The man and woman read interest and love in the young face, and as she left the place, with a ‘Good-night, and God bless you,’ the words echoed after her.
Crossing the road with renewed energy, she was soon within the doors of ‘The Little Bear,’ which was known as one of the roughest houses of that quarter. Sitting in the corner was an old man whom she asked to buy a ‘War Cry.’
‘Yes,’ he answered warmly, ’after what you did after the air raid last week, I should think I would.’ Sitting huddled in another corner was a poor, wretched ‘drunk,’ ragged, dirty, and woe-begone. Seeing the Salvationist, and before she had opportunity of offering him a ‘War Cry,’ he held out a penny saying, ‘Here, give us one; I like you people.’ Before she left he was made to feel that The Army loved such as he–and who knows the result of that word?
‘The Lion’ had still to be attacked, but Ina had the value of her experience in ‘The Tiger’ and ‘The Bear,’ and no longer trembled. It was not all smooth sailing. We are not told if the lions in Daniel’s den lay down perfectly still, or whether some came close to him, sniffing and snarling; but we are told that they were powerless to hurt God’s child. Even in this vile place the devil could only go ‘so far.’ His servants seemed forced to give respect to God’s messenger in spite of themselves.
The saloon-keeper’s wife appeared on the scene and bought a ‘Young Soldier.’ Ina was quick to enrol her as a customer, and now, week by week, ‘The Young Soldier’ is handed to her little daughter with the prayer that her father and mother may be led to God. As Ina enters the saloon bar there is a respectful hush and the little missionary is able to sow the seed. A soldier is accosted who is on leave from the trenches. He tells of his troubles, of that terrible battle when he felt his need of God. Before she leaves him a tear is seen, as he promises to seek God. Many such incidents are happening week by week as she goes on her round. Only eternity will reveal the outcome of such efforts.
Is there another corps cadet who should take up this work?
Corps Cadet Ina writes of the influence of her spiritual mother upon her life:–
After I had become a Salvationist and longed to work as she had worked, she accompanied me to teach me the art of successful ‘saloon-raiding.’ She made several bar frequenters special cases. Sometimes she got them to give her their names, and these went on our special prayer list. We had cases in the saloons as well as the bar. If she could induce them to give their addresses, she would take me with her to visit them in their homes, or would keep in touch with them by writing. We had several conversions.
As we walked from one place to another, she would impress upon me the importance of keeping in the spirit. ’It is not merely selling “The War Cry,"’ she would say; ’it is the grand opportunity of dropping words for God.’
As we see this warrior broken in health, undergoing continual treatment of a very painful nature, yet week by week accompanying the corps cadet to saloons in a district outlying the ordinary activities of an Army corps, we realize the truth of The General’s words:–