The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [41]
government at a time when few were wise enough to see
that this revolution meant defiance to the rum-soaked republican rule.
Every moral reform is a protest against this government we live under.
What does the W. C. T. U. mean? The mothers banding themselves together
to prevent the Government from slaughtering them.
From the beginning of my Christian experience I have devoted myself
to the poor. I prayed God to give me opportunity to be helpful to
those who were destitute of the comforts of life. The people of Medicine
Lodge were so good to aid me. I could go to the stores and ask
for flour, sugar and different kinds of eatables and get them. There
was one man I never asked in vain, when I wished aid for the poor,
that was C. Q. Chandler, a man who was able to help. I have taken
poor children to his house and he has given me orders at the dry-goods
stores to clothe them, so they could attend school. He has given me
money frequently to get fuel and clothes for those who needed them. One
Christmas he wrote me a letter, asking me for the names of all the poor
ones and asking me to name something they needed. I did, and all got
something useful. Such men are worthy to be stewards of God's
treasury.
For years I made it my duty, every fall, to go from house to house
to gather clothes for the poor families, wash women and others who
had not time to sew for their children. I never allowed a child to
stay out of day or Sunday school, for want of clothes. I would sort
out these clothes and distribute as needed. Persons would say, "I
would be afraid I would make people angry." I said if every one feels
that way I will say: "You are not the one I am sent to." I never hurt
any ones feelings by offering them these things.
There was a family by the name of French who came into a neighborhood
about three miles from town. I heard they were destitute. I
filled my buggy and went there and sure enough they were sadly in
need. I brought the things in just such as was needed. The family was
large. The woman cried like her heart would break, just for gratitude;
she could not thank me enough. It takes so little to make some people
happy.
I read of a miserable miser once who was on the verge of suicide
by the side of a river. A little girl came to him saying: "Please sir,
my mother is sick and hungry. Please give me something so I can get
her something to eat." The man said within himself: "I will do this
for the child before I die." He went to a bakershop and got her a full
basket. Then she looked so weak he carried it home to her mother. The
poor woman on the pallet of straw, kissed his hands and blessed him.
He thought of the money he might use to make people happy. He concluded
he would use it before he died for he had enjoyed for the first
time in his life the peace that comes from giving. After this his life was
a blessing to himself and others. He had found the best use of life.
I once read of a beautiful story of one of the early fathers of the
church. He gave away everything even to sufficient clothes to keep himself
warm. A rich kind hearted woman made him a coat of fur very
expensive. Next time she saw him he did not have it. "Where is that
coat father," she asked. He replied: "I thought so much of it I laid
it up in heaven. Where moth and rust doth not corrupt and where
thieves do not break through and steal." He had given it to the first
shivering man he met.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DIVINE CALL.--THE JOINT DRUGGIST OF MEDICINE LODGE.--BEER A POISON.--
DOCTORS MAKE DRUNKARDS.--SMASHING AT KIOWA.--ATTITUDE OF SOME
W. C. T. U.'S OF KANSAS.--SUIT FOR SLANDER.--SMASHING AT WICHITA.--
CONSPIRACY OF THE REPUBLICANS TO PUT ME IN THE INSANE ASYLUM.--
SUFFERINGS IN JAIL AT WICHITA.--SLANDERS FROM THE RUM-SOAKED
PAPERS OF KANSAS.
At the time these dives were open, contrary to the statutes of our
state, the officers were really in league with this lawless element. I was
heavily burdened and could see "the wicked walking on every side, and
the vilest men exalted." I was
that this revolution meant defiance to the rum-soaked republican rule.
Every moral reform is a protest against this government we live under.
What does the W. C. T. U. mean? The mothers banding themselves together
to prevent the Government from slaughtering them.
From the beginning of my Christian experience I have devoted myself
to the poor. I prayed God to give me opportunity to be helpful to
those who were destitute of the comforts of life. The people of Medicine
Lodge were so good to aid me. I could go to the stores and ask
for flour, sugar and different kinds of eatables and get them. There
was one man I never asked in vain, when I wished aid for the poor,
that was C. Q. Chandler, a man who was able to help. I have taken
poor children to his house and he has given me orders at the dry-goods
stores to clothe them, so they could attend school. He has given me
money frequently to get fuel and clothes for those who needed them. One
Christmas he wrote me a letter, asking me for the names of all the poor
ones and asking me to name something they needed. I did, and all got
something useful. Such men are worthy to be stewards of God's
treasury.
For years I made it my duty, every fall, to go from house to house
to gather clothes for the poor families, wash women and others who
had not time to sew for their children. I never allowed a child to
stay out of day or Sunday school, for want of clothes. I would sort
out these clothes and distribute as needed. Persons would say, "I
would be afraid I would make people angry." I said if every one feels
that way I will say: "You are not the one I am sent to." I never hurt
any ones feelings by offering them these things.
There was a family by the name of French who came into a neighborhood
about three miles from town. I heard they were destitute. I
filled my buggy and went there and sure enough they were sadly in
need. I brought the things in just such as was needed. The family was
large. The woman cried like her heart would break, just for gratitude;
she could not thank me enough. It takes so little to make some people
happy.
I read of a miserable miser once who was on the verge of suicide
by the side of a river. A little girl came to him saying: "Please sir,
my mother is sick and hungry. Please give me something so I can get
her something to eat." The man said within himself: "I will do this
for the child before I die." He went to a bakershop and got her a full
basket. Then she looked so weak he carried it home to her mother. The
poor woman on the pallet of straw, kissed his hands and blessed him.
He thought of the money he might use to make people happy. He concluded
he would use it before he died for he had enjoyed for the first
time in his life the peace that comes from giving. After this his life was
a blessing to himself and others. He had found the best use of life.
I once read of a beautiful story of one of the early fathers of the
church. He gave away everything even to sufficient clothes to keep himself
warm. A rich kind hearted woman made him a coat of fur very
expensive. Next time she saw him he did not have it. "Where is that
coat father," she asked. He replied: "I thought so much of it I laid
it up in heaven. Where moth and rust doth not corrupt and where
thieves do not break through and steal." He had given it to the first
shivering man he met.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DIVINE CALL.--THE JOINT DRUGGIST OF MEDICINE LODGE.--BEER A POISON.--
DOCTORS MAKE DRUNKARDS.--SMASHING AT KIOWA.--ATTITUDE OF SOME
W. C. T. U.'S OF KANSAS.--SUIT FOR SLANDER.--SMASHING AT WICHITA.--
CONSPIRACY OF THE REPUBLICANS TO PUT ME IN THE INSANE ASYLUM.--
SUFFERINGS IN JAIL AT WICHITA.--SLANDERS FROM THE RUM-SOAKED
PAPERS OF KANSAS.
At the time these dives were open, contrary to the statutes of our
state, the officers were really in league with this lawless element. I was
heavily burdened and could see "the wicked walking on every side, and
the vilest men exalted." I was