A FIGHT BETWEEN WOMEN--TURNING THE FEVER OUT--SPEECH FROM A
BARROW--DRUNKEN SAMMY--A WONDERFUL TEAPOT--DUST-MAN AND
SCAVENGER--LADY-POWER.
THE BOOK IN THE COURT:
ITS INFLUENCE.
"The entrance of Thy Word giveth light." PS. cxix. 130.
Monday morning cast its usual gloom over Paradise Court in the persons
of the rent collectors. Many of the men and women had gone out upon
various callings, and others, whose supply of ready cash fell short of
the required amount, absented themselves, leaving messages with the
children, in some cases with, and in others without, part payment. The
Court therefore had the appearance of quietness and moral respectability
as the Missionary passed down. His step was firm, and his countenance
wore an expression of decision. He had realized the difficulties of the
position; and in calm reliance upon the help of Almighty God, had come
to the prayerful decision that he would faithfully discharge the duties
of his office. That day and many others of toil passed before each room
had been visited. As the people became familiar with their new friend,
the spirit of opposition, with a few exceptions, gave way to one of
utter indifference. Three months passed before the statistics of the
place were taken, and then the startling discovery was made that in that
block of buildings there were one hundred and ninety-four rooms,
occupied by two hundred and sixteen families, as several let corners of
their rooms to lodgers. The population consisted of three hundred and
eighty-six adult persons, with more than double that number of children.
Only nine Bibles could be found in the place, and upon the morning of
the Lord's day only two persons left its precincts to worship God in His
temple. As month after month of stair-treading and of effort to secure
attention passed away, the Missionary became discouraged, from the
seeming impossibility of effecting any good in that valley of spiritual
death. The children, to be sure, had been won by looks and words of
kindness. They gathered round him out of doors, and looked for his smile
as he approached the rooms. And then the people had become familiar with
the pocket Bible, and cast glances at it as the reader held it in his
hand, as though they had some mysterious interest in its contents. But
this was all. No reformation had been wrought, no inquiry for salvation
had been made; and despair of blessing was overclouding the soul of the
Missionary, when a circumstance occurred which caused hope, like a day
star, to dispel the darkness. That circumstance was a fight in the
Court.
One afternoon he was praying with a sick man in an upper room when his
voice was drowned by screams, shouts, and yells in the Court below.
Rising from his knees, he opened the window, and shuddered at the
revolting scene which presented itself. Two women, whose vile language
had several times repelled him from their doors, had quarrelled and been
ejected from a neighbouring gin-bar. Upon reaching home they commenced
fighting; and being inflamed with liquor, they had torn each other's
clothes, and their faces were bleeding. In their fury they had seized
each other by the hair, and lay struggling on the ground. A number of
men and women had formed a ring, and were urging them on to the brutal
conflict; while the people crowded to their windows, and shouted advice
according to the side they took. It was a shocking display of rage and
blood and blasphemy; but it was brought to a sudden close. Some one
looked up and raised the cry, "The Bible-man is there!" Every face was
turned up, and then the people drew in their heads and closed the
windows. The crowd in the Court dispersed, many running like rabbits in
at their doors. The sudden silence caused the wretched women to
disengage themselves and to look up. They caught the steady gaze of the
man who had spoken to them of God and judgment, and one of them with a
bound sprang into her dwelling; while the other covered her lacerated
face with her apron, and staggered into her door-way. A few minutes
after, when the Missionary passed out of the Court, all was
silence,--not a being was to be seen; but upon the pavement were spots
of blood and pieces of hair. Though saddened, he felt thankful for the
influence he had obtained. It would have taken several policemen to have
quelled that disturbance; but to have subdued it by moral, or rather
religious force, was indeed a triumph and earnest of future good.
About a month after this event a sudden outbreak of scarlet and typhoid
fever brought distress into fourteen families, but resulted in much good
to the inhabitants. The parish doctor had ordered the removal of a woman
to the infirmary, and two old workhouse men came with a covered
stretcher for that purpose. The lodgers had noticed spots upon the
patient, and raised a report of black fever. They were in a state of
panic, and no person but the widow would approach the room. She found
the Missionary, who was visiting in other houses, and told him that she
had prepared the poor woman for her removal; but that the old men were
not strong enough to carry her, and none of the neighbours would assist
them. Upon this he followed her to the room, and taking the poor
fever-stricken creature in his arms, carried her down and laid her
gently on the stretcher. The people stood afar off; but, as their
visitor left by the side of the stretcher, he caught a murmur of
thankfulness. Upon his return from the workhouse he was received with a
demonstration of gratitude; and seizing the opportunity, he said, "Tell
the men that I want to speak to them, and that they will do me a
kindness by being here this evening at seven o'clock. I want them to
help me turn the fever out: not a man must be absent."
[Illustration: "The visitor sprang on to a costermonger's barrow, and
waving his hand, exclaimed--"]
When at the appointed time the Missionary turned the corner, he was
surprised to see the place crowded. It was evident that the men had
rallied in their strength, and they began to cheer. The visitor sprang
on to a costermonger's barrow, and waving his hand, exclaimed, "Many of
our neighbours are ill, and we must for their sakes, poor things, be
quiet. I thank you for mustering so strong; it shows that you have a
good feeling toward me, and as I have a good feeling toward you, why, we
are friends. Now, as a true friend, I am going to speak to you plainly,
as we can't turn out the fever unless we work together. I expected this
fever to come (murmurs); and this is why. You have not enough air and
water down here, and you don't make the best use of what you have. If a
man drinks poison he is killed by it, and if he breathes poisoned air he
is killed in a slower way by getting weak, or having illnesses like the
fever. Many of you sleep six or ten in a room, and always keep the
windows shut. This poisons the air. And now about the water. To-morrow
morning every butt must be cleansed; and let each person, when the flow
is on, throw a pailfull down their yard and another into the Court. Mind
two pailfulls for each person. And then you must wash yourselves more
frequently. There are sensible women here who wash their children every
day; there are others that do not. Now let the sensible women do a kind
thing: let them give the dirty children a good scrubbing on the sly.
(Laughter, and cries of 'We will.') And mind, all the rooms and stairs
must be scrubbed. That's for the women: now for the men. You must
whitewash your rooms. ('Let the landlords do it.') If you wait until
they do it, some of you will be in your graves first. ('That's right.')
Do it yourselves. A pail of whitewash is only the price of a pot of
beer. ('That's it.') When you have done it, I will ask the collectors to
allow you back the half-pence. ('Thank'ee, sir,' etc.) Another thing
shall be done: I will see the officer of health, and, if necessary, the
vestry gentlemen, and ask them to improve your drainage and water
supply." (Here the fighting man raised his fist and exclaimed, "If they
don't!" as though his system of deposit would of a certainty influence
the local parliament.) "And then," the speaker continued, "we must keep
sober. The fever is fond of drunkards, with their horrid breath and weak
bodies, and lays hold of them first. (Sensation.) Now, to turn the fever
out, you must promise me three things: say Yes, after each of them. Good
use of air and water ('Yes, yes'); every room to be whitewashed ('Yes,
yes'); and a sober Saturday night." (Murmurs.) The speaker repeated the
last sentence in a tone of firm command: "A sober Saturday night!" and
received a shout of "Yes, yes, yes!" Then, taking the Bible from his
pocket, he held it up, and in a subdued voice continued, "There is a
great Father up there, who loves us all; but you don't pray Him to take
care of you and your children. On Sunday morning you hear the bells
ring; but none of you go to church. This is wrong of you. Remember He
has had it written down in His Holy Book that 'the curse of the Lord is
in the house (the room) of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of
the just.'" There was a solemn pause, and the speaker sprang from his
uncomfortable stand and passed out at the short end of the place.
[Illustration: Drunken Sammy leaning on post]
One man had evidently absented himself from the sanitary meeting. This
was plain, as Drunken Sammy approached, followed by an admiring crowd of
boys and low people. This old man had been a drunkard for many years,
and his neighbours used to say that he had become worse since he had had
"something" upon his mind; this "something" being the fact that his wife
was made ill by one of his beatings when drunk, and only lived two
months after. He was a slop tailor, and used at times to work hard and
remain sober for days together. During several of these intervals he
had listened to the Christian teacher, and promised reformation; but he
had lost the power of moral control. His habit was to stand in a gin-bar
from early in the morning; when his money was spent he would take his
coat to a neighbouring dolly or leaving-shop. Soon after he would return
and leave his waistcoat and shoes. When the proceeds of these were
spent, he was of course ejected. Upon this he commenced vagaries of the
most comical kind; gesticulating and tumbling, while shouting lines from
comic songs. His rule was to enter the Court by attempting a leapfrog
over the posts at the corner; and he often fell with terrible force upon
the pavement, to the great diversion of the public. He was always
received by his neighbours with roars of laughter as they rushed to see
the fun. On this occasion, however, he met with an altered reception.
The presence of the Missionary, who had returned, at his side, and the
subduing influence of the meeting, had its effect. "Here's that fool of
a Sammy," exclaimed one of the women who had engaged in the fight we
have narrated: while others looked at him with contempt,--all with
indifference. It was much for her to call a drunkard "a fool," and for
her friends to acknowledge the fact. As the woman lived in the same
house with the drunkard, the visitor looked at her and said, "Take care
of this poor man for me, and don't let him out until I call tomorrow
afternoon." "We won't let him out!" exclaimed several voices: and the
woman seized his arm and thrust him into the house. A smile played over
the anxious face of the Missionary, for well he knew that the woman
would keep her word, and that poor Sammy was _in durance vile_. What for
him availed the British Constitution,--Magna Charta, the Bill of
Rights, and all the legal apparatus which in these fair isles of liberty
protect the subject? He is under arrest. Let us hope that it will be for
his good.
Next morning, on his way to the Court House, the Missionary had occasion
to call upon an "elect lady," who was then the daughter, and who is now
the widow of a general officer. He told her about the soldier's
widow,--her deep piety, and her love for souls, and her poverty; and
while he did so, the full sympathy of another Christian heart was drawn
out in behalf of his poor people. Upon his leaving, the lady said, "I
will pay the widow's rent, and will supply her with comforts during the
coming winter. Let her call upon me to-morrow, as I may through her take
a deeper interest in your mission." The day had far advanced before the
pleasant message could be delivered: the bearer of it had obtained an
interview with the vestry clerk, which resulted in his introduction to
the parochial officer of health, who was so kind as to accompany him to
the district. As they entered the place, its cleanly appearance, the
result of a deluge of water, and the healthy smell of lime which
pervaded the air, took the medical gentleman by surprise. This was so
opposite to the account he had received, that the visitor, for his
veracity's sake, had to acquaint him with the events of the day before,
and to give an account of the speech from the barrow. "A division of
labour," he said drily: "and you are welcome thus to usurp my duties for
the whole parish. As regards this place, I will make such a report that
the drainage shall be set right." As they repassed a door, a rough
woman, who was standing as on guard, said to the Missionary, "Sammy has
been obstreperous, sir, but I wouldn't let him out; and now he is
quiet, as the widow has gone into his room with her teapot." As she
mentioned the teapot her eyes twinkled with that expression of good
humour which lit up all the eyes in Paradise Court when that valuable
article was referred to. No remarks were ever ventured, though much was
understood. We however will break the spell, and though the officer of
health is present, will vote the matter urgent, and narrate its fame.
That old brown teapot was bought at the wayside, and only cost
threepence, as there was a chip upon the spout. It had however by
association with its owner, acquired a value and a charm. In addition to
the wonder of the inexhaustible bottle, it had certain high qualities.
The very sick, and poor mothers with young infants, were each convinced
that they had the first of the brew, and "that such a delicious cup of
tea as that never was." And when the owner had refreshed herself, they
were many who had a reversionary interest in its contents. There was a
power of moral elevation about the article. Many a hard face assumed for
the moment a benign expression, and many a knitted brow relaxed as the
widow stepped from the door, threw her white apron over the teapot, and
with an almost girlish trip passed into the room of some neighbour, who
to equal poverty added sickness or some distress. And then an influence
of sympathy attended the outpouring of its contents. Her supply of milk
usually cost one farthing, and this she economised by pouring part of it
in with the tea. In her pocket she carried a few pieces of lump sugar
screwed up in a piece of paper, and thus the opportunity to be courteous
was given, as each person had it sweetened to their liking. And, oh, who
can tell how many words of motherly advice and Christian counsel were
uttered over that old teapot? As the gentlemen stood at the door they
heard a feeble voice uttering mighty truths; and stepping softly into
the passage, caught the end of the conversation. "I know that I must
have killed her," groaned drunken Sammy, "as I beat her so hard; and if
the jury didn't say so, the coroner went on at me afterwards, and I'm so
miserable that I wish I was dead." "You are a poor sinner, Sammy," said
the widow; "but the blessed Lord died for you, and you musn't look so
much into yourself. Now you feel how bad you are, you must look to the
dear _Jesus_. One drop of His blood makes you clean and happy. Do,
Sammy, let me pray with you." The listeners stepped out gently; and the
sanitary officer, with ill-concealed emotion inquired about the strange
couple, and then he said, "Send the old woman to my house, and I will
give her some medicine for that drunken fellow which will stay his
craving for spirits, and so assist your effort for his reformation."
Upon leaving the Place the visitors stopped to speak with a group of
four men who were standing at the entrance. One of them wore a fantail
cap, and held a shovel and dust-basket. Another was an unmistakable
scavenger, as he had a scoop-shovel, and was bespattered with mud. The
others were so dirty as to make the impression that they were close
friends, if not near relations of the former. "You have knocked off
early," observed the Missionary, looking with kindness into the face of
the dustman. "No we ain't, mister," replied that worthy: "we are a-goin'
to clean out all through. We split the luck (money given to dustmen)
last night, and I didn't wash the dust down, as we says, and I'm givin'
summut to these chaps what's going to help; and the carts are comin'."
"That's the right thing for you to do," was the encouraging remark. "An'
if we be in the muck," observed the scavenger, "we can be good, as you
speachified." "The dirt of your business is outside," was the reply,
"but it's the dirt inside that is bad; and this will be taken away, if
like a king we read about in the Bible, we pray, 'Create in me a clean
heart, O God.' I will call at your rooms very soon."
[Illustration: Man carrying bundle on his back]
"To influence such people to act for themselves in these matters is the
solution of the sanitary question," observed the official. "The putting
of pure thoughts into their minds," replied the visitor, "is the secret,
and this is a Bible work, for the saying of the wise man is true of us
all: 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.'"
The bearer of the message which was to gladden the widow's heart that
evening, retraced his steps and found her in her room. She had fixed her
spectacles, and was intent upon finding a suitable Scripture for the
poor distressed drunkard she had just left. Some minutes passed before
she could realize the good that had befallen her, and then she turned
rapidly to the hundred and third Psalm, and repeated rather than read
the words, "Bless the Lord, O, my soul; and all that is within me, bless
His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His
benefits." She then said calmly, "It's the Lord's doings. He knows how
feeble I am getting, and how hard it is for me to do the little bit of
work, so He is crowning my days with mercy, and blessed be His name."
Next morning the widow called upon her lady, and from that time a sweet
expression of peace settled upon her countenance. Her scanty raiment
gave place to a thick warm dress; and it was plain that a gracious hand
had bestowed the woollen shawl upon her shoulders, because a judge of
such articles would tell at a glance that it had been wrought by
delicate fingers. And from that time her tea-pot became invested with a
new charm, as its contents never deteriorated in quality. A new
influence was also felt by her neighbours. The sweep, who lived in the
corner house, once said bitterly, "Down here we are all by God and man
forsaken." This was no longer the case. The man with the Book,
acquainted them with the tender mercies of the _Most High_, and the
entrance of that Word which gives light was leading one and another to
call Him "_Abba--Father_." And then the expression of sweet sympathy in
their trials and sufferings, though it came from an unknown source,
softened hard hearts and prepared them for the reception of the Gospel.
The chanter was subdued by the food given to his only child when again
ill, and the warm covering for its bed was among the influences which
led him to acknowledge God, and to bend his stubborn knee. A young
labourer who had been long out of employment was saved from the first
step in crime by a pick-axe and shovel being provided for him when he
received the offer of work as a navvy, while several basket-women and
others who lived by street trading were helped by small loans and gifts
of money to recover their position, when some misfortune or difficulty
had deprived them of their means of support. This kindliness was to them
strange, because altogether out of their experience, and it exerted a
daily and increasing influence for good upon many of them. The sick were
often relieved from the intense misery which cold and hunger and family
wants bring to them; while mothers, who had become brutalized through
separation from all that was holy and elevating, were won and uplifted
by acts of kindness shown to their children by the stranger-friend. That
mighty force in the up-raising of the debased and depraved, which we
will venture to call lady-power, was evidently at work in Paradise
Court; and to this must be ascribed very much of the good which
resulted. Oh, ye handmaidens of the Lord, successors of the holy women
who ministered to His wants, and who followed Him even to Calvary, it is
your high privilege, like Him, to stoop to those of low estate; and to
minister of your wealth, for charity well bestowed upon the poor is
regarded as given to Him who is worthy to receive riches; of your
refinement, for sweetness of expression and kindliness can reach the
hearts of the vile, and produce a first emotion of love to the Lord you
copy; of your prayerfulness, for it must be well pleasing to Him, who
paid the full ransom for every soul, to have those who are "afar off"
brought by your pleadings within the influences of sovereign grace!
The Book in the Court:
ITS POWER.
"The soul has dealings with its God:
In such an hour we may not write,--
When all His grace is shed abroad,
And darkness melts in floods of light
"Thus, even now, that mercy came,
And righteous retribution slept,
The man could trust a Saviour's name,
And like a little child he wept."
_Mrs. Sewell._