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+Project Gutenberg's Jimmie Moore of Bucktown, by Melvin Earnest Trotter
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Jimmie Moore of Bucktown
+
+Author: Melvin Earnest Trotter
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2011 [EBook #35359]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JIMMIE MOORE OF BUCKTOWN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Benjamin Klein
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Jimmie Moore _of_ Bucktown
+
+By Melvin E. Trotter
+
+
+
+Chicago
+
+The Winona Publishing Company
+
+MCMIV
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1904
+
+by
+
+The Winona Publishing Company
+
+_August._
+
+
+
+
+Contents
+
+    I. The Invasion Begun
+   II. "Der Gang"
+  III. "The Busted Funeral"
+   IV. Jimmie's New Pa
+    V. Mrs. Cook's "Opery"
+   VI. Mrs. Cook's First Prayer
+  VII. Floe
+ VIII. Bill's Pension
+   IX. "Auntie's Favorite Horse"
+    X. Jimmie's Education
+   XI. The Meeting in the Market
+  XII. Fred Hanks
+ XIII. "Fagin's Meetin'"
+  XIV. Fred and Doc
+   XV. The Picnic
+  XVI. Dave Strikes His Gait
+
+
+
+Jimmie Moore of Bucktown
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_The Invasion Begun_
+
+
+"Please kin yer tell me where is der boss of dis Mishun?"
+
+The superintendent turned sharply about and beheld a boy of
+singularly striking appearance. His stature was that of a child
+of ten or twelve years and his face that of a worn-out, heart-broken,
+disappointed old man. His eyes, set far back in his head under
+heavy eyebrows, indicated an almost abnormal development of
+the perceptive faculties. In other respects the contour of the
+head was not remarkable; but the face was one, once seen, never
+to be forgotten. The nose was pointed and pinched, the cheeks
+hollow, and the glance of his eye at once appealing and defiant.
+There could be no doubt that this boy was a bread winner, and
+that the burdens he carried were altogether too heavy for such
+young shoulders.
+
+From the ragged cap which he turned nervously in his hands to
+the large pair of sharp-pointed ladies' shoes on his feet, every
+garment was a misfit. The loss of a button from the neckband
+of his blouse-waist permitted it to gap wide open and disclosed
+the fact that he wore no underclothing. The day was bitterly
+cold; and the boy's shivery look showed how greatly he suffered.
+
+As the superintendent took in all these facts he realized that,
+despite his unseemly attire and generally distracted appearance,
+the boy was by no means an ordinary character. Down deep in
+the dark gray eyes that never wavered under his steady gaze
+he saw the making of a man mighty for good or evil.
+
+"I guess I'm the man you want," said Morton, kindly. "Come into
+my office."
+
+Leading the way, he was followed by the boy into a small private
+office at the back end of the big mission hall. Offering the
+lad a seat, he turned to his desk, on which stood two telephones.
+In an instant that boy was again upon his feet. Looking with
+wide-open eyes, he inquired, "Be yer goin' ter call der bull?
+I ain't as't yer fur nuthin'. Me Pa said yer was a good guy
+and wouldn't squeal. I mus' go."
+
+Morton intercepted the boy at the door. But it was some time
+before he could persuade him that it was not his intention to
+turn him over to the police, "the bull," for begging.
+
+"I want to help you," he said. "I'll be your friend, and I won't
+squeal on you either."
+
+"Well, be yer Mister Morton?" asked the boy.
+
+"Yes, that's my name," replied the superintendent. "And now
+I want you to tell me all about your trouble. Who sent you to
+me?"
+
+"Me Pa. He heard your talk on der gospel wagon down at der square.
+He don't talk about nuthin' else and he wants yer ter come an'
+see him."
+
+"Is he sick?"
+
+"Sure he's sick. He's been in bed ever since Wednesday. Ma says
+he's outer his head. Tuesday night he didn't come home home
+from work, and Ma says, 'I guess he's drunk ag'in.' We waited
+fur him till eleven o'clock and den I couldn't stay awake no
+longer. 'Sides, der wood was all burnt up and we had ter go
+ter bed ter keep warm. At five in der mornin' Mike Hardy, der
+bar-keep' at Fagin's, saw Pa layin' in Rice's wagon box, out
+in front of der market. It snowed on Pa, and he was near frozed.
+Mike calls Bill Cook and dey brings Pa home. Bill and Pa is
+chums; an' Bill gets drunk, too. Ma says dey bot' works fur
+Fagin. When dey gits paid dey take all der money straight to
+Fagin's and spends it for booze."
+
+"Well, what's your name and where do you live?" interrupted
+Morton.
+
+"Me name's Jimmie Moore, and we live down in Bucktown near der
+market."
+
+"Go on with your story, sonny," said Morton.
+
+"After dey got him in der house Ma and Bill gits his clothes
+off and Bill goes and gets some wood and built a fire. I carried
+me mornin' papers, and when I gits back I stayed wit' Pa while
+Ma went ter Ransome's house up on der Avenue to do deir washin'.
+Pa he slept all day till four in the afternoon, and den he raised
+up straight in bed and, lookin' at somethin' in der corner of
+der room, said, 'Can't yer see me hand? I raised it twice. Why
+don't yer come and git me?' I couldn't see nuthin', but he keeps
+on talkin' dat way fur a long time. Den he laid down again and
+cried and said he wanted der mishun man ter come and see him.
+When Ma gits back she sent me to der barber shop to git Fred
+Hanks ter telerphone ter Dr. Possum. He's der city doctor. He
+looked at Pa and said he had ammonia. Den Ma she cried, 'cause
+she had no money ter git supper for us kids and fer the doctor's
+paper, too."
+
+"Pretty soon Mrs. Cook, that's Bill's missus, comes in and she
+said she'd help take care of Pa. The neighbors done all dey
+could, but we ain't got no money, er no wood, and der rent ain't
+paid. We ain't had no fire since yisterday, and dis' mornin'
+Ma sits down and cries 'cause der's nothin' for der kids ter
+eat. Her and me don't mind, but we got four girl kids that's
+hungry all der time. Pa set up in bed and said, 'Go to der mishun
+man and tell him I mus' see him.' Ma sent me up ter see if yer
+won't come down ter see Pa."
+
+Finding a knitted scarf for the boy to tie about his neck, the
+superintendent and Jimmie started for the sick man's bedside.
+The section of the city where the Moore family lived, locally
+known as Bucktown, contained the only real slums to be found
+in the busy and rapidly growing metropolis. It was located on
+a low tract of ground between the city market and the river,
+and was inhabited chiefly by negroes and very poor white people.
+
+On the way Jimmie continued his story, and the superintendent
+tried to tell him about the Father above who loves the poor
+and who sent His Son to die that all the world might live and
+have access to the unsearchable riches of God. "The only help
+that is sure and lasting," he said, "comes from God. He can
+find a way out of your trouble for you."
+
+"I don't see how He kin help us," replied the boy. "They won't
+give us no help at der city hall, 'cause we ain't been here
+long enough. We ain't no city case er nothin' else, I guess.
+The man said he would put us kids in der Children's Home and
+Pa in der poorhouse, er send us all back ter Dalton. Ma said
+she'd die widout us kids."
+
+When the boy stopped talking Morton took him by the hand and
+told him about the Jesus who loves little boys and their fathers
+and mothers, and how He would do all things for them. "If you
+believe in Him," said the superintendent, "you can ask for anything
+in His name and get it."
+
+"Where is Jesus?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"He's right here now," replied Morton. "You can't see Him, but
+He's always with us to watch over us and care for us."
+
+This was a stunner for Jimmie. For a full minute he looked straight
+ahead of him, as if in deep thought, and then raising his eyes
+until they met Morton's, said: "Watcher givin' us, Cully? Do
+yer tink I am bug-house?"
+
+"No, I don't think you're crazy, but what I have said is true,
+Jimmie. You can't see the wind, but you know there is wind because
+you feel it. I cannot see Jesus with my natural eye, but I know
+He is here, just as well as you know that the wind is blowing.
+I trust Him for everything, and He supplies all my needs. I
+have loved Him and He has kept me for seven years. I never help
+any one myself; I do it for Him. He gives me the love and the
+money, and if I help you, you must thank Him and not me."
+
+"Maybe He loves good boys; but I'm no good, ner never was. He
+can't love no kid like me, kin he?"
+
+"Yes, my boy, just as much as He does me."
+
+"Den He don't know me, for everybody dat knows me says I'm bad.
+Me Ma, even she says so. I guess He don't love no one in Bucktown."
+
+"Yes, He loves every one in Bucktown, and He will care for you
+all if you will trust Him and ask Him for what you need."
+
+"Kin I ask Him fur somethin' ter eat."
+
+"Yes, you can, and you'll get it too. But you must love Him
+and thank Him for what you get."
+
+Jimmie looked up to see if Morton really meant what he was saying.
+When he saw the look of intense earnestness on the superintendent's
+face he knew that he was not deceiving him.
+
+"I hope He'll help Pa," said Jimmie thoughtfully. "I guess he
+needs it mor'n der rest of us do."
+
+"If your Pa will tell God what a sinner he has been and will
+ask Him for forgiveness, He will help him. God is a friend of
+sinners, Jimmie."
+
+"This is where we live," said the boy, turning to go into a
+miserable shack.
+
+The house was one of the most disreputable looking places in
+the neighborhood. It consisted of a lean-to portion of a house
+from which the original building had been moved away. There
+was no wall beneath; the building stood on four posts, one at
+each corner, and open on all sides, the wind having a clean
+sweep beneath the floor in every direction. Within there were
+two rooms. In the front one was a bed upon which the sick man
+lay, an old table, two chairs and a box to sit on. In the next
+room an old wood-burning cook-stove, a big box for table and
+cupboard combined, and a broken mirror constituted its complete
+furnishing. The roof leaked, and most of the spaces in the window
+sashes were filled with rags and paper instead of glass.
+
+A baby of six months, lying in a market basket, was being pulled
+about the room by an older sister. When Morton entered, two
+other girls, older than the baby, one two, the other past three
+years of age, darted under the bed and peeked from beneath the
+ragged comfort hanging over the edge.
+
+"Dis is Mister Morton from der Mission," said Jimmie proudly,
+still clasping the hand of the superintendent, "and he says
+dat Jesus loves every bloomin' one of us, and'll be our friend
+and owns the whole business. If we lives fur Him, He lives fur
+us, and--and--"
+
+"You shut up, Jim," said his mother, as with her apron she wiped
+the dirt off the seat of the nearest chair.
+
+"Sit down, Mister Morton," she said. "Glad to see you. We ain't
+got much of a place here; but Robert wanted to see you so bad,
+I sent Jimmie up to the Mission to bring you."
+
+After greeting the little ones, Morton went to the bed and spoke
+to Mr. Moore. He was sick indeed; and the superintendent knew
+that he was facing a man who would never stand upon his feet
+again.
+
+"Oh, sir," said the sick man, "I'm dying, and I'm not saved.
+I know I'm not fit to go, and I don't know the way to git fit.
+I heard you talk on the gospel wagon and I've tried to find
+God by myself, but I don't seem to get any answer to my prayers.
+Back in Pennsylvania, at a meeting in our little country schoolhouse,
+I promised God I would live for Him, but after we was married
+I came out West, and settled in this country where it was wild.
+Maybe you know how it is. I learned to drink, and that has spoiled
+all my chances. Since I've been sick here I've seen it all over
+again, and I want God to save me before I die. I know I've been
+awful wicked, but I heard you say God loved everybody; now I
+want you to pray for me."
+
+Moore broke into tears as he thought of his awful sin, and he
+was weeping bitterly. The superintendent read the third chapter
+of John slowly and with emphasis, and told of the marvelous
+love of God that makes the way for the salvation of even the
+most unworthy. The man said he was ready to give up, but wanted
+first to confess his wickedness. The story of his life was one
+of toil and privation. He had learned to drink after he became
+a man and had a family. From that time on his descent was rapid.
+He made no attempt to shield himself, but laid bare before the
+superintendent and before his own family all the secrets of
+his sinful career. He left his home at Dalton to escape arrest,
+and when times got hard in the city he feared to go back to
+his old home on account of the possible consequences of his
+sin.
+
+When he had finished, the superintendent pointed him to the
+One who alone could help him. The sick man said he would believe
+and trust God. That little gathering, with the prayers that
+followed, was an experience that Morton will remember as one
+of the events of his life. The wife also expressed a desire
+to know the Saviour, and both prayed for forgiveness.
+
+There was a joy there that seemed to fill the old shed with
+the glory of God. Moore's eyes beamed with love, and the whole
+family seemed to rejoice in the peace that had come to him on
+his sick bed. Then the superintendent sung a hymn, and little
+Jimmie, standing close by his side, grasped his hand, and, looking
+up into his face, said, "If Jesus will love me I'll love Him
+and be his boy." Morton took him to the grocery and market.
+When he left him on the corner, with a basket well filled with
+good things to eat, he said, "Now, Jimmie, I'll see you in the
+morning. You tell your Ma and every one that Jesus is your friend
+and sent you this basket."
+
+"I'll do it, yer bet; and I'll tank Him for dis lot of stuff.
+Gee! We'll eat till we bust!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_"Der Gang"_
+
+
+Socially and terrestrially Bucktown was situated beside a river.
+Once a year, when the spring freshet caused the Big Grandee
+to overflow its banks, the whole tract was inundated. At such
+times most of the people were compelled to leave their homes
+and find temporary quarters elsewhere. Along the Market side
+of the district the ground was a trifle higher, and here a few
+houses were beyond the reach of the floods. One of these was
+the shack in which the Moore family lived. Other near-by sections
+of the city had been filled in to raise them above the level
+of the high water mark, but Bucktown remained as it was in the
+beginning.
+
+Its houses were the oldest in the city, and some of them in
+their day had been the residences of the best citizens. Some
+were first erected where they now continued to stand; but many
+others had been moved to make room for the rapidly growing business
+district, and had been set down here because land was cheap
+and nowhere else would such worn-out, dilapidated structures
+find tenants.
+
+Unlike the slums of larger and older cities, Bucktown was largely
+peopled by men and women who, like its houses, had come from
+happier and more elegant surroundings. Few of its older inhabitants
+were born in the slums, and among its people were to be found
+many whose careers in life were begun under really favorable
+circumstances; but, like driftwood, they had been crowded out
+of the busy stream of human effort into this pool of stagnant
+humanity. In this way the neighborhood had become the dumping
+ground for everything that was undesirable in a population of
+more than one hundred thousand souls.
+
+Stall saloons and houses of ill-fame were numerous, and sin
+and wickedness stalked forth in open daylight with a boldness
+that knew no hindrance. One-third of the population was colored,
+and the whites were made up of almost every known nationality.
+No effort was made to draw the color line. Negroes and whites
+lived in the same or adjoining houses, and in some families
+the husband was of one color and the wife of another.
+
+The second house from the Moore home was the celebrated "Dolly"
+resort, known everywhere as the most dangerous place of the
+kind in the city. It was luxuriously furnished and was famous
+for its pretty girls and its dances.
+
+In an old shanty back of Moore's home lived "Yellow Liz," or
+"Big Liz," a monstrously hideous woman who had once been the
+wife of Abe Tobey, now doing a long term in State's Prison for
+murderous assault. "Big Liz" had a wart as large as an acorn
+in the middle of her forehead and wooly red and black whiskers
+on her chin and lower jaw. She was recognized as one of the
+features of the neighborhood, and slumming parties from "uptown"
+never failed to visit her domicile.
+
+Another house close by had been the home of Tom Beet, who murdered
+his wife by saturating her clothing with kerosene oil and setting
+fire to her body while she lay in a drunken stupor on the bedroom
+floor.
+
+There was no high-toned moral element in the slums. Nobody made
+any pretense of being good. Every man, woman and child in the
+community knew that he was a sinner and recognized the fact
+that other people knew it too. "Oily Ike" Palmer, whose junk
+shop was the resort of thieves, and who acted in the capacity
+of a "fence" for all of them, together with Dave Beach, the
+horse trader and political boss of the ward, were the heroes
+of the community. "Oily Ike" was known to the police as a criminal,
+but although many offenses had been traced to his door, the
+evidence necessary to place him behind the bars was always lacking
+and he had never been convicted of a crime. He was also an opium
+eater and a drunkard, while it was said he had once held an
+honorable position in society. His vices had been the cause
+of his downfall, and at the time Superintendent Morton of the
+City Rescue Mission made his acquaintance he was a crafty,
+unscrupulous rascal, with the qualities of a beast of prey rather
+than those of a man.
+
+Beach, the horse trader, sometimes called the "Mayor of Bucktown,"
+was proprietor of a "Traders'" barn, a once prosperous livery
+stable on Brady Street. His place was a "growler joint," and
+was frequented by all the toughs and criminals in the neighborhood.
+In his own way, Dave was an autocrat of no mean power. When
+he O.K.'d a man, that man stood ace high; but when he said
+"Jiggers," everybody shut up like a clam. Beach was a bad man;
+but he had brains, and everybody paid court at his throne. It
+was said he could deliver the vote of Bucktown intact at election
+time, and there could be no doubt of the effectiveness of his
+pull with the authorities. He could drink more whisky, and stay
+sober, than any man in the community. If any one could whip
+him in a rough and tumble fight, the fact had not been demonstrated;
+and no one seemed anxious to establish it.
+
+Gene Dibble, a good-natured, big-hearted fellow, worked in the
+North Woods in the winter, but came to Bucktown every spring
+to spend his money. He was a fine singer, and could dance the
+Buck-and-wing, Turkey-in-the-Straw and the Rag like few men.
+He was a favorite in Bucktown, and a warm friend of Dave Beach.
+
+When it was noised about that Moore had sent for the "Mission
+Guy," as Morton was known in Bucktown, most of the neighbors
+waited for Beach to speak before they expressed any opinion.
+People had been sick and died before; but none had ever been
+so bold as to send for the mission man, and though they said
+nothing, some of Moore's best friends thought he must be out
+of his head.
+
+The day following Morton's visit to the sick man little Jimmie
+stopped at Dave's barn and told a crowd of fellows who were
+present what had happened.
+
+"Der main squeeze of der Rescue Mission was down ter our house
+last night, and he tol' Pa dat Jesus loves us and will give
+us anyting we wants. De doc says Pa is goin' ter die; but Pa
+tol' de Mission Guy he believed and now he's saved. He ain't
+goin' ter drink no more booze er nuthin'. We all belongs ter
+Jesus now, and He's goin' ter take care of us. Yer kin as't
+Him fer anyting yer wants, and if yer love Him and confesses
+Him you'll git it. Dat's wat der Mission Guy tol' Pa."
+
+Although a favorite with the crowd that hung around the barn,
+Jimmie's little speech provoked a derisive laugh, and, catching
+the boy by the coat collar, Jewey Martin, an ex-convict, started
+to fire him out of the door with the advice to "chase himself."
+Before he had taken three steps Dave Beach had his great fist
+about Jewey's throat and had shoved him back into a corner.
+
+"You let the kid alone. He's all right and knows what he's talking
+about. If you was more like that boy, mebbe you'd git to heaven
+sometime. You don't have to believe what he says if you don't
+want to, but you want to recollect what I tell you, that you
+better let him alone around here."
+
+Some religious apologists might question the conversion of a
+boy of Jimmie's make-up; but among the people of Bucktown there
+was no doubt about his sincerity and his belief that Jesus loved
+him and heard and answered his prayers. With Dave Beach back
+of him he did not hesitate to repeat his story, and it was not
+long before every one about the market place had heard the tale
+from his lips.
+
+As Morton would not allow Jimmie to thank him, but taught him
+that he must thank God for everything, he learned to call Morton
+"Jesus' storekeeper," and "Jesus' hired man"; and he sang his
+praises from daylight until dark. In this way he helped Morton
+to gain a foothold in the neighborhood, and when the people
+found that he wanted to help them rather than to pry into their
+affairs he was made welcome when he visited Bucktown.
+
+Jimmie had never learned to read; but one day he told Morton
+he wanted a little red Testament, such as the superintendent
+had given his father.
+
+"You jus' tell me some of dem verses like I heard yer read to
+Pa an' gimme der book, an' I can make a bluff at readin' 'em
+anyhow."
+
+Using colored inks, Morton marked John 3:16, John 10:28, and
+other well-known texts. He also explained their meaning to the
+boy. "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find," and
+"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these,"
+were Jimmie's favorites, and although he quoted them in language
+all his own, he never failed to convey their full meaning.
+
+The days that followed Moore's conversion were trying ones for
+the family. When the fever broke the sick man's cough grew worse,
+and he required constant attention. Through the Mission, Mrs.
+Moore found work enough to keep her busy six days in the week,
+and the task of caring for the sick man fell upon Jimmie and
+Mrs. Cook, who proved to be a woman of generous impulses and
+an excellent neighbor. She ran in many times a day to see how
+they were getting along. Jimmie had a morning newspaper route
+and in the afternoon sold papers on the street. At other times
+he stayed close at home and never tired of talking with his
+father about Jesus and His love for wicked men and women.
+
+His childlike faith in God was wonderful. He was quick to learn
+and often surprised Morton by his aptitude; but his chief
+characteristic was his almost phenomenal grasp of spiritual
+truths. He prayed to God for food, coal, wood and clothes; and
+when he had told Jesus what he wanted he always counted it settled.
+
+Mrs. Morton, wife of the superintendent, was a frequent visitor
+at the home, and brought many things to make the bed more
+comfortable and the two rooms more cheerful for the sick man.
+No matter what the articles might be, Jimmie always said, "Jesus
+sent 'em."
+
+On one occasion, when the Mission woman had gone, Mrs. Cook,
+who was present, turned to Jimmie and said, "I sh'd think you'd
+thank her for all she's doin' for you folks. She's the best
+friend yer ever had, and I'll bet none of yer ever even said
+'Much erblidged.'"
+
+"We don't have ter tank her," said Jimmie. "Jesus is der one
+we're ter tank. Everyting belongs ter Him, and I'm His'n, too.
+When we needs anyting we jus' tells Him an' He sends it."
+
+"Well, she's the one who brought that flour this morning, fer
+I seen her come," said Mrs. Cook, "and none of you thanked her
+at all."
+
+"Aw, yer go on," replied the boy. "Yer don't know wot you're
+talkin' about. Dis ain't no graft dat we's a-workin'. Jesus
+is our friend an' He loves us; dat's why He takes care of us.
+He'd love yer, too, if you'd let Him, but when yer takes Him
+for your friend yer got to cut out dose cuss words an' de growler,
+too. Dat's wat me an' Pa has done, and we belongs to Jesus now.
+'Twouldn't be de square ting by Him for us ter tank anybody
+else, and we ain't afeard but wat He'll give us all we needs."
+
+As for Moore, while he never doubted his salvation, there were
+times when he was despondent and gloomy. The memory of his misspent
+life and the consciousness that he had nearly reached the end
+lay heavily upon his mind, and, left alone as he was for hours
+at a time, with no one but Jimmie and the other children in
+the house, he brooded upon his troubles until he grew very
+miserable. At such times it was interesting to hear Jimmie hold
+up Jesus and preach the gospel of love as his juvenile mind
+comprehended it.
+
+"Pa, yer act jus' as though Jesus didn't love yer," he said
+one afternoon, when the superintendent's wife was present. "He
+knows yer coughin' spells hurt yer, and He'll help yer to stan'
+'em, 'cause He was hurted once Hisself. Ain't He takin' care
+of us, and didn't He send der Mission Guy ter help us? Yer ain't
+got no right ter worry; just look how good He's been ter all
+of us."
+
+One morning when Dr. Snyder, who had been called in on the advice
+of the Cook family, came to see the sick man, Moore anxiously
+inquired if there was no chance of his recovery. While he was
+conceded to be an able man in his profession, the doctor, himself
+a drinking man, was sometimes rough and heartless in his manner,
+and, replying to the question, said:
+
+"Well, if you've got any unfinished business on hand you better
+call a special session and close it up. You'll be pushing clouds
+within a week."
+
+"Do you mean he's goin' ter die?" asked Jimmie, whose quick
+ears had caught the remark.
+
+"That's just the plain English of it, my boy," replied the doctor.
+"The old man's a goner, and no doctor on earth can save him."
+
+"Well, he'll go straight ter Jesus," said Jimmie, "'cause he
+got saved las' Friday. Gran'ma and Gran'pa er up dar, and Pa
+an' Ma an' the rest of us is all a-goin'."
+
+"What's the matter with the kid, Moore?" asked the doctor. "Has
+he gone daffy?"
+
+"No, Doc, the boy's all right. Leastwise if he's daffy, as you
+call it, I wish to God we'd all got that way long ago. Then
+we wouldn't be in the condition you find us to-day. Say, Doc,
+don't you ever expect to be a Christian? If you were in my place
+you'd see what it means to face death without God."
+
+"Gee, you're good!" said the physician. "The way you talked
+to Gene Dibble when I sewed up your head after the fight didn't
+sound much like a prayer to me. You want to get forgiven here
+before you ask God to do anything for you there. Now, kid, you'd
+better forget about this religion and tend to the old man. Give
+him his medicine every hour, and I'll be in again to-morrow.
+Good-bye."
+
+He slammed the door, and Jimmie sat for a moment in deep thought.
+Then he turned to his father and said: "Pa, Gene'll forgive
+yer if yer ast him. I'll go over ter Fagin's and if he ain't
+dere I'll tell Mike ter send him over wen he comes in."
+
+"How's the old man, Jimmie?" asked Fagin as the boy entered
+the saloon.
+
+"Doc says he's dyin'. Is Gene Dibble here? Wish't you'd tell
+him Pa wants ter see him," said the boy as he turned to go.
+
+"Wait a minute, Jimmie; I want to send a little medicine to
+your father."
+
+He took a bottle from the back bar and began to wrap it up in
+a scrap of old newspaper. "This is about all the poor devil
+lived for," he said to himself, "and he ought to have a taste
+now that he's dyin'."
+
+"Is dat booze?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"It's just a nip for the old man. It's his favorite brand,"
+said Fagin.
+
+"Not his'n; he's got saved an' don't need it in his business,"
+replied the boy, starting for the door.
+
+"Come here, you little fool, and take this bottle to your dad
+with my compliments," said the saloon-man in anger.
+
+"It's your compliments wat's ailin' him now," answered Jimmie.
+"Yer got his nine dollars last Tuesday night, and now he's dyin'.
+I seen yer Ralph goin' ter school wid new shoes and rubbers
+dis mornin', an' I'm wearin' yer compliments," said the boy,
+holding up one of his feet encased in a worn-out lady's shoe.
+"I promised Pa dat I'd take care of Ma an' der kids, and we
+don't need no booze ter help us, not us."
+
+Jimmie ducked and dodged out of the door just in time to escape
+a soaking wet bar towel the saloon-man had thrown at him, and
+at a single bound jumped to the middle of the sidewalk just
+in time to collide with Bill Cook.
+
+"Hello Bill," he said. "Why ain't yer workin'? Drunk agin? Gee!
+you'll be seein' 'em agin. Der las' time yer was crazier den
+a bed bug."
+
+"You be d----!" said Bill. "Guess I'm all right. Only had three
+drinks. You's is gittin' too good for this neck o' woods. Yer
+orter move up on der boulevard amongst der bloods."
+
+"Don't Ma do washin' up dere now, smarty? We got friends up
+dere; see? Why don't yer come over an' see Pa? He's dyin'."
+
+"Go on!" said Bill. "Ye don't mean it! Kin I see him?"
+
+"Sure, come on."
+
+Bill staggered into Fagin's and took two more big drinks and
+then followed Jimmie across the street. He was badly intoxicated,
+but the sight of Moore's pinched features and fever-lighted
+eyes nearly brought him to his sober senses.
+
+Bill was rough and wicked; but his heart within was almost as
+tender as a babe's. Drink was his worst trouble, and when he
+was sober he was rather a decent sort of fellow. His effort
+to appear at ease and say something encouraging to Moore was
+painful. He stammered and hawed and finally said, "It's all
+off, Bob; I can't make no speech. Let 'er go t' 'ell."
+
+He pulled up the box, sat down at the bedside and began to cry.
+The sick man stretched forth his emaciated hand, and, placing
+it on Bill's head, said:
+
+"Never mind, old man, I know what yer mean. You're my friend
+all right; but you can't say nuthin' that will help me now.
+I guess I must cash in pretty soon; but I ain't no coward, Bill;
+I've just been prayin' and everything is all right 'tween me
+and God. I don't know what'll become of the old woman and the
+kids, but I guess He'll take care of them. Maybe they will be
+better off when I'm gone than when I'm here. I'll tell you,
+Bill, booze don't get yer much when the doctor says you're up.
+I wish I'd cut 'er out the first time we saw the gospel wagon
+down on the square. The Mission man was here just a little while
+ago, an' he says he will help Jimmie take care of Ma and the
+kids. He says Jesus loves me, and when he prayed I put in too
+and says, 'I'm ready, Lord.'"
+
+Moore's effort to talk exhausted his strength and brought on
+a sinking spell. He gasped and coughed and grasped his throat
+as though he was strangling. Bill thought he was dying, and
+grabbing his hat started for the door, telling Jimmie to stay
+there while he brought the doctor. The scene had been too much
+for his shattered nerves, and, reaching the middle of the
+sidewalk, he stood and yelled at the top of his voice:
+
+"Moore's dyin'! Moore's dyin'! Git the doctor and the undertaker
+and der Mission man, quick! Moore's dyin'! Moore's dyin'!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_"The Busted Funeral"_
+
+
+The commotion that followed made dying a hard matter for Moore.
+When the doctor and Mrs. Moore reached the house it took them
+ten minutes, with the help of Dave Beach, to clear the room
+of the people. When Mr. and Mrs. Morton came, quiet had been
+restored on the inside, but on the street and at Fagin's they
+were talking about the funeral expenses, etc., before they had
+a corpse. In this neighborhood a funeral was looked upon as
+something of a party or social function, not to be missed. Every
+one turned out, never failing to dress for the occasion. Mrs.
+Rose, Mrs. Kinney and Mrs. Washington (colored) were easily
+in the lead when it came to professional mourners. As Dave Beach
+said one time, they "could cry real tears at a moment's notice,
+and keep it up as long as the water lasted and occasion demanded."
+When Charlie Slater was drowned in the Slough they cried for
+three days with Mrs. Slater, never going home for meals. Both
+they and their children put black crape on their arms and lived
+and cried with Mrs. Slater until Charlie was found. Mrs. Rose
+kept the crape, and after a funeral would wash and iron it and
+put it in the "burer" drawer until some one else died. When
+she heard Bill's cry, she came running with a piece tied on
+each arm and at least twenty pieces in her hand to supply the
+neighbors. That she considered her first and solemn duty. Inside
+of five minutes after Bill yelled and gave the alarm, every
+one of the regulars was decorated for action.
+
+Bill went to Fagin's and got three big drinks without money,
+on the strength of Moore's death. He went into the back room,
+buried his face in his hands and began to weep. He was honest
+in his weeping, but he had too many drinks aboard and his snores
+soon told their own story. Bill's cry of "Moore's dyin'!" was
+soon turned to "Moore's dead; Bill says so." Of course Bill
+knew nothing of the disturbance he had created, and slept
+peacefully on in Fagin's back room. In the meantime Mrs. Cook
+was trying to "square" Bill with the neighbors. After the mistake
+was discovered every one blamed Bill that Moore was alive. Bill
+and his wife would fight with each other almost daily. Bill
+would swear that he had not tasted a drop when he was so drunk
+he could scarcely see. He contended that he was never drunk
+so long as he was sober enough to deny it. Mrs. Cook was possessed
+of an uncontrollable temper, and when she became angry--and
+she always did when Bill lied to her--she would completely lose
+control of herself. As Jimmie said one day:
+
+"Gee, der old girl'll bounce irons er any old thing she can
+git her mitts on when she's sore. Her nose and her chin comes
+together so fast when she talks dat she's got corns on both
+of 'em."
+
+She washed and worked until three or four o'clock in the morning
+to care for her children, and would do anything she could for
+any one, but when she got "sore," as Jimmie said, every one
+gave her the right of way. "She calls Bill every name on der
+calendar, but when it comes ter any one else saying a word about
+him, she won't stand fer it."
+
+"If Bill said that Bob Moore's dead, he's dead, er soon will
+be," she said. "He knows a dead one when he sees it. It's a
+sure thing anyhow, and what difference does an hour or two make?
+The doctor says he's done fer anyhow."
+
+As Mr. Morton left the house after Moore's death, he led Jimmie
+by the hand. The little fellow had made some big promises for
+one so small and frail, but he said God could and would help
+him. He knew that he could do no more window work for Jewey
+and his gang, neither could he work the depot crowds on Sunday
+excursion trains with Fred Hood. As he passed Mrs. Cook he simply
+said, "He's dead." Before leaving the house Morton had promised
+Mrs. Moore to help her hold her family together and not allow
+them to be sent to the Children's Home. Perhaps the promise
+was not a wise one, but it is hard to refuse a mother such a
+request in the presence of her dead husband. To raise girls
+in Bucktown and have them turn out right would be the eighth
+wonder of the world. The Children's Home would be much the best
+place for them; but the mother heart revolts at separation.
+
+"We must pray for money to pay your father's funeral expenses,
+Jimmie," said Morton. Not knowing whence any of it was coming,
+but believing that He would provide, they went to the undertaker
+and made arrangements for the funeral. The next day being Sunday,
+Morton spoke in one of the big down-town churches, and at the
+close of his talk on "City Missions" he stated to that fashionable
+audience just what was needed in the Moore household. After
+the meeting enough money was placed in his hand to pay for one-half
+of the entire expense. The next day was a busy one at the Mission.
+To get clothes for all the children and to keep them clean enough
+to go to the funeral at two o'clock was no easy matter. The
+clothes room in the City Rescue Mission is a room where old
+clothes sent in by well-to-do people are kept for the poor,
+and hundreds of the less fortunate are cared for every year.
+Three nurses from the hospital helped Mrs. Morton with the work.
+With a tub of hot water, ivory soap and sapolio the scrubbing
+started. They polished their faces until Jimmie said, "They
+shine like a nigger's heel." The dressing was the hard part.
+A blue skirt to fit the oldest girl could only be matched in
+size by a bright green waist, and by her own choice a red ribbon
+for a belt, with yellow ribbons for her stiff "pig-tails." Mrs.
+Cook said "she looked like the pattern in a false-face factory."
+Cast-off shoes were secured for all but Jimmie, and Mr. Morton
+was compelled to take him to a shoe store and buy him his first
+pair of new shoes. He had always worn shoes that some one else
+had discarded. He could not keep his eyes off them as he walked
+along the street. His warm underclothing and suit from some
+rich boy's wardrobe, with new shoes, all in one day, was more
+than he could stand. He was spotted by one of his friends who
+was yelling, "Extra Press; read all about it!" Mr. Morton and
+Jimmie came along and to them he said, "Paper, Mister?"
+
+Jimmie raised his eyes from his shoes long enough to say, "Hello,
+Swipsey! How'd yer like 'em?"
+
+"Where'd yer git 'em?" asked Swipsey.
+
+"Git 'em? I got 'em, ain't I? How'd yer like 'em?"
+
+"Dead swell. Do I git yer old ones?"
+
+"Ain't got no old ones; I give 'em ter the shoe store man. We
+got a funeral at our house ter-day. Me Pa's died."
+
+As Morton and a quartet reached the house with the children
+a wonderful gathering was there to greet them. The old bed had
+been taken down; the casket had been placed between the two
+windows. Folding chairs, furnished by the undertaker, were placed
+in rows before the casket. They were nearly filled by the friends
+and mourners. Bill Cook sat close by the door, so that he might
+be free to spit without getting up. "Big Liz" sat next to him,
+smoking her pipe, but at the sight of Morton she put it under
+her old apron. Several of the girls from the Dolly resort were
+there to pay their respects. All the neighbors were there, either
+in person or by proxy. As the quartet started to sing the old
+song, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," every one seemed to take it
+as a signal to cry. No one seemed to know why they cried; but
+all did their part in making the funeral a "howling success,"
+as Mrs. Rose said. Before the song was ended "Big Liz" was weeping
+louder than all the four singers could sing. Morton knew that
+he must have a brief service, and after a short prayer and
+Scripture reading he spoke words of comfort to the family and
+told of Moore's wonderful conversion. As he pictured the glories
+of heaven that await the redeemed and contrasted them with the
+awful condition of the unrepentant in sin and hell, every one
+trembled. Morton was very anxious to bring the people to a
+decision, and felt that the time had come for a final invitation.
+Bill Cook's eyes were fastened on Morton and, as he spoke of
+hell and judgment, he was sure it was all intended for him.
+"Big Liz" had forgotten the pipe in her lap. It had fallen over
+and the contents had set her dress on fire. The smell of smoke
+caused by the burning of cotton, wool, and dirt together did
+not make a pleasing accompaniment for Morton's words. When the
+smell reached Bill, he leaped into the middle of the room and
+shouted, "Hell's here now!" Just at that moment "Big Liz" felt
+the heat from the fire, and she jumped to Bill's side and said,
+"Yer right, honey, and I'm sure in it." Morton saw what was
+causing the trouble, and with the help of the undertaker succeeded
+in getting Liz out upon the street. He called Bill and told
+him to help her put out the fire. Bill was very much excited,
+and he took Liz by the hand and started for the big watering
+trough at the corner of the market. When he reached it he pushed
+her into the water backward. "That busted up der funeral," as
+Jimmie said. Such screaming had never been heard in Bucktown.
+When she at last managed to get out of the icy water she started
+for Bill, determined to kill him. Dave Beach headed him away
+from Moore's funeral and gave Morton a chance to close with
+a feeble prayer. The chance that he had prayed for so long,
+to reach the people of Bucktown with the gospel, had come and
+he had lost. He was heart-broken and felt the disappointment
+keenly. Jimmie was quick to see it and, as the people viewed
+the remains, he slipped up to Morton, and, pressing his hand,
+said, "Don't yer care, we'll git 'em all yet."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_Jimmie's New Pa_
+
+
+Jasper, the reporter on the Press, knew a good story when he
+had found one. A quiet visit to the Moore domicile the next
+afternoon, a brief call at Bill Cook's, and a few liberal potations
+at Fagin's, were responsible for the write-up which appeared
+in the evening Press. The pathetic story of sickness, death
+and privation appealed in a powerful manner to the community.
+Many well-meaning people flooded the place with provisions and
+a miscellaneous assortment of wearing apparel, running from
+silk dresses and opera cloaks to cotton jumpers and soleless
+patent leathers. As is the case generally, this kind of charity
+did much more harm than good. For a week they had provision
+enough to feed every man, woman and child in Bucktown. Mrs.
+Moore thought it would always be so. She gave up her work and
+said "she would do nothin' fer nobody."
+
+Five days after the funeral Jimmie rushed into Morton's office
+at the Mission and said, "Say, I got er new Pa at my house."
+
+"A new what?" asked Morton in surprise.
+
+"A new Pa," said Jimmie. "Me Ma says that Charlie Hathnit would
+be me Pa from now on; he's been livin' with us fer two days
+now."
+
+Morton was dumfounded. He sat looking at Jimmie a moment; then
+he said, "Jimmie, this is all wrong. God cannot bless your home
+with that man there." Morton, reaching out, drew Jimmie to his
+side and continued, "You promised your father you would run
+the house and help your mother to care for the family."
+
+The diminutive figure of Jimmie suddenly straightened and seemed
+to increase an inch in height as he answered, looking Morton
+straight in the eyes, "So I did, and I meant it, too."
+
+Then said Morton, "You must not allow that loafer there at all."
+
+A moment later Jimmie was at the door. "Where are you going?"
+inquired Morton.
+
+"I'm going home ter clean house," said Jimmie, as he dashed
+down Brady Street. As he entered the house a few minutes later
+he was not the little Jimmie of an hour before. Almost unconsciously
+there had been born within him a stern resolve to right wrong;
+an invisible line had been passed; dependent childhood seemed
+to fade away and in its place came manhood; he stood there another
+recruit to the great army of child heroes, the great army of
+those who are forced to face the stern realities of life. As
+he looked up into his mother's face the little tempest which
+had gathered within him for a moment was calmed; he caught her
+hand in both of his, pressing it against his cheek, an old habit
+of his when he had sought to comfort his mother or to express
+some emotion when lips would fail.
+
+"What the h--l ails the kid?" snarled Hathnit.
+
+Jimmie, realizing that there was stern business at hand, and
+ashamed of his momentary emotion, replied:
+
+"Jus' dis: I got somethin' ter ast yer; what are yer doin' in
+our house anyhow?"
+
+"Hush, Jimmie," interposed Mrs. Moore. "Yer mind yer business."
+
+"That's jus' what I'm doin', Ma. I seen Morton, an' he says
+it's all wrong fer yer ter keep this piker here, and yer know
+I promised Pa der night Jesus took him up dare----"
+
+A curse followed from Hathnit which was so awful that it would
+have shaken anything but Jimmie's determination. "Go an' tell
+dis Bible-banging Morton to keep his d---- advice to himself.
+I'm a peaceable man, but if I mix with this Mission galoot he'll
+cut out givin' his advice to you kids. As fer you, you better
+duck till you git this nonsense out of yer head." Hathnit strolled
+to the door and opened it, and Jimmie was compelled for the
+time being to leave the house.
+
+"It's no more than I expected," said Mrs. Cook to Jimmie as
+he related the events of the morning. "When I heard Hathnit
+was a-livin' ter yer house, I jus' told Bill that no good would
+come from it. Poor Jimmie, you jus' wait till I git these here
+clothes out of this here bluing water; I'll go over wid yer
+to see what can be did."
+
+Soon the last towel was through the wringer, and Mrs. Cook,
+hastily drying her hands on her apron, accompanied Jimmie to
+his home. The conference that ensued was not productive of any
+good. Hathnit was a man devoid of all manly principles, lazy
+to the limit, ill-bred, ill-kept, illiterate, but still possessing
+one noticeable characteristic--a keenness which cannot be
+overlooked in men of his ilk.
+
+Mrs. Cook came to the point at once. "Mis Moore," she said,
+"yer boy Jim tells me you've took Hathnit here for yer man."
+
+"Right yer be," replied Hathnit. "Yer needn't guess again."
+
+"But yer ain't married yet," said Mrs. Cook.
+
+"Well, yer see it's dis way," proceeded Hathnit. "She said she
+wanted me and I said I wanted her, so that's ernough. It used
+ter be the style ter go before the Justice with your dollar
+and a quarter paper and git tied, but that's a dead one now."
+
+"Well, where's Mollie? She's yer wife, ain't she?" asked Mrs.
+Cook.
+
+"Naw, Tom Ellen's got her now; he took her while I was doing
+a two-year contract fer the State."
+
+"But it's wrong," burst out Jimmie. "Mr. Morton says so."
+
+"To h--l with Morton!" said Hathnit. "Now look here, the high-tone
+guys do that right along, only they spends their good money
+fer lawyer's licenses and divorce cases. I found this mornin's
+Herald at the depot, and it says there was six marriage licenses
+and eight divorces granted in this town yisterday. Fer every
+five marriages in dis whole State last year there was one divorce.
+Der people gits married ter-day with the understanding that
+if they don't like each other they can get a divorce. If that's
+all marriage amounts to--and it is--I think a man's a blooming
+sucker ter blow his good money to der lawyers. In dis town a
+dozen lawyers lives on divorce money alone. Society, so-called,
+says it's right, and when they gits up deir dancin' parties
+they have ter git an expert to keep from invitin' hubbie number
+one, two and three at the same time. If the bloods kin have
+two or three wives by payin' some cheap lawyer their good dough,
+I can have two or three an' save my money fer weddin' celebrations.
+The women all over the country went wild about Smoot and Polly
+Gamy."
+
+"Yer means Pollie Gainey, that lived over Fagin's last year,
+don't yer?" asked Mrs. Cook.
+
+"Naw, I means jus' what I said; Polly Gamy means yer can have
+all kinds of wives," said Hathnit. "Now, ter my way of thinkin',
+Smoot has as much right ter his wives as these women has ter
+their husbands. If he would send his money ter some cheap lawyer
+he'd be O.K. ter their way of thinkin'. Smoot takes care of
+his kids, anyhow, but these society guys sends theirs ter the
+Children's Home fer the city ter care fer. There's sixty-six
+kids there now, and fifty-two of them are from divorced families.
+Dis Morton that yer crackin' up ter me is kickin' about us livin'
+tergether without marryin'. He says it's wrong; why don't he
+say somethin' ter the church members? That big guy, where Bob
+Evans is coachman, got a divorce from his Missus and gave her
+the home ter live in. He built a new house on der next block
+and took another woman, and she took another man. Bob says that
+Ralph, the kid, calls one Papa and the other Daddie. They all
+goes ter the same church Sunday mornin' and nothin's said. Why?
+'Cause they pay der lawyer. If they're all right, I'm all right;
+the church stands fer it, the law stands fer it, and society
+stands fer it. That cheap Mission guy with his old Bible don't
+cut much ice against that bunch.
+
+"I know the Bible says it's wrong ter put away yer wife an'
+take another, but no one believes that old book nowadays. Why,
+I heard one of dem preachers from a dominie shop in Chicago
+say, when he was preaching down at the Bull Pen, dat the Bible
+wasn't der word of God at all, and he oughter know 'cause they
+got der very latest th'ology out. They discover things over
+there in Chicago. If the kid here don't like der way thin's
+is doin' he kin duck. I'm runnin' dis house now. Tell Bill ter
+come over ter der celebration, Mrs. Cook. So long." With this
+he fished a cigar stub out of his pocket, bit off a portion
+of it, expectorated freely into the stove hearth, and turning
+his back to them walked into the front room.
+
+Mrs. Moore was about to follow him, when Jimmie plucked at her
+dress. When she turned around and their eyes met, the mother
+love had vanished.
+
+"Ma," he said, his voice faltering, "which one goes, me or that?"
+pointing to the door where Hathnit had disappeared.
+
+She turned and disengaged his hand, replying, "Ask him, Jimmie;
+he's runnin' the place now."
+
+Jimmie went out into the world with a heavy heart. He did not
+mind the fact that he had no home so much as he did that his
+mother was doing wrong. "I guess I can't keep der promise I
+made Pa when he died; but I believe he knows that I'm doin'
+der best I kin."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_Mrs. Cook's "Opery"_
+
+
+Bill Cook continued to drink day and night until it was plain
+to all that he would have another one of his "spells," as his
+wife always called an attack of delirium tremens. There was
+no hope for Bill when he once got started. He never stopped
+until he was arrested or went into the tremens. He could not
+borrow a five-cent piece, but could always get all the liquor
+he wanted. It is a fact well known to all drinking men that
+men will buy them fifty cents' worth of drink rather than give
+them five cents in money. If they wanted the money for bread
+for the children they could not get it; but drinks go any time.
+
+Dave Beach had found Bill in the street, and taken him to his
+barn to sleep off a little of his "jag," as Dave said. Dave
+and Mrs. Cook never agreed as to the cause of Bill's trouble,
+so Dave was very careful not to get near her when Bill was coming
+down with one of his "spells." "He was shot in the army and
+has bad spells. 'Tain't drinkin' at all 'at ails Bill; he's
+sick," she would say. Dave found it was better to let her have
+her way about it; so he put Bill into a box stall, until he
+could send him home with Jimmie.
+
+Every one in the neighborhood knew that Jimmie could be trusted.
+He was never known to tell a thing he should not, and had a
+way of knowing nothing when some one was looking for information.
+
+Mrs. Cook knew that he had left home and was staying in Dave's
+barn at night and eating anywhere and anything he could get.
+When Bill failed to come home, she called Jimmie into the house
+as he came from up-town. "Had yer supper, Jim?" she asked.
+
+"Yep, I'm eatin' up-town now," answered Jim.
+
+"Better have a cup o' tea," she said as Jimmie closed the door.
+He had lived that day on three dry buns and a drop cookie, and
+tea, warm tea, sounded good to him. He pulled off his cap and
+jammed it into his coat pocket as he sat down at the table.
+"Jim, I was yer friend when yer was in trouble, now I want yer
+to help me. Bill's been gone all day and I'm scart fer him.
+Dr. Snyder told me that the next time he had a "spell" he'd
+die. No better man ever lived than Bill Cook, and I've been
+thinkin' ter-day 'at somethin's got ter be did. Last night he
+cried out in his sleep, jus' like he did las' time he had 'em,
+and at three o'clock this morning he got up an' left the house.
+I ain't seen nothin' of him since; the younguns think he's
+workin', and I don't want 'em ter know no different. Bill loves
+his younguns, and they think there's no one like their Pa. There
+never was a kinder man than Bill Cook; no siree, not a kinder
+man nowheres. He's been gittin' worser an' worser since yer
+Pa's funeral, an' honest, Jim, I'm scart."
+
+"Well," said Jimmie, as he finished his third cup of tea, "I
+know jus' what he needs, but you'll have ter help."
+
+"I'll do anyting yer say, Jim," said Mrs. Cook.
+
+"Say, 'Hope ter die,' and cross yer heart," said Jimmie.
+
+"I'll do it, yer bet."
+
+"All right," said Jimmie. "Der first thing I want yer ter do
+is ter go ter der Mission wid me ter-night."
+
+"Me? I can't go, Jim; I ain't got no clothes ter go there;
+'sides, it's Bill yer want ter help an' not me," she said.
+
+"Yer promised me," said Jimmie, "an' yer mustn't ast no questions.
+Yer get yer duds on an' I'll be back fer yer in five minutes."
+Jimmie went over to Dave's barn, told him what was on and Dave
+promised to get Bill into the house while they were gone.
+
+Mrs. Cook took the children over to Hardy's to play while she
+made a "call." When Jimmie returned to the house for Mrs. Cook,
+she was all ready to go.
+
+"Gee, where yer git der lid?" said Jimmie.
+
+"Never you mind, sonny; that hat's some more of yer business."
+As Jimmie stood and looked her over, he almost wished he had
+not suggested the trip. Her hat was an old straw derby with
+two chicken feathers stuck in it. She had put an old wine-colored
+skirt over her blue wrapper.
+
+"I'm ready," she said, "but yer mustn't sit up front."
+
+"Yer needn't worry," answered Jimmie as he looked once more
+at her hat.
+
+She was very nervous at first; but after she discovered that
+no one was looking at her she soon felt at ease. The singing
+seemed to carry her out of herself. She forgot her trouble and
+settled down into the chair to enjoy the very best hour she
+had had in years.
+
+"It's better 'n a opery," she whispered to Jimmie.
+
+No place in the world do people sing as they do in a Rescue
+Mission. Every one sings there, and the one who can make the
+most noise is considered the best singer. Each one tries to
+outdo his neighbor. They sing the old gospel songs with a vim
+and never seem to tire of them.
+
+The sermon that followed the singing was listened to by Mrs.
+Cook; but the testimonies almost drove her to say things. She
+hardly breathed as one after another got up and told what Jesus
+had done for them.
+
+"I believe my soul, that's Lousy Kate," she whispered to Jimmie
+when one woman arose and told how God had found her at a jail
+meeting.
+
+"Sure 'nough, it's her; I knew her when she did that very thing,"
+she said as she followed her in her testimony. "Why, that woman
+was so crooked she couldn't lay down in a round-house."
+
+When Superintendent Morton gave an invitation for all who wished
+the prayers of the Christians to come forward, she started for
+the door. When she had reached it she turned and watched the
+people as they went forward. She watched one poor drunken man
+as some of the workers helped him up the aisle. Big tears were
+in her eyes when she turned to Jimmie. "If that man kin be saved,
+drunk as he is, there's hope fer Bill, 'cause Bill's no drunkard,
+he's sick."
+
+"There's hope fer you, too," said Jimmie, when they had reached
+the sidewalk.
+
+"Me!" she almost shouted. "I ain't no drunkard, ner I never
+killed anybody, and 'sides, it's Bill yer want ter help, not
+me."
+
+"The Bible says yer a sinner an' yer need fixin' jus' as bad
+as Bill," said Jimmie. He knew he was on dangerous ground, but
+he was determined to push the case as far as he dared. Without
+giving her a chance to answer, he continued, "Jesus says we're
+all sinners, an' whosever kin be saved, and that means you."
+
+"I ain't no whoserever, I'm German, and my name's Annabella
+Cook, and I don't want you nor none of yer friends ter fergit
+it, sonny."
+
+Jimmie was stumped for a minute. He had asked Morton what to
+say, but he could not remember the Scripture, so he simply said,
+"Yer swear, and yer drink, and yer don't pray, and if that ain't
+sin I don't want a cent. If yer was to die ter-night, you'd
+want somethin' more than 'em cuss words ter take ter Jesus.
+Yer Freddie is in heaven and me Pa is there, and yer got too
+much sense ter miss seein' 'em over there, and 'sides that yer
+can't never help Bill till yer helped first."
+
+Jimmie had touched a tender chord in Mrs. Cook, and he knew
+it. She loved her family, and Bill was the apple of her eye.
+She did not get angry, as Jimmie had feared, but walked along
+in silence, thinking of what she had heard and how Jimmie had
+brought it all home to her very door. At last she said, as though
+speaking to herself, "Yes, I do swear when I git mad, but I
+don't mean it ten minutes after. No, I guess I ain't ready ter
+die, but, oh, Jimmie, what made yer mention Freddie? It near
+kills me." And she began to cry. Freddie had died a few months
+ago of membranous croup, and his death had caused a great sorrow
+in the Cook family.
+
+Jimmie slipped his hand into hers, and said, "I'm sorry; but
+I'm so bloomin' anxious ter see yer both Christians, 'cause
+yer so good ter me. I guess I'll never have no more Ma but you.
+Say, how'd yer like der meetin'?"
+
+"It's jus' fine," said Mrs. Cook, glad to change the subject.
+"I'm goin' agin ter-morrow night."
+
+Bill was all tucked away in bed when Mrs. Cook got home. Dave
+had put him to bed. The doctor had given him a powder to quiet
+him.
+
+After the children were asleep Mrs. Cook sat alone thinking
+of the night's happenings. The market clock struck twelve before
+she came to herself and thought of going to bed.
+
+"O God, I can't see it; I can't see it," she cried; "but I want
+ter. I can't see it; I can't see it that way; but I want ter."
+
+"I've seen 'nough fer both of us," said Bill, as he bolted
+upright in bed. "There's one under my pillow now wid a thousand
+legs!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_Mrs. Cook's First Prayer_
+
+
+Early the next morning Jimmie was at the Morton home. After
+a long talk and much prayer he started for Bucktown, armed with
+that sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. He had some more
+verses marked in his Testament, and after Morton had quoted
+them many times he felt sure that he could handle them. Mrs.
+Cook had confused him the night before so that he could not
+answer her; but he was sure of his ground after his talk with
+Morton.
+
+"I wish I could read 'em myself," he said to Morton sadly. "Der
+yer tink I kin ever learn?"
+
+"Yes, Jimmie, I know you can if you will study. You have five
+hours that you are not busy with your papers; you can use that
+time to learn to read. I think that Mrs. Price, a worker in
+the Mission, will be glad to help you. She used to teach school
+before her marriage. I will ask her to-day and if she consents
+to take you as a pupil you must study hard."
+
+"I will, yer bet." And so Jimmie went on his way.
+
+As he quietly pushed open the door of the Cook home, he heard
+Mrs. Cook talking with three of her neighbors on the back porch.
+
+"Where do you suppose I was las' night, Mrs. Fagin?" she was
+saying. Jimmie listened with keen interest for her account of
+the Mission service. He knew that Bill would never get right
+until she did.
+
+"How do you s'pose I know?" answered Mrs. Fagin. "Where was
+you?"
+
+"I was to der Mission with Jimmie Moore," she said, "and it's
+the best time I've had since the balloon extension on the market,
+six years ago."
+
+"I'd like ter know how yer can have a good time in church,"
+said Mrs. Fagin.
+
+"'Tain't no church, it's a Mission, and they have jus' as good
+singin' as dey do in Uncle Tom's Cabin, and 'sides, it's a good
+deal like dat play, too, 'cause yer laff jus' as hard as yer
+kin one minute and the next minute yer cry like Eva was a-dyin'.
+Yer couldn't guess in a thousand years who I saw there. I saw
+Lousy Kate, that you used ter live next door to, and that
+Hatfield that yer thought was such a dood. Yer oughter hear
+what he said--yer know every one speaks in der Mission meetin's.
+He ain't no dummy, that man ain't. He's been an awful drunkard,
+and when Morton found him he was that fur gone that his wife
+had ter leave him an' go an' live wid her Ma. He said he got
+saved, an' now they're happy, and he works in der wholesale
+house and----"
+
+"Who saved him? Morton?" asked Mrs. Fagin in disgust.
+
+"No, he said it was all Jesus and no Morton about it; that's
+what Jimmie says erbout Morton, too. I guess he don't amount
+to much nohow. He says he can't help no one, but can tell them
+of One who can. I thought I'd split when Hatfield said he was
+so low down he had to reach up ter touch bottom. Every one
+laffed like all git-out; but when his woman got up and said
+it was all true, and that her and her baby come near starvin',
+every one 'round me cried, and I cried, too. I tell yer, I'd
+know how ter sympathy with her; only Bill ain't no drunkard,
+he's sick."
+
+"What's Kate doin' there?" asked Mrs. Fagin.
+
+"She's saved, too. She got saved in jail. Now she's livin' straight
+an' goes ter meetin' every night. She looks so good, you'd hardly
+know her, looks ten years younger; but the biggest surprise
+of all is Morton. Yer know Dave Beach said that he know'd more
+'an he looked, and I allowed he'd orter. But say, he's been
+through der mill and knows der ropes like an' old rounder. He
+said his mother teached him ter pray and be a good boy, but
+he got ter boozin' and soon went ter pieces. He got in trouble
+and fer years lived among thieves and drunkards and knows 'em
+like a book. He's seen 'em killed and go down in nearly every
+old way, but never knew any of 'em ter git anywhere until dey
+git Jesus. He couldn't git no work 'cause he wa'n't honest and
+couldn't stay sober, so he'd jus' clean up saloons fer his toddy,
+like Fred Hanks der barber is doin' now. I wish Morton could
+git Fred. One time he got a plant an' left fer Chicago; then
+he went into a Mission like his'n is now and got saved. You'd
+never think he ever did worser than pull his sister's hair,
+to look at him now; but he knows what's what, and that's why
+he was after Moore and all the rest of us, I guess. He says
+jus' what Jimmie says, that Jesus loves us all and wants us
+all. There, 'tis eleven o'clock and I've got ter give Bill his
+medicine. Say, I'm goin' agin ter-night. Go 'long with me?"
+
+"Fagin would go wild if he knew I'd go there; but I'd like ter
+see it once," said Mrs. Fagin.
+
+For seven nights Mrs. Cook and Jimmie went to the Mission. On
+the seventh night she rose to her feet and was the first one
+to go forward to the altar. After prayer she stood up and said
+she would serve God the best she knew how, and wanted every
+one to pray for Bill, her husband.
+
+Every one shook hands with her and she forgot that it was getting
+late. She visited with all the ladies, one after the other.
+
+Jimmie had found Morton at the platform and slipped his hand
+into Morton's. As their eyes met, both seemed ready to weep
+for joy. "The ice is broken, Jimmie. And we must not give up
+until the whole Bucktown gang are in the Kingdom of God. Bill
+comes next, and you had better get Mrs. Cook home, as it is
+late. You may hurt your case with Bill if you get him angry."
+
+At last Jimmie got her started, and when they reached the house
+Bill was nearly wild with rage. He was very nervous and needed
+something to quiet him.
+
+"Where in h---- have you bin?" he shrieked at the top of his
+voice. "I want a drink and I want it d---- quick."
+
+"No doubt, sonny, yer do," said his wife, "and you'll want it
+quicker 'an that 'fore yer git it. Now shut yer mouth until
+I'm done," she went on. "I been to der Mission ter-night and
+I give my heart ter God, an' no more booze comes inter my house,
+no more, not mine. If yer tongue was hangin' out as long as
+a clothes line I'd tie it in knots and throw it under der bed
+'fore I'd give yer a drop. All der people at der Mission are
+prayin' fer yer, and Jim is goin' ter der drug store fer somfin'
+fer yer nerves and ter make yer sleep, and if yer able ter-morrer
+yer goin' ter der Mission an' git saved too. And oh, Bill! we'll
+git a carpet fer our front room when yer gits yer pension, and
+you'll git a new suit of clothes and we'll git a monument fer
+Freddie's grave, and oh, Bill! we'll go ter be with Jesus and
+Freddie some day in heaven."
+
+She stooped down and took Bill's bloated cheeks between her
+hands and kissed him again and again.
+
+"I guess dis is where I lose out," said Jimmie. "I'll go ter
+der drug store and by that time maybe dey'll have deir love
+feast finished. Gee, when old Bill gits any booze ter-night,
+he don't!"
+
+Jimmie spent his last five pennies for a powder for Bill, and
+went on tip-toe back to Cook's house.
+
+As he opened the door he heard Mrs. Cook praying. She was kneeling
+by Bill's bed, and this is the prayer Jimmie heard: "O Lord,
+keep Bill from wantin' booze ter-night, and if he gits gay call
+him down fer Jesus' sake. Amen."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_Floe_
+
+
+Jimmie was very happy as he gave Bill and Mrs. Cook "Good-night."
+"Don't yer worry erbout nothin'," he said to Mrs. Cook. "Yer
+got Jesus ter help yer, an' he'll take care of yer all. I'll
+see yer in der mornin'. So long."
+
+He started for Dave's barn, where he "roomed." His nerves were
+all unstrung, he was much too excited to go to bed. He sat down
+upon the curb in front of the barn and went over the whole
+evening in his mind. The best he knew how, he prayed and thanked
+God for answering his prayer. As he sat with his head in his
+hands, he heard a piercing scream which came from the direction
+of the Dolly resort. There was nothing unusual about a scream
+in Bucktown any time of the day or night; but Jimmie jumped
+to his feet and started on a run to the direction from which
+it came.
+
+"Dat sounded like Floe's voice," he said to himself. "I hope
+she ain't hurted."
+
+Floe had been very kind to Jimmie, many times giving him something
+to eat, and she had given him the pair of shoes he was wearing
+when Morton first saw him. She always put herself out to speak
+to him, and when he was "stuck" with his evening papers she
+would persuade the other inmates of the house to help him out
+by buying them.
+
+Let it be understood now that Jimmie's ideals of morality were
+based entirely upon the Bucktown standard. Floe was the best
+dressed woman in Bucktown; she lived in the best house in Bucktown;
+she was the handsomest woman in Bucktown; and these facts, to
+Jimmie's child mind, put Floe and the Dolly resort far in the
+lead of anything in Bucktown. He knew nothing of their business,
+and the question of their being wrong had never entered his
+head. Had any one asked Jimmie a question about the character
+of this black-eyed woman, his answer would have been, "She's
+an angel, sure."
+
+The little girls in the neighborhood would say, "When I git
+big I'm goin' ter have clothes like them girls, an' go ridin'
+in hacks with white horses. Gee, won't I shine!" The highest
+ideals of womanhood to these little girls were the women of
+the Dolly resort. Is it any wonder that Jimmie was interested
+when he heard Floe scream? When he reached the house he saw
+her lying at the foot of the stairs; he rushed to her side as
+others were trying to get her upon her feet. They put her upon
+a couch and sent for a doctor.
+
+"Did yer fall downstairs?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Oh, Jimmie, what are you doing in this awful place?" she said.
+"This is worse than hell itself; do go out, child; I can't stand
+to see your pure face in a place like this."
+
+"If it ain't er good place fer me, it ain't fer you, Floe. Yer
+better 'n I am, er ever could be. Are yer hurted much?"
+
+Just then Doctor Snyder came in, and after a brief examination
+said he found a broken arm and three broken ribs. Floe would
+not tell how she happened to fall; but several who saw it said
+that a girl by the name of Maud, in a fit of jealousy, had pushed
+her downstairs.
+
+"Hello, kid! What are you doing here?" said Doctor Snyder to
+Jimmie. "You should be in bed at this time of night. How's Bill
+Cook getting on?"
+
+"Bill's better," said Jimmie, "an' Mrs. Cook got converted at
+der Mission ter-night, and she's happy all over. When I left
+there she was prayin' at Bill's bed and he was cryin'. I'll
+bet he gits saved next."
+
+"You better go home and go to bed, Jimmie; you're excited
+to-night. You'll feel better in the morning," said the doctor,
+with a knowing wink at the people standing around. "We must
+get this girl to her room now."
+
+"Can I come ter see yer to-morrow, Floe?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"If the doctor will let you come; but I don't like to have you
+come into this awful house."
+
+"I'll be here jus' the same; I'm goin' ter ast Jesus ter help
+yer," he whispered to her, and slipped quietly out into the
+street and started for the barn. When he reached there, Dave
+sat in his old office chair smoking and trying to look unconcerned;
+but it was plain to Jimmie that he had something on his mind
+besides his hat.
+
+"Where have you been so late?" he said to Jimmie. "Sit down
+and tell me about it."
+
+"Mrs. Cook got saved ter-night and Bill's comin' next, I'll
+bet," said Jimmie in one breath. "Yer see, we's prayin' fer
+him at der Mission, an' he's got ter come. Say, Dave, Floe jus'
+got hurted, an' I went ter see her when I heard her holler,
+an' she said she didn't like ter see me in such a bad house.
+Is that nice house bad, an' what's Floe doin' dere if it is?"
+
+"Well, the house is anything but good, Jimmie, and I wish Floe
+lived somewhere else. If you can go to see her I wish you would
+talk to her just like you did to Mrs. Cook. Tell her about,
+well, tell her about yer Friend, you know."
+
+"Who do yer mean? Morton?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"No, I mean the Friend you say Morton works for."
+
+"Oh, yer means Jesus," said Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, that's who I mean; she has heard of Him before, and maybe
+you can do her good. The poor girl has had lots of trouble and
+has lost heart in life. Tell her that--that Je--er--that yer
+Friend loves her and will fergive her all her past and--well,
+you can tell it better than I can."
+
+"I'll do it, yer bet," said Jimmie, "'cause Jesus loves every
+one of us, don't he, Dave?"
+
+"Most every one, but not all of us," said Dave.
+
+Jimmie made a dive for his Testament and turned to John 3:16;
+the page was so dirty and soiled from handling that it could
+scarcely be seen.
+
+"Der yer see that word marked wid red ink?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, I see it."
+
+"Well, what is she?"
+
+"It's 'whosoever.'"
+
+"Well, who does that mean?"
+
+"I guess it means just what it says; but you see, with me it
+is different. I was raised to do right; my father was a Methodist
+minister, and he taught me to pray and read the Bible when I
+was a child. I knew what was right, but with my eyes wide open
+I went into the most awful sin, and God can never forgive one
+who sins against the light."
+
+"Say, read der whole verse," said Jimmie.
+
+"I know it without reading it; I learned it at my mother's knee
+before I could talk plain."
+
+"Well, git busy and say it then."
+
+"God so loved the world----"
+
+"Loved der what?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"The world," said Dave.
+
+"Go on," as Dave hesitated.
+
+"That He gave His only begotten Son----"
+
+"Dat's Jesus, ain't it?"
+
+"Yes, that is who it means."
+
+"Go on," said Jimmie.
+
+"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
+that whosoever----"
+
+"Who?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Whosoever," said Dave.
+
+"Don't that mean you?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"I'm afraid not," said Dave.
+
+"Den dis is der way ter read it," said Jimmie, "'Dat whosoever,
+'cept Dave Beach, kin have everlastin' life.' Not on your
+fottygraff; it ain't writ dat way."
+
+"Well, in another place it says that if you know to do right
+and do it not it's sin," said Dave.
+
+"And dat makes yer a sinner, don't it?" said Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, it does, and a bad one, too," said Dave.
+
+Jimmie put his thumb into his mouth to wet it and turned leaf
+after leaf. At last he said, "Read dat."
+
+Dave took the book and looked hard and long in silence.
+
+"Read her," said Jimmie.
+
+Dave read very slowly: "This is a faithful saying and worthy
+of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
+save sinners."
+
+"Save what?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Sinners," said Dave.
+
+"Are yer a sinner, Dave?"
+
+"Yes, I am a bad one."
+
+"Worser dan dis guy? Read der rest of 'er."
+
+"Of whom I am chief," David read.
+
+"All right," said Jimmie, "if He kin save der chief of sinners,
+can't He save Dave Beach?"
+
+Before he could answer, Jewey, Oily Ike and Fred Hood came in.
+
+"Send the kid home," said Jewey.
+
+"He's at home now," said Dave; "he sleeps here. You can do all
+the business you have with me in a minute er two. I'm tired
+of this crooked business; and for my part, I'm going to cut
+it out. Whatever your haul is to-night you can keep it or let
+Ike there handle it; I'm done.
+
+"No, don't get leery; I won't turn you. But I don't want no
+more of it here."
+
+"You'll be havin' Sunday school here every day if that kid hangs
+around much longer," said Jewey.
+
+"Well, he'll be here just as long as he wants to," said Dave.
+"It's two o'clock, Jimmie; you had better turn in and I'll call
+you at three-thirty. Good-night."
+
+Jimmie lay down upon a horse blanket without taking off his
+shoes or clothes and was soon fast asleep. His day had been
+a long one and he was very tired, but happy.
+
+After Dave's callers had gone, he stood looking down into Jimmie's
+tired face. "Poor little Jimmie," he said, "if I knew your paper
+route, I'd carry it myself rather than wake you up this morning.
+There's no use talking, that kid don't get enough to eat. I
+saw him give his little sister his supper money last night,
+and I know he went to sleep hungry; I never saw his beat. He
+preaches to every one in his sweet child way and he makes me
+feel as though I was the biggest devil on earth. By thunder,
+it breaks me all up." Dave was talking to himself, or thinking
+out loud.
+
+He was very much moved by Jimmie's life and words; he pulled
+his old office chair beside Jimmie's pallet and began to weep.
+Big, strong Dave had broken down and was once more a boy. He
+was ashamed of his tears and tried to brace up and stop them;
+but when he would look at Jimmie's little pinched face on the
+old horse blanket, the tears would start afresh and creep through
+his dirty fingers and fall to the floor in spite of all he could
+do. Dave Beach was a strong, big fellow; he had drunk and fought
+his way through the world and for many years had suppressed
+his emotional nature. Tears to him were a sign of weakness and
+he would rather have lost his barn and horses by fire than that
+any one should see him cry. He jumped to his feet and started
+to pace up and down the office. "D---- fool that I am! I'm
+bawling worse than a yearling heifer. It's time to call Jimmie
+and he must not see me this way." He went to the hydrant out
+in the barn and washed and pulled himself together as best he
+could, and then went back to call Jimmie.
+
+"It's time to get up, Jimmie," he said as he kicked the bottom
+of the boy's foot. Jimmie rose and rubbed his eyes, but was
+so tired and sleepy he fell back again upon the blankets.
+
+"Come, my boy, I want you to go to the lunch counter with me
+and have a cup of coffee." He reached down and picked the boy
+up bodily and held him in his great, strong arms a moment, but
+had to drop him for safety; he would be weeping again if he
+did not get busy at something else.
+
+"Go out and wash your face, Jim, and you'll feel better."
+
+The cold water did its work.
+
+"Guess I's hard to wake up, wasn't I, Dave?" said Jimmie, as
+he wiped his face on the lining of his cap--a trick of the
+newsboys.
+
+"You're all right, Jimmie; but you need more sleep. After you
+get your papers carried, come back and go up into the haymow
+and sleep all morning."
+
+"I can't do 'er, Dave. I got ter see Bill and call on Floe and
+take me first lesson from Mrs. Price and go ter Morton's house,
+all dis mornin'."
+
+"Well, come, we'll go over and get something to eat," said Dave.
+
+"I don't feel very hungry," said Jimmie, "and I guess I won't
+go over jus' now. I'll git somfin later."
+
+Dave knew what the trouble was and took Jimmie by the hand and
+started for the all-night lunch counter.
+
+"You're going to eat with me this time, Jimmie; I have enough
+money for both of us. No, you'll never pay me a cent of it back.
+Just a little treat, you know."
+
+Jimmie never wanted something for nothing, but he grew so hungry
+as he thought of the good things at the counter that he could
+not say No. Dave ordered their meal, and when it came upon the
+table Jimmie's big gray eyes stuck out. "Is dis all fer us,
+Dave? Der meat, an' eggs, an' taters, too, an' coffee 'sides!
+Gee! it must of cost a quarter, didn't it, Dave?" As he grabbed
+his knife and fork to start his meal, he looked up at Dave with
+such love in his eyes that Dave lost his appetite for food and
+wanted to finish the "bawl" he had started in the barn.
+
+"Go on and eat, Jimmie. You'll be late for your papers," he
+said.
+
+"I mus' pray 'fore I eat, Dave," he said as he jammed his cap
+into his coat pocket. "Now, Jesus, I'm glad yer give us all
+this here good stuff ter eat. It's more'n we got comin'; but
+yer always givin' us more'n we could ast er tink. Dave's a good
+man fer payin' fer it, and he's feedin' you when he's feedin'
+me, 'cause I'm your'n. Make Dave gooder and gooder fer Jesus'
+sake. Amen."
+
+Dave jumped to his feet and started for the door. "You eat,
+Jimmie; I'll be back in a minute." He was overcome and the "bawl"
+had got the best of him. He stood outside the door in the dark
+and cried as if his heart would break.
+
+"D---- fool that I am! I wish some one would come along and
+call me names so I could lick him within an inch of his life.
+I'd feel better anyhow."
+
+After several unsuccessful attempts to control himself, he went
+to the door and told Jimmie to eat both meals, as he had to
+go.
+
+"I'll pay you, Mose, when I come over." Before Jimmie could
+answer he was gone.
+
+He went to Fagin's, got several drinks, tried his best to pick
+a fight with Mike, then went home and went to bed.
+
+Jimmie ate all there was in sight, and with a full stomach became
+very cheerful and talked to Mose, the colored waiter.
+
+"Gee, I guess me belly t'ought me t'roat was cut. I bet if it
+could talk it would ast me what I was doin' up dere."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_Bill's Pension_
+
+
+After Mr. and Mrs. Morton had listened to Jimmie's story of
+Mrs. Cook's prayer, Floe's "gittin' hurted" and Dave's talk,
+he went into detail as he described the wonderful breakfast
+he had eaten. "Gee, I was scart I'd bust when I straightened
+up. I don't feel like I wanted nothin' for a week."
+
+"Tell me more about Floe," said Mrs. Morton, much interested.
+"Do you think she would come to live with us while she is sick?
+I would love to care for her and be her friend if she would
+let me."
+
+"Do yer mean she can board here?" asked Jimmie in surprise.
+
+"No, I want her to come and live with us; I want her for my
+friend and companion. She can be our Floe and make this her
+home."
+
+"Will her name be Floe Morton then?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, you may call her that if you like, but I do want her to
+come and live with us. When you go to see her this morning,
+ask her if she will allow me to see her. If she will, you come
+right back for me and we will go down together."
+
+After prayer Jimmie started for Bucktown, very happy, and confident
+that the day would be a day of victory for Jesus. His faith
+was wonderful. His prayers were so simple and childlike; he
+prayed to God and asked Him for things in the same language
+and tone of voice he used when he talked to any one else. He
+had not acquired the professional whine as yet, and for that
+reason he received answers to his prayers, because he prayed
+to God and did not whine to the people who might be around to
+hear him. Many godly people have been shocked in the Mission
+because some redeemed drunkard would use slang in his fervent
+prayer to the Almighty. He simply prayed in his own language.
+The language of the slums is just as much a language as German
+or French; it must be learned before it can be understood. The
+idea that these men must not pray until they have learned that
+professional, unnatural, painful whine, is as absurd as confining
+prayer to Latin. When a man or woman is occupied by the wording
+of a prayer and not with the prayer and with their God, it may
+be beautiful, but it never gets higher than the bald spot on
+their head.
+
+Jimmie prayed as he ran along the railroad tracks, and asked
+God to help him say the right thing at the right time.
+
+"Hello, Bill, yer up, are yer? Yer must be feelin' better."
+
+"Yes, he's up and he ain't had a drink ter-day nor las' night,
+have yer, Bill?" said Mrs. Cook proudly. "And what's more, yer
+ain't goin' ter have none, are yer, Bill?"
+
+Bill was eating canned tomatoes from a can with a spoon. Tomatoes
+taste good to a man in Bill's condition and they will stay down
+when nothing else will. "He's got ter git out ter-day an' sign
+his pension papers, 'cause he won't git his money on the fifth
+if he don't," said Mrs. Cook. "I wish you'd go with him, Jim,"
+she whispered. "He ain't very strong yet."
+
+"I'll do it, yer bet," said Jimmie. "What time do yer want ter
+go, Bill?"
+
+"About ten o'clock I'll be ready." Bill spoke with great
+difficulty; he was very weak and nervous.
+
+"Dat'll gi' me time ter go and see Floe," said Jimmie. "I'll
+be back at jus' ten o'clock. Yer make him wait fer me, won't
+yer, Mrs. Cook?"
+
+"Yep, I'll keep him if I can."
+
+The colored cook let Jimmie into the Dolly resort through the
+kitchen, and he was shown to Floe's room by the nurse, who had
+been called in by Doctor Snyder the night before.
+
+"Oh, Jimmie child, I'm so glad to see you. I've been thinking
+of what you said about asking Jesus to help me. He can't help
+me now; it's too late. Come here, Jimmie dear, I want to ask
+you to do something for me." Jimmie went to her bedside.
+
+"Will you do what I want you to do?"
+
+"I'll do der best I kin ter help yer," said Jimmie proudly.
+"Yer was good ter me and I want ter be good ter you. I'll never
+forgit the dollar yer sent ter Ma when Pa was sick, and the
+shoes yer----"
+
+"Oh, never mind any of that, Jim; I want to ask you to do me
+this favor before you get started to talk and say something
+I don't want to hear," said Floe.
+
+"For years the whole aim of my life has been to forget, forget,
+forget the past. I had succeeded to some extent and begun to
+believe that I was away from even the thought or desire for
+anything better than this kind of life. What you said last night
+has brought it all back to me and I have been living in the
+past all night, only to awake this morning to this awful reality.
+Now, Jimmie child, I don't want to hurt you, but I want you
+to promise me that you will never mention anything of that kind
+to me again. It can never do me any good and it only makes me
+miserable."
+
+"Jesus never makes yer miserable, Floe. He makes yer glad yer
+livin'," said Jimmie, and before she could answer he went on
+in his enthusiastic way: "Say, Floe, you know Mrs. Morton at
+the Mission? Well, she's the best that ever happened. Talk 'bout
+der limit; what der yer tinks she wants now? I went up ter der
+house this mornin' and tol' 'em about yer gittin' hurted, den
+I tried ter tell 'em 'bout Dave Beach, but Mrs. Morton, she
+says, 'Tell me more about Floe.' 'Do yer know Floe?' I ast.
+'No, I do not, Jimmie, but I want to know her.' And dis is what
+she said: She wants yer to come up ter her house while yer hurted
+and live with her. She says it ain't so bloomin' noisy, er somfin
+like dat. You'll git well quicker and she says she wants ter
+take care of yer, and yer can live dere all der time if yer
+wants ter, and be Floe Morton. Gee, dey got a swell house with
+carpets, an' pictures an' things jus' like yer got here, and
+grass and trees outside and a hummock ter swing in, an' I'll
+come ter see yer every day. Mrs. Morton tol' me ter come jus'
+any ol' time I wanted ter. Won't that be fine, me an' you both
+there?"
+
+Floe tried to speak, but Jimmie talked so fast she couldn't
+get a word in edgewise.
+
+"Dis here lady with a white doo-bob on her top-knot says I can't
+stay only fer a minute, so I wants ter tell yer what we're doin'.
+Me an' Mrs. Morton is comin' up ter see yer, and she's goin'
+ter tell yer what she wants, and if Doctor Snyder and dis lady
+says yer can be took, Mrs. Morton is goin' ter get a hearse
+wagon an' take yer home, an' I'm goin' along. I never rid in
+one of 'em tings yet. I must go now, but I'm comin' back with
+Mrs. Morton. So long."
+
+"Wait a minute, Jimmie," cried Floe. "Don't bring that woman
+in here, Jimmie, do you hear?" But he was gone, or at least
+he did not give her a chance to talk back.
+
+Jimmie went straight to the Cook home. Mrs. Cook said Bill had
+just left, but had promised not to take a drink. Jimmie hurried
+out of the house, and for some reason, unknown even to himself,
+started for Fagin's. He slipped in unnoticed and there stood
+Bill on one side of the bar and Fagin on the other. Bill had
+just got a drink to his mouth with great difficulty after Fagin
+had poured it out. When he set the glass down upon the bar,
+Fagin filled it up again and Bill "downed" it. As Fagin filled
+it for the third time, Jimmie rushed up with his canvas bag,
+in which he carried papers. Swinging it around his head with
+all his strength, he hit the glass and bottle and sent them
+across the room, breaking both on the floor. Bill thought it
+was his wife. As he ducked his head, he said, "I didn't drink
+no booze, that was for Fagin."
+
+"Don't lie, Bill. I saw yer git two, but I don't blame yer fer
+it. Fagin knows how near yer come ter cashin' in and how weak
+yer are, and wants ter git yer goin' agin 'cause yer pension's
+'bout due; he knows he'll git it if yer drunk."
+
+Fagin was white with rage and started for Jimmie, but Jimmie
+straightened up and made himself as large as he could, and,
+with his big gray eyes fastened upon Fagin, said, "I'm not scart
+of yer bluff; yer coward 'nough ter hit me 'cause I'm little,
+but yer goin' ter listen while I tell yer somfin. Yer killed
+me Pa, an' yer know it. After yer got all his dough, yer put
+him out and he was left in Rice's wagon box ter freeze, while
+yer slept in yer good bed. When it come ter buryin' him yer
+didn't give nothin' but a lot of poor booze ter git der people
+drunk, and der funeral broke up in a free-for-all; now yer after
+Bill 'cause yer tinks yer can git his pension. His woman's got
+her second washin' out so fur dis mornin' an' when I ast her
+how she did it she said she washed all night long, 'cause rent
+was up and Bill was sick. Then she said she'd wash her finger
+nails off if she could help Bill git saved. She loves Bill and
+her kids jus' as much as your woman loves yer and yer kids,
+and I don't see what yer want ter kill him off fer. Dey never
+done nothin' ter you. Ah, go on! he wouldn't either git it nowhere
+else if he didn't git it here." A big tear stole down Jimmie's
+face as he stood looking first at Fagin and then at poor Bill.
+
+"Der Bible say that God loves everybody, and I believe it 'cause
+it says so, but I can't see no show fer a dog like you, Fagin.
+You're worser than any guy I ever see'd. You go ter church every
+Sunday mornin', and Sunday afternoon and the rest of the week
+yer booze and steal and raise h----. Yer got ter----"
+
+"Oh, shut up, you little fool; some one told you to say that;
+no kid your age got off such a temperance talk without some
+one helping him. That fresh guy from the Mission put you up
+to rubbing it into me; I'll fix him, and you, too, if I ever
+hear any more of it." Fagin was beaten by the boy and he felt
+the defeat keenly.
+
+"I suppose you'll hit him in der back of der head wid a stone,
+like yer did der poor dago last spring. If yer lookin' fer a
+good square game I tink Morton could fix yer so you'd need one
+of yer fottygraffs on yer shirt front ter tell yer wife who
+was comin' home ter dinner. Come on, Bill, let's git out of
+here and go sign yer papers. Dis is no place fer gentlemen like
+me and you."
+
+Jimmie took Bill by the hand and started for the door. Bill
+had not spoken during the "temperance lecture," and when Jimmie
+took him by the hand he allowed himself to be led away and seemed
+glad to have a chance to get out of the place. He did not want
+to drink, and yet he could not help it.
+
+"So long, Fagin," said Jimmie when he had reached the door with
+Bill. "When yer confess next Sunday mornin' be sure ter tell
+'em 'bout dis hold-up, and tell 'em dat all der money yer gits
+is money yer steals from der women and kids of Bucktown. An'
+say, Fagin," Jimmie yelled from the sidewalk, "tell 'em erbout
+Bill's pension yer didn't git. So long."
+
+Jimmie got Bill back home after the papers were signed and Mrs.
+Cook put him to bed. Neither spoke of the two drinks to her
+and she was very happy as she thought of the wonderful things
+ahead of her. "Fer thirty years Bill's been havin' spells,"
+she said to herself. "Now I believe it's goin' ter change. He
+can't help gittin' saved if he hears them people at der Mission
+tell how Jesus kin save 'em."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_"Auntie's Favorite Horse"_
+
+
+Dave Beach had traded for an old pacing mare. She was very sore
+forward, at least sixteen years old, but had a world of speed
+for a short distance. In the harness she was quiet and kind,
+but in the barn she would drive nearly every one from her. To
+feed her was a trick few men cared to learn. She would kick
+and bite, and any one who was the least bit timid could do nothing
+with her. Dave had traded for her in another city. She was not
+known to horsemen around here. He expected to make some money
+with her, so he kept her out of sight as much as possible until
+he got her "fixed up a bit," as he put it.
+
+He had her teeth filed until she had a six-year-old mouth. Her
+shoes were pulled off to let her feet spread and grow. The clippers
+had removed her long hair, and Dave had fed her to bring the
+best results for looks and speed. He knew nothing of her breeding,
+but that was "easy" for a man as horsy as Dave. When she was
+ready for the public to see she looked as racy as even Dave
+had hoped for.
+
+The morning paper contained the following advertisement:
+
+"For Sale.--The bay pacing mare Becky Wilkes, by Forward, by
+George Wilkes, by Hamiltonian 10, by Abdallah 1. Dam: Mamie
+B, by Brown Hal, by Tom Hal, Jr., by Kitrell's Tom Hal, by old
+Kentucky Tom Hal. This mare is six years old, kind and gentle,
+perfectly sound, and can show a 10 clip to wagon. With proper
+work she would be a world beater. Reason for selling--death
+in the family. Call mornings at Beach's Livery, Brady St."
+
+After Dave's experience with Jimmie he went to bed and slept
+until ten o'clock. He was standing in the big double door of
+the barn, thinking what a fool he had made of himself, when
+a young fellow drove up to the curb and stopped.
+
+"Is this Beach's Livery?"
+
+"Yes, sir, this is the place," said Dave.
+
+"I see by the paper that you have a pacer for sale." The speaker
+was a fine-looking young man, with a good face and an easy manner.
+He was dressed in the pink of fashion, and his general make-up
+would denote wealth. Dave was not sure of the kind of man he
+had to deal with. He looked him over carefully, but somehow
+he was unable to tell whether he was "horse wise" or not. "He'll
+soon show his hand," said Dave to himself. "He's either 'dead
+wise' or 'dead easy.'"
+
+"Yes, sir, I have a very fine bay mare and she's for sale to
+the right party," said Dave. "No one can get that mare to abuse,
+as she is very dear to our family. Do you want a horse for
+yourself, sir?"
+
+"Yes, I want one that can go faster than these," pointing to
+his own team.
+
+"I have the one," said Dave.
+
+"Can I see it?" asked the stranger.
+
+"Sure you can; I'll hitch her up. (Did you hear him say 'it'?
+Mamma, he's easy!) Oh, Hank!" he shouted. "Put the harness on
+Becky. (I knew that he'd soon show his hand," said Dave to himself.
+"He don't know no more about a horse than a jack-rabbit knows
+about ping-pong, or he'd never say 'it.' Just watch me hand
+it to him.) Ginger up a bit, Hank, this man is in a hurry."
+Of course Hank, the barn man, knew what that meant, and when
+Becky came out she was champing the bit and pawing like a race
+horse. Dave was proud of the way she was acting.
+
+"She's perfectly safe and kind, but full of life. Not a mean
+thing in her make-up, and if you can find an 'out' about her
+I'll give her to you."
+
+As he was hitching her to his light wagon he kept up his horse
+talk, and no one could beat him talking horse if he thought
+the man had money.
+
+"You see this mare is out of Colonel Thompson's celebrated string.
+The Colonel's wife was my aunt, and when this mare was a colt
+auntie fell in love with her and would not allow her to be raced
+down through the circuit. When Johnny Seely broke Joe Patchen
+he used Becky to work him out and she would go away from him
+like he was tied to a post. Yes, siree, man, this is the greatest
+mare on earth and she never had but one chance to show what
+she could do, and I'll stop and tell you about that right now.
+Just once we got her away from the home stables and I'll never
+forget that day. There had been much good-natured bartering
+among the owners and drivers down through the grand circuit
+during the season and much money had changed hands among them
+that did not reach the 'bookies.' When we got to Lexington,
+Kentucky (our old home), at the close of the season, the owners
+got together and put up five hundred dollars each for a special
+race. Mile dash, free-for-all, either gait, association rules
+to govern. Harry Loper to start them and the first horse under
+the wire to take the jack-pot. The Lexington association added
+five thousand dollars.
+
+"The day of the race was ideal, clear and warm and no wind blowing
+to speak of. Oh, my! I'll never forget the excitement of that
+day till I die. There was Splan with Newcastle, Geers with Robert
+J., McHenry with John R. Gentry, Curry with Joe Patchen, Curtis
+with Walter E., Wade with Dr. M., Kelly with his California
+wonder. You see every one had to start some horse, even if he
+was outclassed. Old Dad Hamlin said to the Colonel, 'What are
+you going to start, Colonel?' 'I don't know; I'll find something,'
+he said."
+
+The young man did not understand a word that Dave said, but
+looked at him in wonder.
+
+"After a talk with Seely," Dave went on, "it was decided that
+they would slip this mare over to the track. Yes, sir, this
+very mare here, and Johnnie was to drive her in the special
+race. In the betting she was never mentioned until the Colonel
+went up and asked for a price on her. 'Oh, about fifty to one,'
+said Al Swarengen. 'Do you want a dollar's worth of her?' 'Give
+me a hundred dollars' worth,' said the Colonel. He bet a hundred
+dollars with every bookie in the bunch at fifty to one. When
+they scored for the word, Johnnie was in fifth position. They
+got away the third time down. Every horse was on their stride.
+Mack had the pole, Curry lay alongside, and Geers, with Robert
+J. going strong, moved in from the outside just after they left
+the wire. A blanket would cover the three horses at the quarter
+pole. Johnnie was trailing close up with Becky, but the trotters
+Newcastle and Walter E. with Dr. M. were outclassed. The pacers
+went the first quarter in 30 3/4 seconds, but slowed some in
+the back stretch. At the half Gentry made a skip, but recovered
+quick and still held the pole in the upper turn. No one in the
+grand stand seemed to notice the little bay with her nose at
+the wheel of Gentry's sulky. The Colonel knew she was there,
+and he knew also that if Johnnie could get her though the bunch
+at the head of the stretch there'd be a horse race in Kentucky
+that day that would make the Doble-Marvin days look like deuces
+in the Mississippi steamboat jack-pot. As the horses entered
+the stretch Geers spoke to his knee-sprung bay and he responded
+as only Robert J. could. Patchen, the big, honest black, was
+pacing the race of his life. McHenry can team 'em in the stretch
+like few men, and Gentry was on his tiptoes but holding his
+place. Johnnie could see no opening to get through as they entered
+the stretch, so he made a long swing clear to the outside with
+Becky and then pulled her together for the finish. A hundred
+yards from the wire it was anybody's race. Mack was reefing
+Gentry; Geers was talking to Robert J. in his own way; Patchen
+kept his feet, although Curry was standing up yelling at the
+top of his voice. The people in the grand stand hardly breathed
+as Seely came up strong on the outside with Becky. 'Who is that?'
+they cried. 'See that bay horse come up on the outside. What
+horse is it? Who's driving her? Come on, boys!' they cried.
+When within fifty yards of the wire Johnnie shifted both lines
+into his left hand and cut Becky with the whip the full length
+of her body. She shot forward with a mighty lunge and Johnnie
+rained blow after blow upon her. Just before they reached the
+wire Robert J. and Becky were neck and neck, with Gentry and
+Patchen at their throat-latch. Drivers and horses were straining
+every nerve. The great crowd in the stand were holding their
+breath. The judges and timers forgot their duty. Never will
+the excitement of that moment be forgotten. Just in reach of
+the wire Johnnie let go of Becky's head and she shot her nose
+under the wire about two inches ahead of Robert J. For a moment
+all was still, then that crowd of Kentuckians threw their hats
+in the air and yelled themselves hoarse. As the drivers came
+back to dismount, Johnnie was lifted high in the air and was
+literally carried into the weighing-room, while Becky was led
+to the stables to be cooled off. The niggers rushed to the Thompson
+mansion on the river and told Mrs. Thompson about Becky's victory.
+When the Colonel drove back home, with Johnnie leading Becky,
+Mrs. Thompson came at once to the stables and said to Johnnie,
+'Uncover that mare.' 'She is very warm, ma'am,' said Johnnie.
+'You can see her in the morning all right.' 'I want to see her
+now,' she said, and she did. When she was those whip marks she
+was very angry and said, 'That mare will never race again while
+I live, nor after, if I can help it.'
+
+"When auntie died she gave the best she had to her favorite
+nephew, with the understanding, of course, that I would never
+enter this mare in a race, and I meant to keep her for my own
+use, but every time I see her it reminds me of my poor, dead
+aunt, and I am determined to let some good man have her, but
+he must use her right. It would kill me to think that auntie's
+favorite horse was abused."
+
+Hank got a coughing spell and started on a run for the back
+end of the barn. He fell into a box stall and rolled and laughed
+until it seemed he would never get his breath.
+
+"Oh, mamma!" he said, "if that dood gits that old blister he'll
+wish she was in heaven with Dave's auntie about the first time
+he goes to feed her." He doubled up again and rolled in the
+straw and laughed until he cried. "I like a liar, but Dave suits
+me too well," he cried. He peeked out of the stall just as Dave
+and his victim started out of the door. "Becky sure feels her
+ginger this morning," he said, and then fell back in the stall
+and rolled and laughed some more.
+
+Dave drove down over the pavement slowly, talking "horse" as
+he went. When he got down on the river bank, where there was
+about eighty rods of good dirt road, he "cut her loose." She
+was used to a "brush" and liked the dirt, and the way she threw
+dust into that "dood's" eyes pleased Dave. "Did you ever see
+anything like it?" said Dave as he pulled her up. "And she only
+got started on that short road. She goes a mile better than
+a quarter." Dave turned her around and handed the lines to the
+young man and said, "You drive her down this time."
+
+He fell in love with her on the way to the barn and said to
+Dave, "How much do you want for her?"
+
+"That's the trouble," said Dave, almost ready to cry. "When
+it comes to parting with her it almost breaks my heart; but
+I can't keep her around the barn, as she constantly reminds
+me of dear auntie. I hardly know what to say. You'll be kind
+to her, won't you?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I'll be kind to her for your aunt's sake," the young
+man replied kindly.
+
+As they got back to the barn Dave looked at the slick, fat team
+that belonged to the young man and said, "Where did you get
+that pair of farm horses? They'll do for plowing, but you want
+something that will beat anything in town, and Becky can do
+it."
+
+After much talk about breeding and speed, Dave finally made
+him an offer to trade Becky for the team of five-year-olds and
+one hundred dollars. The man counted out the money without saying
+a word and Dave nearly fell dead, as he said afterward. "I could
+just as well got five hundred. What a chump I was!"
+
+As the young man's coachman led the mare away that afternoon
+after delivering the five-year-olds, Dave called to him and
+said, "Say, watch her a little in the stable. She's cross, but
+if you ain't afraid of her you can handle her easy. Don't let
+her bluff you."
+
+"Thrust me for that, laddy. Oi've seen the loikes of this before,"
+pointing with his thumb to the mare. "Oi sure feel sorry fer
+paple and harses that are in their second choildhood. Shure,
+if yer aunt was old enough to remember when this mare was a
+colt she was old enough to die."
+
+Dave smiled, but made no reply. Generally after a good trade
+Dave took every one out for a drink and felt very happy. The
+boys stood around and waited, but Dave failed to say anything.
+At last Hank ventured to say, "Are yer any good, Dave? We're
+spittin' cotton."
+
+"You go treat the boys, Hank; I don't want a drink now," said
+Dave, throwing him a dollar.
+
+For the first time in his life he felt as if he had robbed some
+one. Everything is fair in a horse trade, and he figured that
+the fellow could afford to get beat once. "It will teach him
+a lesson," he said.
+
+"I think he is too game to come back and holler, and I'm not
+afraid of that; but it sort of looks like taking advantage of
+his ignorance."
+
+Jimmie and his Friend kept coming up before him until Dave almost
+wished the old mare was back in the barn.
+
+"I'd give this hundred dollars if I didn't feel so much like
+an old fool woman. I don't know what's ailing me. I've traded
+my dead aunt's favorite horse at least fifty times and it never
+hurt me before like it does now. I guess I need a drink. I'm
+losing my nerve."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_Jimmie's Education_
+
+
+"Don't it beat the Dutch, Fagin, the way things is goin' in
+Bucktown?" said Mike, the bartender, to Fagin one afternoon.
+"The gang all seem ter be on the bum. When I went home fer dinner
+this noon, my old lady said she was goin' ter the Mission with
+Mrs. Cook and Bill ter-night. Ever since that funeral of Moore's,
+she's been sendin' the kids to the Mission Sunday school and
+not one of 'em will come inside of this place now. I've been
+thinkin' I'd put a stop to the whole business and not let her
+nor the kids go near that place, but I guess I'll keep my hands
+off until they git to interferin' with my business; then I'll
+stop 'em hard."
+
+"Has Bill Cook been down to the Mission?" asked Fagin.
+
+"Yes, and I guess they've got him, too. His woman says he's
+converted, er whatever they calls it, and he told me this mornin'
+that he wasn't drinkin'. I ast him to have one, but he said
+he'd foller the water wagon the rest of his life. I give him
+the laugh, but he wouldn't stand fer it."
+
+"This is pension day, isn't it?" asked Fagin.
+
+"I think so," said Mike.
+
+"Well, if Bill stays sober after he gets his money, then I'll
+think there's somethin' ter this Mission business," said Fagin.
+
+"That kid of Moore's is makin' most of this trouble and Jewey
+says that Dave Beach is stuck on him. Dave always had good sense,
+but he don't show it now. He paid for the ambulance that Mrs.
+Morton used to take Floe to her house with, and that must 'a'
+cost three dollars anyhow."
+
+"Does he come here much now, Mike?"
+
+"Not much, and when he does come he acts sore all the time.
+The other mornin' about four o'clock he came in here and got
+a couple of drinks and he was so mad he was cryin'. When I ast
+him what was eatin' him he wanted to lick me. I tell you, things
+are changin' in Bucktown, Fagin, and I don't like it a little
+bit."
+
+The women of Bucktown were talking the same way, and little
+groups of them could be seen here and there in earnest conversation
+about Mrs. Cook, Bill Cook, Floe, Jimmie, etc.
+
+"I'll bet Bill'll be drunk when he gits his money," said Mrs.
+Kinney. "You git her mad and she'll swear like she always did.
+Where der yer suppose she got that hat she's wearin'? When I
+ast her she said the Lord give it to 'er, and she says she's
+goin' ter have a carpet and curtains. I wish Bill would git
+drunk and just teach her a good lesson. She's gittin' too smart.
+She'll quit speakin' to us next thing we know, and that Floe
+that Mrs. Morton took home with her, I'll bet she'll be a bad
+girl agin. If I don't miss my guess, they'll be sorry they ever
+saw Bucktown."
+
+Even the children would stand and look at Bill when he passed
+by on the street. Morton had gone with him to his old employer
+and told him how he was saved, and he gave Bill back his old
+place in the shop. He worked ten hours each day and went to
+the Mission every night.
+
+Jimmie was getting on well with is studies under Mrs. Price.
+She gave him an hour each morning and he worked hard to get
+his lessons. On Saturday morning he rushed into Morton's office
+very much excited. "What's the matter, Jimmie?" said Morton.
+
+"Matter? Matter 'nough, I guess. What yer been steerin' me up
+against? I was jus' gittin' my lesson up at Price's and her
+man comes home. He's a travelin' man and gits home once a month.
+He stood lookin' at me and, pointin' his finger at me, says,
+says he, 'What's dis?' His woman says, says she, 'Dat's Jimmie
+Moore and I'm teachin' him ter read and write. He's one of der
+Sunday school boys at der Mission.' 'I don't want no such cattle
+in my house,' he said ter his woman. 'He's covered wid vermum
+(er somfin like dat) and'll steal yer blind when yer ain't
+lookin',' and said he wa'n't runnin' no mission, and 'f I didn't
+git he'd sling me out der winder."
+
+"Well, what did you do, Jimmie?" asked Morton.
+
+"Do? I ducks out, and ducks out fast is what I do. Did yer ever
+see him? He's one of them tall, skinny guys and he's got er
+high shiny hat dat makes him taller and skinnier. He'd go fer
+a lead pencil at der masquerade in Bucktown, if he had a rubber
+on his head. Den his overcoat is so big dat he's got a belly-band
+buttoned on behind it ter make it littler. Gee, he looked like
+er rat-tail in er quart cup. I wouldn't care so much, but I
+left my book dere, and I'm scart ter go after it."
+
+"Did you say anything to him, Jimmie?" asked Morton.
+
+"Not on yer life, I didn't have time; he came near beatin' me
+to der door as it was."
+
+"Well, never mind, Jimmie. It may be all right. I will get your
+book for you and you will learn to read and write yet," said
+Morton kindly. "Romans 8:28 says that 'all things work together
+for good to them that love God.'"
+
+While Jimmie's experience with Price was hard for one so
+sensitive,  before the day ended he was very glad it had happened
+as it did.
+
+As Mr. and Mrs. Price started for down-town that evening to
+do some shopping, Mrs. Price took Jimmie's book with her. When
+they reached Brady Street, where the Mission is located, she
+turned suddenly to Mr. Price and said, "I have that boy's book
+with me and I want to take it to him at the Mission. Please
+walk down with me; it is rather rough on Saturday night and
+I am timid alone." For what followed, hear Mr. Price's own words
+as he stood up to speak in the Mission at the end of the service.
+
+"If any one had told me this morning that I would be in a place
+like this to-night, I would have considered that person insane.
+It was all a mistake on my part, but I thank God for the mistake.
+For years I have been a traveling man. To hold my trade and
+be a good fellow I have always treated my customers right. In
+this way I got into the habit of drinking. Never got drunk very
+often at first, but the habit kept growing until it has been
+the other way--never got sober very often. Ten days ago, in
+another city, fifteen of us boys met at the supper table in
+the hotel and one of them bet the drinks for the crowd with
+another one. I do not know what the bet was about, but after
+supper we all adjourned to the barroom to drink with the loser.
+Before we stopped we had all treated and every one was ready
+for anything. To make a long story short, we have all been drunk
+for ten days. I reached home this morning without money; I left
+my hotel bill unpaid. My firm does not know where I am. When
+I went into the house my wife had company, and I was mad in
+a minute. I tried to kick a boy out of doors that she was teaching
+to read. I have not spoken a pleasant word all day. To-night
+my wife asked me to come to this place with her, as she had
+a book she wanted to deliver to that boy. He was nowhere to
+be seen, so I sat down with her in the back part of the building
+to wait for him. Two large women came in and we moved in against
+the wall to make room for them. I became very nervous and wanted
+to get out, but I couldn't get past those women. I was angry
+enough at my wife to choke her, but she sat there and sung those
+old songs and never once looked at me. When my eye caught sight
+of the motto there, 'How long since you wrote Mother?' I almost
+fell from my chair. Listen, fellows; I had as good a mother
+as God ever gave a boy. I had promised her many times that I
+would not take another drink, but never could keep my word.
+One day when I was in a barroom, I received a telegram from
+my wife which read, 'Come at once. Mother is dead.' When I reached
+home they told me that the last conscious words were a prayer
+for her boy. I had promised her to meet her in Heaven, but I've
+gone lower and lower since her death. I thank God for that boy;
+I thank God for those words on the wall and for Mr. Morton's
+invitation to come to Mother's God. Since I came to this altar,
+Jesus has saved me and I mean to live for Him and meet Mother
+over there."
+
+As he sat down there was scarcely a dry eye in the house. Jimmie
+went up to him and put his hand on his arm and said, "I was
+sore at yer ter-day, but I love yer now, Mr. Price." Price took
+the boy in his arms and hugged him. "I love you, my boy, and
+will always be your friend. You will always find my home open
+to you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_The Meeting in the Market_
+
+
+The first day that was warm enough for people to stand outside
+and listen, Mr. Morton had his big, white stallions hitched
+to the gospel wagon, which was also white. The team had wintered
+well and weighed 3400 pounds. As they stood champing their bits
+outside of the Mission, Jimmie watched them for a few minutes
+and then, turning to Morton, said, "Please, kin I go erlong,
+Mr. Morton?"
+
+"Where shall we go, Jimmie? We want to have about three meetings
+this afternoon if the weather stays warm, as it is now."
+
+"Have all t'ree of 'em in Bucktown," said Jimmie. "I bet I kin
+git Dave Beach ter come over ter the corner ter see dem dere
+horses, and I'll bet Fagin and Mike'll come over ter hear Bill
+Cook make his speel, and say, come here er minute." Jimmie took
+Morton off to one side, away from every one, and whispered into
+his ear: "If you'll git Floe ter go down there an' sing dat
+dere song erbout 'Tellin' yer Ma I'll be dere' [Tell Mother
+I'll be There], it'll git der whole bunch out to der meetin'."
+
+"Floe is not very strong, Jimmie, and I hardly think she would
+care to sing in the open air."
+
+"If she'll do et, will yer let her?"
+
+"Oh, yes, if she cares to go I will be glad to take her with
+us on the wagon. You must not tell her I wanted you to ask her,
+Jimmie," said Mr. Morton as the boy started on a run to ask
+Floe to sing.
+
+"She'll be dere by der time der wagon is," said Jimmie, all
+out of breath, "an' I'm goin' down now ter tell der gang you're
+comin'."
+
+Before the second song had been sung at least two hundred people
+stood before the gospel wagon at the corner of the Market. All
+ages, sizes, colors, kinds, some drunk, some under the influence
+of morphine and opium, and some Greeks and Russians who could
+not understand one word of the English language. On the edge
+of the crowd were three or four girls from the Dolly resort,
+and as many more from other houses of this same type near by.
+Oily Ike, Fred Hood and Jewey were there; but Fagin, Mike, Dave
+Beach and Jimmie were nowhere to be seen. When the male quartet
+arose to sing, every one became very quiet and listened attentively
+to the singing.
+
+Morton read the first Psalm and then told the crowd just why
+they were there. "We are here to tell you about the Lord Jesus
+Christ and His power to save; because we know that every one
+of you needs Him," said Morton.
+
+This class of people can never be "fooled," and one endeavoring
+to help them in a spiritual way must be very frank and honest,
+and never, never use "nice" words or sayings to catch them.
+They are very suspicious of everybody and when any one attempts
+to win them to his way of thinking he must do it in a straightforward,
+honest manner. Do not call them "dear friends" or "dear brothers
+and sisters"; do not tell them that they are all good people,
+as they at once begin to look for a collection box or expect
+you to have something to sell. They say, "He's either a fool
+or thinks I'm one."
+
+"The City Rescue Mission stands for the old Gospel of Christ,
+to save from sin," Morton continued. "And on this wagon to-day
+are those who were once far in sin, but who are now happy in
+Him. Every one here knows Mr. Cook. He is your neighbor and
+I believe your friend. You all knew him in his old life and
+most of you know how God has kept him these past weeks. I know
+that you will all want to hear from him, and after he speaks
+to you I shall ask a lady to sing. She will sing, by request,
+'Tell Mother I'll be There.' I take great pleasure in introducing
+to you Mr. William Cook."
+
+"What's the matter with Bill?" yelled a voice.
+
+"He's all right!" came from nearly every throat as Bill stood
+up to speak.
+
+Jimmie stepped from the side entrance of Fagin's saloon and
+was quickly followed by Mike, Fagin, Dave Beach and Gene Dibble.
+Bill started to speak just as they lined up in front of him,
+and he became so nervous he could scarcely stand up, much less
+say anything. Fagin was quick to notice his embarrassment and
+laughed a rough Ha! Ha!
+
+"Cut that out, Fagin!" said Dave, stepping up to him.
+
+The look in Dave's eyes told Fagin that he meant all he said.
+
+"Go on, Bill, you're a winner," he said. "We want to hear you
+speak."
+
+"Well, fellows, yer know that this is a new one on me. I've
+never been up against this gospel wagon game before in my life.
+My trainin' has been along other lines. I can't make no speech,
+but I can tell yer this, that fer six weeks I ain't wanted no
+booze and I've been workin' most of the time and got money in
+my pocket to buy booze if I wanted it. See?"
+
+"Good boy, Bill," yelled Dave. "You're getting your second wind;
+all you need is a little more weight forward and jogged every
+morning in hopples for about ten days and you've got 'em all
+skinned in your class."
+
+"Go on, Bill," said Jimmie, "tell 'em what yer told 'em in der
+Mission last night."
+
+"It's this way," said Bill, great drops of perspiration standing
+on his forehead. "It's this way. In the army I learned to drink.
+After I came home I took up my old trade and have always worked
+when I could keep sober. Since I have lived in this part of
+town I've been drunk more than I have been at work. Every time
+it happened, I'd swear that it would never happen again, but
+I'd go and git it before I'd git my breakfast. I tried to stop,
+but couldn't handle myself at all. Every one round here knows
+how my family suffered. I could make enough ter keep 'em good,
+but I'd spent it fer likker. My wife has took in washin' to
+keep the kids from starvin' and freezin'. She had to work all
+night, more'n one night, and when Freddie died--Oh, my God!
+I wish I could forgit that! When Freddie died--I was drunk.
+Just before he passed away I promised him I'd never drink another
+drop, but I went out and got into the delirium tremens before
+I stopped. When I came to myself I found that my wife had sold
+everything in the house but the stove, table, a few chairs and
+one bed to pay the funeral expenses. You can call it fun, if
+yer want to, but I tell you it's hell on earth. Most of you
+know what's happened lately. When my old pal, Bob Moore, died,
+I was in bad shape; but I never got away from what God did fer
+him before he died. When I got out of bed, Jimmie took me to
+the Mission and Jesus saved me the first night I went there.
+My wife was saved the night before, and I tell you we're havin'
+different times at our house nowadays. We had chicken fer dinner
+to-day and we've had meat once a day fer two weeks. I've eat
+garlic sausage and rye bread on the free lunch counter fer thirty
+years, but now I'm eatin' chicken and givin' the old lady and
+kids a chance ter eat too."
+
+When he sat down some tried to clap their hands, but the crowd
+did not feel that way. Every one knew that Bill had told the
+truth and they were touched with the earnest way in which he
+told his simple, straightforward story.
+
+"Now, while you are quiet, I will ask our friend to sing for
+us," said Morton. "Please come to the wagon, sister," he said
+to Floe.
+
+As she stepped upon the wagon every eye was upon her. She was
+dressed in a dark tailor-made suit, very plain but neat. Mr.
+Worden at the organ started to play softly. Floe walked to the
+front of the wagon and looked down into the faces of many she
+knew. Her large black eyes beamed with love for them all. She
+was very pale, but calm, and as she stood there she looked like
+a queen.
+
+"It's Floe," said Dave. "She can beat 'em all singin'."
+
+"Gee, don't she look swell! I'd hardly know her," said Gene
+Dibble.
+
+"Before I sing this song for you," she said in a clear, sweet
+voice, "I wish to say something about it. Most of you, no doubt,
+know this song and many of you like it, but to me it means more
+than any song I could sing. It simply tells my life story. Let
+me read it to you.
+
+ "When I was but a little child, how well I recollect,
+  How I would grieve my mother with my folly and neglect.
+  And now that she has gone to Heaven, I miss her tender care,
+  Oh, angels, tell my mother I'll be there.
+
+ "Tell mother I'll be there, in answer to her prayer,
+  This message, guardian angel, to her bear.
+  Tell mother I'll be there, Heaven's joys with her to share,
+  Yes, tell my darling mother, I'll be there.
+
+ "When I was often wayward, she was always kind and good,
+  So patient, gentle, loving, when I acted rough and rude.
+  My childhood griefs and trials, she would gladly with me share,
+  Oh, angels, tell my mother I'll be there.
+
+ "When I became a prodigal and left the old roof-tree,
+  She almost broke her loving heart in grieving after me.
+  And day and night she prayed to God to keep me in His care,
+  Oh, angels, tell my mother I'll be there.
+
+ "One day a message came to me, it bade me quickly come,
+  If I would see my mother ere the Saviour took her home.
+  I promised her before she died for Heaven to prepare,
+  Oh, angels, tell my mother I'll be there.
+
+"This last verse has been enacted in my life within the past
+week. Mrs. Morton had written home and told father and mother
+that I was with her. This message came the next day, 'Come at
+once. Mother is dying'; it was signed 'From your Father.' In
+company with Mrs. Morton I reached the old home at four o'clock
+the next afternoon. I used to think the place was lonely and
+dreary, but I can never tell you how glad I was to set my foot
+in the old yard once more. Everything looked so good to me,
+and the same old apple tree where I used to swing when I was
+a little girl seemed to welcome me home. Dear old Rover came
+to meet me and, although it had been three years since he saw
+me, he knew me. We hugged each other and in his dog way he made
+me feel that I still had a place in his warm heart. The night
+I left home, the old dog followed me down the road and it nearly
+broke my heart when I had to send him back; he loved me when
+I thought all the world hated me. As I reached the porch, father
+came to the door. Oh, how different he looked! When I left home
+he was strong and active and now he is bent with sorrow, sorrow
+that my sin has brought to him. He took me in his arms and kissed
+me again and again. I tried to ask him for forgiveness; but
+he would not listen to me. 'You have been forgiven ever since
+you left home that awful night, and I have searched for three
+years to find you and tell you so. But come, my child, you must
+see your mother; she has been calling for you ever since her
+sickness.' He led the way into mother's bed chamber. 'Here's
+daughter, Mother,' he said.
+
+"'Oh, I knew you'd come,' she said with a feeble voice; 'I just
+knew that God would send you to me before He called me home.
+Raise me up, child, I can't see you.'
+
+"I lifted her frail body and held her in my arms and--and--well,
+after I made the promise that is in this last verse, she smiled
+and, with her eyes turned heavenward, my dear, sweet mother
+went to be with Jesus. You all know my life, how I suffered
+for my sin; I tried to forget father, mother, home and God.
+Loving hands have lifted me back to life once more and Jesus
+has saved me from it all and I can truthfully say, 'Oh, angels,
+tell my mother I'll be there.'"
+
+The song that followed carried everything before it, and nearly
+every one was weeping. The rich contralto voice was never better
+and Floe was singing from her very soul. She forgot the people
+around her, she was in another world. When the chorus had been
+sung for the last verse the male quartet took it up, singing
+softly, and seemed to carry that crowd into the very heaven
+of which Floe had been singing.
+
+Morton closed the meeting in prayer and was inviting them to
+accept Jesus as their Saviour. While he was talking, Floe stepped
+from the wagon to join Mrs. Morton; as she passed Jewey he made
+a remark to her and insultingly referred to her past life.
+
+Gene Dibble, hearing it, threw his coat to Dave Beach, and stepping
+up to Jewey said, "Get out of your clothes and square yourself.
+No man can insult a girl that's tryin' ter trot square and make
+me like it." There was an old grudge of long standing between
+these men and every one knew that a fight was unavoidable; both
+men were strong and each had a reputation as a fighter to sustain.
+
+"Give 'em room," cried Dave. "We'll see fair play."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Dibble," cried Floe, "don't fight for me. I deserve
+all he said and more."
+
+Gene turned to Floe, and awkwardly raising his hat was about
+to speak, when Jewey said, tauntingly, "Oh, I guess he ain't
+looking fer it very bad; he was just bluffin' anyhow."
+
+Jimmie took Floe by the hand and pulled her away from the ring
+that Dave had formed by crowding the people back. Every one
+wanted to see Jewey whipped, but all knew that Gene had his
+hands full to do it.
+
+It is not the purpose of the story to describe this fight, but,
+from a fighter's standpoint, it was a beauty. Gene had just
+come from the North woods and he was hard and strong, and had
+better wind than his antagonist. It was give and take from the
+start; blood was flowing freely on both sides. Jewey was becoming
+winded and began to beat the air and strike very wild.
+
+"Keep out an upper cut," said Dave, "you've got him coming all
+right."
+
+Gene pulled himself together and went in to finish his man.
+With a right swing, he caught him square on the point of the
+jaw; in short, as Dave said, "Gene won it in a walk. Bully for
+Gene!"
+
+On the way to the Mission, Morton sat with his head in his hands.
+"Beat again," he said. "Every time I get that people together
+the devil spoils the whole business."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Fred Hanks_
+
+
+The topic of conversation in Bucktown on Sunday evening was
+the Gospel wagon service. Many little groups were seen here
+and there talking about Floe, Bill, the singing or the fight.
+Every one but Mrs. Kinney liked some part of the service, but
+she was never known to be pleased with anything.
+
+"The idea of Bill Cook sayin' the things he did! And if I'd
+'a' been his wife I'd hide my face. My! I was ashamed fer him.
+I'll bet he'll be drunk for weeks out and I jus' wish he would,"
+she said.
+
+When some one said they thought the singing was fine, Mrs. Kinney
+said, "Hum, you call that singin'? That big feller that stood
+on the end and singed bass looks like a catfish when he opened
+his mouth. The fellow that plays the organ looks for all the
+world like a girl, and if you call that singin', I wish you
+could hear the singin' I heard at the Indian Medicine Show last
+summer; that's what I call real singin'. And that Floe standin'
+up there, singin' afore that big crowd and her mother hardly
+cold in her coffin! The style is that she mus' not go in 'siety
+fer a year, and if you call that singin' you don't know the
+first principle of music er 'siety. To my way of thinkin', them
+big horses should be a-workin' 'stead o' hawlin' a lot o' lazy
+galoots around town fer pleasure. Why, that Morton wears as
+good clothes as the undertaker. I'll bet he steals the money
+out of the collection box at the Mission."
+
+Mrs. Kinney never missed an opportunity to express her opinion
+and the neighbors knew just what to expect from her. She was
+the only person in the neighborhood who dared criticise Dave
+Beach.
+
+"He's a devil, and you'll all find it out when it's too late,"
+she said.
+
+At the Mission the house was packed and several who had been
+at the Bucktown wagon service were in the audience. Gene Dibble
+was there with a "shanty" over his eye, his lip was swelled
+to twice its natural size and his right hand was tied up in
+a red handkerchief. He certainly looked the worse for wear.
+He dropped into a back seat and not a word sung or spoken escaped
+him.
+
+When Floe arose to sing, by request, the same song of the
+afternoon, Gene straightened up, and before she was half through
+the song he was standing on tiptoe. Floe saw him as he stood
+there and recognized him as the man who had fought to defend
+her that day.
+
+At the close of the meeting, Morton gave an invitation and Gene
+was the first one to raise his hand for prayer. He raised the
+one with the red handkerchief about it and Floe went at once
+to the rear of the room, to speak to him about his soul.
+
+"I'm so sorry to have caused you all this trouble," she said.
+"You would not be in this condition to-night were it not for
+me."
+
+"That's nothin'; I'd 'a' done it fer any girl that's tryin'
+to trot square. It's that song that's botherin' me, not the
+fight. Do you think I could ever be a Christian like you folks
+talk about? I have a good mother, but I'll never meet her there
+like you sing about in the song, the way I'm goin' now; what
+will I do?"
+
+When Floe and Gene walked up the aisle together, several people
+from Bucktown saw them. Before Gene could reach Dave's barn
+the news had preceded him. When Gene and Jimmie walked into
+the barn, Dave leaped to his feet and, taking Gene's free hand
+in his, said, "You're right in the step you've taken to-night
+and I'm glad for you. I know that your life can be a useful
+one and I don't want any one to put a straw in your way. No,
+don't say a word about that; it's not for me, but I feel just
+as much pleased to see you get into it as if it were for me.
+I know it is right, but I've lost my chance."
+
+At the conference in Morton's home the next morning, there was
+a time of great rejoicing, also a time of great anxiety. Jimmie
+was very happy over Gene's conversion.
+
+"We'll git der whole bunch yet," he said to Morton. "Der was
+five of 'em at the altar from Bucktown, last night, 'sides Gene.
+Fred Hanks was er comin' ter der Mission, but he got pinched
+at der railroad crossin' fer bein' drunk. Fagin give 'm four
+big drinks and er bottle ter start on, den steered him fer der
+meetin'. He got nabbed 'fore he got dere."
+
+Fagin had hoped to have Fred cause a disturbance at the meeting.
+He, Mike and Jewey were doing everything in their power to stop
+the Mission work in Bucktown. The fight on Sunday was a part
+of their plan; unfortunately for them, Dave Beach was there
+to see fair play and it resulted in a victory for Gene. Morton
+knew that the long fight that was to follow in Bucktown would
+be hard and bitter, but he also knew that God could give the
+victory.
+
+"Is Fred in jail now, Jimmie?" he asked.
+
+"Dat's what Dave tol' me dis mornin'."
+
+After prayer, Jimmie with Morton started for the jail.
+
+"Dis is Mr. Morton from the Mission, Fred; he wants ter see
+yer." With great difficulty Fred arose from the old plank upon
+which he was lying. He took hold of the bars with both hands,
+but was so weak he could not stand on his feet.
+
+"Just sit down, my boy; I want to talk to you," said Morton,
+kindly.
+
+Fred fell back exhausted upon the plank. In the city police
+stations of this country, a plank built against the wall is
+used for a bed.
+
+"You see," continued Morton, "I've been all through this thing
+and know just how you feel. Jimmie tells me you have been drinking
+for several weeks without a let-up. Have you had a drink this
+morning?"
+
+"No, and I'm near dead fer one," said Fred.
+
+"If I should take you out of here and help you to get on your
+feet, would you like to make a try for a better life?" asked
+Morton. "I was in a worse shape than you when I staggered into
+a Mission and learned of Jesus' power to save drunken men. I
+turned myself over into his keeping and I've not wanted a drink
+for over seven years. I know you are weak, but God is strong
+and He will fight for you. If you will promise me to do as I
+tell you, I will pay your fine and take you out of here."
+
+"I drew a ten spot or a three thirty-five," said Fred. "If you'll
+pay it for me I'll pay you back as soon as I get to work and
+I'll never take another drink as long as I live."
+
+"Unless you let the Lord undertake for you," said Morton, "you'll
+be drunk again inside of a week."
+
+Morton prayed with him and then went to the clerk of the police
+court and paid his fine.
+
+After Fred had had a bath and shampoo Mr. and Mrs. Morton went
+with him to his home. His wife and boy had not seen him for
+ten days and they were actually suffering for the necessities
+of life. It required much talk and coaxing before Mrs. Hanks
+would agree to give him one more chance.
+
+"You do not know him as I do," she said to Mrs. Morton. "A thousand
+times he has promised me to stay away from saloons and not drink,
+but he's broken every promise he ever made me. Our rent is two
+months behind, and baby and me have gone to bed hungry more
+than one night on account of his drunkenness. I'm tired of it
+all, and if it wasn't for baby's sake I'd end my life. I wish
+I was dead." She buried her head in her hands and wept bitterly.
+
+"It'll never happen again; I'm done this time sure," and he
+meant what he said.
+
+Morton left money with Mrs. Hanks to buy things to eat. She
+put Fred to bed and cared for him as tenderly as loving hands
+could. A woman's love is wonderful. In a few days Fred went
+to work at his old job, determined to be a sober man the rest
+of his life.
+
+That night he stood up in the Mission and said he was sober
+and was going to remain sober. On his way home to dinner next
+day, Fagin called to him from the saloon door.
+
+"Hello, Fred, they tell me that you're going to be a Mission
+stiff. Come in here a minute." Fred stepped inside.
+
+"I never thought you would get yellow on the bunch," said Fagin.
+"A man's a baby that will admit he can't take a social glass
+and stop when he wants to. Let's all take one together. Give
+us all something, Mike," said Fagin.
+
+Fred did not have the courage to say No. He not only took a
+drink with Fagin, but remained there until he was so drunk he
+couldn't see. Never had he been worse, that night he was helped
+into the Mission by Fagin's gang. They followed him in and waited
+to see the fun, but Fred was too drunk to make a noise and soon
+fell asleep.
+
+At the close of the meeting, Mr. Morton shook him until he awoke.
+"Come, Fred, I want you to go home with me to-night; I want
+to help you and be your friend." The next morning Fred was so
+ashamed of himself that he did not want to see the Mortons.
+He dressed himself and tried to slip out of the house unnoticed.
+Mrs. Morton intercepted him at the door.
+
+"Never mind about the past, my boy," she said. "You let God
+take care of you for to-day and you'll be all right. Your boss
+said you could go to work and your wife wants you to come home.
+We'll help you in every way we can, and if you'll only trust
+God, everything will brighten up."
+
+Fred was heartbroken.
+
+"I don't deserve such treatment from you folks; I turned you
+and lied to you like a thief," he said.
+
+"But Jesus loves you and we love you and your family loves you
+and you can go out in the strength of God and win the fight.
+Keep away from saloons and pray for help," said Mrs. Morton.
+
+Bill Cook was having a hard fight with the Fagin crowd. They
+had tried every way to get him to drink but he had been able
+to say No, in the name of the Lord. Then they attempted to get
+him angry.
+
+"Bill gets paid fer testifyin' in the Mission; he's just workin'
+a new graft," Fagin said one day.
+
+Bill was angry in a moment and wanted to fight, but before he
+could say anything, Jimmie said to Fagin, "Yer bet yer life
+he gits paid fer servin' Jesus. Look at dem clothes he's wearin'.
+He never had 'em when yer was gittin' his dough. He's dressin'
+jus' as swell as yer dressin'. When his woman gits rigged up
+fer meetin' she makes yer old gal look like er wheelborrer in
+er autermobile parade. Say, Fagin, yer worked up 'cause yer
+thinks yer kin git Bill sore an' den he'll take one. Not him;
+he's drinkin' other kind er booze, eh, Bill?"
+
+Gene Dibble was tormented almost beyond human endurance. He
+walked into Dave's barn one day white with rage. "If I've got
+ter stand this kind of a deal ter be a Christian, I'll cut this
+whole business out."
+
+"What's the trouble?" asked Dave.
+
+"There'll be trouble enough when I see Fagin," said Gene; "I
+just came from his place, but I can't find him. The dirty thief
+says that Floe is wrong and that I'm just playin' this here
+religious dodge just to get Floe. Floe an' me have been singin'
+together some and he says we're not trottin' square. I'll tell
+yer, Dave, there'll be singin' over to his house and he won't
+know anything about it if he don't stop mentioning Floe's name
+in that old cheap booze dump. That name's too good ter even
+be spoke in there."
+
+Dave smiled and Gene was quick to see it.
+
+"Now see here, Dave, you're wrong. I'm not stuck on Floe and
+no dog like Fagin can kick her down while I live."
+
+"You stay away from Fagin's," said Dave, "and don't let anything
+that you hear bother you. I'll see him to-day and he'll stop
+talking or I'll make him stop."
+
+After Fagin learned that he was causing Gene and Bill so much
+trouble he doubled his efforts to persecute them. "They're afraid
+to pass by the place any more," he said. "If they're tryin'
+to do good, why don't they come in and talk to us? I guess Gene
+can't leave his girl long enough.
+
+"Say, kid, come here," he called to Jimmie. "Why don't Morton
+come down here and try to convert us? Does he think we're so
+good we don't need it?"
+
+"Der yer want him ter come?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Sure I want him, but he won't come; he's scart of the cars."
+
+Thirty minutes later, Jimmie rushed into Fagin's. There were
+ten or twenty men at the bar and Jimmie called out so every
+one could hear, "Say, Fagin, Mr. Morton said he'd come ter-night
+at eight er-clock an' hold a meetin' in yer saloon if you'll
+promise ter sell no booze from eight ter nine. Will yer do it?"
+
+"Be game, Fagin, be game!" cried several voices. "Don't let
+him bluff you."
+
+Fagin hesitated a moment.
+
+"You're yellow, Fagin. I heard yer ask the kid why he didn't
+come and now yer afraid he will come."
+
+"Be game, old man; we'll all come to the meeting," said another.
+
+After much good-natured talk of this kind, Fagin turned to Jimmie
+and said, "Tell 'em to come, kid, and we'll give 'em the warmest
+time they've had in months."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_"Fagin's Meetin'"_
+
+
+At eight o'clock Fagin's big bar-room was filled with people.
+The crowd was mostly made up of men, although several women
+had ventured in to see the fun. At the bar men were standing
+three deep. Mike and Fagin were both working hard, but were
+unable to wait upon the crowd.
+
+"Here they come," cried some one at the door.
+
+In a moment every one was quiet and still, as Morton and his
+workers filed into the place. Fagin's place was known as a free
+and easy. In the rear of the room was a platform upon which
+stood several chairs, a table and an old grand piano.
+
+"Go back to the platform," said Fagin.
+
+Jimmie, Floe, Gene Dibble, Bill Cook, Mrs. Cook and Morton stepped
+upon the platform. Floe went to the piano and started to play
+the old song, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." Without an invitation
+nearly every one joined in the singing and Morton was pleased.
+As the song ended about twenty strong voices started to clap
+their hands and sing:
+
+ "Monday I got awful drunk,
+   Tuesday I got sober,
+  Wednesday night I stayed at home
+   To think the matter over.
+  Thursday I went out again,
+   Friday I took more,
+  And Saturday night they found me tight
+   On Fagin's cellar door."
+
+They repeated it three times, making more noise each time. Just
+as they stopped, Floe and Gene started to sing:
+
+ "On Sunday I am happy, on Monday full of joy,
+  On Tuesday I've a peace, the devil can't destroy.
+  On Wednesday and on Thursday I'm walking in the light,
+  Friday 'tis a Heaven below, the same on Saturday night."
+
+Without a stop they ran into Doane's greatest song, "Hide Me,
+O My Saviour, Hide Me."
+
+Whatever Fagin's plans were, he had forgotten them. Never were
+two voices better adapted for this sort of music. Gene's tenor
+voice blended perfectly with Floe's rich alto. But, what is
+more essential in the singing of the Gospel, they both knew
+what they were singing about and to whom they were singing.
+
+The best story teller on earth can not tell a story well unless
+he knows it, neither can the best singer on earth sing the Gospel
+well unless he knows it. The question so often asked to-day,
+Why are there no conversions in our church? could be answered
+sometimes by a glance into the choir loft.
+
+Every one stood spellbound as Floe and Gene put their very souls
+into the song:
+
+ "Hide me when my heart is breaking, with its weight of woe,
+  When in tears I seek the comfort, Thou canst alone bestow."
+
+Every word was a prayer and Floe was singing to God alone; she
+seemed to forget the crowd and the place; she remembered the
+time she had taken her broken heart to Jesus with its weight
+of woe. Gene was self-conscious, but no one knew it, as every
+eye was upon Floe. She stopped playing and stood up as they
+very softly sang the chorus the last time. Falling upon her
+knees, she said: "Let us pray. O Father, we thank Thee, that
+Thou hast given us a chance to praise Thee in this room. In
+former days, in this same place, we blasphemed Thy Holy Name.
+We thank Thee for forgiveness, for peace, for power to overcome
+sin, and now, O Father, our prayer is for the people in this
+room. We know that Thou lovest them all; may they realize to-night
+that Jesus is the sinner's Friend. For the habit-bound ones,
+we pray, set them free, O God!" With tears streaming down her
+cheeks she prayed for Dave Beach, Fagin, Mike, Ike Palmer, and
+the girls that were living lives of shame; the plea she made
+to God for Fred Hanks would almost melt a heart of stone. "Forgive
+these men for getting poor, weak Fred drunk to-night," she prayed.
+"He is trying hard, but Mr. Fagin and his helpers are doing
+all they can to kill him; for Jesus' sake stop them, for the
+sake of his heart-broken wife and his little boy, stop them.
+May every man, woman and child here to-night be saved for Jesus'
+sake. Amen."
+
+Not a person moved during the prayer; every word went straight
+to the hearts of the people; many of the women were weeping
+and the men were fighting back their tears with more or less
+success.
+
+After Fagin had consented to allow a meeting in his place he
+and his crowd had gone after Fred and filled him full of liquor.
+At the right time he was to be brought into the room and introduced
+as one of Morton's converts. This was to be the signal for the
+crowd to break up the meeting.
+
+Floe had spoiled their plans by her prayer. Fred came into the
+room unnoticed while she was praying, and at the close of her
+prayer he pushed his way to the platform. In his drunken way
+he said he didn't want to blame the gang for his condition,
+but he had tried as hard as he could and it was no use, there
+was no hope for him. He began to cry and left the room by the
+rear door. He pulled the door open again and, waving his hat
+in the air said, "You pikers will never git another chance to
+make a monkey out of me," and slammed the door.
+
+Morton jumped to his feet and said to the crowd, "I want Floe
+and Gene to sing for you, but before they sing I will ask Mrs.
+Cook, one of your neighbors, to say something about Jesus in
+her home." Morton was afraid to have Bill Cook speak, but thought
+Mrs. Cook could keep the crowd still better than a man.
+
+"Everybody here knows me," said Mrs. Cook. "We've lived here
+in this town for thirty years. All that time, until a little
+while ago, we've had a drunkard's home. Jesus saved me one night
+and my husband came the next night and we're havin' the blessedest
+time yer' ever heard tell on. Bill don't drink no more and I
+ain't been mad fer two weeks now, 'cept when Fagin and Mike
+tried ter git Bill ter drink. I don't see fer the life of me,
+what they want ter git Bill back inter the gutter agin fer"--Morton
+trembled--"they oughter be satisfied; they've had all his money
+fer years. I wouldn't do that ter them er their families if
+they was tryin' ter git along like we are," and she began to
+cry.
+
+Before she could go on with her talk, Morton arose and said,
+"Floe and Gene will sing." The song selected was the duet, "They
+are Nailed to the Cross."
+
+ "There was One who was willing to die in my stead,
+   That a soul so unworthy might live,
+  And the path to the cross, He was willing to tread,
+   All the sins of my life to forgive.
+
+ "They are nailed to the cross, they are nailed to the cross,
+   Oh, how much he was willing to bear!
+  With what anguish and loss, Jesus went to the cross!
+   But he carried my sins with Him there.
+
+ "He is tender and loving and patient with me,
+   While He cleanses my heart of its dross;
+  But 'there's no condemnation,' I know I am free,
+   For my sins are all nailed to the cross.
+
+ "I will cling to my Saviour and never depart,
+   I will joyfully journey each day,
+  With a song on my lips and a song in my heart,
+   That my sins have been taken away."
+
+After the song Morton gave an invitation. Mike stepped out from
+behind the bar, untied his white apron and walked up to the
+platform. "If you people think that I kin be fergiven I want
+it right now," he said. "I did try to get Bill to drink and
+I got Fred Hanks drunk and I'm an awful sinner, but I'm done
+with the whole business; I'll never sell nor take another drink
+in my life if God will forgive me the way I've used Him." Mike's
+wife pushed her way through the crowd and they both bowed in
+prayer at the old saloon platform. At least twenty-five men
+and women came forward that night and prayed to God for mercy.
+Fagin stood with his elbows on the bar and watched everything
+that was going on, but he said nothing.
+
+At nine o'clock Mr. Morton said, "We agreed to get through in
+this place at nine o'clock and our time is up. I wish to thank
+Mr. Fagin for his kindness to us, and before we close I wish
+to ask God to bless him and his family and get him out of this
+business."
+
+Fagin bowed his head as Morton prayed, and as they passed out
+he shook hands with all of them and invited them to come again.
+
+The next night at the Mission the first man upon his feet to
+give a testimony was Oily Ike Palmer. "I was in Fagin's bar-room
+meeting, and before I went to sleep last night Jesus saved me.
+Every one in the First Ward knows me and they know very little
+good of me. I was educated for the ministry and expected to
+be some one in this world. Everything was bright before me;
+my parents were both Christians and well to do. Every one, in
+the little place where I lived, pointed me out as a model young
+man. A so-called doctor gave me morphine for pain one day and
+told me to carry it with me always. Some of you know the rest
+of my story without my telling it; it soon got the best of me.
+For fifteen years I have been a drug fiend. I have tried every
+known remedy and they have all failed. With the drug I began
+to drink whisky. In order to keep myself in these things, I
+became dishonest. For ten years at least I have made my money
+in a crooked way. My family have suffered everything through
+my sin. We were not raised in the slums, but have drifted to
+the very bottom because of my vicious habits. My brothers and
+sisters never mention my name, and in the old home my picture
+has been turned toward the wall. Last night, when Jimmie Moore
+came to my home and invited me to the Fagin place, I could not
+refuse him. He told me that Jesus could help me and that you
+people here would be my friend. I went to Fagin's and heard
+of my way out; I left that place determined to find God if I
+could; I spent half of last night upon my knees, and to-night,
+although very weak and nervous, I know that I am saved. I've
+been twenty-four hours without drug or whisky and I could never
+do that unless God was with me. I just want to say one more
+thing before I sit down. Jimmie Moore came to my house again
+to-day and invited me to this meeting. When I told him I had
+no clothing fit to be seen in a place like this, he took every
+penny he had, thirty-seven cents, I believe, and bought these
+pants from Rosenbaum. He has promised to leave an evening paper
+there for sixty-three days to make up the dollar--the price
+of the pants. I did not know that until this evening, or I should
+not have allowed him to do it. Jesus saved me, but that boy
+did his share of it and under God I want to thank Jimmie for
+my salvation."
+
+Mike and his wife both spoke and thanked God for salvation.
+
+Bucktown was well represented at the meeting and several professed
+conversion. After the meeting Jimmie said to Morton, "When we
+git Dave and Fagin, Fred Hanks and Doc Snyder saved, Bucktown
+will be just as good as der Bulevard ter live in. Jewey got
+pinched ter-day and he'll git a ten spot, 'cause dey found der
+goods on him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_Fred and Doc_
+
+
+When Fred Hanks left Fagin's, he started for the river determined
+to end his life. Fred had made many desperate attempts to live
+a sober life, but with him it was out of the question. He had
+made resolution after resolution. He had taken the gold cure
+and in less than forty-eight hours after being cured he was
+drunk again. His own father had said to Morton, "There is no
+hope for him, and I wish that he was dead." Five different times
+Morton had prayed with him and Fred had promised each time to
+stay away from drink and trust God; and he meant every word
+he said. Men do not get to be drunkards from choice; they cannot
+help it. It is the first drink that makes drunkards, not the
+last. The hundreds of thousands of young men and women who are
+drinking just for fun to-day will be a great army of helpless
+drunkards to-morrow. Of course, if they were told this, every
+one would laugh at the idea that they would ever be drunkards;
+but, allow the question, where else do the drunkards come from?
+Many men say they can drink or they can leave it alone. Every
+drunkard in the world has been able to say the same thing sometime,
+but that time passes for nearly every one. Men who say they
+can drink or leave it alone, invariably drink. The same thing
+is true with the poor fallen girl. Never did a girl start out
+with the intention of going into the very depths of sin; but
+Charles N. Crittenden tells us that three hundred thousand women
+are living in houses of ill-fame in the United States alone.
+Their average life is only five years and it takes six thousand
+girls every thirty days to keep the ranks filled. Seventy-two
+thousand girls enter upon a life of shame every year; again,
+allow the question, where do they come from? No man starts out
+to be a drunkard; no girl starts out to be a harlot; why are
+there so many? Unconsciously they become slaves to sin, and
+the result is, our country is reeking with this class of people.
+One who has given a life among women of this class says that
+nine out of every ten come from the dance hall. One thing is
+certain, they all come from our homes. Nearly all would gladly
+leave the awful life they are living if they could, but, like
+poor Fred Hanks, they are bound hand and foot by sin. Nothing
+but the power of God can save the fallen.
+
+Fred went to the bridge over the East Side canal and, climbing
+to the top of the railing, deliberately leaped into the dark
+waters, twenty feet below. Several people saw him when he leaped
+and he was rescued from the water before he could drown. When
+the officer from the corner saw who it was he called the wagon
+from the police station and Fred spent the night in his wet
+clothing on the plank in a cell. As he was loaded into the wagon
+several people inquired who he was. "Oh, only a drunken barber,"
+was the reply; "we get him often. It ain't the first time he's
+tried this."
+
+The next morning, with Jimmie, Morton went to the station and
+took Fred to his home. There was a change in Fred; Morton saw
+something in him that he had never noticed there before.
+
+"Fred," he said kindly, "you have had a very close call; but
+God in His love and mercy has seen fit to spare you. What do
+you mean to do with your life?"
+
+"With God's help I'll give it all to Him." And right then and
+there he unconditionally surrendered himself to God.
+
+Mrs. Hanks took her baby in her arms and paid Fagin a visit.
+
+"O Mr. Fagin, won't you please give Fred a chance to stay sober?
+Every time he gets away from liquor for a few days, you do all
+in your power to get him drunk again. Last night he nearly
+succeeded in killing himself, after you had filled him up, and
+you would have been his murderer had he accomplished his purpose.
+Baby and myself have had nothing to eat to-day and I cannot
+stand this strain much longer; for our sake, won't you give
+him a chance?"
+
+Fagin was very nervous as he thought of the awful way he had
+acted. He promised her, not only to refuse Fred any liquor in
+his place, but said he would do all in his power to keep it
+away from him in other places. As she left the place, he slipped
+a dollar into her hand and said, "Feed the kid; he looks hungry."
+
+Fred was sick from the effects of his bath the night before;
+but so determined was he to do right, that he went with Jimmie
+to Doctor Snyder's office and from there to work. The doctor
+gave him some medicine and called him "a d---- fool" for his
+attempt of the night before.
+
+"Say, Doc," said Jimmie, "Fred's got Jesus ter-day and boozin'
+and him is done. Ter-night in der Mission he's goin' ter speak
+erbout it. Yer promised ter come down some night; won't yer
+come ter-night t' hear Fred?"
+
+"If Fred will speak I'll come down and sit on the front seat,"
+said the doctor, tauntingly, as he turned to Fred.
+
+"You'll be on the front seat then," said Fred, "'cause I'm goin'
+to speak if God lets me live. I've tried lots of times to brace
+up, but this time I'm trustin' God. If you're a man of your
+word you'll be in the Mission to-night and on the front seat
+too."
+
+That night the doctor was there. He had several drinks aboard,
+but was not in the least intoxicated. After the singing and
+Scripture reading the meeting was thrown open for testimonials.
+Bill and Mrs. Cook stood up and told how God had saved them.
+The doctor had never heard them speak before and he at once
+became very much interested. When Mike Hardy stood up to speak
+the doctor was so surprised that he turned around in his chair
+and unconsciously said, "Well, I'll be d----! When did he get
+into this game? If there's nothing in this religion they're
+talking about, a mighty lot of people are getting fooled in
+this Mission business."
+
+Fred Hanks took hold of a chair in front of him and with difficulty
+rose to his feet. "I don't expect any one to take stock in me,"
+he said; "I have made so many mistakes and turned the Mission
+people so many times I am almost ashamed to look at them. I'm
+not making any promises this time. I've turned my case over
+to Jesus Christ. If I get drunk now, He's to blame, 'cause he's
+running the whole shooting match. My life has been a failure
+from start to finish. When I was a boy I carried papers; one
+of my regular customers was an old Dutch woman, who used to
+brew her own beer. Every evening when I delivered her paper
+I got my glass of beer. I got so I looked ahead to it and when
+I was sixteen years old I could drink as much beer as a man.
+I learned the barber's trade, and before I was twenty years
+of age I was known as a drunken barber. I braced up many times,
+but when I started again I always went lower than I was before.
+I got into trouble, was arrested, and pled guilty. On account
+of my parents, the judge suspended sentence with the understanding
+that if I ever took a drink, he would call me up before him
+and give me five years. With the State prison staring me in
+the face I managed to stay sober three months. During that time
+I worked hard, got good clothes on me and married one of the
+sweetest girls that ever lived. After our marriage--well, it's
+the same old story; why should I tell it again? I've been in
+jail all over this country. My picture is in the Rogues' gallery
+in more than one city. I did not want to be dishonest, but a
+man can't drink whisky and be honest.
+
+"I have stolen the pennies out of my baby's bank to satisfy
+that awful desire for whisky. Don't tell me that a man does
+that because he wants to; I couldn't help it. God help me; I've
+tried as hard as any man ever tried to be somebody but that
+craving for whisky was there and it had to be first in my life.
+Whisky was my god, I worshiped it, I loved it better than my
+family, my life. I've taken the shoes off my feet in the winter
+time and traded them for whisky. But to-day, thank God, I've
+not even wanted a drink. The first day in years that I've not
+wanted whisky is to-day. Gold cure failed; prison bars failed;
+wife's tears failed; but Jesus has taken even the desire for
+it away. When a man has that gnawing at his very vitals there
+is but two things that will touch it, a big drink of whisky
+or the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God, I have Him, and I'll never
+thirst again. Last night I leaped from the bridge into the water
+to end my life; but God saved me from death and hell. I do not
+understand how He can love such a brute as I am, but He does
+and now I'm saved."
+
+The doctor was very much moved by what he had heard.
+
+"I never heard it just this way," he said. "The way you folks
+put it it's a personal matter and I never could believe that.
+I believe there is some great Supreme Being; but I do not believe
+in a personal God. I think that after you die you get what's
+coming to you; but you people say that you're saved right now
+and you know it. That can't be."
+
+In the inquiry meeting, Morton took his Bible and sat down beside
+Dr. Snyder. "Doctor, read that verse," he said, opening his
+Bible to John 5:24.
+
+"Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and
+believeth on Him that sent me, hath----"
+
+"Does that mean, 'will have'?" asked Morton.
+
+"No, 'hath,' is in the present tense," said the doctor.
+
+"'Hath everlasting life', then, means that we have it now, don't
+it, doctor?"
+
+"That is what it says, sir."
+
+"Now look at Isaiah 53:6," said Morton.
+
+"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one
+to his own way and the Lord hath laid----"
+
+"Not 'will lay'," said Morton. "'Hath laid' upon Christ 'the
+iniquity of us all.' Does that mean you, doctor?" asked Morton.
+
+"Can it mean me?" asked the doctor.
+
+"If the Word is true, it means you," said Morton.
+
+Like a flash it dawned upon the doctor that Jesus had borne
+his sins in His own body on the tree. He leaped to his feet
+and said: "All these years I've been a chump! I've never been
+satisfied with myself. Had I known this was for me I would have
+had it long ago." He was very happy and went from one to the
+other shaking hands. When he met Jimmie, he hugged him.
+
+"I want to go to Bucktown and tell the gang I'm saved," he said.
+
+After the meeting Fred Hanks, Doctor Snyder and Jimmie went
+from place to place in Bucktown and the doctor did all the talking.
+He preached to every one he met. In Fagin's, he told them all
+how Fred and he had been saved and begged every one of them
+to give their hearts to God. The last place they went was to
+the Dolly resort. Never was there such a plea made for purity
+as the doctor made to that crowd of women. "There is something
+better for you than this sort of life," he said. "God loves
+every one of you and wants to save you now. If you will trust
+Him to save you I will find you a different home than this."
+He did not look for what happened.
+
+"If you will find me a place where I can live like other people,
+I'll leave here to-night," said one. "I don't like to live this
+way, but there's no one cares for me."
+
+About midnight the door-bell rang at the Morton home, and when
+Mr. Morton opened the door, the doctor, Fred and Jimmie stood
+there with three women from the Dolly resort.
+
+"I was preaching to the people down in Bucktown," said the doctor,
+"and I told them I'd find them a better place to live if they
+would trust God. They took me at my word and I have nothing
+else to do but bring them here."
+
+Every bed was filled but they were made welcome by Mrs. Morton.
+
+"Come right in," she said. "One of you can sleep with Floe and
+the other two can sleep in this bed downstairs. To-morrow we
+will get another bed and put it in Floe's big room."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Morton slept on the floor that night.
+
+When Jimmie reached the barn it was two o'clock.
+
+"Where in the world have you been, Jimmie?" asked Dave.
+
+Jimmie told Dave of all that had taken place and he was as much
+interested as was Jimmie.
+
+"Gee, der doc is a comer sure!" said Jimmie. "He can preach
+jus' as good as he can peddle pills."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+_The Picnic_
+
+
+Mrs. Morton and Floe spent most of the time during the day in
+the homes of Bucktown. They would call the neighbors together
+to sew for a certain family. After the sewing a prayer meeting
+was held and many women and children were saved in these meetings.
+In this way the wives and children were made ready to join with
+the heads of the homes in Christian living. The children were
+dressed and put into the Mission Sunday school; the family altar
+was established and home life took on a new phase in Bucktown.
+Many were after the loaves and fishes only; and they got them.
+Mrs. Morton knew that they were trying to deceive her but she
+never stopped helping them. When real trouble came they would
+always send for her and many that started out to "work" the
+Mission found Jesus before the "work" ended.
+
+As time drew near for the Mission picnic, the young people and
+children talked of nothing else. Six or seven hundred people
+attend the annual picnic and the day is one never to be forgotten
+by those who go.
+
+Two days before the picnic, Jimmie rushed into Morton's office
+and said, "Mr. Morton, I want ter ast you fer somfin'."
+
+"What is it, Jimmie?" asked Morton.
+
+"Well, kin I have it?"
+
+"You can have anything I can give you, my boy; but what is it?"
+
+"I want der gospel wagon and white horses fer picnic day."
+
+"Now, what in the world do you want with a thing like that?"
+asked Morton.
+
+"Didn't yer say dat everybody was invited ter der picnic?" asked
+Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, that's what I said."
+
+"Well, I want ter take der Bucktown gang what can't go dere
+by demselves, and I want der wagon ter haul 'em. Der's more
+'an twenty of 'em 'at can't go dere in street cars. Der's
+one-winged Bob, Hump Rumpord, Goosefoot Sus, Stumpie-der-shine,
+Nigger Mose, Hop Hawkins, Blind Billy, der pianer player at
+Dolly's, 'sides those nigger kids of Griffin's 'at's been sick
+all winter, and 'sides, Mrs. Rollins says Swipsey can go wid
+me if I'll take care of 'im. He near died wid der dipteria and
+he's just gittin' over it."
+
+"Well, can you run such an excursion, if I get a good man to
+drive the team?" said Morton.
+
+"Kin 'er duck swim? 'Course I kin run her. Kin I have her?"
+asked Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, you may have them and we will help you in every way we
+can," said Morton. "How's Dave Beach getting on?"
+
+"Gee, he's under construction. He's mad at everybody, drinks
+like er fish and swears ter beat der cars," said Jimmie.
+
+"You mean that he is under conviction," said Morton.
+
+"Well, what ever she is, Dave can't swaller 'er an' she's near
+choking him."
+
+The day of the picnic was warm and bright, a great crowd was
+there with lunch baskets, and every one was in the best of humor.
+Thirty minutes after the cars reached the park, Jimmie's excursion
+came. The white horses were covered with foam and never did
+they seem so proud as they danced and pranced up the steep hill
+to the park. Jimmie stood on the back step and was as proud
+as the team. Bill Cook lifted Swipsey from the wagon and placed
+him in a hammock. Jimmie introduced his load as "der bunch."
+
+"When do we eat, Hump?" asked Bob.
+
+"I dunno. I hope mighty soon. Jimmie says it's goin' to be swell."
+
+"Wonder what dey'll have. Did yer see any of der stuff?" asked
+Hop.
+
+"Nope, but I hope they have pie an' soup an' cake wid raisins
+in it. Say, Mose, which you'd rather have, sweet potates and
+possum or watermelon an' 'lasses?"
+
+"Hush yuh business, man! Hush, yuh business! I'd drop dead suh,
+if I'd see a possum. Who said watahmelon? Look yah, man, I ain't
+had no pokchop foh moh 'an a week. Hush, man! I can't stan'
+no foolin' 'bout such impotent mattahs."
+
+When dinner was announced Morton gave orders to have Jimmie
+with "der bunch" sit at the first table. He told the young ladies
+who waited upon them to give them everything they wanted. The
+first things that were passed to them were several plates of
+ham sandwiches.
+
+"Please, how many kin I have of 'em, missus?" asked Hump.
+
+"You can have all you want of them; help yourself," replied
+the lady.
+
+He took no less than seven sandwiches the first grab. All that
+the rest of "der bunch" needed was some one to start the thing
+right, so they all took a like amount.
+
+"Leave der rest of 'em for Blind Billy," said Hump, as one of
+the ladies started away with one of the plates.
+
+"What's dat yeller stuff comin', Jim?" whispered Swipsey.
+
+"Gee! don't yer know nothin'?" said Jimmie knowingly. "Dat's
+hard eggs wid corn mush over dem."
+
+After Swipsey had tasted of it a few times, he turned to Jimmie
+and said, "Them's taters, jus' common taters, wid dat stuff
+spilt on 'em and they tastes jus' like green walnuts."
+
+More sandwiches, baked beans, pickles, potato salad, lemonade,
+etc., were being stored away so fast that it kept several ladies
+busy waiting upon them. When they were well filled Mrs. Morton
+sent a plate of fried chicken to their table. Mose stood up
+and looked at it.
+
+"Look, yuh woman, where dat chicken come from? I'd give my hat
+if I had dat ol' ham an' bread out of me. I'll put my share
+of dat chicken away if I bust."
+
+They all grabbed at once. Jimmie got the largest piece and gave
+it to Blind Billy. "I don't want no chicken, no how," he said.
+
+Two large watermelons followed. They were cut in fancy scallops
+and the waiter put them both down in front of Mose. He took
+the largest piece and laid his face upon it and laughed until
+he cried. "Mah, watahmelon, what am I eveh 'gwine to do with
+you. If I eat dat melon, I'll die suh. But I neveh could die
+any happier."
+
+They all ate watermelon till they could hardly straighten up.
+Then, when the ice cream and cake was set before them, there
+was great sorrow.
+
+With tears in his eyes, Stumpy stood up and said, "We're der
+biggest lot of d---- fools what ever lived. Here we'se are
+full to der neck wid bread and taters and dem cheap beans dat
+we'se kin all git ter home and never left no room for chicken,
+watermelon, ice cream and all dis here kinds of cake. Somebody
+oughter take us out in der woods and kick us ter death."
+
+"An' yer all doin' der same ting every day," said Jimmie. "Yer
+gits so full of cuss words and shootin' craps and boozin' and
+stealin' and lyin' dat yer don't have no room fer Jesus. Jesus
+is ice cream and cake an' watermelon, an' Morton says He's honey
+outen der rock. Yer don't git no feed like dis at Fagin's or
+no where else where they ain't got Jesus."
+
+On the way home, Jimmie attempted to get his load of cripples
+to accept Christ; and the argument they had about "'ligion,"
+as Mose called it, would make splendid reading for preachers;
+but we will pass most of it by. Jimmie told them that Jesus
+loved them all and was able to help them.
+
+"In der picture I see'd of Him, He's got long hair and wears
+long dresses like a woman and looks jus' like he's goin' ter
+cry. What's He know erbout guys like us? I can't walk er nothin'
+and kin a womany man help me?" asked Hop.
+
+"I don't care erbout no pictures," said Jimmie. "He ain't no
+womany man. He built houses and barns and was a carpenter when
+He was here. He was born in a barn and slep' in a barn same's
+I do an' He didn't have no more home 'an I got. He jus' knows
+what I'm doin' an' what I need an' kin take care of me, 'cause
+He's been there."
+
+When they were in the midst of their argument the wagon stopped
+in front of Dave's barn. Dave's opinion on any subject was final
+in Bucktown.
+
+"Say, Dave, come here, will yer?" cried Jimmie. "Dese pikers
+are tryin' ter say that Jesus don't love 'em and can't save
+'em and sech like and I want yer ter prove that I'm right. Don't
+Jesus love everybody?"
+
+"Yes, everybody," said Dave.
+
+"Ain't He got der power der save everybody?"
+
+"Yes, everybody," said Dave.
+
+"Cripples an' all?" asked Jimmie.
+
+"Yes, cripples and all," said Dave.
+
+"Won't He fergive 'em all der mean things dey done?"
+
+"Yes, all of them," said Dave.
+
+"An' won't He take care of 'em all der time?"
+
+"Yes, all the time," said Dave.
+
+"Now, smartie, what did I tell yer?" said Jimmie to Hop.
+
+"Say, Dave," said Hop, "do yer believe all yer sayin'?"
+
+"I certainly do," said Dave.
+
+"Say, Dave, why don't yer git it if yer believe it?"
+
+Dave was dumfounded.
+
+"Oh, it's not for me, boys," he said. "You see, it's----"
+
+"Den it's not fer us neither," Hop ejaculated. "So yer see yer
+don't believe a word yer say. We're goin'. So-long, Dave."
+
+Jimmie's eyes filled with tears as he watched Dave stand there
+with his head down. Never had he known Dave to get the worst
+of an argument before. As the team started, Dave looked up at
+Jimmie; their eyes met for an instant. The pain and sorrow on
+Jimmie's face pierced Dave to the heart.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+_Dave Strikes His Gait_
+
+
+After Jimmie had sold his evening papers he started for Dave's
+barn. His heart was heavy. Dave had a wonderful influence over
+this boy. Jimmie loved him and believed him to be a wonderful
+man. He found Dave in his office. "Dave, I want ter talk ter
+yer erbout what Hop said ter yer. He said 'at if it wasn't fer
+you it wasn't fer him either. Yer didn't say nothin' and I've
+been thinkin' maybe yer didn't have nothin' ter say. If yer
+sure it's not fer yer, how kin it be fer me? I don't know what
+ter do. I pray fer yer every day but if God don't want yer I
+might as well give yer up."
+
+He buried his face in his hands and began to weep.
+
+"It's me that's been wrong, Jimmie, not you. I've fought God
+ever since I've known you. After you went away to-day I hated
+myself for my cowardice. I know what is right and I'll do it
+or die."
+
+Jimmie looked up and said, "Der yer mean yer are goin' ter get
+saved?"
+
+"That's just what I mean, Jimmie, I am----" But before he could
+finish his sentence Jimmie jumped into his lap and hugged him.
+
+"Dear old Dave, I knowed you'd come. Let's go to der Mission
+right away, it's time fer der singin' already."
+
+Dave walked so fast that Jimmie had to run to keep up. The song
+service was in progress when they reached the Mission. They
+sat down in the front row of seats and after a few songs Dave
+jumped to his feet and said, "Excuse me, I want to get saved
+and I want to get saved bad. I can't wait for the word. I want
+to get off now. I've scored at will, I've scored by the pole
+horse and I've laid up a heat or two; but I want to get on my
+stride and face the wire agoing square. I'm done jockeying and
+with everything else that's crooked and I'm going into this
+race teaming for first money. I'll win by the help of God."
+
+After the meeting, Floe, Gene, Bill Cook and his wife, Ike Palmer,
+Mike Hardy, Mr. and Mrs. Morton and Jimmie went with Dave to
+Bucktown. He invited them to visit him at his barn; but his
+office was so small they could not all get in, so they went
+to the Cook residence. Dave excused himself and in five minutes
+returned with Fagin. Fagin was surprised when he saw the crowd,
+but he did not seem displeased. Dave was the first to speak.
+
+"Fagin, I let Jesus into my life to-night and I want you to
+do the same thing. We're going to start a Sunday school in Bucktown
+and we want your room for the purpose.
+
+"This afternoon I denied Christ and I feel that I've turned
+a lot of young folks from God; I will get them back for Him
+if I have to start a Sunday school and have meetings in the
+old barn besides. You know, Fagin, the other day when Fred Hanks
+tried to kill himself, you told me you were tired of your business
+and wished you could be a Christian. You told me how sorry you
+were you boozed him up six times after Morton had got hold of
+him. Now, Fred has given himself to God and is doing good work
+in the Mission and we want you to join us."
+
+Mrs. Fagin was sent for and it took very little persuasion to
+bring her to a decision for the right.
+
+"Mr. Morton and myself will take the lease for the building
+off your hands and we'll pay you for what stock you have," Dave
+told them. "You can get into the factory where you used to work
+and you can live like a man."
+
+Very little remains to be said. The men that came to God through
+Jimmie Moore's ministry made the greatest Gospel-wagon crew
+ever known. In jail, street and Mission meetings they worked
+like one man, never once was any jealousy known to spring up
+amongst them. Not one of them ever went back into the old life
+for one hour. Five of them have been called into God's work
+and all have been prospered and blessed of God.
+
+Jimmie is living with Mr. and Mrs. Gene Dibble and no one ever
+saw a happier home.
+
+Jimmie says, "Floe's der best cook what ever happened." Dave,
+Bill and Fagin used their influence and elected aldermen who
+closed every stall saloon and house of ill-fame in Bucktown.
+For eight months Fagin's place was used for a kindergarten during
+the week and Sunday school on Sunday. The Railroad Company bought
+the old houses in Poverty Row and razed them; a side track running
+to the market has taken their place.
+
+One day Jimmie stood at the market and said, "Gee! dis don't
+look no more like old Bucktown dan a man what's smokin' looks
+like a Christian."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Jimmie Moore of Bucktown, by Melvin Earnest Trotter
+
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