the door was opened and the woman by whom it was opened not only listened tearfully to their prayers, but begged for more tracts, and avowed her intention of writing to her brother for money to take her back to her friends in the East, where she hoped to live a different life. It is always doubtful, of course, whether these sudden resolutions are kept; for there is so much in the way of these repentant sinners to prevent their return to virtue; and so much apathy in the public mind, and in the Christian min concerning whether they shall be saved or not; so little chance of he from any source except God alone!—and they have not yet learned to trust Him.
Occasionally an incident happened at some of the places visited their regular rounds, that brought smiles to the faces of the most earnest. At one German saloon the proprietor rushed out, when he saw the ladies coming, swinging his arms, and shaking his fists in the most excited manner, and exclaiming: "Vat you vant here? You shust go vay! Get off mine sidevalk! Vat for you come here so mooch, braying und singin und making my license so pig? You shust go vay—I vill not haf it Vat you vant? You make a church of mine house!—ruin my piznes No, no, you can't do dat; you moost come here no more. You shut come here vonce more, you vill see vat I vill do mit you! My piple sas you moost not bray on de street corners, but you moost bray at home You go home to bray!"
The band struck up singing a hymn, and one of the ladies advanced.. speak to the irritated German, who disappeared within the house followed by the single exhorter. At the close of the singing and praying the Crusaders moved on; seeing which he came to the door, gazing after them and exclaiming as if horror-stricken
"Vell, if dere is not a burty young girl mit dose vimmen! Vat a shame! Vat a shame!" Probably he thought a hurdy-gurdy house a better place for a "burty young girl" than "mit dose vimmen."
At more respectable (?) places different treatment awaited the ladies. They were permitted to hold services inside the saloons, in billiard-rooms etc., and drinking was not allowed during the visit. At one prominent place the ladies at one time hoped to gain the proprietor over to their side. He did not attempt to defend the business, and professed to wish it unknown to his friends in the East. Yet it was his business, and as respectable as it could be made: he was in debt and wanted to get out—such were his excuses. "The argument is all on your side, ladies," he would say, "but money is my object."
Nevertheless he seemed sometimes almost constrained to vield, and the ladies hoped against hope that he would see the right way, and give the first example. It would have been a brilliant victory-the forerunner of many more, and they did so earnestly desire it for that reason. But it was otherwise ordered. It was impossible to take Portland by storm, the Ohio towns had been taken, because this movement did not come upon them like a surprise, as it did there. They were prepared, and s soon as they became convinced that the ladies were in serious earmest organized for defence, and mutual support. In this manner, those that
