ing the men. And I have often thought, no matter who or what he
was, he had his heart in the right spot. God wants men of his stamp, for
He can use them for His honor and glory.

A MUSICIAN WON TO CHRIST

There isn't a week passes in my work that there are not some specially
interesting happenings. One Wednesday night about six months ago we were
having our usual Wednesday night meeting. I found I did not have any one
to play the piano; my player had not yet come. I did not worry over
that, however, as sometimes we had to go on and have a meeting without
music. I generally asked if any one could play, and I did so this night.
Presently a man came up the aisle. I asked, "Can you play?" He said, "A
little. What number shall I play?" I said, "I guess we will sing my
favorite hymn, 'When the Roll Is Called up Yonder, I'll Be There.'" He
found the hymn and when he began to play I saw that he was a real
musician. He made that old piano fairly talk. "Ah," said I, "here is
another 'volunteer organist.'" I had seen the man and talked with him
lots of times before, but always took him for a common drunkard. You
can't tell what an old coat covers.

After the meeting I had a little talk with him and asked him why he was
in such a condition. "Oh," he answered, "it's the old, old story, Mr.
Ranney--the drink habit. I know what you are going to say: why don't I
cut it out? Well, I can't. I have tried time and again. I'll go on
drinking until I die." I told him to stop trying and ask God to help
him, just to lean on His arm, He wouldn't let him fall. I left him
thinking it over, and I kept track of him, getting in an odd word here
and there and giving him food and lodging.

In four weeks we won out and he became a good Christian man. Now he
plays at our meetings and takes a share in them, giving his testimony.
I've had him over to my home many times. He takes great delight in our
garden there and waits with longing for Thursday to come, for that's the
day he visits us, the best one in the week for him. There's nothing like
the country for building a man up.

This man came from a good German family, and can play three instruments,
piano, violin, and clarinet. I asked him if he was married. "No," he
answered, "thank God I never was married. I have not that sin on my
soul! I've done nearly everything any one else has done: been in prison
many a time, drank and walked the streets lots of nights. I've written
home to my mother and to