Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/696

Rh Livermore who sent her a letter full of enthusiasm for the new line of work, and predicted her success therein. In the summer of 1874, while in New York City, a letter reached her from Mrs. Louise S. Rounds, of Chicago, who was identified there with the young temperance association. "It has come to me," wrote Mrs. Rounds, "as I believe, from the Lord, that you ought to be our president. We are a little band without money or experience, but with strong faith. If you would come, there will be no doubt of your election." So it happened that Miss Willard turning from the most attractive offers entered the open door of philanthropy in the West. Within a week she had been made president of the Chicago Woman's Christian Temperance Union. For months she carried on this work without regard to pecuniary compensation, many a time going without her noon-day lunch downtown, because she had no money, and walking miles because she had not five cents to pay for a street car ride. Yet she declared that period the most blessed of her life so far, and that her work baptised in suffering grew first deep and vital, and then began to widen. With the aid of a few women she established a daily gospel meeting in Lower Farwell Hall for the help of the intemperate, and her gospel talks came to be in demand far and wide. Every dollar earned by writing or lecturing not needed for current expenses was devoted to the relief of the needy or to the enlargement of her chosen work. The Chicago Woman's Christian Temperance Union from that day of small things in the eyes of the world, has gone on and prospered until now it is represented by a wide range of established philanthropy.

Miss Willard continued wielding a busy pen, speaking in Chautauqua, addressing summer camps in New England and the Middle States, and in 1876, while engaged in Bible study and prayer, she was led to the conviction that she ought to speak for women's ballot as a protection to the home from the tyranny