and wanted me to come and be the sexton. It would give me $30.00 per month, rooms, coal and gas. He thought it would be a good thing for me to become reunited to my wife Mary, and I tho

g to get my wife to live with me again. I praye

OF SEA

nd I didn't blame her for being afraid to chance it again. "A burnt child dreads the fire." I had made her life very hard, and she was afraid. She was glad to know that I had given up drink, but doubted my remaining sober. Finally she agreed to live with me again if

talk we came to the point. I was a go-ahead man, and tried every way to get her to promise to come down, but she wouldn't say yes. I'll never forget that night in the laundry if I live a hundred years; she took no stock in me at all. I was givi

t when she went away she said, "If I only could be sure you would keep sober I would go with you, but I can't depend on you. Fifteen months isn't long enough; you will have to go three

FOR MY

was already there, and I took charge of the Church of the Sea and Land at Market and Henry Streets, where I remained as sexton for ten years. I would not take $10,000 for the character I

im, as I hadn't seen him since he was a little baby. What a surprise it was when at my sister's house, after supper, she went into the front room,

tten that I had a son. I opened my arms and the boy came with a

uble and we have been companions ever since that night. He

ry taking it all in. I could see then that it was a put

a short time he was able to play for the smaller classes, the juniors. Then my friend Mrs. Bainbridge got him

If I hadn't done anything else but give that boy a mu

RST S

him I did not know how to lead a meeting and I was afraid to undertake it, as I couldn't preach a sermon. "Oh, that's all right," he said. "I'll write out something, and all you will have to do is to study it a little, read it over once or twice, then get up and read it off." I told him I'd t

ok the papers out of my pocket, and opened the big Bible at the chapter I was going to read, and laid out t

in my own strength and not asking God's help. I got a swelled head and imagined I was the real t

elf and not giving God any. I read three pages all right, when some one opened the window. It was a M

all over the room. I didn't know what to say or do. I forgot everything that was writt

tion. There I stood, wishing the floor would op

your own good. Now listen to me. You were not cut out for a minister. Just get up

told that roomful of people of my past life and how God saved and had blessed me for four years. We had a grand

ting. How did the reading go!" I told him what had happened,

d even farther away, including Boston, Philadelphia, Albany, and Troy. I tell the Bowery boys I'm what is called an extemporaneous talker. I d

o me and I have n

IMONY OF

selves pals and loved each other dearly, and yet I have never been able to bring him to Christ. When I told him I was wr

led for testimonies for Christ. I waited and listened, and I heard a voice that made me sit down again. I shall never forget the man that was speaking. What he said sounded like the truth. It was the greatest sermon I ever listened to. He was telling how much God had done for

I haven't got the courage.' In a moment I got churchy. I had never been in a church in New York. I said, 'Come on,' and we went to that meeting. I am glad I did. That night I met my friend Ranney. As I was passing out of the meeting he greeted me-he was the sexton-with a handshake and a 'Good-night, old pal; come again!' There is something in a handsha

tyle of talking which he alone possesses. He told his story for the first time. I have heard him hundreds of times since, but to me that night fifteen years ago was the greatest talk he ever gave, telling how God saved him from a crooked and drunken life. It had the ring! I loved him from that night on. When he got through I said, 'Dave, God met you face to face to-night. You will be a diff

misunderstanding, and I said things to Dave Ranney that he never will forget. I called him every name on the calendar. He was speechless and I thought afraid o

en words of cheer and comfort and said, 'Dan, old man, cheer up. Some day you are going to cut out drink'; and I want to say right now that I have not drank in over twelve years. I'd forgotten all that. I only thought of how I might

ittle before eight in the evening. My partner and I were having a pretty easy time stealing the other men's money-some call it cheating-when my thoughts turned to my old Christian pal Ranney. It was the eighth anniversary of his

knew me. Ranney was asking for those testimonies that would help the other fellow. I got on my feet and faced him. He turned pale. He thought I was going to set him out then

eft a card-game to come up to your anniversary and help make you happy. I know you don't believe I meant what I said. I love you more to-night than any time since I first met you. Why, men, I would lay down my life that Ranney is one of the best and wh

I'd done what I came to do, and I had got out quick-from Heaven t

e, and not let the ministers do all the talking. At present all I can say is, 'God bless my pal! and som

IN T

rmined to do all in my power to make amends for my former treatment of her, to make life as pleasant for her as I could, and I did. When she was first taken sick I sent her and the boy over to Ireland to visit her parents, thinking the

afraid. Wait until he runs up against a lot of trouble, then he will go back to the Bowery again and drink worse than ever." I do think some of those people would have liked to see it happen. I've seen one of them in a sanitarium to be treated for drink who was my worst knocker, and

hem came in a body and placed a wreath on Mary's coffin. I learned afterwards how they all chipped in for the collection-some a few cents, some a nickel. Don't think for a moment that the Bower

what. There was a lady, Miss Brown, a trained nurse, who had been with Mary all through her illness,

STIN

Why, He don't know you even a little bit. Come, Dan, I'll be your friend; didn't we always have a good time together on the Bowery? Go get a 'ball'; it'll do you good and make you forget your troubles. You have a good e

home to get ready to attend the service, and my boy and I were left all alone with the dead. We were feeling pretty bad. My boy had lost the best friend he ever h

ettes, do you?" I looked at him, astonished at such a question at this time, but I said, "No, Willie, I don't want you to smoke and hope you never will." Then he said, "Father, you don't want me to drink, do you?" I wondered at these questions, and looked at him with tears in my eyes. I said,

back from the grave without having a drink, and that you won't be sober a week from now. Pop, trust in the God that saved you ten y

f God I'll never drink again." And there at the head of the coffin we knelt and asked God to help us and mak

and we have kept the fait

Him to help you He will. Just trust Him and have a little backbone, and you will win out every

The trustees wanted me to stay, but I couldn't; sad memories would come up, and I simply had to go. I left the old church w

H OF SEA

MISSION,