Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of LoveWheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Religion
Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of Love
Wheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Evangelistic work; Prisons
The following day was spent among the sick and dying in the village. I
had asked the privilege in the morning to go with the train men to the
prison pest house where the sick prisoners were, but was refused by
the train crew, some of them ridiculing me and my work. I had only
kindly asked them the privilege, and then exhorted them to come to
Christ. I then told them I feared the next message would be judgment
from God. God bless the railroad men if some of them do make mistakes!
My heart goes out for them as they are always in much danger. I make
it a rule of my life to always pray for every train on which I travel
with its crew and passengers. And hitherto God has been my help. Bless
His holy name!
WRECK OF A COAL TRAIN.
When I had returned to the boarding house in the evening I lay down to
rest. Many striking things occurred in this place. As I lay resting,
dishes were rattling and children were crying in adjoining rooms, my
room door leading into the open hall was standing open, and in came a
drove of little pigs. I looked up to see what it was, and one had
walked up to the fireplace where was burning a low fire, and stood
warming its nose. But they soon grew tired of indoor life and all
quickly scampered out as they had come in. They had seemed as much at
home there as myself. Amid this confusion I fell asleep. How long I
slept I do not know. I was awakened by heart-rending cries from men
and women. I sprang up and throwing a shawl over my head, I ran out in
the rain to see what I could do to help, for I knew some one was in
great agony. What I saw I shall never forget. The coal train and its
crew that had gone out in the morning had come in. THE ENGINE WAS
DITCHED in a terrible manner and men were crushed in the wreck. Women
were screaming as they ran to see if their loved ones were among the
victims. I met the same men I had warned in the morning carrying on a
board the fireman badly cut and bruised. I said, "Men, I gave you the
warning this morning. You rejected my counsel and I thought judgment
would come, but I little thought it would come so soon." They carried
the wounded man to an old baggage car. People were so excited they did
not know what to do. Here I was to learn a lesson in surgery. I found
an old pail and brought some water. Some bystanders gave me their
handkerchiefs and I proceeded to wash the blood from the poor wounded
head and limb, which was much crushed, and helped the doctor to bind
up the wounds. Soon there came a call for help from the scene of the
disaster. A messenger came running, saying, "Come quick! there is a
man dying whom we found under the engine." It was very dark, but I
hurried along through the mud and rain after the doctor to the scene
of suffering. They had carried him into the nearest hut, and he was
lying upon the floor unconscious. Kneeling beside him I raised his
head upon my hand. Consciousness returned. I cried, "Jesus can save
you even now; He loves you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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