This is but the forecast for some parents in this audience. Would it be wrong if I should say: "O God, if the saloons are to continue in this county, if they are to have their victims in the future as in the past, let the fathers who vote the curse on the county furnish the victims." I do not offer up any such prayer, but I do say: "O God, give to the home the protection of a prohibition law, and may the victims not be anybody's boy or anybody's girl. Go out of this hall tonight resolved you will link your faith in principle with your work. Faith and work!"
I like that story of the mother in New England, who on a visit from home, received a message calling her to the bedside of a daughter who was hopelessly ill. Hurrying to the nearest railroad station she said to the conductor: "Sir, do you connect at the junction with the train that will take me to my sick child," at the same time handing him the message.
"No, madam, we do not run our trains to connect with trains on that road. The train will be gone some little time before we reach the junction."
"Sir, are you a Christian?"
"No, madam, I'm a railroad conductor."
"Have you a Christian man with the train?"
"Yes, that man you see oiling the engine claims to be a Christian, and I think he is; you might consult him if you like."
Going to the engineer she said: "Please read this message and tell me if you can catch that train at the junction."
The engineer read the message and said: "I'm sorry, madam, but that train goes fifteen minutes before we get there."
"Please sir, catch that train and let me see my daughter before she dies."