it.  I looked over my old notes—­nothing would do.  Then I inquired of the Lord, and He said “Fear not.”  Here let me remark, that I have hitherto encountered in this needy part of the country an obstinate prejudice against this “Woman’s Temperance Work” by the women themselves, the most interested party in it.  But here, thanks be to God, I met a most favorable reception.  How the people looked, how earnestly they listened also, yes, and wept, as I told them of the world-wide Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and warned them of that fatal sin which was keeping many women out of the Kingdom of Heaven, and they knew it.  I talked in my simple way of human love in its various phases, and then turned to the incomparable love of Christ, who would save them if they would only let him.  In conclusion I asked—­“Is there any one here, man, woman or child, in this congregation, who is willing to forswear the intoxicating cup henceforth and forever?  If there is, let him come forward and take me by the hand.”  With scarcely a pause, the main body of the audience in the rear (you know what that means) rose from their seats and literally precipitated themselves upon the speaker’s stand.  For the next half hour I had nothing to do but to shake hands and pin the white ribbon.  I never witnessed a more exciting scene.  The tearful joy of suffering wives over their sobered husbands, and anxious parents over their wandering boys will not be forgotten.

The happy result of this first meeting of the kind created a demand for its repetition on two other occasions, as the revival went on with equal enthusiasm and success.  In the course of our visitation from house to house, a Northern lady who had come down here to winter with her brother on account of her health, informed me of the disgusting revels of a certain man and his wife with their half-dozen drunken boarders, which she was compelled to witness in the other end of the house weekly, or as often as pay-day came around.  “I can’t bear it,” said she.  “Are you then praying,” said I; “Where is your faith?” A few day’s later, at the mother’s meeting, another woman said, with much feeling, “Won’t you present the temperance cause again tonight?  My husband and several others wish to join your organization.”  I did.  And who were the first to present themselves as candidates for the white ribbon but that same woman and her husband?  Twenty-three others in the congregation followed suit, and all again stood forth hand in hand—­token of unbroken friendship—­a spectacle to angels and mortal man.  By this time, to our great joy, Brother Pope had returned, and he assigned me to my proper place after one of his own rousing appeals.