IN a large city, some years ago, there lived a former scholar of one of the many Sunday-schools of that place. His father was a well-known drunkard, who through the continual use of strong drink, was taken ill with that dreaded disease of drunkards, delirium tremens. It is a terrible sickness which can only be compared to someone having liquid fire running through his veins. The sick person is inwardly consumed by the spirits which in his blood flows through his veins. Then he becomes so violent that it is difficult to control him. But all this is nothing compared to the pains of hell, of which it is written: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
The father of this boy died a terrible death, in extreme pain. His son, to his horror, was a witness of his dreadful suffering and death. Under the impression of this he bent his knees before the Lord the following day, and promised, not alone that he would never touch a drop of strong drink in his life, but also that he would never hand it to another, no matter who it might be.
As his mother was left without any means of livelihood, he was obliged to seek for employment immediately. He liked carpentry-work, and found a place as help to a carpenter. His employer agreed to give him a small salary, and impressed upon him that he must be very obedient to the workmen. The first day when lunch time came, the men ordered him to buy a bottle of whisky for them.
“No,” he said, “I can’t do that; I will obey you in every other way, but I have promised never to do that, when my father in consequence of drink, died such a terrible death.”
The men sent another boy for the whiskey, but threatened to tell the boss about him, which they accordingly did, when our friend persevered in refusing.
When the Saturday evening arrived, the boss sent for him, gave him his money, and at the same time his dismissal, as the boss maintained that he could not keep a disobedient boy in his shop, and, no matter how much the dear boy implored, it remained so, and cast-down and sad he left.
The mother was distressed about it, as she needed the money so badly.
“Ah,” she said, “if you had only gone for it, they weren’t forcing you to drink it, yourself, that would have been another story.”
“No, mother,” said he, “I promised the Lord, and I must not do it. He will not forsake us.”
But his faith was put to a severe test. The whole of the following week he walked fruitlessly around. No one could employ him, until at last on Saturday morning he tried once more at a carpenter’s, who at once seemed pleased with him. On his asking, if he had worked for a carpenter before, he was obliged to tell, with fear and trembling, what had happened. Instead of being, as he expected, sent off again, the carpenter said: “Well, boy, you are the one for me; such a boy I have been looking for. With God’s blessing, I will make a fine carpenter out of you.”
He not only gave him, double wages, but he paid him for the week he had been without work.
God had rewarded his faith!
ML 04/09/1922