A SALOON-KEEPER'S DAUGHTER.
It was evening and Brown's saloon was closely filled with a noisy throng of boys and men, when suddenly above the din a sweet childish voice arose in song, and through the thin partition came the words: "Take the name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of wo;
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it, then, where'er you go."
"That's my little daughter, Bessie," explained the proprietor. "I don't take stock in such songs, but she has a praying mother." "Better hush her up, Brown, she'll hurt your business," whispered a wily-faced man. The clear childish voice took up the refrain: "Take the name of Jesus with you,
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations 'round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer."
A young man, standing near the bar, resolutely set down his glass and left the room. "What's the trouble, Will?" questioned a companion, who followed him out. "Trouble enough," he answered. "I've a praying mother, Tom, who has been all her life praying for me; and I had forgotten, until a moment ago; that song recalled it all; I am forever lost." "Not if that song be true, Will. I had a praying mother myself, once, and God knows I loved her; tho I never sought to follow her counsel." The young men gazed at each other in blank despair. "What is there in the name of Jesus to save?" As if in answer, the sweet childish voice reached them still: "O, the precious name of Jesus,
How it thrills our souls with joy!
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ."
The young men walked silently down the street together. "I can't give drink up now," said Will, as he clasped his hands in mute despair. "O, Will, let us break away from it altogether; it is destroying our lives." "If I only could, O, if I only could!" "If that song be true we need not despair. The dying thief was saved on the cross, and we haven't got that far yet. Come to my room; I've a Bible there in my trunk that my mother gave to me." Together the young men entered the room and bent over the open book which had been sealed to them so long. "Whosoever will, let him come!" "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." What new and wonderful meaning the words held! How they thrilled the hearts of the young men with hope and courage! " 'Tho your sins be as scarlet,' that's me," sobbed Will. "But read on, read on," he says. " 'They shall be as white as snow.' O, the beauty of such religion, which can blot out all the iniquity of the past and preserve us from future evil." It is three weeks later, and in a quiet and humble home far from the din of the city a sad-faced mother is performing her usual round of duties. "It is so long now since last I heard from Will," she sighed, "and then it was a mere line stating he was well. O, God, preserve my boy, and bring him into Thy kingdom." "Good day, neighbor, here is a letter for you," cried a cheery voice outside.15"From Will," she cried, as she seated herself, and with quivering fingers tore the envelope. "Saved! O God, I thank Thee," she cried a moment later, "and my faith had grown so weak. I shall never doubt again; but rest forever in the fulness of His words." Little Bessie, the saloon-keeper's daughter, never knew the wonderful influence exerted by her simple song; but Will and Tom never passed by the attractive room where Brown displayed his choice liquors without thanking God that the proprietor had a praying wife, who early in life instructed about Jesus who is "mighty to save."—Selected.