cotine, the poison that is in tobacco. The constant use of
either poison will impair the health of the strongest person. It saps
the mind of its reasoning qualities; and in nine cases out of ten,
leaves the victim without sufficient strength to seek and obtain his own
deliverance or to live a righteous life. But let us return now to John.

CHAPTER IX

Caught Unawares

At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of
discouragement. His health was so poor that he did not know a well
moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied. He had
always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to
rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living. He
judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life. In
fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity. He knew
of a few, like Farmer Z., who professed religion; but he was afraid of
these and he avoided their company.

He had now and then, with a number of other boys about his own age,
visited some places where religious services were being held. But their
object in going was to have a good time; and they seldom remained long
enough to derive any good. On one of these occasions they went to a
small school house that was located a few miles from the town of C.
The meeting had been widely advertised, and a goodly number were in
attendance; and when John and his companions had taken their seats well
to the rear, there was only standing-room left. Curiosity was pictured
on every face; for the ministers (one elderly, the other young) were two
modestly dressed women, and lady preachers had never been heard of in
that part of the country.

The singing was beautiful! John thought that the songs were sweeter
than any he had ever heard. When prayer was being offered, he listened
carefully to every word; and when he heard the ministers address God as
their Father, asking Him to direct them in all that they did and said,
and to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the truths that they
were about to speak, he was instantly filled with wonder and awe.

After they rose from prayer, another song was sung; and then the elderly
lady began to address the people. As she read in a clear, sweet voice a
chapter from the Scriptures, John listened carefully. The account of the
woes pronounced upon the people who would not do right and the promises
made to those who would live right and were prepare