He would often say, "Danny, if I could only sober up and be a man and go
back to my family, I'd give anything. But what's the use of trying? I
can't stop, and I wish sometimes that I was dead. And sometimes, Mr.
Ranney, I'm tempted to end it all in the river."
I reasoned with this man time and time again, but with no effect. He
knew it was the right way to live, but thought it was not for him, and I
thought that if a man was ever gone it was that young man.
One night as the invitation was being given I caught his eye and I
said, "Jim, come up front and get rid of that drink." But he said,
"What's the use?" I went down, took him by the hand, led him up front,
and we all knelt down and asked God to save these poor men. I asked them
all to pray for themselves and when I got to Jim I said, "Jim, now
pray." And he said, "Lord, help me to be a man and cut the 'booze' out
of my life for Jesus' sake. Amen."
He meant business that night and was as sincere as could be. We all got
up from our knees, and I put the usual question to them all, now that
they had taken Jesus, what were they going to do? It came Jim's turn,
and he said, "Mr.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134