The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [40]
shall
eat your flesh as if it were fire." Yes, there is a class of rich men that
would now HOWL, and weep with all their money, if they knew their fate.
I have never had so light a heart or felt so well satisfied as since I
smashed those murder mills. For years I had an aching, weeping heart.
I would often put ashes on my head. I felt like wearing sackcloth. I can
see the hand of God in my life. From a small child I loved the world,
used to be fond of pets. It seemed that my pets always came to grief.
Then I was very anxious to be thought smart. Would try to write and
wanted a thorough education. I became almost an invalid. Could not
attend school. Was hindered on account of the circumstances brought
about by the Civil war. The man I loved and married brought to me
bitter grief. The child I loved so well became afflicted and never seemed
to want my love. The man I married, hoping to serve God, I found to
be opposed to all I did, as a Christian. I used to wonder why this was.
I saw others with their loving children and husbands and I would wish
their condition was mine. I now see why God saw in me a great lover,
and in order to have me use that love for Him, and others, He did not
let me have those that would have narrowed my life down to my own
selfish wishes. Oh! the grief He has sent me! Oh! the fiery trials!
Oh! the shattered hopes! How I love Him for this! "Whom the Lord
loveth He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
There are pages in my life that have had much to do in bringing me in
sympathy with the fallen tempted natures. These I cannot write, but let
no erring, sinful man or woman think that Carry Nation would not understand
this, for Carry Nation is a sinner saved by grace and I know He
can save to the uttermost, all that come unto Him. "Heaven is made for
redeemed sinners and hell for the proud and disobedient." When I
see the proud glance, the boastful manner, the display of, "I am better
than thou," I feel pity and commiseration for the poor dying creature and
see "behind the face a grinning skull". I like the companionship of the
servant in the kitchen more than the mistress in the parlor. I covet the
humblest walk. I wish for the power, often, to make the rich take back
seats, and give the front to the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.
I will not have a piece of fine furniture. I have no carpets on my floors.
I have two small rooms in Topeka in the building I desire to give to
the W. C. T. U. for prohibition work. The little cupboard I use is made
of a dry-goods box, with shelves in it, a curtain in front. My dishes,
all told, kitchen and dining-room, are not worth five dollars. This is what
the poor have, and better than some have. It is good enough. It is better
than my blessed Lord had. I desire nothing better. I would feel like
a reprobate to fill my room with expensive furniture, using money I could
feed the hungry with, clothe the naked, doing things that would please
my Lord. What a change! I used to delight in cut-glass, china, plush,
velvet and lace. Now I can say vanity of vanity, all is vanity!" There
may be almost selfishness in this eager desire I have to give away the
means that are at my disposal. What I use or leave behind will never
be placed to my credit in the bank of heaven. What we give away for
the love of God and our neighbor is all we take with us. I will be so
delighted with a home that I can call mine, forever. I like nice wearing
apparel but I will not be deceived by spending my time and means for
that which will hinder me from having them where moth and rust doth
not corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal. So I
wish to make to myself friends of the mammon of unrighteousness and
not enemies, for the hoarded dollars are bitter foes that will be witnesses
against these rich men at That Day. I am praying that God may send
me means to carry out a plan to save Kansas from traitors. The state has
made herself a name, that will endure forever, because she began a warfare
against a
eat your flesh as if it were fire." Yes, there is a class of rich men that
would now HOWL, and weep with all their money, if they knew their fate.
I have never had so light a heart or felt so well satisfied as since I
smashed those murder mills. For years I had an aching, weeping heart.
I would often put ashes on my head. I felt like wearing sackcloth. I can
see the hand of God in my life. From a small child I loved the world,
used to be fond of pets. It seemed that my pets always came to grief.
Then I was very anxious to be thought smart. Would try to write and
wanted a thorough education. I became almost an invalid. Could not
attend school. Was hindered on account of the circumstances brought
about by the Civil war. The man I loved and married brought to me
bitter grief. The child I loved so well became afflicted and never seemed
to want my love. The man I married, hoping to serve God, I found to
be opposed to all I did, as a Christian. I used to wonder why this was.
I saw others with their loving children and husbands and I would wish
their condition was mine. I now see why God saw in me a great lover,
and in order to have me use that love for Him, and others, He did not
let me have those that would have narrowed my life down to my own
selfish wishes. Oh! the grief He has sent me! Oh! the fiery trials!
Oh! the shattered hopes! How I love Him for this! "Whom the Lord
loveth He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
There are pages in my life that have had much to do in bringing me in
sympathy with the fallen tempted natures. These I cannot write, but let
no erring, sinful man or woman think that Carry Nation would not understand
this, for Carry Nation is a sinner saved by grace and I know He
can save to the uttermost, all that come unto Him. "Heaven is made for
redeemed sinners and hell for the proud and disobedient." When I
see the proud glance, the boastful manner, the display of, "I am better
than thou," I feel pity and commiseration for the poor dying creature and
see "behind the face a grinning skull". I like the companionship of the
servant in the kitchen more than the mistress in the parlor. I covet the
humblest walk. I wish for the power, often, to make the rich take back
seats, and give the front to the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.
I will not have a piece of fine furniture. I have no carpets on my floors.
I have two small rooms in Topeka in the building I desire to give to
the W. C. T. U. for prohibition work. The little cupboard I use is made
of a dry-goods box, with shelves in it, a curtain in front. My dishes,
all told, kitchen and dining-room, are not worth five dollars. This is what
the poor have, and better than some have. It is good enough. It is better
than my blessed Lord had. I desire nothing better. I would feel like
a reprobate to fill my room with expensive furniture, using money I could
feed the hungry with, clothe the naked, doing things that would please
my Lord. What a change! I used to delight in cut-glass, china, plush,
velvet and lace. Now I can say vanity of vanity, all is vanity!" There
may be almost selfishness in this eager desire I have to give away the
means that are at my disposal. What I use or leave behind will never
be placed to my credit in the bank of heaven. What we give away for
the love of God and our neighbor is all we take with us. I will be so
delighted with a home that I can call mine, forever. I like nice wearing
apparel but I will not be deceived by spending my time and means for
that which will hinder me from having them where moth and rust doth
not corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal. So I
wish to make to myself friends of the mammon of unrighteousness and
not enemies, for the hoarded dollars are bitter foes that will be witnesses
against these rich men at That Day. I am praying that God may send
me means to carry out a plan to save Kansas from traitors. The state has
made herself a name, that will endure forever, because she began a warfare
against a