A SISTER'S INFLUENCE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 8, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 45.

A SISTER'S INFLUENCE

"If I only had a sister, Cousin Helen, but I am so lonely. You know that since mama died, I have no one but papa and Hugh."

The speaker was a young girl only eighteen years of age, but her earnest face was expressive of strong character.

"Why not let Hugh take a sister's place?" suggested Cousin Helen.

"How?" and Margie's eyes really sparkled.

"Talk with him about the many things that interest you, great and small. Our brothers like to feel that their sisters can trust them."

"Margie," continued Cousin Helen, with a troubled look in her eyes, "there has recently been opened down town an elegant saloon, which is called the 'Gilded Palace,' and last evening I overheard a conversation between Hugh and his friend, Chester Winthrop, concerning it. Hugh evidently thought it an improper place for moral young men to frequent, but Chester tried to overcome his scruples by informing him that there are rooms connected with the main saloon, where moral men can assemble without coming into contact with anything objectionable, and that many of the best young men in town spend their evenings there. Pardon me, dear, but have you made home attractive to Hugh of late?"

"I am afraid not, Cousin Helen, for I have fallen into the selfish habit of spending much time in my own room. Thank you for your suggestion."

That evening, as Hugh Nelson was passing through the hall, hat in hand, he was surprised to hear his sister call out from the parlor:

"Are you going out, Hugh?"

"Ye-es," he answered, with hesitancy, for a glance into the pretty parlor, with its glowing fire-grate and open piano, made him almost wish that he were going to spend the evening at home.

"Come in a little while, please, and help me select my new suit," pleaded Margie.

"Your new suit!" echoed Hugh, with astonishment. "What do I know about girls' suits?"

"I believe you can help me," urged Margie, "for

you have good taste in selecting your own clothes. You know, Hugh, I have not been used to choose for myself, and I miss mama so much."

There was a quiver in the voice that Hugh could not resist, and after hanging his hat on the rack, he walked into the parlor, and was soon as deeply interested in the examination of dress samples and fashion-plates as his little sister could wish.

From that time Margie followed her cousin's suggestions to the very letter. She laid her plans before Hugh as she would have done before an older sister, always asking his opinion concerning them, thereby making him feel that she needed his companionship and counsel. By this means there was gradually formed between this brother and sister a bond of love which was truly beautiful.

Years passed, and one evening, while Hugh and Margie Nelson were enjoying the quiet of their cozy parlor, Margie was startled by an exclamation of horror from her brother, and, on turning toward him, she saw that he had dropped the evening paper, and had buried his face in his hands. Catching up the paper, she anxiously glanced down the column until she came to this item:

"A young man named Chester Winthrop was fatally wounded last evening at the 'Gilded Palace Saloon,' with a pistol-shot fired by David Holmes. Doubtless, both of the young men were under the influence of liquor."

"Was Chester Winthrop once your friend?" asked Margie.

"Yes," answered Hugh, as he raised a pale face from his hands, "and but for the influence of my precious little sister, I might be as he is to-night."

Margie looked incredulous, for Hugh had so many years been an earnest Christian that she could not imagine him as having sunk to such depths of degradation.

"After mother died," resumed Hugh with emotion, "I was sad and lonely. Father was absorbed in business, you spent much time by yourself, and I longed for some attractive place in which to spend my evenings. Chester asked me to go to the 'Gilded Palace Saloon,' which, he said, had every attraction heart could wish. After much urging, I consented; but, on the appointed evening, you wished me to help you select your new suit. As I looked into the parlor, which you had made bright and pretty, I thought some other night would do for my visit to the 'Gilded Palace,' so I yielded to your persuasions, and spent the evening at home. But after that, I found every evening the same, for you always had some pleasant entertainment in store for me, and I finally came to the conclusion that our parlor was good enough for me, and that it would be difficult to find more attractive company than that of my own sweet sister."

"Margie," he continued, while a soft light came into his eyes, "altho I was not a Christian, you talked so freely with me about your religious experiences, that I could not fail to see the deep satisfaction you found in the religion of Jesus Christ. I soon came to yearn for the peace and rest that you evidently enjoyed, and so I was led to yield my heart to the Saviour. Ah, little Margie, if all sisters were as good and wise as mine has been, the saloon keepers would find few victims among our young men!"

While Margie Nelson listened to this candid confession, her heart was raised to God in gratitude for the blessed assurance of having been the instrument through which He saved her brother.—Christian Intelligencer.