a monthly walk on ,god's beautiful green hills4 ,in order to prove their appreciation of her kindness1 the women banded together to give her an entertainment on the first anniversary of her matronship4 ,to this day they believe the affair to have been a complete surprise1 though she was aware of their preparations from the beginning4 ,the day broke warm and beautiful4 ,immediately after dinner ,matron ,smith was escorted to a seat of honor in the yard and the program was opened by an excellent address of welcome 7of which ,i have an exact copy7 by ,e----1 whose offense was--well1 we won't say what nor how long her term of imprisonment4 ,she is a bright young woman1 as the following well-worded and touching speech amply verifies3 ,trusting in your graciousness1 and with your approval1 we1 the inmates of the female department of this institution1 have taken the liberty of arranging a program for an entertainment to be given in the honor of1 and to celebrate this1 your official natal day4 ,just a year ago today you came to us4 ,to you it means just the passing of time in a sphere of action hitherto unknown to you2 but to us a year filled with memories of all things good--easier times1 warmer clothing1 and privileges until then unknown4 ,we have enjoyed1 through your kind intercession1 and the courtesy of our noble ,warden1 the delight of walking forth into the outer world1 even if only for a short time2 of seeing once more green fields and hills clothed in nature's gown of green and flowers2 of viewing the waters of the bay and inhaling the salt sea air2 and of being entertained in your own sweet way1 in your own sweet home4 ,at last1 but not least1 to have the intense satisfaction of gazing at the outside of our prison wall1 anticipating the time when we will always be outside of that old wall4 ,and in our daily life together1 you1 in the discharge of your duties1 have been a kind and gentle matron1 listening always with patience to our tales of woe4 ,and through all the past year you have been to us our guide1 friend1 and comrade4 ,we one and all pray that life will give you health1 happiness1 and prosperity1 and all of heaven's good gifts4 ,then followed an enjoyable program4 ,who could not be touched by such tender sentiment from those whom the world at large regard as well-nigh1 if not quite1 hopeless cases4 ,because of this and also because of the receipt of a recent letter 7,sept4 #ad1 #aiaa71 ,i humbly and heartily thank ,god that ,i am able to prove that kindness1 coupled with good judgment1 is very effectual4 ,enclosed in this lengthy1 newsy letter from the matron are some excellent up-to-date photos of the ,san ,quentin prison1 two of which you will find between these covers1 and also a clipping from one of ,san ,francisco's daily papers1 as follows3 #b1jjj ,,leave ,,prison ,,walls4 ,,warden ,,hoyle ,,gives ,,san ,,quentin ,,charges ,,an ,,unusual ,,privilege4 ,nearly two thousand convicts at ,san ,quentin prison walked outside the walls on ,admission ,day and spent more than three hours in ,god's out-of-doors1 while they rooted for rival hall teams playing on a diamond beneath the blue ,marin ,county skies4 ,no extra guards or precautions marked the first time in the history of a ,california ,state prison that convicts have been permitted to leave the walls4 ,,joke ,,and ,,laugh4 ,in orderly procession the men filed out from the prison yard between the great stone gate-posts1 laughing and joking like schoolboys in their joy at seeing once more an unobstructed sweep of smiling1 open country4 ,from three o'clock until six fifteen every man in the institution except the sick and incorrigibles1 stood or sat on the ground or perched on adjoining sheds while the ,whites and ,blacks played ball that would do credit to a fast bush league4 ,over at one side sat a row of condemned prisoners1 watching their last ball game and forgetting for a few blessed moments that the shadow of the scaffold hung over them4 ,,woman ,,fans1 ,,too4 ,from other seats1 the women prisoners saw the game4 ,for four innings neither side scored4 ,then the ,blacks pitcher lost his control1 and the two thousand frenzied rooters cheered as man after man slid home4 ,the score at the close stood #g to #b in favor of the ,whites4 ,it's only part of the new policy of trusting the prisoners and treating them like human beings1 said ,warden ,hoyle today4 ,hoyle is the man who is responsible for the innovation4 ,we have no fear for a break for liberty1 and the men showed that they appreciate decent treatment4 ,i can't say that we will take the men outside every holiday1 but the experiment was a success and will be tried again4 ,what the glimpse of a world outside the prison walls meant for the prisoners can be appreciated by readers of ,the ,bulletin who have read ,donald ,lowrie's narrative of life within the prison walls4 ,the ,admission ,day game marked a new epoch in the history of ,california prisons4 ,what an innovation compared with former policies6 ,surely practical demonstration of these experiments in other parts of the country will have a tendency to reduce criminality4 ,if not1 pray tell me what will8 ,time and again have ,i heard prisoners and others comment upon the impractical ,christianity portrayed1 with seldom any exception4 ,they weary of being only preached to4 ,the actions of such men as ,warden ,hoyle and of such women as ,matron ,smith will probably have more to do with helping these convicted ones to lead upright lives in the future than will all the preaching of celebrated divines from now to doomsday1 and ,i1 a ,christian1 do not hesitate for one moment to say so frankly4 ,in the name of the dear ,lord1 let us endeavor to practise what we preach1 and thus win numberless blessings from the throne of grace for ourselves and others4 ,,chapter ,,xlvi4 ,,vallejo1 ,,mare ,,island1 ,,and ,,alcatraz4 ,i am sure you will enjoy a trip with me to ,vallejo and ,uncle ,sam's great navy yard1 adjacent to it4 ,it is only about an hour's ride from ,san ,francisco and is accessible both by train and boat1 ,i said to my friend1 ,mrs4 ,walter ,c4 ,show1 of ,santa ,barbara1 whose guest ,i then was1 in her lovely villa in that beautiful city by the sea4 ,she had been giving me most interesting accounts of her entertainment of the marines and the cadets at the time when the fleet lay at anchor in the bay4 ,as ,i was soon due in ,san ,francisco1 she accompanied me4 ,before starting we notified friends2 consequently1 warm welcome and royal entertainment was ours from the time of arrival4 ,as this was by no means my first visit1 ,i prepared her for the shock of seeing many1 many saloons and other disreputable places for the purpose of robbing hundreds1 nay1 thousands of boys1 far from home and mother1 of their hard and scanty earnings4 ,nevertheless1 there is an excellent ,marine ,y4,m4,c4,a4 in ,vallejo1 with a large membership2 but they are in the minority4 ,we saw scores pouring out of the saloons or hanging around their immediate vicinity2 scores more that evening coming in or going out of the dance-halls and dens of iniquity and vice4 ,many were in dreadful stages of intoxication4 ,alas6 the pity1 the great pity of it1 that ,uncle ,sam does not wake up to protect those ready to lay down their lives for home and country1 not to speak of the hundreds of thousands1 nay1 millions of our floating population4 ,where will it all eventually end8 where1 oh6 where8 ,i contend that the civic clubs of any community hold the key to the situation4 ,if they would strive for the prevention of crime rather than for the reformation of the criminal1 the resultant good would soon be tenfold that of the present regime4 ,the day following our arrival we were taken to inspect ,mare ,island4 ,as heretofore1 the prison-ship was filled with young men serving short terms or awaiting trial for some serious offense4 ,in almost every instance liquor was responsible for their being in trouble4 ,it was heartrending4 ,we realized that1 aside from speaking a kind word or giving some motherly advice1 we could do little if anything4 ,we were inadequate to cope with the situation4 ,we could pray with them1 poor lads2 we could sympathize with them2 but we were practically powerless in that or in any community that tolerates1 licenses1 and votes for the means of the downfall of men1 women1 and children4 ,all we can do is pray and wait1 wait and pray4 ,god speed the day when the enemy of souls shall no longer reign over them and laugh at their calamity4 ,god speed the day4 ,i again made it my business to visit many lost girls in that city1 earnestly pleading with them to quit the downward path and stop dragging other souls down to hell along with their own4 ,most of them appeared to be gospel hardened4 ,one girl1 however1 seriously impressed me4 ,she was one of the few who would listen4 ,i'll tell you how ,i'm situated1 she said1 and then if you don't think ,i am to be pitied more than blamed1 you're different from what ,i think you are4 ,i've the dearest mother on earth4 ,she lies1 a hopeless cripple1 in a little cottage in ,west ,oakland4 ,i also have a little brother not old enough to go to school yet4 ,i hire a woman who has known us for many years to take care of them4 ,she is elderly1 and1 for the sake of a good home1 works for small wages4 ,she knows how ,i live1 but would rather die than betray me4 ,mother thinks ,i am working in a hotel where ,i get plenty of 'tips' besides my wages4 ,i go home every ,monday to see her4 ,mother ,roberts1 ,i would give the world if ,i could be able to have my pure mother kiss lips that were clean instead of stained and stained with sin4 ,i won't send her to the hospital4 ,i love her better than my life4 ,she'd die there1 for the need of nice little things they never provide1 and other necessaries4 ,my little brother would have to be reared in some charity institution4 ,i couldn't stand it4 ,i'm the most unhappy girl on earth because of the situation1 and don't you forget it2 but ,i can't1 ,i can't earn sufficient honest money to support them and myself properly4 ,later1 the mother died1 and the poor daughter1 who had ruined her life to support her1 went insane and then took her life4 ,some of the girls told me that one man owned nearly all the dance-halls there as well as the girls1 and that very few of them had any liberty or money4 ,they were living in hope1 but alas6 many were dying in despair4 ,apparently little if any impression could be made on those we did have a chance to talk with4 ,we could only sow the seed and trust our merciful ,god for results4 ,all the pastors invited us into the pulpits1 where we endeavored faithfully to give such messages as ,god saw fit to lay on our hearts4 ,the next day we left for a visit to ,alcatraz ,island1 the isolated military prison situated midway between ,san ,francisco and ,sausalito4 ,oh1 what a gloomy1 desolate place6 ,notwithstanding its beautiful situation1 excellent discipline1 etc41 its atmosphere is most depressing4 ,even before one lands one feels weighted down1 despondent for its prisoners1 many of whom sit or stand with hats drawn low over their faces1 breaking1 ever breaking stones by the roadside4 ,nearly all are being punished for desertion4 ,the sympathetic visitor longs to address them1 but is not permitted to do so4 ,he is allowed only a brief visit with whomsoever he has1 after much trouble1 received a permit for an interview1 and then always in the presence and within hearing of the officer in charge4 ,surely the way of the transgressor is hard1 and especially so with the violator of ,uncle ,sam's rigid army and navy rules and regulations4 ,for this reason ,uncle ,sam ought to remove the stumbling-blocks that he countenances and legalizes and that cause so many of his otherwise obedient servants to fall into disrepute and1 in numerous cases1 into untimely graves4 ,the young man whom we had come to visit1 though a refined1 intelligent soldier1 was a deserter4 ,he had the usual sad story to relate--wine1 women1 then desertion4 ,there was so little1 with the exception of ,christian sympathy1 with which we could encourage him4 ,the future looked gloomy4 ,i made an effort1 through one of my friends in ,congress1 to obtain this young man's parole1 but as this was his second offense1 the attempt was futile4 ,it is hard1 very hard on the missionary to have to be the bearer of discouraging1 often heart-breaking1 news2 but as this is part of our office1 we bear the cross as we alone can1 always pointing the disappointed and heavy-hearted to the ,savior1 the ,burden-bearer2 sometimes1 but not always1 leaving them with the load somewhat lightened4 ,from this sad place we1 with heavy hearts1 proceeded to ,san ,quentin4 ,after spending two hours 7for our time was limited7 we then departed for ,san ,francisco1 where we visited various points of interest to the consecrated ones4 ,then1 after an absence of ten days1 we returned to beautiful ,santa ,barbara1 where church and other engagements were awaiting me4 ,thence ,i traveled up the ,coast1 ever with the one object in view--the ,master's service4 ,i visited jails and the avenues that lead to that place1 and held many meetings1 always being well received by pastors of various denominations1 civic societies1 etc4 ,in the name of the ,lord1 yet with the spirit of love1 ,i endeavored to place the blame for the downfall of the masses where it belonged and belongs--at the door of the licensed saloon4 ,when ,i reached ,san ,luis ,obispo1 ,i learned1 to my great joy1 that the ,columbia ,park ,band ,boys of ,san ,francisco1 forty of whom were on a walking tour from that city to ,los ,angeles1 were due the following day4 ,at ,chittenden 7my home71 just before ,i left1 my friends had delightfully entertained them with a picnic on their beautiful grounds4 ,there we learned what an effectual 7prevention7 work was being carried on for the reputable lads of the public schools of ,san ,francisco under the leadership of the ,piexotto brothers1 who arrange for entertainments1 outings1 and treats throughout the year1 thus appealing to all the better instincts and qualities of many of the rising generation4 ,it is truly a most practical1 worthy enterprise1 one which should be adopted in all large cities for the encouragement and the promotion of better citizenship4 ,a sad case was awaiting trial in this city--a fifteen-year-old girl prisoner accused of the murder of her babe4 ,i visited her frequently4 ,she was finally sent to ,whittier ,reform ,school4 ,much comment on this is out of the question2 suffice it to say1 the girl1 because of her pre and post-natal environments1 was far more to be pitied than blamed4 ,i was next due at ,santa ,maria4 ,during my brief sojourn there ,i was the guest of the president of the ,women's ,improvement ,club1 who1 with many others1 was making a strenuous effort to abolish the saloon from their midst4 ,i there became acquainted with a very enthusiastic1 fearless child of ,god1 a converted ,jew1 whose name ,i can not recall at the time of this writing1 but whose help ,i greatly appreciated4 ,he was leaving no stone unturned for the elimination of the local liquor traffic4 ,returning to ,san ,luis ,obispo for a brief stay1 ,i was much gratified in renewing the acquaintance of ,dr4 ,bulgin1 a successful evangelist1 with whom1 in various places1 ,i have had the pleasure of being more or less associated in the work4 ,s----1 the city where ,i was on the morning of the earthquake1 was once more1 for a short time1 my stopping-place4 ,as something that had just occurred1 so dreadful yet so interesting1 occupied all my time and attention during my stay there1 and as it furnishes ample material for another story1 ,i will relate it in the following chapter4 ,,chapter ,,xlvii4 ,,irene',s ,,awful ,,fate--,,the ,,wages ,,of ,,sin4 ,after very warmly greeting me1 the landlady of the hotel in which ,i was staying at the time of the earthquake introduced me to several1 with the remark1 ,this is the lady of whom ,i was speaking a while ago--the one who occupied the room in my house in which the plaster was not even broken on that morning of the earthquake4 ,i've always claimed ,god had a hand in that1 for every other room and everything else here was practically destroyed1 as many can testify4 ,this being corroborated by a number sitting or standing around1 she next said3 ,did you come to investigate last night's murder8 ,what murder8 ,i inquired4 ,i have not as yet heard of it4 ,the awful1 cold-blooded murder of a young woman they call ,irene1 down on ---- ,street1 by a drunken lad twenty years of age4 ,it's the worst ever6 she exclaimed4 ,do you know the parties1 either of them8 ,i asked4 ,not the girl1 only by sight4 ,she was about twenty1 and as pretty as a picture4 ,she and her sister were leading awful lives4 ,one lies murdered1 and1 now that you are here1 ,i guess it won't be hard to induce the other to quit4 ,they have been well reared1 in as nice a family as you could wish to know4 ,it's too bad1 too bad6 mourned my landlady4 ,what about the lad who has committed this awful deed8 ,do you know him8 ,i inquired4 ,yes1 almost ever since he was born4 ,he is an only child4 ,his mother is a widow1 and one of the nicest women you ever met4 ,but he always was bad1 even when a small boy4 ,let me tell you what he once started to do4 ,he took a kitten and was in the very act of skinning it alive1 just as you would a rabbit1 when he was caught1 and the poor little animal quickly put out of its misery4 ,he seemed to delight in being cruel to anything that came his way4 ,he'd take a fly and pick a wing or a leg off at a time1 and then turn it loose to enjoy watching it trying to move about4 ,when he got older1 his mother couldn't make him go to school much1 although she did everything to coax or bribe him4 ,he got beyond her control1 and would leave home for days and weeks at a time1 then suddenly put in his appearance and demand money from her1 which she always gave him2 otherwise she would have no peace4 ,then off he'd go again1 to turn up again just as he did yesterday morning1 when he came in on the train and began to make his brags that he meant to paint the town red before he left it1 and he certainly has--with human blood4 ,illustration3 ,,view ,,of ,,warden',s ,,house1 ,,etc41 ,,represa ,is not his home here8 ,i inquired4 ,not now4 ,it used to be1 but they moved away to ---- ---- some time ago1 all owing to his bad actions1 she replied1 and then added4 ,my but ,i'm awful sorry for his poor mother6 ,one of the nicest ,christian women you ever met1 ,mother ,roberts4 ,i can't understand how ,god could punish her with such a child4 ,i can't1 indeed6 ,inquiring my way1 ,i soon found myself at the jail1 where this twenty-year-old murderer was being held4 ,the sheriff was very kind2 but he considerately informed me that the lad was in such a shocking state of inebriety as to be loathsome even to them1 and also that they preferred to let his mother1 who had not yet arrived1 have the first interview4 ,thence ,i wended my way to the district in which this awful crime1 at nearly midnight the previous night1 had been perpetrated4 ,i first called at a respectable house in the immediate neighborhood1 in order to get my bearings and necessary preliminary information2 then soon ,i rang the bell of the door where the poor murdered girl had been lodging1 but received no response4 ,some one next door1 however1 heard and answered1 then invited me in4 ,five girls1 all huddled together1 their faces still blanched with horror1 confronted me when ,i entered that room4 ,never was a missionary more warmly welcomed4 ,never was a better opportunity to comfort and warn1 then point to the ,lamb of ,god1 who taketh away the sin of the world4 ,never were more humble prayers or promises of reformation4 ,every one of them had homes to go to1 and every one promised to go as soon as the funeral was over4 ,then ,i inquired where ,i could find the sister of the murdered girl4 ,they told me4 ,they also gave me particulars concerning the murder4 ,the lad1 it appeared1 loitered around that neighborhood before dark1 apparently semi-intoxicated1 and then went into one of the houses1 where he still more freely indulged4 ,upon leaving1 he pointed his pistol and carelessly fired1 just for fun1 into a window up-stairs4 ,the bullet missed a girl's head1 singeing her pompadour4 ,returning at dark1 he renewed his wild revelries4 ,about midnight1 because his victim would not continue to drink with him1 he shot her without one word of warning4 ,screaming at the top of her voice1 she ran through every room of the house1 he after her1 still shooting4 ,he emptied every barrel of his weapon into her poor sinful body4 ,every girl and youth under that roof fled at the first shot4 ,the murderer1 after doing his worst1 coolly walked out1 went up-town1 and entered a saloon4 ,there1 as he called for a drink1 he laid his weapon on the bar1 bragging as he did so of his terrible deed4 ,he was immediately arrested4 ,when the officers arrived at the scene of the crime1 they found the bloody trace of the victim in every room1 and when they finally discovered her1 she was quite dead4 ,she was kneeling by her bedside1 her head buried in the clothes1 her hands tightly clasped as though she had been trying to pray as her poor soul passed out into eternity4 ,i found her sister and had a heart-to-heart1 soul-to-soul talk with her--one that ,i shall never forget4 ,she was so silent1 so uncommunicative1 yet ,i talked on until ,i felt the ,spirit say1 ,enough4 ,i have seen her since4 ,she was still leading the kind of life which had been instrumental in sending her sister's soul and others' souls by the thousands to eternal perdition4 ,she received me kindly1 but she would not heed1 notwithstanding she admitted that she was haunted the livelong time4 ,she would give no reason for continuing on the road to hell4 ,who were these sisters8 you ask4 ,daughters of parents who were in comfortable circumstances and stood well in their community4 ,i was told that both girls were inveterate novel-readers1 patrons of every show that came to town1 good dancers and dressers1 and--reader1 it is the same old sad1 sad story4 ,they confided in any one rather than their parents2 and hence were easily persuaded to take the first step downward4 ,and what about that boy1 whose mother wept and mourned and questioned why this awful trouble should have been put upon her1 she who had never wronged anybody in all her lifetime4 ,listen6 poor afflicted mother4 ,you have forgotten that when you were young and newly married you did not want to be burdened with motherhood for a long time to come4 ,you wanted to continue to enjoy social functions in the very pretty dresses your fond parents had provided toward your wedding trousseau2 you had no intention for many a long day to settle down to the usual routine incident to motherhood2 in fact1 you purposed to have a good time for the next two or three years1 before your pretty clothes went out of fashion2 besides1 you did not particularly take to children anyhow1 and if you had had your own way1 you would never have had any4 ,you said it1 and you know it1 that a woman is so tied down who has babies to take care of4 ,the time came when the greatest boon conferred on woman was to be conferred on you4 ,what did you do8 ,how angry you were as you1 for months nursed your grievance1 because ,god was going to have his way in spite of all opposition4 ,one day the little babe was laid in your arms4 ,as he was a goodly child to look upon1 you were resigned2 but1 oh6 poor1 poor1 untutored mother6 you had unawares robbed your darling of his birthright1 and1 furthermore1 you had brought into the world a being with murderous tendencies4 ,yes1 you were converted at that revival meeting1 and knew that all your past sins were blotted out by the efficacy of the precious blood of ,jesus4 ,yes1 we know you are living a ,christian life so far as you know how1 but your sins have been visited upon your poor child4 ,the germ was in his being1 and now he must pay the penalty for your crime of a little over twenty years ago4 ,for crime it was1 and you can not call it by any other name4 ,others have been alike guilty1 you say4 ,alas1 yes6 by the thousands2 but that never for a moment excuses you4 ,you didn't know8 ,no2 not altogether1 for you were not taking a look1 a long look into the future4 ,you had no instruction from your own fond1 indulgent1 falsely modest mother regarding these ,god-given functions1 capable of producing a soul1 a wonderful soul2 and so you ignorantly1 selfishly erred4 ,never was mortal sorrier for another than ,i am for you4 ,never was mortal more anxious to help bear another's burden than ,i am to help bear yours2 but it is well-nigh impossible for me to do so4 ,only ,jesus can ease your broken heart4 ,only ,jesus can comfort you4 ,only ,jesus can heal your terrible1 terrible wound1 poor1 weeping1 afflicted mother4 ,all ,i am able to do is to sympathize with and pray for you4 ,after this heart-rending experience ,i was glad to rest a few days at ,chittenden and enjoy the fellowship of its cherished owners4 ,ah6 how kind1 how very1 very kind they were6 but the mail was constantly bringing calls that were more or less1 urgent2 sometimes to quickly locate a wandering girl2 sometimes to come to a juvenile court session1 or perhaps to a hospital or jail2 and one was to assist in the work at ,portland1 ,ore4 ,whilst considering the latter call and praying for leadings1 ,i took time to hold some meetings in an interior town4 ,following a mothers' meeting there a young lady urged me to visit her and have a confidential talk with her upon a matter which was of vital importance4 ,i did so1 and this is what she said3 ,what ,i am about to betray would lose me my situation if it were known2 therefore ,i shall rely on you to respect strictly the confidence ,i am about to place in you1 as to the source from whence you received it4 ,i have a position in the telephone-office1 consequently1 ,i hear many conversations1 some of which are utterly demoralising4 ,there is a certain woman in this city whose business it is1 at least so ,i judge1 to corrupt1 morally and physically1 young school and messenger boys1 as you will surmise by a conversation which took place this very morning1 and it is not her first offense4 ,she called for her party1 and as ,i could not get them at once1 ,i asked for her number1 so as to be able to call her as soon as ,i could4 ,presently ,i succeeded1 and soon she was asking3 ',is this ,harry8' ,some one at the other end of the line replied3 ',yes4 ,is that you1 ,cora8' ',of course1 you little dunce4 ,when are you coming down again8 ,didn't you4448' ',dandy4 ,but say1 ,cora1 it's awful risky4 ,i'm not fourteen yet4 ,what if ,i should get nabbed8' ',no1 you won't if you'll mind me4 ,now listen4 ,come in at the lower side entrance4 ,i'll give a tip to the bar-tender4 ,if the coast is clear1 you can come up the back stairs2 if not1 he'll hide you until ,i say so4' ',what time8' ',tomorrow after you're out4 ,you know4 ,after three4 ,so long4' ,the case was sickening1 revolting2 but it demanded immediate action4 ,after prayerfully meditating for a few minutes1 ,i called up the chief of police1 asked for audience without delay1 and soon thereafter was in his private office4 ,after listening attentively to my recital1 he at first thought to wait until the morrow and then arrest all parties concerned2 but upon reflection he decided that that course would never do1 as the boy's parents were of high social standing4 ,the arrest would ruin them4 ,moreover1 it would never do to wait until the morrow4 ,one of his private detectives was immediately deputized to call on ,miss ,cora and give her twelve hours to leave town1 bag and baggage4 ,he was to tell her the real reason and to inform her that if she refused to go she would be arrested and severely punished for enticing and harboring minors4 ,short as the time was1 she managed to dispose of her things4 ,her house was permanently closed1 and the saloon soon afterward4 ,as to the boy1 ,i waylaid him on his way home from school and told him what ,i had found out1 so that he was perfectly willing to go with me to the chief of police1 who1 ,i am satisfied1 gave him much fatherly advice as well as a thorough scare1 calculated to last as long as he lived and also to aid him in warning his schoolmates and friends having similar evil tendencies4 ,but ,i must return to ,chittenden4 ,several letters from ,oregon had been forwarded4 ,i felt that ,i must answer this call1 ,god willing4 ,i decided to help there1 at least temporarily4 ,accordingly1 one morning1 bright and early1 ,i started4 ,as ,i boarded the train1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,chittenden handed me a letter1 the reading of which brought tears of love and appreciation4 ,here it is1 word for word3 ,chittenden1 ,cal41 ,nov4 #ae1 #aiji4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,roberts3 ,we do not wish you to cross the ,state line into ,oregon without carrying a few words from home with you--that is our excuse for the writing of this letter4 ,you have been one of us at ,chittenden since you were invited to make our home yours last spring4 ,our wish was1 and is1 that ,chittenden should be your home in all that the name implies--a place to which you could always turn for rest and recuperation from your unselfish labors2 and from which you could go forth again to your chosen task to battle against evil1 cheered by kind words1 and knowing that warm hearts and a warm welcome were waiting for you when you again needed rest4 ,you have been with us now for over half a year1 and your presence here has been most agreeable to us4 ,our respect for you has ripened into regard1 and our regard into affection1 and now that you are leaving us1 we realize how much the home spirit has worked to bind us all together1 and we know that we shall miss you and shall often wish to have you with us again4 ,well1 ,oregon can not claim you all the time4 ,some time you will feel weary and overworked--some time you will need rest--and when you do1 just remember that there is a little green and flowery spot along the railway down in ,california--a place where the door stands always open1 and where sincere friends are always waiting to welcome you--and--come home4 ,sincerely your friends4 ,ida ,h4 ,chittenden4 ,t4 ,chittenden4 ,i stopped off at several places3 at ,san ,jose and ,san ,francisco1 to visit the rescue homes and dear friends1 particularly dear ,sister ,kauffman1 whose house had been dynamited and destroyed at the time of the fire following the earthquake1 but who still sheltered many a girl in temporary cottages on the land where the home had once stood2 next ,berkeley1 where lives my hospitable friend1 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,t4 ,anderson1 whose beautiful home ,i enjoy the freedom of whenever in her neighborhood2 then ,sacramento1 to spend one night with dear ,mrs4 ,trefren1 already referred to as one of my warmest friends2 then ,redding1 my old home1 where ,i rescued little ,rosa1 and which was the scene of many battles and victories in the name of the ,lord4 ,at this latter place there awaited me a royal reception from my many former friends and associates4 ,it had been more than a decade since ,i had held up on the rear platform of the train that ,bible with its blessed parting message from ,gal4 #f3i4 ,all through the interval the ,master had graciously permitted me to sow and to reap4 ,though there had been much more sowing than reaping1 yet there had not been a great deal of fainting1 for the grace of ,god had been all sufficient4 ,hallelujah6 ,before ,i had been many days in ,portland1 ,i received a telegram telling of the death of ,mr4 ,roberts4 7,reader1 ,i have refrained from stating in this book under what circumstances and at what time ,mr4 ,roberts came back into my life1 simply because that matter has no direct reference to the title of the book and also because it recalls too much pain and distress of a private nature4 ,this ,i will say3 ,with the other duties an added heavy cross was mine1 owing to his mental and physical condition--a cross which1 ,i regret to say1 ,i did not always bear as patiently or as cheerfully as ,i might have borne it4 ,it lasted from ,february1 #aije1 to ,november1 #ajji47 ,a caved-in tunnel near the ,state line prohibited my return1 but ,pastor ,harper1 of ,san ,jose1 and other kind friends relieved me of all final responsibilities regarding my late husband4 ,until my return to ,california three months later1 in the direct interests of the prison commission work1 ,i worked even more laboriously than ever before4 ,as ever1 the ,lord raised up many friends for me in ,portland and vicinity2 yet1 at the same time1 ,i was bitterly opposed and well-nigh overwhelmed by the enemy1 who resorted to all sorts of means and devices to crush both soul and body4 ,did he succeed8 ,no1 indeed2 for ,god was my refuge and strength1 a very present help in trouble4 ,his not the ,lord promised that when the enemy shall come in like a flood1 the ,spirit of the ,lord shall lift up a standard against him 7,isa4 #ei3ai78 ,what blessed assurance for those who truly love and try to serve him6 ,hallelujah6 ,my last meeting before leaving ,oregon was under the auspices of the ,woman's ,christian ,temperance ,union in a suburb called ,st4 ,john's4 ,an account of the service was made in the local paper1 ,the ,review1 ,feb4 #d1 #aiaj1 as follows3 ,the ,woman's ,christian ,temperance ,union of ,st ,johns planned a treat for the women of this place which proved a grand success4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 better known as ,mother ,roberts1 spoke for an hour to over one hundred and fifty women in ,bickner's ,hall ,tuesday afternoon4 ,the most strict attention as paid1 for it was a most solemn message she gave to us4 ,after the meeting refreshments were served1 and the ladies lingered a while to get acquainted4 ,five new members were added to the ,union4 ,i left there that same night for ,california1 and the next meeting that ,i shall mention was that held the following ,sunday evening in the fine hall of the ex-prisoners' home1 #aaj ,silver ,street1 ,san ,francisco4 ,on this occasion ,i had the prayers of many former prisoners that ,god would bless me as ,i went forth to interest the people in their behalf and to open hearts and purses to aid in lifting the mortgage on this home--,golden ,rule ,hall4 ,in this interest ,i remained in ,san ,francisco for some time1 being occupied exclusively in interviewing responsible business people and portraying the need of their cooperation1 financially and otherwise4 ,during this time ,i was the guest of ,brother ,charles ,montgomery1 president of the board of prison commissioners1 at his hotel--,the ,brooklyn4 ,afterward ,i visited ,san ,mateo and ,burlingame1 with the same object in view4 ,at the former place the young pastor of the ,methodist ,episcopal church1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,b4 ,sylvester1 was just commencing a series of revival meetings4 ,upon learning my errand to ,san ,mateo1 he and his wife urged my cooperation in the evening services1 and to this end invited me to remain under their roof4 ,as ,i acceded to their wishes1 double duty for the kingdom now confronted me1 but the realization that our ,lord never imposed too heavy a burden was now demonstrated4 ,those precious meetings closed in two weeks1 with most blessed results4 ,this records my first active1 actual revival work4 ,to the glory of ,god1 let me make mention that hundreds of dollars was the result of the daytime labor for the payment of the ex-prisoners' home4 ,during ,july and ,august1 #aiaj1 ,i was in an interior town and was laboring under an indescribable burden for certain souls4 ,i believe ,i know what untold soul-agony is4 ,whilst almost sinking beneath my load1 ,i received a letter from one whom1 with his bride1 ,i had been brought into ,christian fellowship with in the early days of rescue experience4 ,the missive had followed me from one place to another until only the last address could be plainly deciphered1 owing to numerous erasures4 ,other letters had often miscarried and failed to reach me4 ,this one was1 by the hand of ,god1 safely guided through4 ,the father1 with four little helpless children on his hands1 wrote of the mental derangement of their mother1 of his inability to find help1 and of his pleading to ,god to send some one consecrated enough to assist them in their time of trouble4 ,he was a poor man1 but had a home and was working industriously at his trade to support his little flock1 the youngest of whom was not four years old1 the eldest ten4 ,positively ,i knew of no one to go to the rescue4 ,whilst ,i was praying earnestly for the ,lord to find some good woman to mother those little ones pending their mother's recovering1 ,i received the impression1 ,go yourself4 ,surely there is work everywhere--just as much in that distant town as where ,i was4 ,i admit ,i shrank from so trying an ordeal1 but1 do my best1 ,i could not silence the impression1 ,go yourself4 ,i prayed that if no other door opened within the next three days1 ,god would let me regard this as a sign that his voice was bidding me take up this cross4 ,such was his will4 ,i wrote1 saying1 ,expect me date on evening train4 ,for nine weeks my immediate duty was with those little ones4 ,still further to try me1 there was added to my domestic labors1 measles4 ,no sooner had one child recovered than the next was taken with them1 until all had been similarly afflicted4 ,some of the neighbors1 having learned that ,mother ,roberts was quietly sojourning at this brother's house1 called2 and soon ,i was assisted with very necessary sewing1 etc4 ,after the three oldest children were once more able to go to school4 ,i received a unanimous invitation to hold revival meetings in that town4 ,about this time ,god sent the brother a splendid housekeeper1 an elderly ,christian woman1 who relieved me of domestic duties1 so that ,i was able to accept the call mentioned4 ,on ,february #a of this year 7#aiaa7 ,i received from ,wheeling1 ,w4 ,va41 a telegram which filled me with indescribable joy1 for it informed me of the birth of a little grandson4 7,my first grandchild and little namesake ,i have never seen4 ,god took her when she was nine months old47 ,i longed to hold this dear little one in my arms and prayed ,god to grant my heart's desire1 if according to his will4 ,and he did4 ,bless his holy name6 ,following the revival services already mentioned1 came a call from another town not far distant4 ,at the close of this meeting a free-will offering enabled me to take the desired trip4 ,on ,march #g1 #aiaa1 in company with a lady who was going within a short distance of my destination1 ,i boarded the train and before long was with my precious little family4 ,my cup of happiness was now filled to the brim1 my heart overflowing with gratitude to ,god1 as ,i embraced my dear ones and their precious little son4 ,,chapter ,,xlviii4 ,,my ,,return ,,to ,,the ,,missionary ,,field4 ,in a few weeks a longing to return to missionary work was again taking possession of me4 ,in vain ,i sought for the undenominational rescue hall usually to be found in large cities4 ,apparently ,wheeling had nothing of this kind1 though surely very much needed4 ,moreover1 the requisite encouragement for the starting of one was not forthcoming4 ,sundays would find me with my treasured auto-harp in the jail1 work house1 or infirmary at the afternoon services1 which for years have been conducted by consecrated ,christians1 longing as much1 nay1 even perhaps more than ,i1 for the necessary places of refuge for discharged prisoners and others4 ,god speed the day when these needed institutions shall be amply supplied4 ,a lengthy conversation with one of the local judges1 who is specially interested in juvenile offenders1 elicited the fact of there being no place of detention for erring children except with the professed or habitual criminals4 ,comment upon this is superfluous2 it is sufficient to say that in nine cases out of ten disastrous results are inevitable4 ,owing to a lack of interest1 of means1 or of cooperation1 perhaps of sufficient good citizenship1 maybe of all four1 the judge and his coworkers seem to be unable at present to cope with or improve the situation4 ,in a few years hence1 this and other cities similarly situated will be facing a problem well-nigh impossible to solve1 unless unusual efforts are made to provide for detention homes and schools for the delinquent children1 now so numerous everywhere1 excepting in towns and ,states where the awful liquor octopus1 so largely responsible for crime and criminal tendencies1 is absolutely abolished4 ,let us not for a moment forget that these youthful offenders are1 in the main1 the offspring of lovers of drink and its accessories4 ,thus the sins of the parents are visited upon the children1 and upon the children's children1 unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate ,god2 but he says that he will show mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments 7,deut4 #e3i1 #aj74 ,a pastor1 describing the situation1 informed me with the tears in his eyes that1 notwithstanding all the efforts put forth for children's spiritual instruction1 the results were very meager1 owing to the indifference of parents--fathers and mothers who send their little ones to ,sunday-school in the morning and then undo all the good in the afternoon by supplying them with nickels and sending them unchaperoned to the moving-picture shows1 in order that they 7the parents7 may be free to indulge in worldly pleasures and amusements4 ,fortunately1 a ,sunday-closing movement in this direction has recently been crowned with success4 ,some time in ,april as ,i was taking a streetcar ride between ,wheeling1 ,w4 ,va41 and an adjacent town just across the river in the ,state of ,ohio1 my soul was uplifted when my eyes alighted upon this sign3 ,city ,gospel ,mission4 ,upon getting off the car at the next corner1 ,i soon learned from the one who was superintending this work of the need of more consecrated assistants4 ,i therefore at once volunteered my services4 ,god saw fit to keep me in this field for three months1 or until the time came for him to trust me still further along in his glorious light and liberty1 thus giving me greater realization than ever before of what the steps to ,his throne mean literally as well as spiritually4 ,to explain3 ,my attention was attracted to a little band of workers quietly1 unostentatiously living remarkable lives of humility faith1 and prayer1 depending absolutely upon our heavenly ,father for all necessities1 health of body as well as of soul1 and1 in fact1 literally following ,god's ,word1 in spirit and in truth4 ,investigation convinced me beyond a doubt that my ,lord had very much more of his riches for my enjoyment here on earth than of what ,i had already partaken1 if ,i would be willing still further to humble myself4 ,for days the adversary contended with my soul4 ,everything calculated to discourage me was brought to bear1 but praise ,god forever for victory6 ,on the day it was gained1 ,i informed my loved ones that ,i was soon to leave them in order to answer the call of ,god in an entirely new field of labor1 where opportunity would shortly be granted me to give the world the benefit of a few of the numerous experiences of the past fifteen years4 ,through the consecrated humble little band already referred to1 ,i learned of the ,gospel ,trumpet ,home and ,publishing ,company1 situated at ,anderson1 ,indiana4 ,i wrote to them1 and shortly afterwards received a cordial invitation to visit them for an indefinite period4 ,about the middle of ,august ,i was lovingly greeted by a family of about two hundred and fifty children of ,god1 mostly young people of both sexes1 all consecrated faith workers2 all cheerfully and gladly giving the ,lord their time and talents in this beautiful spot and being abundantly provided for materially as well as spiritually4 ,here1 whilst writing these experiences1 ,i am enjoying blessed rest of both soul and body1 such as ,i had never dreamed of2 for1 like many1 many others1 ,i had no idea of there being such a foretaste of heaven oil earth as this which is being daily and hourly demonstrated by the many members of the church of ,god 7,col4 #a3ah7 sojourning under this roof of prevailing prayer and practical faith4 ,best of all1 every one is given cordial invitation to investigate personally2 to satisfy himself beyond a doubt that the ,god who so wonderfully fed the ,israelites in the wilderness in ,moses' time1 and that the ,christ who multiplied the loaves and fishes1 who went about healing all manner of divers diseases as well as speaking the word of life to the sin-sick soul1 is positively1 absolutely1 just the same today4 ,these people1 so ,i learn1 are to be found scattered broadcast4 ,look them up4 ,they are known as the church of ,god4 ,they are those who have come out from confusion and sectarianism into the only church ,god will ever recognize--the body of his only begotten ,son1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,i praise him with all my soul that through his wondrous grace ,i am now in this glorious light and liberty4 ,,chapter ,,xlix4 ,,some ,,precious ,,letters ,,from ,,precious ,,children4 ,many poets have likened life to a dream4 ,reader1 doubtless you are aware1 as ,i am1 that life is but too realistic for the masses1 the great masses of suffering1 sorrow-stricken humanity1 with so few1 comparatively speaking1 so few to uplift1 comfort1 cheer1 and sustain2 so few to speak the blessed words of a bright hereafter4 ,especially is this so with regard to those of the underworld4 ,we find but few of the home missionaries undertaking this line of work2 still fewer who have the ,god-given grace and courage1 coupled with soul-love1 to go to the fallen sister and help her out of sin2 very few who do not shrink from putting a foot across the threshold of a jail or prison2 but many1 very many quite willing to fill the easy places2 quite ready to perform tasks1 provided these will not cost much inconvenience1 comfort1 personal pride1 sacrifice1 or money4 ,but some 7are you among them87 were delegated to go out into the highways and hedges1 the streets1 and the lanes1 and compel 7by the power of divine love7 those found there1 to come to the ,king's banquet1 in order that his supper might be furnished with guests4 ,most plainly does our ,master emphasize the fact that the publicans and the outcasts will largely be represented on that great day1 that day which will positively come1 and which in these perilous times is seemingly right at our very thresholds4 ,i shall never forget going into the ,san ,jose jail on one occasion and trying to impress a girl who1 as she lay on her cot1 seemed utterly indifferent to all advances2 even turning her face to the wall and stopping her ears with her fingers4 ,imagine my great surprise months afterwards on receiving the following letter from her3 ,san ,francisco1 ,cal41 ,march #af1 #aijf4 ,my dear ,mrs4 ,roberts3 ,i am feeling so lonesome and blue here tonight all alone in my room4444 ,somehow my thoughts turned to you1 and ,i could not keep the tears from my eyes as ,i realized that ,i had one friend1 because you were1 oh6 so kind to me during my imprisonment in ,san ,jose4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,roberts1 can you bring before your mind's eye this picture8 ,picture1 if you can1 the desolate darkness of the night extending on and on4 ,for months not a ray of light1 not one kind word1 not one friendly face1 until at last1 when almost in despair1 a gleam of sunshine shot across your pathway1 a kind1 loving voice said4 ,i will be your friend2 ,i will help you4 ,such was my condition1 and you1 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 was that gleam of sunshine4 ,your voice was the one that cheered me until ,i took fresh courage4 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,god has taken me back4444 ,may ,god bless you in your work4444 ,i wish ,i could see you and talk with you4 ,you are indeed my spiritual mother4 ,i hope you will allow me to call you so4 ,i wanted to tell you how much you had helped me4 ,i know you are very busy1 but if you have time1 please drop me one line4 ,i am so hungry for a message from you to cheer me up4 ,may ,god bless you and yours4 ,a---- ,m----4 ,san ,francisco1 ,cal41 ,march #bj1 #aijj4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,roberts--,my ,spiritual ,mother3 ,i cried from pure joy when ,i received your letter and photo4 ,yes1 ,god is most wonderfully showing me his way1 and at last my spirit is broken1 and ,i am content to obey the voice of my ,savior4 ,praise ,god for his wonderful salvation that saves and keeps one enjoying his great blessings6 ,praise his name6 ,i have nothing now to fear4 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 ,i am glad ,i did that time in jail1 because it taught me the lesson of patience and submission1 and now it is much easier for me to live a ,christian life4 ,i now have a better experience than ,i could have had otherwise4 ,pray for me1 ,mother ,roberts1 and ,i will pray for you4 ,may ,god give you success in your work4 ,may ,god bless you and yours is the prayer of your spiritual child1 ,a---- ,m----4 ,,from ,a ,,prison ,,boy4 ,san ,quentin1 ,cal41 ,sept4 #ac1 ----4 ,my dear ,friend ,mother ,roberts3 ,i received your letter of the #dth inst4 and was very glad to get it1 and will try and drop you a line in answer now1 although there is not much in the way of news4 ,i am much better now and am working outside around the warden's house1 where ,i can get plenty of fresh air2 so ,i think the time will pass much more pleasanter than if ,i was on the inside of the prison walls4 ,i had quite a siege of sickness 7pleuro-pneumonia the doctor pronounced it71 but ,i am getting better all the time and think soon to be entirely strong again4 ,i think often of the kindness you showed me while ,i was in ---- a county jail1 and ,i will never forget it or the advice you gave me4 ,you started me on the right path to heaven1 and ,i do pray to ,god that he will lead the rest of the way so that when ,i stand before him on the judgment-day he will claim me as one of his own children4 ,there is one thing that worries me3 my mother is quite sick1 and writes me that she does not expect to live to see me set at liberty1 but ,i pray to ,god to spare her until ,i am free and able to prove to her and every one else that ,i am a true child of ,god and worthy to take my place amongst honest ,christian men4 ,don't think ,i can ever forget you1 and my thoughts are with you when my words are not4 ,i will close now1 hoping that ,god will take care of you1 which is the prayer of your friend1 ,a---- ,g----4 ,,from ,a ,,reclaimed ,,wife4 ,san ,francisco1 ,cal41 ,dec4 #c1----4 ,dear ,mother ,roberts3 ,you don't know how glad ,i was to receive your kind and loving letter4 ,yes1 ,i can praise ,god this very day for his loving-kindness and tender mercy4 ,yesterday ,i gave a testimony to some poor souls at ,san ,quentin1 and you don't know how much good it did them4 ,three gave their hearts to ,god4 ,all that ,i am praying for now is that ,jesus may make me a shining light for souls that know him not4 ,there was one prisoner that knew me in my life of sin1 and he told the others that ,i looked ten years younger4444 ,oh1 may ,god forbid that it may ever be so again2 for when ,i think how he has snatched me out from the pit of hell1 oh1 how ,i love my ,jesus more and more1 dear ,mama ,roberts6444 ,what ,god has done for me1 surely he can do for others4 ,i only wish ,i could turn this wicked world upside down and make it new again4 ,in one of the ,psalms ,i read1 ,my soul hath kept thy testimonies1 and ,i love them exceedingly4 ,may it always be so4 ,mama ,roberts1 ,i will soon get a letter from ,lucy4 ,you don't know how ,i love to get her letters4 ,i assure you that when ,i get blue ,i take and read one or two lines that her gentle hand has written1 and it does me good4 ,now1 tomorrow night1 you know1 is prayer-meeting night1 and ,i know you won't forget me4 ,pray that ,i may1 by the grace of ,god1 do some poor soul good by telling them of the life that ,i led for twenty and one years drink1 etc4444 ,i will close with love from one that dearly loves you and who will always pray for you4 ,i remain as ever1 ,yours in ,christ1 ,e---- ,k----4 ,p4,s4 ,my husband wishes to be remembered to you4 ,i hope that you will come to see me soon4 ,write soon4 ,,from ,a ,,thirteen-,,year-,,old ,,sinned-,,against ,,child4 ,dear ,mama ,roberts3 ,i am learning about ,jesus day by day4 ,i hope you are well and strong4 ,the ,lord will help you4444 ,my little chick is growing1 and its mother is showing her little chick to eat4444 ,pray for me4 ,i am praying for you1 too4 ,from your dear1 ,f---- ,e----4 ,,from ,,one ,,in ,a ,,house ,,of ,,sin4 ,m----1 ,cal4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts3 ,your very kind letter received yesterday and am glad that your meeting at the church was successful4 ,i also hope ere this that you have arrived safely in ---- and that your trip was pleasant4 ,mrs4 ,roberts1 briefly concerning myself2 words can not express my appreciation of the interest you are taking in me1 and ,i hope ,i may be spared to prove to you that your efforts have not been in vain4 ,i hope the day may not be far distant when ,i may make myself worthy of your friendship and interest--and hoping that you may think of whatever goodness ,i may possess1 and not of what my life has been1 ,i beg to remain1 ,sincerely yours1 ,j---- ,w----4 ,the foregoing letter was written in a beautiful hand4 ,,from ,a ,,very ,,young ,,mother4 ,n----4 ,cal4 ,my dear ,mama ,roberts3 ,i will now sit down to answer your most dear and welcome letter of so long ago1 which has not been answered2 but do not think ,i have forgotten you4 ,you have been so kind and good to me that ,i will ever love you and not forget you4444 ,the baby was pretty sick before the #dth of ,july1 but he is well and fat now4 ,i feed him on ,mellin's food4444 ,my stepfather says that the day ,i speak to the baby's father ,i will lose the home ,i have4 ,he 7the baby's father7 does not give me five cents4 ,all that the baby has ,i work good and hard to get4 ,what he and ,i need1 ,i earn honestly4 ,i work whenever ,i have the opportunity1 as my stepfather is the only one we can depend upon she was only sixteen years old1 and we are four boys and three girls1 grandma1 mama1 the baby1 and himself2 so it is hard for him1 and ,i haven't the heart to ask them for anything1 no matter how bad ,i need it4 ,i take in washing from the boarders at the two hotels1 also sewing and ironing1 or go out to do housework whenever ,i can4 ,i must close1 as ,i must help mama to get the supper4 ,with love and regards to ,mama ,roberts from all4444 ,i don't forget my ,bible and verse4 ,your loving1 ,l---- ,k----4 ,,from ,a ,,grateful ,,mother4 ,s----1 ,july #bh4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts4 ,my dear ,madam3 ,my darling daughter ,e---- has been home for a short time and has told me the kind interest you have taken in her welfare4 ,i wish to say for your pleasure 7and certainly mine7 that ,e---- is very much in earnest over your advice4 ,i sincerely believe it will take only a little more persuasion on your part to fully convince her to give up her worldly ways and do as you wish her4 ,oh1 how happy ,i shall be6 ,my heart is breaking for my dear1 sweet girl4 ,she is bright and accomplished4 ,she could help you so much in your noble work1 which we both know would greatly help her4 ,god is surely working in her heart4 ,she says1 ,mama1 ,i can't get ,mrs4 ,roberts out of my mind4 ,all the time ,i was away ,this girl used to leave home on periodical carousals1 ,i could but think of her1 and if it hadn't been ,mrs4 ,r---- talked so good to me1 ,i would have had a big old time4 ,now1 my dear friend1 do you not think that encouraging8 ,i shall pray every moment for your success4 ,god surely will help us to save my darling child4 ,my dear ,mrs4 ,roberts1 please call and see me when you return to ,s----4 ,so much ,i would like to say4 ,with my earnest prayer for your success1 ,i am yours most sincerely1 ,c---- ,b----4 ,,from ,a ,,grateful ,,father4 ,k----4 ,cal4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts3 ,may ,god forever bless you and reward you1 dear madam1 for being good to my poor boy4 ,the board of prison directors have granted his parole1 and if he behaves himself for two years1 then he can apply to the governor for his pardon4 ,i hope it will soon come my way to show you how much ,i appreciate how hard you worked to get his parole4 ,god knows ,i do4444 ,please forgive my poor effort to thank you4 ,i can find no words1 but ,god forever bless you1 and ,i'm sure he will4 ,yours most gratefully1 ,g---- ,f----4 ,the following is a reply to an anonymous letter introducing one who was undergoing a laborious effort to make good4 ,i hope that this may teach its own lesson to all who would push the struggling ones still further down4 ,to ---- ----4 ,dear ,sir3 ,kindly permit me space to answer an anonymous letter which came to me last ,sunday concerning a young man in whom ,i am deeply interested1 having been instrumental in procuring his parole recently1 and who is in every way traduced to me by the writer1 who styles himself or herself a ,christian and signs the letter1 ,a friend to all4 ,knowing this young man as ,i do1 through officials1 the sheriff of the county1 and others in a position to make truthful statements concerning him2 knowing of the terrible struggle he is enduring to live down an act of the past for which he was more to be pitied than blamed2 knowing from the lips of those with whom he spent his youthful days that prior to his incarceration in ,san ,quentin he had a character unsullied1 ,i ask1 ,how can any one claiming to be a ,christian1 thus hinder the cause of ,christ by making unsubstantiated charges8 ',woe to you who offend one of these little1 ones6' saith our ,lord1 who came1 not to save the righteous1 but to call sinners to repentance4 ,my varied experience proves that many are hindered from coming into the fold by just such reflections on the ,master1 as indicated in this letter4 ,now ,i am perfectly willing to meet the writer of the aforesaid letter in the presence of two or more witnesses1 in order that he 7or she7 may be given a chance to substantiate his statements2 and until this is done1 ,i shall continue to consider said letter the work of a coward instead of a friend to all4 ,most respectfully yours1 7,mrs47 ,florence ,roberts4 ,from ,warden ,w4 ,h4 ,reilly1 ,state ,prison at ,folsom1 ,cal41 ,sept4 #ah1 #aiaa4 ,mrs4 ,florence ,roberts1 ,gospel ,trumpet ,publishing ,co41 ,anderson1 ,indiana4 ,dear ,madam3 ,upon my return from a little needed rest4 ,i found your letter of the #gth inst41 which surely afforded me pleasure4 ,we are very glad indeed that you are so pleasantly circumstanced1 and wish you sincerely all manner of success in your good work4 ,joe --- is here yet1 and he was much pleased when ,i handed him your card4 ,there are many fine points about the boy1 and he surely appreciates your kindness4 ,mrs4 ,reilly and the children are well and join me in kind remembrance4 ,very respectfully1 ,w4 ,h4 ,reilly4 ,joe is the young man who was sentenced for ninety-nine years on circumstantial evidence1 and whose story is in this book4 ,,chapter ,l4 ,,conclusion4 ,one morning a little lad was observed by his mother to be making great efforts to stretch his chubby limbs to such an extent as to place his feet in every one of his father's tracks4 ,what are you trying to do1 ,sonny8 ,come into the house quick1 or you'll catch cold1 called the anxious mother4 ,no1 no1 ,mama2 ,i don't want to2 ,i want to follow papa4 ,i'm trying to walk in his footsteps1 replied the innocent child4 ,does this cause the smoking1 drinking1 swearing1 card-playing1 ,godless parents to halt and reflect8 ,god knows2 we hope so4 ,does this fill the mother of cherished1 idolized little ones with remorse of conscience8 ,does it occasion her to take a retrospective view of the time when1 during courtship days1 she was warned and advised of the indiscreet marriage she was about to make1 because of her sweetheart's well-known dissolute propensities8 ,yet all those warnings and pleadings were in vain4 ,the little innocent ones are trying to walk in their parents' footsteps4 ,myriads of mothers are weeping and wishing they had been firmer2 that they had not so readily yielded to the ardent persuasions to marry1 but had waited until such times as true reformation1 repentance1 and turning to the ,god they were then serving had taken place in their sweethearts' lives4 ,of all sad words of tongue or pen1 ,the saddest are these--,it might have been4 ,poor1 poor remorseful1 unhappy wife and mother1 my heart aches for you as you realize the sowing and weep over the prospective reaping4 ,long since you have grown cold in your ,christian experience4 ,you realize it today as never before4 ,you wonder what you are going to do about it8 ,the older children have outgrown your jurisdiction4 ,mary is running with company you do not approve of1 to balls1 theaters1 and other demoralizing places2 wanting finery you are not able to afford1 although you do your best4 ,you can't get any help from her2 for1 when not otherwise engaged1 she is absorbed in novel-reading4 ,it does no good to complain to her father2 in fact1 that seems only to make a bad matter worse4 ,you haven't an atom of her confidence4 ,when she was younger1 you never really encouraged her to give it1 and now1 though but fifteen1 she laughs at you because she thinks that she knows so much and that you know so little4 ,all her confidence is given to those you do not approve of1 and you are dreading the outcome1 the inevitable4 ,then there's thirteen-year-old ,tom4 ,while you sat up mending his torn coat the other night after he had gone to bed1 you found some tobacco and cigarette paper in his pocket4 ,when you quietly asked him next morning what it meant1 he only laughed and replied1 ,that's nothing4 ,all us kids smoke nowadays4 ,it won't hurt us any more than it will father4 ,he smokes4 ,you are wondering how you can find out whether he has contracted any more of his father's bad habits1 and while searching his room1 you come across a dirty pack of playing-cards hidden in the back part of one of the bureau drawers4 ,awful vision of the future of these two older children is yours as you ponder what you can do to subvert the growing evil in your home4 ,you indulge much in vain regrets--vain1 indeed1 so far as you are concerned4 ,but listen1 mother--you who would lay down your life to spare ,mary from disgrace and eventually an ignominious death2 you who love ,tom so dearly you would give all the world were it yours to make him understand that the habits he is contracting lead only to impaired health and disgrace1 ofttimes to imprisonment1 sometimes to the scaffold4 ,it is not too late yet1 distressed mother1 particularly with the two younger children1 who are just beginning to ask leading questions4 ,these you must1 you must answer1 so that your little son and daughter will find no need of inquiring of other children concerning the beautiful plan of life1 which should never be imparted to them by any other than you yourself4 ,what must ,i do8 ,what can ,i do8 you ask4 ,listen4 ,i'm going to tell you4 ,lose no time4 ,do as ,i did4 ,go to ,god1 in your secret closet4 ,lay all your troubles and problems at his feet4 ,throw yourself on his loving mercy4 ,confess your backsliding1 your sins1 your errors1 your weaknesses1 everything--everything that is causing you1 your husband1 and your children to be held by the enemy of souls1 and that will soon bring more misery into your life and their lives1 unless ,god undertakes for you and them4 ,then1 cost what it will1 take the humble place before ,god and them4 ,tell them of your love for them2 of the mistakes you have made1 through false modesty1 in not gaining their companionship1 their confidence4 ,ask them to help you in the future by trusting you more than they do any other friend or acquaintance4 ,tell them how much you once loved ,god1 and that now1 after wandering far away1 you have returned to him4 ,go with them to ,sunday-school and to other religious services2 set up1 even in the face of all opposition1 the family altar2 ask a blessing at table2 have an open ,bible always4 ,the outcome4 ,probably at first1 and maybe for some time to come1 rebellion1 even desertion1 even more sin to battle with2 more heartaches1 more tears1 more struggles than ever heretofore4 ,but be thou faithful4 ,thy loyalty1 thine efforts1 shall be rewarded4 ,watch1 wait1 pray always4 ,there is only one reason to be given why the children go wrong--,godless homes4 ,train up a child in the way he should go2 and when he is old1 he will not depart from it4 ,prov4 #bb3f4 ,one day a clergyman handed me two very startling verses1 the characters of which were all too true4 ,i remarked that some day1 ,god willing1 ,i would add to the verses and set them to music4 ,i have done so1 and in ,his name1 ,i herewith give them1 under the awful title3 ,,wanted1 ,,recruits ,,for ,,hell4 ,johnson the drunkard is dying today1 ,with traces of sin on his face2 ,he will be missed at the bar1 at the play4 ,wanted1 a boy for his place4 ,ruby1 poor ,ruby is passing away1 ,a victim of vice and disgrace4 ,wanted1 recruits for the houses of shame1 ,some mother's girl for her place4 ,simons1 a gambler1 was killed in a fight2 ,he died without pardon or grace4 ,wanted1 to train for his burden and blight1 ,somebody's boy for his place4 ,wanted for dance-halls1 for brothels1 for bars1 ,girls attractive of form and of face1 ,girls to decoy and boys to destroy2 ,have you a child for the place8 ,wanted1 pleads ,satan1 for service of mine1 ,some one to live without grace1 ,some one to die without pardon divine2 ,please train me your child for the place4 ,that eminent writer1 ,mrs4 ,ella ,wheeler ,wilcox1 says3 ,every person on earth is making some sort of a cell in his or her brain every waking moment of the day or night4 ,thoughts are things4 ,thought is energy4 ,thought is a creative power4 ,that is why it is so important to direct the minds of human beings to good1 kind1 helpful thoughts4 ,let me add1 to direct them1 from the very commencement1 to the great1 loving ,god and his ,son1 our ,savior4 ,parentage is the oldest profession of men and women in the world1 but there are the smallest number of prize-winners in that profession of any in the world4 ,why8 because of a neglected1 insulted ,god4 ,real1 good motherhood must include the universal motherhood4 ,it must make a woman love her child so unselfishly that she is willing it should suffer while learning its lessons of kindness1 thoughtfulness1 and protection1 rather than to enjoy itself while taking away the joys1 the privileges1 or the rights of other creatures1 human or animal4 ,the warden of a certain ,state prison1 who is a student of human nature1 said to some visitors one day1 ,if a child is properly educated to the age of ten1 no matter what its inheritance1 it never becomes a criminal4 ,his sentence includes all the needed preventatives of crime4 ,oliver ,wendell ,holmes when asked1 ,when should a child's education begin8 promptly replied1 ,two hundred years before it is born4 ,there would be little or no need of the rescue missionaries had parents and guardians but heeded these words in ,deut4 #f3e-g3 ,hear1 ,o ,israel3 ,the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord3 and thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy might4 ,and these words1 which ,i command thee this day1 shall be in thy heart3 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children1 and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house1 and when thou walkest by the way1 and when thou liest down1 and when thou risest up4 ,and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand1 and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes1 and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine houses1 and on thy gates4 ,o that there were such an heart in them1 that they would fear me1 and keep all my commandments always1 that it might be well with them1 and with their children forever6 ,deut4 #e3bi4 ,it is very1 very blessed to undertake the part of a good ,samaritan4 ,it is far more blessed so to know and serve the ,lord1 that our present and future progeny1 instead of sharing a destiny similar to many of these depicted between these pages1 may1 under any and all circumstances1 enjoy the everlasting smile of ,his countenance1 that peace and joy in their souls which this world can never give1 neither take away4 ,lord1 we pray thee1 so teach us to number our days1 that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom4 ,psa4 #ij3ab4