HOUR BY HOUR | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 25, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 47.

HOUR BY HOUR.

For years Striker Jones, a tall, powerful Scotchman, has held the position of “boss striker” at the steel works. Nearly all the men in his department were hard drinkers, and he was no exception to the rule.

But one day it was announced among the workmen that he had become religious; and, sure enough, when pressed to take a drink, he said: “I shall never take a drink mair, lads. Na drunkard can inhabit the kingdom of God.”

A knowing one smiled, and said: “Wait a bit; wait a bit. Wait until the hot weather—until July. When he gets as dry as a gravel-pit, then he will give in. He can’t help it.”

But right through the hottest months he toiled, the sweat pouring in streams, yet he never seemed to be tempted to drink.

Finally, as I was taking the men’s time one evening, I stopped and spoke to him.

“Stowe,” said I, “you used to take considerable liquor. Don’t you miss it?”

“Yes,” said he, emphatically.

“How do you manage to keep away from it?”

“Weel, just this way. It is now ten o’clock, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Weel, to-day is the twentieth of the month. From seven till eight I asked the Lord would help me. He did so, and I put down a dot on the calendar right near the twenty. From eight till nine He hep’ me, an’ I put down another dot. From nine to ten He’s kep’ me, and noo I gie Him the glory as I put down the third dot. Just as I mark these I pray: ‘O Lord, help me; help me to fight it off for another hour!’”