"
Friend Sliver laid down his hoe, and coming up to the wall, asked,
"What is it, child?"
"You know Mr. Graffam, sir?"
"Thee means Peter, who lives upon the plains?"
"Yes, sir."
"O yes, I have known him some years; given to drink, Emma."
"I know it," replied Emma; "but need he be lost, sir? He has a wife and
four pretty children; can't he be saved?"
"I see but one way," replied the old gentleman; "and that is to get him
employment away from the mills. Motley keeps spirit for his hands. I
have tried to help Peter by employing him myself, but he is very sullen
when not in drink."
"I will tell you the reason of that," said Emma; "the poor man has
naturally great self-esteem, and people irritate and crush him by
showing him no respect."
"People can't show what they have not," replied friend Sliver, with a
slight twinkle in his bright gray eye. "Can thee respect a drunkard,
Emma?"
"I can respect a _soul_, sir," replied Emma, warmly,--"a soul made in
the image of God, though it were sunk in the very depths of pollution
and wretchedness; and so can the 'Great and Holy One,' Mr. Sliver, or
he never would have sent his Son to redeem the world."
The sly twinkle vanished from the good Quaker's eye, and he looked
seriously, earnestly, into the face of that dear girl. "Emma," said he,
"what would thee do for Peter and his family? Can I aid thee in any
way?"
"You have done so already," said she, "by speaking of the temptations
to which he is exposed.
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