Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/601



the drowsy clover-patch, and even the ants wobble in their walk after they have feasted upon the overripe fruit fallen from the tree, which has started a natural fermentation.—New York Evening Post. (2542)  PROHIBITION AS A BENEFACTOR   "A Swedish teacher going abroad for study," writes the Karlstadt Tidning, "gave a patriotic lecture in the cabin of a North Sea steamer to Swedish emigrants. After it was over a nice-looking young fellow came up to him and said: 'Greet the dear old land for me when you return. I should never leave it if the prohibition rescript continued in force. You see, I am a drinking man, tho I have a wife and children to care for. I have a good employment always open to me in Stockholm, but I don't dare take it. For a whole month under prohibition I have been a free and happy man. If it had continued I should have stayed in Sweden, but now I am making for some American prohibition State where I can't get drink.' And he was not the only one. Other passengers said the same thing. The five weeks had brought hope into their life and they were going where the law helped them rather than crusht them."—The Christian Statesman.

(2543)

PROMISE, AN INDIAN'S

"Sonny" Smith, charged with the murder of Frank Miller, sat in the sheriff's office at Tulsa, Okla. His two sons were fugitives from justice on the same charge.

"Let me go," pleaded the half-breed Creek Indian to the sheriff of the county, "and I will go and bring in the two boys you are looking for. If you do not let me go you will never catch those boys."

Sheriff Newblock smiled grimly.

"What guarantee have I if I let you go after the boys that you will come back? You know you are charged with a capital offense."

"You have the word of an Indian that he will come back," replied the half-breed. And the sheriff, with a knowledge of Indian character, let "Sonny" go as a special commissioner to hunt his own boys in the swamps and hills and bring them in.

As time passed there was much grumbling in the community that the sheriff had let a cold-blooded murderer loose among the people. The victim was a young man, popular in the town and connected with the best families in the country. But on the fifth day "Sonny" appeared with his two sons and their wives and all the rest of the kin of the tribe of Smith.

"Here I am," he announced proudly, "and here are my two boys, whom I arrested in the swamps of the Arkansas, close to Muskogee. I would have written to let you know I was on the trail, but the most of the time I was away from the railroad lines and could not quit the trail long enough to mail you a postal. And if there is anything against me I am going to stay here and fight it out."

(2544)

Promise, Failing—See.

PROMISE, INVIOLABLE

The following is one of Dwight L. Moody's illustrations, with the exhortation that followed it:

It is recorded in history that some years ago a man was condemned to be put to death When he came to lay his head on the block, the prince who had charge of the execution asked him if there was any one petition that he could grant him. All that the condemned man asked for was a glass of water. They went and got him a tumbler of water, but his hand trembled so that he could not get it to his mouth. The prince said to him, "Your life is safe until you drink that water." He took the prince at his word, and dashed the water to the ground. They could not gather it up, and so he saved his life. My friend, you can be saved now by taking God at His word. The water of life is offered to "whosoever will." Take it now, and live. May God give you grace to do so this moment! Let feelings go! Say in your heart, "I do believe, I will believe, I now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart," and life everlasting is yours!

(2545)

PROMISED LAND, THE

These verses are part of a longer poem by Michael Lynch:

So we sailed and sailed over stormy seas, till we came to a pleasant land, Where forever were peace and happiness, and plenty was on each hand; And no man wronged his brother there, for no man counted it gain To live by the sweat of another's brow, or to joy at another's pain,