He sat down, looking, as I thought, most unhappy. Then he said,—"Last night my mate and I made up our minds to speak to you in the vestry; but, just as we were coming to the door, you opened it, and we ran away."
"Yes," I said, "I heard you."
"Well, after that, we came home, and prayed the Lord to send you to us: and here you are!"
"Thank God for the answer to prayer. Now then, what can I do for you?"
He told me that he was born of respectable parents in Germany; but that, for his bad ways and bad habits, they had sent him to this country to work for his bread; that he had taken the pledge several times, and broken it again and again, though he had prayed and done all he could think of; but it was to no propose.
"If you had stayed last night," I said, "I might have helped you. How did you come to break your pledge?"
"Oh," he said, "it came to my mind that when I signed, I was only thinking of beer and spirits, not wine; so I took some, and it flew to my head; and soon I was as bad as ever."
"Now," I said, "you have renounced wine and all; have you?"
"Yes, I have."
"Well then, will you give your heart to God also?"