ely tempted. But, thank God, I've yet to take my
first drink since 1892!

God was always near me, and He often said, "Tell the men all about it,
how you have asked Me to help you, and they won't ask you to drink any
more." I wondered what the men would say if I told them. I was a little
timid about doing it. I had testified once or twice in a meeting, but
that was easy compared with this. But after a while I got up courage and
told the men why I did not drink. I said, "I have been a hard man and
loved drink so much that it separated me from family and friends, put me
in prison, and took my manhood away. One year ago I took Jesus as my
helper and asked Him to take away this love for drink, and He did. I
would rather lose my right arm than go back again, and with God's help
I'll win out and never drink again." I often talked with them about it,
told them it was a good way to live, and to think it over. I found out
in a little while that the men thought better of me, and respected me
more than before. I have heard some of them say, "I wish I could give up
the drink," and some did, and are living good lives without the cursed
stuff.

I've met some of these men on the Bowery, "down and out," and I've stood
by them and tried to point them in the right direction. There's one man,
a fine noble fellow, who used to work with me in my lumber days, who is
on the Bowery at the present time, unable to give up the drink. He is
always glad to see me and says, "God bless you, Dan, and keep you away
from the stuff. I wish I could!" I tell him to ask God and have faith,
and then I slip him a meal ticket and give him a God bless you!

[Illustration: MR. RANNEY AND ONE OF HIS "BOYS." DAVE RANNEY, ALIAS
DANNY REILLY.]

CHAPTER VI

PROMOTED

I had never lost sight of my friend Irvine. We used to see each other
often and have a good chat about things in general. He said he was going
to take charge of the Sea and Land Church and wanted me to come and be
the sexton. It would give me $30.00 per month, rooms, coal and gas. He
thought it would be a good thing for me to become reunited to my wife
Mary, and I thought so too, but she had to give her consent. We had been
separated for a number of years, and though I had been calling on her
for over a year she never took any stock in my conversion. Here I was
fifteen months a redeemed man, trying to get my wife to live with me
again. I prayed often, but I never thought she would consent.