^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A 1.0 I.I 1.25 lu 1.8 1.4 1.6 150mm -%* & / *; V /APPLIED js IIVMQE . Inc ^^ 1653 East Main Street ^^pl Roctiester, NY 14609 USA -^S'ls Phone: 716/482-0300 .^=^:^E Fax: 7 16/288-5989 1993, Applied Image, Inc., All Rights Reserved i\ :i> <> ^v l''^*4 :;^^ ,':^y?^.-i. •«^- ^^- '■:>c. .*$- m r-v"^ r i Hi . #> /►^tf-jf -v ^!^' ^\^m :^ '^.m ^,.^ & v^ ♦ I ^ *"V> M *?• %J«rf .i:v:,;»4tt'^ -vw^. V i ^ Ji' ■:#-*^ "'"HS PROPERTv OF SCAR 60 PO U8LICLl3ftAfty. ■V. { CHARLES M. SHELDON'S BOOKS. In His Steps: «' What Would Jesus Do ? • Paper, 25 cents, fc-xtia fine cloth binding-, 50 cents. .-."-^'1 !"I^"'"='>' ''I'lrestlnt!: story, showing how the rehVion of Christ can lie i ..rnc-d „„o every vi„al.on of lile. J t is impossible to read it without hav,,^ a kitii ilcsire to hve nearer our ideal life." wmoui navin^ Overcoming the World : The Story of Malcom Kirk 1 aper, 25 cents. Extra fine cloth binding, 50 cents. .l..','l^;.)?Il Jr"'^.'! "•■'."""■^■«^' teeminK with interest f.oin first to last, and JealMiy nitelh^ently with many ol the Sivial problems of the day." His Brother's Keeper: Christian Stewardship. Paper. 25 cents. Lxf-a fine rlotii biiidiiiK-, 5ocents. "A graiui solution of the laboi.r qiieslioii of the ilay. Of the two prineinal Ihn^ ,^!:^ir -"t; Jh^e" "I'^^e >;/''^^'-^'-V *' -'^^ l--ible t^r this (riJi:^ Paper, 25 cents. siiip to exist, in spite of the e:ulflx;t ween them. ' The Crucifixion of Phillip Strong. F.xtia fine cloth bindinj^^, 50 cents. eralI're'.rfri:;s^jf"''Vu''''!!*f'''"'' ''"'''^''"' ^■^^""•ib"tion to the Christian lit- one sTkmVij [eadft •■■ ' ^" ^•''••"•»^"=^'' ■"•'•- ^^^"^' 'he thoughts sublime. Every- Robert Hardy 's Seven Days: A Dream and Its Conse- quences. Paper, 25 cents. Extra fine cloth bindinif. 50 cents. *»' Ti!;»V"'ir^'*''^*. ''■■f^'?'' *"^ '''"^ ■' '■nfl"enced the Life of Robert Hardv This book IS not only mterestiiig, but helpful. ' nooert naray. Richard Bruce : The Life That Now Is. Paper, 2c cents Extra fine cloth bindiiiff, 50 cents. and Plea™ oVlh^^' ^f""^ '"?• ^'^'""'."^ the difficulties, disappointments aCthor? "^ * '■'-''~'*" "" •'* '*'"e^'= '-■''>' ''''">■• and "^ an unknown The Twentieth Door. Paper, 25 cents. Extra fine clotli binding:, 50 cents. ^Lt^ul^ of college life, interestiner because so true. The characters are admirable. It is cleverly written, anj interest is maintained throirghout/ The Redemption of Freetown. Paper, 25 cents. Extta fine cloth binding, 50 cents. AincTi'M.'''""^' "^ "'""*' "'"'^••''""* ■" liundreds of the cities in Christian Any of these books will be sent postpaid to any address in Canada, on receipt of price j or any SIX of Sheldon's Books, in paper covers, will be sent to any one address in Canada, postpaid, for $1.00* PUBLisMCD my THE POOLE PRINTING CO^ Limited, TORONTO. ONT. SHELDON'S WORKS. BOUND IN EXTRA PINE.ENaLISH::CLOTH. Printed on good white paper, uniform in size and thickness, especially suitable for Gift, or Sabbath School Library. SEVEN VOLUMES IN BOX, PRICE $3.00. PUBLISHED BY THE I»CX)LE PRINTING CO., Limited. TORONTO, ONT. . THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN". 1» ' ! The Redemption of Freetown BY CHARLES M. SHELDON Aiillior of "III His Steps," "The Crucifixion of Phillip Strong, " " His Brother's Keeper," " Robert Hardy's Seven Days, " " Richard Bruce, " " TheTwentieth Door, " Overcoming The World,' etc. TORONTO : THE POOLE PRINTING CO., Limited, 28 AND 30 Melinda St. PKBSS OP THE POOLE PRINTING COMPANY, LIMITED, Printers and Publishers, 28 AND 30 Melinda Street, Toronto, Ont. ^ % y< **. ''^, PREFACE. The Redemption of Freetown is the story of actual conditions in hundreds of cities in Christian America. I have written it in hopes that the reading of it may lead to actual church settlements, such as are en- tirely possible. There are hundreds of churches abundantly able to endow and carry on social settlements in various ne- glected slum quarters of our cities. If the young men and women who have been will- ing to do as Jesus would do would actu- ally go and live (under the direction of wise leadership) in the social settlements that the churches could create, it would mark a movement in the Christian service of the world that would change and re- deem many a dark spot in many a city of our country. This also is my prayer, for the young people in my own Endeavor so- ciety and for thousands all over the world. i f 1 i it CONTENTS. PACE f NTRODICTION „ 1. TnK Problem ok Freetown 21 II. JlDGE V^ERNONS TroiBLE ^3 III. Howard Dol(;lass's Plan ,7 IV. The Carltons Troible 6, V. Callers at Mr. DorciLAss's 7,, VI. Some Momentous Decksions. 01 VII. Redemption Begun ,q, VIII. P'ifteen Years After , ,g -5 f ■'■•^s m ''4*A*. v.- tf"' •■ ' ?•*' " H- INTRODUCTION. ( 00^ The Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, D.D. whose name is a household word from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and whose writings have been read in more than half a million homes, was born in the town of "Wellsville, New York, in the year 1857. His boyhood days were spent on a farm in Dakota. Naturally fond of reading, he spent all his spare moments in studying the best literature, and " When he entered col- lege he had probably read more of the standard works of the day than nine-tenths of college graduates." He graduated from Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass., in 18Y9, from Brown Uni- versity, in 1883; and from Andover Theo- logical Seminary, in 1886. For two years he was pastor of a Congregational church 10 INTRODUCTION. in Waterbury, Vermont, and in 1889, lio accepted a call to Central Chnrcli, To- peka, Kansas, where he has since resided, and where he is now doin^jj a good work. He is forty-one years of age, tall, large, bhie-eyed, brown-haired, brainy, gentle in manner, and deliberate in speech. "He began story-Svriting when on the farm in Dakota, sitting down Avith the fam- ily where everything was going on, talk- ing, working, and all the rest, in the one room which served as kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, parlor, and study, and witli his pencil and paper would scribble away, and his story, thus made up, would appear in the Yankton weekly paper." Bishop John H. Vincent, who is a neigh- bor of Mr. Sheldon, in the city of Topeka, Kansas, writes of his fellow-townsman as follows: "His personal efforts to find out what Jesus would do if He lived in our age ; 7. ; - • • * ^ ., 1 l' ,' 1 TNTRODUCTfON, 11 his fidcility as a pastor, a preacher and re- fornier; his nativity and ajigrossivcness on week-days as on Snn(hiys; liis wise and win- ning way ot preaching the (Jospel throngh liis stories, wliicli lie reads by chapters as sermons to liis Sunday evening congrega- tions; liis kindergarten work in his own church, and in another part of the town among the little negroes; the impression made by his own spiritual aid earnest per- sonality—all prepare me to read what he writes with the conviction ever present that the hand that writes these things is moved by a heart to whom these things are living verities." Mr. Sheldon's entrance into the field of religious fiction, came about in a singular manner. In the fall of 1891, he was pon- dering over the problem of how to fill his church on Sunday evenings. He was puz- zled. He said to himself, " How far would you go to hear yourself preach? Sunpose ^ ■ y 1 ^ .*y 12 INTRODUCTION. '». you lived four or five blocks from a church, had a good room, an easy-chair, an interest- ing book or a Sunday paper, and it was un- comfortable weather, and you felt a little tired and under no obligation to go to church because you were not a member — supposing all that, what would have lo be the character of a ,Sunday evening service to draw you out of that chair and away from that book or paper out into a dis- agreeable night to walk four blocks to a church? " Finally he hit upon a solution. He de- termined to throw his teaching for the winter into the form of a serial story, read- ing one chapter at eqph Sunday evening service. The scheme worked well. After tearing the first chapter, the house was packed with people eager to follow the for- tunes of the characters described. The first story published was " Eichard Bruce," which was followed by "Kobert i. * L'* INTRODUCTION. 13 Hardy," "The Twentieth Door," "The Crucifixion of Phillip Strong," " Jfh Bro- ther's Keeper," then " In His Steps," and " Overcoming the World, the Story of Mal- com Kirk." Speaking of the success of this unique method of preaching the Gospel, Mr. Shel- don says: "I may say as part of my experience, that I have enlarged my definition of the sermon to mean almost any conveyance by means of which whatever is Christian truth to me goes from me into the daily life of my people." The "Ram's Horn" has tnis to say: "Mr. Sheldon is an end-of-the-centurv, up-to-date man in every phase of his char- acter. He has long urged the establish- ment of a Christian daily newspaper. He spent a week as a reporter on a daily paper to get an inside knowledge of modern jour- nalism. He spent a week on the railroad, I 14 INTROnuCTION. jolliiift- along on caboose and frciglit car, to stndy tlie life of a railroad man. lie dwelt many weeks in the slnins of Chi- cago, and other great cities, learning how the other half lives. "]\rr. Sheldon is a reformer and a pro- l)liet. lie is a man ahead of his time. He lias a groat message for his generation, and lias shown rave judgment in selecting fic- tion as the channel through which to con- vey it." Mr. Sheldon has had repeated requests for interviews which would explain to the public his motive in writing the story en- titled, "In His Steps," his method of com- position, the effect of the story on peoplo's lives, and the probable outcome. In a letter to a friend Mr. Sheldon says: " In every case I have refused these re- quests, because it seemed to me like an un- necessary thing to do. But what yon have INTRODUCTION. 16 asTccd me for is 'different. There are cer- tain facts in connection witli tlie little story tlint belong to tlie chnrclies mid tlie public. It is a fact tliat llie idea embodied in tlio mespacfo lias been coincident Avitb the tbonp;ht of very many readers of tlie storv, and tbo resnlt lias been a natural qnicl'iirfou work in connection Avi(h his chnrcli, which occupies a bnikliiii.- erected for that purpose by a lady, as a me- morial of her little daughter, reveals his love for the children. His heartiest sup- port lias ahvays been given to every effort to reach the unchurched. He believes in putting tlie saving leaven of consecrated, Christ-filled lives into i:lie neglected quar- ters of our great cities. "^Fr. Sheldon's life and writings show that he believes in the gospel of life; that Christ is in the world to-day in His disci- ples, and that the judgment scene in Matt. 2r):31-46 should be interpreted literally, and not so spiritualized as to destroy its application to the life that now is." Mr. Sheldon is intensely interested in the practical application of the gospel to ^ - I . : INTRODUCTION. 19 the needs of tlie people, as will he foim.l from the reading of "The Redemption of Freetown." I • THE PROBLEM OF FREETOWN. • <•» III / i / I THB ESCAl'K, # ^ it f r II % CHAPTER I. THE PROBLEM OF FREETOWN. It was very still in the district courtroom. 'I^ie jury iiad just brought in a verdict of guilty, and the judge was about to pro- nounce the sentence. The room Avas filled with the usual crowd of spectators. The lawyers occupied the space railed off from the raised seats at the rear where the public were admitted. All whispers and noise on the part of wit- nesses, attorneys, and court officers had ceased, and every eye was on the man who had just been pronounced guilty. "Prisoner at the bar," said Judge Ver- non,' leaning a little forward in his chair un- til his arm rested on the desk in front of him, " have you anything to say why sen- tence should not be pronounced upon you'^" The prisoner was a young negro not more than twenty years old. He had been stand- i 24 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. ing when the verdict of the jury was given. His hand rests on the back of a chair, and he faced the judge with a look of stolid, sullen dsfiance. " I've got only this to say, judge. The shooting was accidental. If I 'd had a fair trial, I 'd been let oflF. But everything's been against me here." There was a pause while the man passed the back of his hand over his mouth and shifted his position nervously. Judge Vernon waited a moment. "Is that all you have to say?" " That^s all, unless — I think I ought to have another trial. I don't count this fair, judge." " You have been fully and fairly tried," replied the juoge firmly. Then, after a moment of silence, he continued: "Pri- soner at the bar, I sentence you to the peni- tentiary for twenty years. Bailiff, remove the prisoner. Call the next case." The prisoner made a movement as if he k, ) 1-' .# THE REDEMPtlON OF FREETOWN. 25 I ' ^ intended to utter a word, but his lawjer behind him pulled him down into a seat; the bailiff came to the little gate of the rail- ing and beckoned to the prisoner, who was led out. The machinery of the court went on, the next case was called, and the usual stir of the courtroom rose again, in sharp contrast with the moment's intense still- ness that had just preceded. The evening of that same day, as Judge Vernon sat down to dinner in his residence up on the boulevard, his wife noticed an unusual seriousness in his face. She did not speak of it at once, however. "Where is Claude?" the judge asked, as his wife and two girls took their places at fhe table. They all remained standing, for the judge held to the custom which his father before him had observed, of waiting until every member of his family was pre- sent before sitting down to the table. " He was invited out to a card-party at the Carltons," said Mrs. Vernon, slowly. ii 2fi THE REDKMPTION OF FREETOWN. V 'I'lio judge frowned, but said iiotliiug. Tlicy all sat down, and Mrs. Vernon looked carefully across the table at her husband. It was then that she spoke of his look of care, greater, it seenie to her, than usual. "Have you had a trying day, Jolm?" a.sked Mrs. Vernon, a little tiniidly. She did not often venture to question her hus- band about his duties as judge. " Yes," Judge Vernon answered, almost curtly. Then he looked across at his wile, aiiJ went on in a different tone. "The fact is, Eliza, the condition of affairs out at Freetown is getting desperate. To-day I sentenced one of the boys from that district to twenty years for a shooting affray. That makes over fifteen criminal cases from that neighborhood in two weeks. Crime and rowdyism of every description seem to bo on the increase there." "Why don't you double up your sen- tences, father? " asked one of the girls, a pretty, stylishly dressed young woman. * ( ■A:. '? THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 27 Judge Yernon looked at her, and smiled slightly. " I'm afrnid tliat doubling tlic sentences is 7iot tlie cure for tlie crimes commitfod. In fact, Tsahel, I am afrnid that the heavier the senten-e, the more the convicted crimi- nals are regarded as heroes by their com- ])aiiions and so regard themselves.'' " There onght to he some law to prevent the dreadfnl state of things in Freetown," snid Winifred, the other girl, a little yoimger than her sister. " Clande was loll- ing me the other day that the hardest, worst elements in the city are crowded into Free- town, and that it isn't safe to walk tlirough it after midnight. Tnst think of it! Uight near the best residence part of the city, too. I think there onght to be a law com- pelling those folks to sell ont to the white people! " continued Winifred, whose ideas of law were somewhat vagne and general. "T 'm afraid thoy are there to stay," said Judge Vernon, absoiitly. He seemed to n 28 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. be brooding over something, and even the light-minded Isabel was afraid to interrupt her somewhat stem father when he looked that way. He did not speak for some time, and thon, as the girls were talking over a theatre party to be formed for an evening of that week. Judge Vernon suddenly asked about his son. " Has Claude finished that writing I gave him to do? " he asked his wife. Mrs. Vernon looked down at the table, as she answered in a low voice, "He has not touched it yet." Judge Vernon looked angry. " Send him into the library when he comes in," he said. He rose abruptly, and went into a little room adjoining the library, used for a private reading-room by himself. Isabel and Winifred looked at each other. The look said very plainly, « I'm glad I'm not in Claude's place." After supper Isabel went to the piano, and Winifred took up a book. Mrs. Ver- 9 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 29 ^T k non sat down to some fancy-work. The evening passed on slowly. It was an un- usual thing for the girls to be at home. At last they went up to their rooms, and Mrs. Vernon sat on by her beautiful lamp, apparently deeply interested in her work. But she was thinking of her son, and was not happy. Often she lifted her head to listen, while the fingers ceased to be busy, and as often she dropped her head again and went on. The night was very still, and it seemed impossible that events were rapid- ly shaping which would before morning change the lives of more than one person in the city of Merton. The prisoner had been taken at once from the courtroom to the county jail. He had been put in the cage where a dozen other criminals were confined. He had at once gone to a comer, and remained there in sullen silence, refusing to talk with any one. The day had drawn to a close. The lights in the corridors had been turned on, ■ ^r i 30 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. Slipper had been son^crl, and most of tlic men who had boon wnlkini? al)ont, in the oncfo Iiad prorio into tlioir colls, TIio jailor Rndd(>nly camo down a short fHG:ht of stono stops that led from tlio dcton- tion-room. and, nnlockino- the ca^o, called ont, "Biirlso Williams!" At first thoi'o was no nn^iwor. Tlion the fiiliiro of the nocrro^^rosp and cnmo townrds fho door, "What do yon want?" tho prisoner asked in a snrlv voice, "Come ont here!" called the jaih-r, roniihly. "And keep a civil tonffne,' Yoii're wanted np in the detention-room. Quick, now! Hove alonj?!" The prisoner came ont, and the jailer locked the door, and, taking ont the keys, shoved the man aloncj the short corridor to- wards the fli.ffht of steps. The neo-ro pur- posely delayed his p^oini;- as mnch as pos- sible. "Move along!" cried the jailer. The t THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 31 prisoner pretended to stumble, and the jailer roughly caught hold of his arm and pulled him forward. At the same instant, as quick as lightning, the prisoner seized the jailer and with the exercise of all his young strength threw him heavily upon the floor. The jailer's head struck on the cor- ner of the stone steps, and he lay there stunned. With a rapidity that seemed impossible from his awkward movements before, the prisoner snatched the keys where the jailer had let them fall, and with one bound was up the stone steps and in the detention- room. This opened from the jailer's office, and that had a door opening directly on the street. There was one man in the detention- office, and he had risen and was near the door leading to the guard-ioom. The pris- oner saw in an instant that it was the at- torney who had conducted his case. He had come to have an interview with refer- 32 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. ence to some part of the case relating to a motion for a new trial. In special cases prisoners were allowed to confer with visi- tors in the detention-room. The negro dashed through the room be- fore the astonished attorney could stop him. The jailex*'s door was locked, but from the bunch of keys the prisoner chanced to choose the right ope first. He thrust it into the lock, turned the bolt just as the be- wildered lawyer rushed upon him, opened the door, shut it, and, bracing his excited strength upon it, locked it again. He was outdoors and for the moment free. He could hear the uproar from with- in the jail as the assistant jailer and a com- panion rushed into the office from the cor- ridors where they had been busy clearing up the prisoners' supper things. It was just at this moment that Judge Vernon sat down to dinner. 1^ '('M''' JUDGE VERNON'S TROUBLE. CLAt'DB VEKNON'8 RETURN. :|- CHAPTER II. JUDGE VERNON'S TROUBLE. The escaped prisoner looked up and down the street an instant, and then leaped across the short distance between the rock-pile yard and the alley. A man on the other side of the street, attracted by the unusual uproar in the jail, ran across just in time to see the figure of the negro escaping up the alley. He disappeared in the dusk be- fore the man could determine which way he had turned when reaching the end of the block. The city lay about him in the gathering night. He knew that it would be some time before the jail could be opened, as all the doors were now locked and heavy bars closed every window. But the alarm would soon be given to officers on the out- side, and the pursuit would be swift and thorough. 36 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. In his sullen rage he determined to seek refuge in his old haunts in Freetown. The police would surely seek him there, but so they would everywhere. Skulking close to buildings, dodging up alleys, seeking every spot of darkest shadow, the man made hia way rapidly toward the district which had grown notorhrs in the criminal history of the city. As he ran, his sinful heart beat alternately with ar.^er at the justice that pursued him, and v/ith coarse joy at his te nporery escape from it. A little alter ten o'clock Judge Vernon came into the sitting-room where his wife still sat with her fancy-work. He walked back and forth several times without say- ing a word. At last he stopped and sat down by the table. "Eliza, what shall we do about Claude? He IS simply making a wreck of his life the way he is living." "I know it." The mother's fingers ■a^fe. ' I'' THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 37 trembled as she rested them on the work in her lap. " It was only yesterday that I learned of his drinking at these parties to which he goes so often. What are the fathers and mothers of Merton thinking of, that they allow their boys to learn these habits in the best society?" Judge Vernon spoke with a force that lost sight, for the time, of the fact that bp. himself was one of the very fathers that he so severely condemned. "Do you think it is the best society, John?" asked Mrs. Vernon with a boldness that was not a part of her character. "is'ol And y?t we say we belong to it. And we let our girls and Claude frequent these entertainments night after night. Eliza, I cannot endure it any longer. The thought of Claude's growing into the wild, dissipated, society fast young man is a hor- ror to me." Judge Vernon paused, and then went on with an unusual agitation in his voice and manner. « Eliza, I have not ,* r 38 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. been able to shut out the picture, since I heard of Claude's drinking, of his appear- ance in court, in my court some day, charged with some crime. That picture has haunted me all day. While I was sentencing that colored man, I kept think- ing, ' What is to prevent Claude, my own son, from standing here some day, here or in some court, charged with some crime while under the influence of drink, just as the negro committed his crime while under the influence of liquor? ' " " Oh, John, don't talk so! " Mrs. Ver- non let her work fall on the floor, and her face was pale and her lips quivered nerv- ously. She had never known her husband to break out so forcibly from his habitual stern repression of feeling, and it frightened her. "It is simply what we must face sooner or later. Our girls—." The judge crowded down a rising passion, and for a moment there was perfect silence in the • A. % \ f i- ■I ,6- THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 39 room. "Each of our girls one of these days will marry one of these society young men, such men as I am free to confess I never would choose for them." Mrs. Vernon was silent. She was aston- ished at her husband's words. " I see things in my court, Eliza, that convince me daily of the need of a great transformation in the city of Merton in its social life. I am simply appalled at the number of divorce cases. I. cannot shut my eyes to the fact that the fast life lived by so many of the young people is utterly ruinous to soul and body. Hardly a case comes up that does not illustrate in some form the terrible influence of drink and gambling, much of it learned at the very parties where Claude is a frequent guest, at the very party, no doubt, where he is now." He i^ose and walked up and down the room again. Mrs. Vernon sat silent and agitated. i^ 40 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. " And I cannot help thinking of the peo- ple in Freetown. In the very heart of our Christian (as we call it) city there is a con- dition of lawlessness and impurity that very few realize. I see the results of it daily in my court, and my heart groWs sick as I feel my powerlessness. Somehow — " Judge Vernon turned to his wife with a look and manner she had never known in him before, " Eliza, somehow I cannot help connecting the crime in Freetown, the dis- sipation and immorality in that district, with the same thing in what we call our best society. Somehow I am oppressed by the feeling that this city will suffer some great calamity even in its best homes be- cause we have allowed such evils to grow up uncorrected in the right way. It seems to me sometimes as I sit in my place on the bench that a judgment is hanging over this city, so fair in its outward appearance, yet so wrong in much of its human life." John Vernon, judge of the district court. "f * 1 i ' I Wl THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 41 had been a man who all his life gave the impression, even to the members of his own family, that he was a stem, self-controlled person, whose emotions were held in check with almost Puritan or Spartan coldness. His wife wondered in her heart at the un- usual exhibition of his feeling this evening. Finally she asked, " The prisoner you sen- tenced to-day, John, — ^he is one of a large class, do you think? " " More than half the crime that is com- mitted in the city comes from that class of young mtn." "And you sentenced him to twenty years' imprisonment? " "Yes; it was a brutal shooting affair. The other negro was lamed for life. Will probably lose an arm and foot." " It is horrible, as you say. I do not see what we are coming to. But I do not see what connection there can be between the condition of things among the negroes in t- 42 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. Freetown and that of the white people in the society we know." Judge Vernon did not answer at once. Then he said: "Crime and immorality never can be confined to one spot in a city. They spread like contagion. In fact, they spread Avorse than disease, for we can re- strain and shut, in disease, but vice, until it becomes crime, may go unchecked any- where. There is a sure contamination from Freetown spreading through the en- tire city, and I cannot escape the feeling that the best families in the place are in ^ " danger. Our own, perhaps. And really, Eliza, when you consider the superior train- ing and advantages of the white race, have we very much to boast of when our own young men and women grow up to be drunkards and gamblers and unloving hus- bands and wives? " He had risen again, and was nervously walking up and down. The dock struck 1^ •f 1 'ti ;( THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 43 the half-hour. The sound had onlj died away when the door-bell rung. The judge walked into the hall and opened the outer door. " It's you, Mr. Douglass? Come in." "It is late to make a call, judge," said a deep, strong voice. " But I was just get- ting home from the meeting of the Chris- tian Citizens' League; and, seeing a light, I thought I would just stop a moment. Have you heard the news from the jail? " The Rev. Howard Douglass came into the hall, and Mrs. Vernon, who had risen and gone out there, greeted him. "No; what news?" "The negro, Burke Willfams, has escaped, and is now at liberty. He assault- ed the jailer, and succeeded in locking the door on the officers in the jail. The police are hunting for him now." Judge Vernon listened in a greater de- gree of excitement than he had shown even during his conversation with his wife. \ 44 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. " Come in here, Mr. Douglass. If you can spare the time, I should like to talk over matters in Freetown. We are wait- ing for Claude to come home. This news of Williams adds to the thought I have been having lately about the people in Freetown." Howard Douglass hesitated. "It is rather late. But I am specially interested in the conditions over there. In fact, the matter of what to do with Free- town was the main subject of discussion at our League meeting to-night. Something ought to be done over there, or we shall have a heavy account to answer for at last, when the deeds of the body are summed up for judgment. The Christian people of Merton will be held largely responsibl.' I believe, for failure to help Christianize that spot." " I begin to believe the same," replied Judge Vernon gravely. He had paused thoughtfully with the I THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 45 i evident purpose of going on to propose some plan, when they were startled by the sound of many heavy steps coming up the veranda walk. Before the persons outside could ring the bell, Judge Vernon had flung the door open. Mrs. Yemon and Douglass stood close behind him. Looking out on the lighted veranda, they saw a group of men, among them two police officers, and, carried on some rude couch in the midst of the group, lay the form of a man covered with a blanket. One of the officers addressed Judge Vernon. " Judge, this is a hard piece of news to bring you. In hunting for Burke Wil- liams we found your son Claude lying near the end of Free Street, wounded and un- conscious. That fiend Burke probably did it. He is robbed." Mrs. Vernon pressed through between her husband and all the others. % 46 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. " Claude, my son! Is he dead? " "No, ma'am," replied the officer, as he took off his hat. But he added in a lower tone as the terrified mother drew the blanket from the face of her boy " No not yet." ' ' ^ 1 .,. < ■ » \ ■^Bl^ m. HOWAED DOUGLASS'S FLAN. ^m. 'HAVBYO HEARD THE NEWS?" ffr* CHAPTER in. HOWARD DOUGLASS'S PLAN. It was Sunday morning at Merton after an unusually exciting week. And, as the Rev. Howard Douglass went into his pulpit and thoughtfully Ic-^rd at the large con- gi-egation that Grv^-Ae'l the church, his mind was filled with one idea, and that idea was the redemption of Freetown. He had just come from Judge Vernon's. He had prayed in the room where Claude Vernon lay, his young life wavering on the border-land of that other country, where death is forever shut out, but where judg- ment still is potent; and with the memory of that still, white face the minister faced his people. He had been spending the entire weebin gathering materials for his sermon, and the escape of the prisoner from the jail, the assault on Claude Vernon, the son of the 50 THE REDEMPTION OF FRiSETOWN. judge, and the uncertainty of the prisoner's whereabouts, together with the flickering ' life of the young man, formed a natural climax to what the minister had prepared. It had been a long time since a sermon in Merton had produced such a sensation. Yet it was quietly delivered, was full of figures, and was not sensational in the common use of the word. "What have we ever done to redeem Freetown?" asked Howard Douglas, after giving the people a look at the place, forti- fied by undisputed facts as to its needs. "It lies in the midst of a Christian city practically uncared for. It is cursed and feared and criticised for the vice and crime that flow out of it. But how much have the Christian people of this town ever done to check or remove the source of that evil? How much money have we ever spent over there? How much time have we ever given from our receptions and parties and THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 51 entertainments to teach Freetown the way to eternal life? "I am unable to escape the burden of personal responsibility whenever I pass through this place. I believe the Judge of all the earth will condemn the Christian disciples of Merton in the last great day if they do not give up their endless round of pleasure-seeking and waste of God's wealth, and personally throw the strength of their lives into the solution of this problem. "How shall we redeem Freetown? It is not an impossibility. It is not a vague dream of what may be. It is within the reach of actual facts. It can be redeemed. The place can be saved, even as a soul by itself can be saved by Jesus. But it is God's way to save men by means of other men. He does not save by means of angels, or in any way apart from the use of men as the means. What will you do to redeem Freetown? I have a plan. I want you to listen to it.'' .>'■ 62 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. He then rapidly sketched his plan. Peo- ple all over the church leaned forward and ncdded in assent, but for the most part tliere was simply a fixed attention that did not at once show that it had reached the minister's conclusions. The sermon was over, the last hymn sung, the benediction pronounced, and peo- ple were going oiit of the church. As they went out, they were talking over the minister's plan for redeeming Free- town. " What do you think of it? " asked Dea- con Culver of his neighbor, the Hon. Wil- liam Brooks. Mr. Brooks was one of the most talented lawyers in Merton. "I think it is largely visionary. Mr. Douglass is enthusiastic and of an imagina- tive temperament. But he does not take everything into the account. I doubt if he can make his plan work." "At the same time something ought to be done, don't you think? " asked the dea- fM^ THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 68 I 'Wf 4 ii .v*r. con, a little timidly, for he had a very great respect for his neighbor's great legal attain- ments. " O, no question about the need," replied Mr. Brooks somewhat impatiently. " But whether what Mr. Douglass proposes will do anything or not, is a question." " Don't you think we ought lo give it a trial, at least ? It is better to try some- thing than let matters cor\tinue as they are at present. We are none of us safe. What is to prevent your boy or mine from meet- ing the same experience as Claude Ver- non ? " " I hear that he was under the influence of liquor at the time he was assaulted. It is said he walked home through Freetown to save time, but that he would never have done it if he had been sober," said Mr. Brooks in a low tone. " I'm afra'd it's true," replied Deacon Culver. " It looks a little as if we white jiMk 64 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. people needed some plan to redeem us, don't you think, Brooks? " Mr. Brooks walked on for some time without answering. Then he turned to- ward the deacon, and said impressively: " Deacon, our social life here in Merton is in a dangerous condition. There is no use to hide the fact that we are in a serious case. Something ought to be done. I was talking to Judge Vernon last week, and to my great surprise I found that he be- lieved as I do. He did not say much, but his few words showed plainly how deeply he felt about the matter." The deacon sighed. He had reason to feel anxious over his own boy who was just entering college. The two men walked on in silenne. At last the deacon said: "Mr. Broo'rs, I shall give all I can to make Mr. Dou2:lass's plan a success. I believe he is right when he says the best way to make Merton right, our own homes included, is to work for the ^i i flpp I 5 -»■- a I THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 55 redemption of Freetown. I never felt be- fore to-day how closely all the sins of the world are bound together. I, for one, have done very little to make any part of the city what it ought to be." " If you say that, how much do you think I have ever done? " said Mr. Brooks with a short laugh. "At the same time, I can- not feel as you do about that plan. It is a remarkable plan in many ways, but I be- lieve it will fail. I am willing to give something toward it, but I doubt very much if it ever amounts to anything." The two men parted, and each went into his home thinking seriously. The conver- sation was, in one sense, a good example of the way in which the congregation had re- ceived the minister's plan. Some opposed it. Some had no faith in it. Some were ready at once to give money to make the plan a success. Others thought it would be a sheer waste of time and expense. Still others, however, were so surprised at the 66 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. proposed plan that they confessed to a need of more time to think it over. At Judge Vernon's that afternoon a re- markable scene was taking place. Claude still lay in his room, his condi- tion unchanged. Judge Vernon, his wife, and the girls were in the next room. The doctor was talking with the family. " There is something mysterious about this assault upon fclaude," said the doctor. " The wound on his head was evidently caused by a blow from behind, but the con- tusion on his face might have been made by the blow of a fist directly in front of him." "The police officers seemed to think there was no doubt that Burke Williams as- saulted him," said Judge Vernon, slowly. "They may be mistaken. They some- times are." " Why, who else could have done it, doc- tor? " exclaimed Isabel, excitedly. "We all know the colored people have done just I I li THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 57 such things repeatedly. They are simply awful. They ought to be punished. I for one believe they were a good deal better off in slavery. It's where they belong." "Isabel! " said Mr. Vernon. "It's what I believe. The miserable creatures! Of what use are they? " " I feel the same," cried Winnifred. " I think every negro in Freetown ought to be transported to Africa, so we could get Mer- ton forever rid of them. There's no ques- tion in my mind that this wretch Williams is guilty; and, if Claude dies, he ought-ito be hung." Suddenly the family was startled by a voice from the room where Claude was lying. « Mother! " he called. The doctor stepped into the room, fol- lowed by the rest. Claude still lay with his eyes closed. Mrs. Vernon went up and kneeled by him. He feebly moved one of his hands. His ( 58 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. mother took it, and, bending her head over It, placed her lips upon it, while her tears fell fast. " Do you know me, Claude? " Yes. Tell father and the rest— Burke Williams — Freetown — ." He seemed to choke for a word, and there was a moment of awful stillness in the room. They waited, but he seemed un- able to speak, and lapsed into his previous condition of stupor, leaving them smitten into wonder and praying that he might be spared. " Do you think we had better rouse him, doctor? " the judge asked after a while. " It will do no harm. He was trying to tell us about the affair in Freetown." They tried to rouse him from his stupor, but failed. It was growing late in the af- ternoon; and, as the sun went down, they all waited and prayed. The evening service at Emmanuel Church was over, and the Eev. Howard ^ 1 1 .d . 1 t I THE REDEMPTION OP FREETOWN. 59 Douglass was just going out of the cliurcli with his wife, talking to a small group of church-members as he went, about the plan to redeem Freetown. As they came out upon the steps, a mm came walking up hastily. "Have you heard the news?" he ealieJ out". « They have caught Burke Williams. He was hiding in a bam up in Freetown. The little company of church people stood still. The minister looked grave. " That is not all," said the man. " I just came by Judge Vernon's. His son died a few minutes ago." The Kev. Howard Douglass turned to the people around him. "Let us go back into the church and pray," he said. They turned and entered the building. The sexton had begun to put out the lights. They kneeled in the rear of the church and prayed for the living. And over the city of Merton, in the thought of Howard Doug- wW' ■fiM 60 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. lass, as lie kneeled there, the Spirit was brooding, yearning that men might listen to the words of eternal life, and turn from their sins and be redeemed. IV. THE CAKLTON'S TROUBLE. I a o n 8 »•- CHAPTER IV. 4 f- THE CARLTONS' TROUBLE. It was two weeks after Claude Vernon^s death. The Carlton house was lighted brilHant- Iv, and a ^ay card-party was in progress. The rooms were heaiitifnlly decorated with oarnations. Great vases of Kiphetos and Perle roses stood on the marble mantels. I^estoons of costly ^nnes were hiin^ about the walls, and a fountain of perfumed water played in the wide hall. A band of mandolin mu3icians was stationed in a handsome alcove near the stairway. As one entered this richly adorned mansion, c^verythinp: pleased the eye, the young peo- ple were laughing and jesting, the groups about the different tables were animated ^oups of happy color; and, if there was another world outside, of vice and sin and need, no hint of such a world was suggested ■■••I , iW|P^ I 64 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. by the surroundings of tliis party of plea- sure-seekers. Yet there was a cloud on the face of the mistress of all this gayety. Mrs. Carlton herself was evidently disturbed and un- happy. Even her accustomed habit of self- control, that mask which society often com- pels its slaves to wear, could not conceal her real feelings. " What is the matter, Louise ? " asked one of her friends, Mrs. Lynde, as she stopped by the hostess near the staircase ; "are you ill?" " No, but I'm worr'ed about Inez and her father. A telegram just came, saying they would be here on the one o'clock train. Of course, I feel badly about Claude, and all that. It seems almost unfortunate that the party should come so soon after, and all this other . I feel a little nervous about it; but of course I could not foresee events." " Of course not. You owe something to ) THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 65 society. This will be the event of the sea- son." "Bo you think so?" Mrs. Carlfon spoke anxiously, but her face lighted up with the selfish pleasure of a wo..ian who has reached a point where the one great object of her life is to win the distinction of surpassing all other society leaders in social ^ ways. . " There is no doubt of it. See if The Sunday Caterer does not say so." And Mrs. Lynde passed into the next room. Mrs. Carlton looked pleased; and, as she mingled with the young people, her face seemed to lose its anxious look. But, when the last game had been played the refreshments served, the last guest had gone, and she was alone, she betrayed 'at once the unrest and excitement she had been unable to conceal during a large part of the evening. It was half -past twelve, and she sat down in the hall reception-room, and waited for 66 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN, her husband and daughter. As she sat there her mind was busy with thoughts that mp.de her grow increasingly unhappy. Her husband had been called abroad six months before, arid iiad tahm their only child, Inez, with him. She \:m B'?ieteen years old, and had been studying,- .yt at home. When Claude Vernon dx^j.i, Mi-a. Carlton knew that Inez and her fatisor were alx lit to sail for home. Her la.-^t letter from theiii had come frcra Athens. Mrs. Carlton had not written tho news of the tragedy at Judge Vernon's because she knew it would not have time to reach them before they sailed. This was what troubled her now. It was possible that Inez and Mr. Carlton might reach home in ignorance of Claude's death. Mrs. Carlton suspected that before she went away Inez had come to have more than a girl's fancy for Claude. How far her feelings had gone the mother did not know. How severelv the blow would fall t TEE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 67 on her daughter she was unable to conjec- ture. But, as she looked around the ele- gant rooms, heavily perfumed with the evening's adornment, she could not avoid a feeling of dread at what the home-coming of the father and daughter might mean. With it all was more than a vague self- reproach that this party had followed so close upon the death of Claude Vernon. She rose and nervously turned out the light in one of the rooms, as if to shut out the sight of the evening's gayety. She even carried several vases of roses into the lib- ^rary, and removed from the hallway some of the carnations that had stood there. As she came back and opened the door, feeling oppressed by the air in the House, a carriage drove up, and the travellers greeted iier gayly as they came up the veranda steps. "With the first glance at her daughter, whose face she sought even before that of ' her husband, Mrs. Carlton knew that she was still ignorant of Claude's death. 68 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. "Why, mother, you have been having a gay time during our absence. ' When the cat's away, the mice will play ' ; isn't that so, father ? " cried Inez, as sEe flung her arms about her mother, while Mr. Carl- ton said something with a laugh, and kissed his wife as she turned to him from her daughter's embrace. "I've been having a little company to- night," Mrs. Carlton answered slowly. " Just a few of our friends. It was such a disappointment that you came just too late for it." "Who has been here, mother?" asked Inez, as she put her arm about her mother and playfully drew her into the dining- room. " Don't you and Frank want something to eat? " Mrs. Carlton desperately fought against the inevitable disclosure that must come. " Yes, I'm hungry. We rushed every minute of the way from 'New York. Didn't ■ I' ■ <" THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 69 even take tinic to read the papers. What's happened since we've been away? But you have not told us who was here." Inez, still talking, sat down at the table, and Mrs. Carlton ordered one of the serv- ants to bring in refreshments. Mrs. Carlton murmured over the names of several people. Her manner was so agitated that her daughter and husband both noticed it. "What's the matter, Louise? Are you ill? " asked her husband. "No, but I'm very tired," exclaimed Mrs. Carlton. She was almost hysterical in her nervousness as she saw no way of escaping the dreadful news. The more she looked at Inez, the more she was struck with a new look on the girl's face. It was the look a girl would carry who had recent- ly come to know what love is. "Mother," Inez rattled on, "you have not given the whole list of those who were here; was, was — Claude Vernon here? " 70 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. The girl looked at her mother with a blush on her face, and then suddenly with an impulsive gesture she said, as she held her hand out over the tab^e: "Mother, I must tell you I Father knows. Claude asked me a week before ve sailed from Havre. We are engaged. "We — ." She paused, seeing that in her another's face which drove the color out of her own. Mrs. Carlton sat there in miserable silence. She hoped she might faint. She hcped for anything that would relieve her of the horror of the occasion. "Mother !" cried Inez, "what is it?" She ran around the table, and Mr. Carlton at the same time came and supported i^is wife. " 0, it is too terrible ! I cannot 1 I cannot tell it ! " "What! Is it Claude? Is anything the matter? " cried Ii^ez. swiftly imagining evil where she loved the most. 'I % p i' p I' ■ rP ?■ P i, k h THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 71 O, my God! O, child! "Yes! Yes! Claude is — ." " He is dead! " said Inez calmly, but in a strange voice. Mrs. Carlton threw her arms about her daughter and sobbed hysterically. When she finally recovered to realize what the news meant, Inez lay unconscious in her mother's arms. She had fainted. Mr. Carlrnn took her and laid her down, and telephon "^ for a doctor. As he came back into the lu^im, his wife flung her arms on the table, wp» ing aloud. She was un- mindful of th« fact tl t one of her hands had struck a vase of . ses and upset it. The flowers lay across her arm, and the vase lay in broken fragments across the table. It was thfi morning after the party at the Carlton's, and Rev. Howard Douglass was talking with his wife about the subject which now absorbed nearly all his thought. " If we could only get the society people interested in the plan ! O, if we could only i .)■ 72 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. get the money that is used simply for par- ties and entertainments, we could carry out the plan of redeeming Freetown with every prospect of success." He spoke anxiously, and his wife listened sympathetically. "Kow, imagine," he continued, "a wo- man like Mrs. Carlton, ready to throw the weight of her social influence on the side of our attempt to liplift and change Free- town. She is a leader in social circles. She has money and friends and leisure and ability. And yet she spends her time and strength in the regular round of parties and ' receptions year after year. The money spent on her party last night might go a long way toward building the foundation of our social-settlement hall." "That's true," Mrs. Douglass said thoughtfully. Then after a pause she went on: Howard, somehow I have felt lately as if a change was to come over that woman's life. Have you thought that K '' THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 73 Inez Carlton was beginning to think a good deal of Claude Vemon before she went abroad?" "No," replied Mr. Douglass, somewHat startled. " I have. If the girl comes home to re- ceive the news of his death, it will change her life and her mother's possibly." " I have never thought of such a thing. The woman seems wholly given over to her social life. It seems to me like an awful waste of God's time and money to spend them as she does all these years. If we could in some way make her see the needs of Freetown! "We need money and influ- ence to do what ought to be done over there." He was still talking when the bell rung. He was near the stairs, on his way to his morning's work in his study. He opened the door, and a messenger handed him a note. It read as follows: — "^^ir, _ 'It 74 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. ''My Dear Mr. Douglass :— Mrs. Carl- ton and Inez would like to see you. Can you call at the house this morning? "We are in trouble. Very truly yours, Frank L, Carlton." The minister handed the note to his mfe without a word. "Perhaps the Lord is leading her in some way of his owh,'' ^he said, and the words sounded in Howard Douglass's ears repeatedly as he hurried toward the Carl- ton mansion, not knowing why he had been summoned there. V. CALLERS AT MR. DOUGLASS'S. 1 ^ fi u n CD M P \ ■ J ^ CHAPTEK V. CALLERS AT MR. DOUGLASS'S. "Have you heard the strange news?" asked Isabel Vernon of her sister Winifred several days after that night when Inez Carlton had fainted in her mother's arms. " ^""o. Don't make me guess; tell me," replied Winifred, languidly. She was en- gaged in untying some knots in a skein of embroidery silk. Isabel had just come into the room. She looked strangely excited. • " Did you know that Claude was engaged to Inez while she was abroad? " Winifred dropped her v/ork on the floor. Her face trembled, and her whole manner showed excitement. " I knew he cared a good deal for her. But not that way." "He did. I have been to see Inez. But that is not the strange news I have to tell." Isabel showed the marks of the recent 'H£ PROPERS ^ OF SCARBORO .PUBLIC LIBRARY. 78 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. death of Claude. She trembled while she Bpoke, and her face was pale and drawn. " Inez and her mother are going to help Mr. Douglass in his work in Freetown! " " What? " "Inez told me so this morning. She- she wants us to help her." There was a silence in the room. Wini- fred clasped her hands together and her ]ips trembled witli inward passion. " Does she know that Claude was pro- bably killed by that— that awful wretch in Freetown? " " I don't know. I suppose she has heard. I could not talk with her. Mrs. Carlton is not the same woman. It is all so hor- ribly queer. I do not understand it." "What do they intend to do?" asked Winifred, vaguely. "0, I don't know. They are going to help Mr. Douglass build that social-settle- ment hall he talks so much about. I don't like to think of it." 4 *: THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. Y9 "How did Inez look? » asked Winifred, after a little. " O, I don't know. Don't ask me. The Avhole thing is dreadful." ' T)o you think she cared very much for Claude?" " What do you think, when she is ready to work for the people that caused his death?" Winifred shuddered and Isabel was silent. Neither of them could think or talk of Claude's death without a feeling of repulsion toward everything connected with the work in Freetown. That same evening Howard Douglass was going over the details of his plan with his wife. ' ^"Ww that Mrs Carlton has offered to help, we can begin at once on the social- settlement hall.'» "It is like a story. Who wonld have thought that Mrs. Carlton would .uoi otTer to do such a thing? " 80 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. Mr. Douglass thoughtfully spread E(ome papers out over the table, and then wrote something before he spoke. " Yes, it is simply a miracle of changes in her case and that of Miss Inez, Mrs. Carlton has offered to give two thousand dollars toward the building. I have sug- gested that she use her influence to get other society people in Merton to have a share in the work. In fact, the redemp- tion of Freetown ought to be a part of the whole city's life. The work to be done is so large that no one church or person or organization can do it. If we can only get the help of all the people who have means, we can do wonders in Freetown." There was silence again as the minister wrote. Presen% he looked up and said, " Do you want to hear the plan as I have it on paper? " Before his wife could answer the bell rung. The minister started to say some- thing about so many iiiterruption& jast H THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 81 When he was busiest. The minister was a man, and therefore not quite perfect vet. His wife gave him a look that seemed to remind him of something, and a smile broke out over his face. "Maybe it's angels unawares," she said, as she walked toward the door. " Maybe it is, Mary. Don't you think their visits are very few and far between? " said the minister. But he was good-natur- ed as he opened the door. The sight of the people who stood out- side startled him. "We don't wonder that you are sur- prised," said Judge Vernon. « The fact is that we are a little surprised at ourselves.' But we all seemed to reach your door at the same time without knowing that the others were coming; and, if I'm not mis- taken, we have all come on the same errand." " Come in,." said the minister somewhat bewildered. And there came into the ^ 82 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. house Judge Vernon, the Hon. William Brooks, Deacon Culver and Mr. Carlton. When they had greeted Mrs. Douglass and were seated, Judsre Vernon said grave- ly, " I came to see Mr. Douglass about the work in Freetown.'' "That is what I came for," said the other men in turn. The minister looked bewildered yet. It was so seldom that anybody ever came' voluntarily to see him about doing anything of that sort that he hardly knew what to say. The last men in the city he expected to see, with the exception of his depc^on. were the three men who were now in his house. Jud^e Vernon had never called on him. The TTn>i. William Brooks was a shrewd poli- tician and an able lawyer, but his connec- tion "With the Emmanuel Church had never ffone any further than attendance on ser- vices and financial support. Mr. Carlton was almost a stranger, and belonged to an- other denomination. So the Rev. Howard f» THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 83 Douglass might be excused if he looked and felt somewhat surprised. But he was able to enjoy the unexpected co-operation of these men, and in a few mmutes they were all in the midst of a great discussion over the minister's plan. "In brief," the mmister was saying at the close of an hour's talk, « the plan includes: — " 1. A building constructed on purpose lor the work we need to do. This will cost anywhere from two thousand to three thou- sand dollars. " 2. This building must be equipped for kindergarten work. It must contain a day- nursery for the babies of mothers who are obliged to go away from home all day to labor, a kitchen where cooking can be taught, bath-rooms, a reading-room, smal- ler rooms for classes in sewing or music, a diipensaiy, an office, and a basement fitted for teaching trades. 84 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. "3. The plan also includes a list of 'pre- miums or prizes given to the people of Freetown to encourage neatness, thrift, and industry. These prizes are to be of- fered for the best gardens, the finest indi- vidual collection of vegetables, the neat- est-looking front and back yard and alley, the neatest interior of a house, the best flower-beds, the largest and best fruit-gar- den, and the most improvements ^n any place in a year. " 4. The plan also includes the iir^t.iMish- ment of regular Sunday work, a gu/iday school, preaching services, good music, and distribution of good reading matter at the houses during the afternoon. " 5. To make the plan succeed, we must have money enough to endow the institu- tion. It must be permanent in its charac- ter m order to produce results. As much money must be put into it as put into a business of any sort where w^expect to get large results. Over $50,000,000 are in- vested in the bicycle industry in the United THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 85 States. The redemption of FreetoAvii is of much more importance to the human race than all the bicycles in the world. >t is useless to expect to lift up the people over there unless we can get and use large sums of money. I have estimated that it will take from $2,000 to $3,000 a year to maintain the work in Freetown on a suc- cessful basis. "6. The last point in the plan is the most important." The minister paused in his reading, and looked around at the three men. They were aU very much interested, and Judge Vernon and Mr. Carlton seemed to be specially excited. Mr. Douglass went on. "What is absolutely necessary to the success of this plan is the voluntary resi- dence in the heart of Freetown of some of the best men and women in Merton. That is, the housg must contain, all the year around, Christian men and women who are willing to live for certain weeks or IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) h 1.0 1^ "^ 1^ I" l£ I.I Ktuu 1111.8 'L25 iu 1.6 150mm "/

y / /^PPLIED_^ IIV14GE . Inc .s^ 1653 East Main Street ^=s r^ Rochester, NY 14609 USA .^=r^ Phone: 716/482-0300 ^l^-r?^ Fax; 716/288-5989 O 1993. Applied Image, Inc., All Rights Reserved 9) ^\'^o\ ^ ^t- ■■^WIIH^ i^^n^^^^^^m I ^- 8(J THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. months with the work, direct it from the centre, and give their talents, their strength, their wisdom, personally to a so- lution of the terrible problems over there. We caii\get money to build the house; we can get |)remiums to carry out our plans for encouraging industry; we can get enough money, probably, to endow the work. " The question now is. Can we get peopUf the best and best-known, and most able to go over there and live with the people? That, to my mind, is the heart of the pro- blem. When the Christian world is will- ing to give itself to the redemption of- the unchristian world, it will be redeemed. When Christian Merton is willing to give itself for unchristian Freetown, it will be redeemed. The question really is, How many of the best men and women are ready to go and live for a while in that house? " Here in Merton are hundreds of men L t - ^ / il lip "I ^m mm r' 1 ) .*< - • ' S^' h i THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 87 and women who spend night after night in parties, amusing themselves; how many of them will take that time to help redeem a part of the city? Here in Merton are scores of able, capable men who spend hours in political discussions or in attendance on political gatherings; how many of them will do anything personally to help restore lost souls? Here in Merton are hundreds of young people who have health and am- bition and high aims; how many of them will suffer personally to relieve suffering^ What is needed in this work is not a few** weak, uneducated, unequipped good peo- ple, but the best we have in the social and literary and political life of Merton. " There is no question in m^> mind that the success of the whole plan will depend on the kind of people who are willing to go and live in the social settlement and, by their living, personal presence, touch at close quarters the sin and misery and 88 TKE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. crime of that lost part of our city. The question is, Who will go? " Mr. Carlton had not said a word since the first greeting. He spoke now in a voice that showed great emotion. The rest Jeaned forward and listened eagerly. Over them all the Spirit of God brooded in eager ex- pectation. VI. SOME MOMENTOUS DECISIONS. *#f CHAPTER VI. SOME MOMENTOUS DECISIONS. " We are ready to live in the settlement house," said Mr. Carlton slowly; "Mrs. Carlton, Inez, and myself." His announcement was received by the others in perfect silence. At last Jud^e Vernon spoke in a tone that revealed verv stroner emotion. "It may not he nossihle for all of us to do as Mr. Carlton has decided, mt all the peo- ple in Merton can become residents in Free- town. But I came here to-night to say this: I will reside in the house a part of the time and grive my personal attention to whatever part of the work over there I can help most." Ap:ain there was silence. The Ejv. How- ard Douglass said afterwards that all during that evening's experience he felt so astonished at the unexpected volunteers 92 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. for the work that he was like one who sees things in a dream. The Hon. William Brooks had listened with head bent and a look of strange hesi- tation on his face. He now lifted his head, and looked directly at the minister. "Mr. Douglass, the Sunday that you spoke about this plan for redeeming Free- town I walked home with Deacon Culver here, and in a talk with him I criticised the plan and expressed' my doubts as to its suc- cess. I came here to-night to offer my ser- vices to make your plan a success. You are entirely right when you say that money alone cannot do this work. You are right when you say that people must go and live there themselves." He stopped suddenly, and the Eev. How- ard Douglass returned his look, while the color rose in each man's face. "Will you live there yourself?" The minister asked it as if the other man had compelled the question. Indeed, he said ~t THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 93 afterward that it seemed absolutely neces- sary to make Mr. Brooks commit himself directly on that point. N"o one spoke for a moment. The still- ness was deep and full of meaning. " Yes, I will," said the voice of the law- yer at last. Probably he had never spoken three words that cost more or meant more to a large number of souls. No one spoke again for a moment. There seemed to be a tension in e^'ery man's mind, but a great hesitation to expel it with the spoken thought. Deacon Culver said at last: " Mrs. Culver and I will do our part. I am fully in sympathy with the pastor's plan." " Mrs. Douglass and I have deciu a^ our course. We will make our home for the time in the settlement. I need hardly say that we are deeply moved by this unex- pected beginning of the work. The Spirit of God has certainly moved all your hearts. I have been guilty of questioning God's 1 I 04 THE REDEMPTION OP FREETOWN. power. What I have heard to-night shows me that nothing is too hard for him." The minister's voice trembled; and, as he looked into the faces of those men, he felt that the victory of good over evil was possible. He saw already the redemption of Free- town a reality. They sat long together, and talked over details of the plan. The longer they ^onn- selled together, the more convinced they all felt that the work they were about to do was a work of snch tremendous power and value that it could not be measured by money or mental effort. During the conference it became evident that the same influences had been movini? those men to decide their relation to the social settlement. The tragedy in Judge Vernon's house had affected him profound- ly. He read in the events which had led to his son's death the lesson of personal re- sponsibility for the redemption of Free- town. It was learned long afterwards that THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 95 Mr. and Mrs. Carlton and Inez had made the complete change in their lives through the effect of tliat tragic incident on Inez. No power of man could ever have wrought so complete and astonishing cliange. The divine Spirit had moved th^ir hearts and made them new creatures. The Hon. Wil- liam Brooks had reasoned himself to a logi- cal acceptance of the minister's plan; and then, tired of the indifference and selfish- ness of an observer of human wretchedness who criticises otliers, he had suddenly de- termined to give himself, where for so many years he had simply given his opinions. But although he himself did not acknow- ledge it at the time, he also was led by the same Spirit which can make proud men yield the u.elves and enter the Kingdom as a little child. During the next few days the city of Merton experienced a sensation when it was told the news of that meeting at the house of the Kev. Howard Douglass. There 96 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. was nothinpj very remarkable in the fact that Mr. Douglass and Deacon Culver had promised to go and li^'^e a part of the time in the social settlement. But when it be- came known that Judge Vernon, Mr. Carl- ton, and the Hon. William Brooks ex- pected to work in Freetown, and actually take up their residence a part of the time in the house, everybody exclaimed in won- der. » Perhaps the best idea of the way in which the people of Merton regarded the facts may be obtained from a conversation that occurred at one of the society events that winter. It was in the house of Mrs. James Lewis, the wife of one of the railroad officials. Mrs. Lewis was president of the United Clubs of the women of Merton. Her in- fluence in the city was second only to that of Mrs. Carlton. The two women, each in her own circle, had been leaders for many years, itrs. Lewis \/as very liteiarr, and THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN, 97 had a talent for organization. The United Clubs often gave a series of lectures by well-known women speakers. Once every winter they met at the house of ^Mrs. Lewis for a reception. It was this event that was the scene of a spirited discussion over the news of Mr. Douglass's plan and its unex- pected volunteers. " The plan is simply absurd," said the wife of one of the editors of The Daily News. «It is one of those things that be- long to dreams, but have no place in prac- tical life." " But still, some of tiio best things in the world come from the people who have visi- ons. Do you remember what Mrs. Garnet said in her last lecture? ' The ideal in life is always preceded by the visionary. Some one must dream before any one will act.' There is a great truth at the heart of that social settlement." There was a pause for a moment in the room where the discussion was going on. »*'■,:■■ 98 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. Before it was broken, Mrs. Lewis came to the door. " Mrs. Lewis, what do you think of it? " asked the editor's wife. • " You are discussing Mr. Douglass's plan for redeeming Freetown? I overheard a part of it. I'll tell you. He has been to see me about it. Shall I tell what he asks us to do? " " By all means'! " exclaimed an excited chorus of voices. " He wants the United Clubs of Merton to work for an endowment fund, so that the social settlement will become a per- manent institution." There was silence a moment. The women looked expressively at one another. " That isn't what we are organized to do," finally said one of the ladies. " Wholly outside of our sphere. "VVe are neither a charity nor a church organiza- tion." " It will break up our meetings for lit- THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 99 erary culture if we turn aside to do benevo- lent work." "But still," said another voice from a sweet-faced woman who had not yet spoken, "still, isn't it a pity that we should get together so o^ten year after year simply to study the Greeks and Romans and the arts and the sciences, and never study the city in which we live, its needs, its conditions, its degradation? It is possible we are not studying the most important things of life in our clubs." Mrs. Lewis looked at the speaker thought- fully. " I have been thinking of that also." Every one in the room looked surprised. Mrs. Lewis went on: "We could raise .a great deal of money in our clubs if we once determined to share in this redemption of Freetown." ""We might change the name of our club to the United Missionary Society," said a sarcastic voice. "I beg to be ex- 100 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. cused, ladies, if you are going to take up Freetown and try to reform it." "Look at Mrs. Carlton and Inez," said another. "Isn't that a seven days' won- der? " " ]S^ greater than Mr. Brooks or Judge Vernon. The judge must be made of strange material." " I was talking with Isabel—." " But, ladies," cried ]\rrs. Lewis, " what do you think we ought to do about the mat- ter of helping Mr. Douglass?" " What do you think? " " I am in favor of it. What have we ever done as a club for the real uplift of the city where it needs the most help? We have a membership in the United Clubs of nearly one thousand members. If each of us gave one dollar, that would go a long way to- ward supporting the social settlement for a year." Again there was an expressive silence. There was assent on some faces, disapproval \ \ THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 101 on others. Mrs. Lewis was about to go on, when she was suddenly called out of the room. The discussion continued after she was gone. It grew more animated through- out the afternoon and evening. The social settlement in Freetown became the one ex- citing theme of conversation. There was one large element that seemed ready to go with the president and pledge the United Clubs to the support of the work. There was another decided group of women who refused to entertain the idea of making such a radical change in the programme of regular club -life. ' When the reception was over and every one had gone home, it was entirely uncer- tain whether Mrs. Lewis would be able .to use her influence to persuade the Fnited Clubs to take an active part in the work of redeeming Freetown. Mrs. Lewis sat very thoughtful in her house that evening. Several times she said to herself: "0, we might, we ought. Surely we are not using ♦ ♦ 102 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. our time and our strength to the highest advantage." But, after all, she was unable to tell whether her influence was strong, enough to carry the majority of the clubs with her. « Meanwhile, the prisoner Burke Williams had been awaiting in the county jail the carrying out of the sentence which con- demned him to the lienitentiary for twenty years. According to the common law in the case, he would be obliged to serve out the time for his first offence before being tried for the second. But various plans had been tried to surprise him into confes- sing the crime of Claude Vernon's mur- der, and he was detained in the county jail * beyond the regular time. He was still in his cell, sullen and silent. The sheriff had at last made his plans to convey the prisoner to the State prison on the day when Judge Vernon was sitting in a case where another negro from Freetown % i I THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 103 was under trial for a serious offence against the State. Judge Vernon sat there pale and stern. His emotions were conflicting. The man on trial again represented the lost part of the city, and every time he looked at his stolid, brutal face the judge saw the face of the other man, and pictured him on his way to his twenty years' confinement. Could such a spot as Freetown be re- deemed? "Was it possible to save such souls as these? The courtroom was crowded. The bailiff had just arisen to proclaim the opening of court. Suddenly, near the door, an unusual disturbance was noticeable. It grew in volume. All eyes w6re turned in that direction. Judge Vernon half rose from his seat; and the large audience, law- yers, officers, and spectators, seemed to feel as by a united wave of intelligence that something very remarkable had happened. ik- X 'ml o. o H B O a Q is H H n 00 IS JO 00 M I M f CHAPTER VII. m REDEMPTION BEGUN. The confusion by the door of the court- room increased. A word was passed from lip to lip. Faces grew pale. The word went out over the waiting spectators, anl %J: 110 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. The motion was seconded bj half a dozen eager voices. "Now for suggestions," said the presi- dent. The chairman of the Christian-citizen- ship committee rose. "Our committee has held several meet- ings within the past month, and we have agreed that we might do some good work in the settlement house by having meetings to instruct the voters in Freetown along the line of municipal politics. We could have classes in the history of political move- ments, take up the city government, dis- cuss the best plans for electing the best men, etc. This plan has already been tried in several social settlements with great suc- cess. Our committee^edges itself to help in this way." *'' He sat down, and some one staiteti a little applause. It swept through V<:: iv. ):a, and ceased only when the chairman of the good-literature committee rose. s\ HI I THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. HI " Our committee is ready to fit up the new reading-room in the social settlement with magazines, papers, and books. Be- sides that, we beliee we can carry good papers to the different houses in Freetown, and direct the reading by means of reading- circles, especially in the winter. Our main object, however, will be to help make the new reading-room attractive, and to serve as librarians or attendants different even- ings during the week, if Mr. Douglass says that is the best way to serve." "Any other suggestions?" asked the president, as no one spoke for a moment. The chairman of the lookout committee rose slowly. He was one of the oldest members of the society and a good worker, but talking was hard work for him. "Several members of our committee think the cooking-classes in Freetown are going to be very necessary. Eeferred to the other members of the committee; the rest of them are girls." 112 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWIf. He sat down amid applause. There were cries for one or two of the other members of the committee. "It's true I" said a tall, energetic-look- mg ^rl, as she rose and spoke very decided- ly. " It makes a great difference with the morals of people what they eat. And r some of us gjjls think the best thing we could do to help in the social settlement will be to volunteer our services as cooks m the housekeeping department, and teach the colored girls there the best ways, and help fit them for service. You needn't laugh, because some of us can cook. Our mothers have taught us how. And we are ready to do our share." She sat down amid a generous clapping of hands, and in the midst of it Mr. Dou- glass walked in. "I think we are ready to hear from our pastor now," said the president, as Mr. Douglass sat down near him. "N"o; go on, and let me know what you THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 113 have been doing," said the minister. He looked tired, but his face brightened as lie looked over the room and saw the faces of the young people. There was inspiration in the life there. The president gave an outline of the work suggested by the committee. « It is only a beginning of what we can do, I'm sure," the president said in conclusion; " but we want to be of use, and we are ready to learn." "Thank God!" cried Howard Douglas to himself softly, while his eyes filled with tears. "'For Christ and the church' Why, we can turn the world out of the hand of evil into the arms of good if we only have enough volunteer service like this." He stayed a long time, talking over plans with the society; and, when he finally walked home, he carried in his heart a great encouragement that in the coming fight for souls in Freetown he had for helpers 114 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. the united, enthusiastic, whole-hearted ser- vice of his society. The next few weeks saw the history of the new movement made very fast. One of the daily papers of Merton vol- unteered to receive money for an endow- ment fund, and even a^eed to publish a series of articles on social settlements, in order to awaken interest in the movement and show that they were of practical value m the solution of great human problems, rhe series was actually printed and eagerly read by the subscribers. It was so popu- lar that the editor followed it up with an- other series on the proposed plan to re- deem Freetown, accompanied by sketches of the building, a description of its ffeneral plan, and a detailed account of the pre- mium list for the best houses and gardens m the district. The whole city became profoundly in- terested as the time drew near for thacom- pletion of the settlement house and its oc- ^ THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 115 cupation by the volunteer residents. Per- haps no one event had ever stirred social circles as this one. Mrs. Carlton's influence had been very large. So far, her example in the way of financial help for the settle- ment had not been imitated by any other society people. The winter had been a very gay one. Even Claude Vernon's tra- gic death and Inez Carlton's sad experi- ence had not made any lasting impression on the pleasure-seekers of Merton. Does an address at a funeral ever convert any one ? It is a question whether, out of all the social acquaintance that Inez had, another girl was ready to give up her regular life of amusement to do or to be anything dif- ferent for the sake of helping suffering humanity. They all wondered at Inez. She moved among them, quiet, reserved, the dignity of a great sorrow suddenly ac- quired adding to the sweetness of her character; but she was not like the Inez her once intimate friends had known. Ko- 116 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. thing develops deep character like sorrow, if the hand of God is allowed to soothe and elevate it. And nothing is so selfish as sorrow when God is shut out of a wounded heart. There was nevertheless, all through so- ciety a great feeling of curiosity to know how the Carlton's, Judge Vernon, Mr. Brooks, and the minister's family would manage the affairs of the social settlement, and what the effects of their actual living there would be on the people of Freetown. In addition to this, the probable action of the United Clubs of the women of Mer- ton was still undecided. Would Mrs. Lewis be able to secure the help of a majority of the clubs in assisting the financial side of the work? It was a question. No one could answer it yet. Howard Douglass, mth a faith in future gifts for the work, went on with the building. He had se- cured from various sources, notably from the churches of Merton, enough money to THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 117 warrant the care of the settlement work for a year. What it needed, however, was a permanent endowment. If Mrs. Lewis succeeded in enlisting the co-operation of all the cluLs, that endowment was prac- tically assured. But when the building was finally completed and ready for its residents, the United Clubs had not yet decided their course. Merton will never forget that day of the dedication of Freetown social settlement. Freetown was stirred up as by the hand of God. Howard Douglass and his wife, Judge Vernon, the Carltons, Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Lewis, the newspaper editors, the re- presentative business men, the ministers of the other churches, the leaders in social circles even, crowded into the beautifuh hall of the settlement that day. Howard Douglass arose to oifer the dedi- catory prayer after the preliminary exer- cises had passed. He prayed that the place where the building now stood might be re- ■A 118 THE REDEMPTION OP FREETOWN. deemed, brought back, saved for God. Would his prayer be answered? Could Freetown be redeemed? The great audi- ence was swayed by one feeling, and through the room, as the prayer, went on, a breath of the divine Spirit swept, and all hearts present felt its beneficent benedic- tion. I Ci« . I vin. FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER. iSitn . "▲• ■■ KBACKBD THB OORNBR HE STOPPVD AND LOOKEB BACK." CHAPTER VIII. FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER. Mr. Alfred Harris, meniber of the Associated Press Bureau, to Walter B. Stoddard, editor of the Boston Message:—^ Merton, Feb. 12, 1914. "My Dear Stoddard: — I was sent here, as you know, to write up the social settle- ment in Freetown; and I have done the best I could, and am ready to start West to-morrow. But I feel tempted to let you know something in this letter that I did not feel like putting into my report. " Merton is a city of about 50,000 peo- ple, a railroad center, and a place of good residence and business life. " Fifteen years ago a district known as Freetown, settled by negroes, had the re- putation of being the source of more crime # 122 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. and social trouble than any other part of the city. The son of one of the district court judges was found one night uncon- scious, wounded, and robbed in this dis- trict. It was supposed at the time that he was assaulted by a criminal by the name of Williams, who committed suicide while in jail. This was afterward proved to be false; as I shall speak of this later on, I will not go into the details of it here. " What I wanted to write about particu- larly was the personaHty of the i^ocial- settlement work now finally established in ITreetown. " Kev. Howard Douglass and his church (the Emanuel) proposed the building of a house in Freetown where some of the most prominent families in Merton agreed to live during all or part of the time, for the express purpose of redeeming the place from sin and fitting it up into a transf oimed human life. "It is not exaggerating the facts to say THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 123 that what was planned fifteen years ago has been carried out with the most remark- able results. Let me tell you a little about them. " First, there was the building itself, built largely by the gifts of Mrs. Carlton, who had been a social leader in Merton^for many years. Her original gift was three thousand dollars. She afterwards increased It to five thousand. The building contained a large kindergarten and assembly hall, a house-keeping department, a reading-room, a dispensary, a nursery, bath-rooms, and rooms for sewing and industrial work, and physical culture and music rooms. There have been some changes in the original ^lan of the house, but it has remained prac- tically the same as when first built. I ought not to forget the rooms provided for residents who take up their stay in the house on a co-operative plan that has so far worked very satisfactory. You will be interested to know some- 124 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. thing about the work done in this house. The kindergarten has been, perhaps, the central force of the establishment. Noth- ing has been so valuable in lasting results. A volume might be written about it. No one in Morton any longer questions the value of the kindergarten in the redemp- tion of Freetown. "The housekeeping department has re- sulted in the increased number of faithful, competent cooks and servants who have been trained in the house. It is the com- mon rule now, so I was told, for the gradu- ates of the cooking and housekeeping classes in Freetown to be sought by the best families in the city; and these servants have even set the standard of prices foiv-the best servants, and command higher wages than any other girls in Merton who go out to service. If the social settlement has not done anything else, it would be a great blessing to the housekeepera of Merton. THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 125 It has helped to solve a large part of the servant-girl problem in this city. "The children's nursery has been a wonderful blessing to the mothers of Free- town. The mother who goes out to wash or work all day can leave her baby at the settlement and go off, knowing it will be cared for even better than the mother herself could do it. Formerly, many a child was shut up in a cabin with other children only a little older, or turned out into the street to play; and it was a won- der that more of them did not die. As it was, many babies used to grow up miser- ably neglected, and suffering was common and harmful. "I did not mean to describe so particu- larly the details of the work done by the settlement, but I have been so astonished by what I have seen that I do not know • where to stop when I once begin to write. " I must mention one regular feature of th« Frwtown work; that ig, th« premium 4 I '^HE PROPER! Y OF . SCARBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY. 126 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. list for physical improvement of the place. * Premiums are offered every year for the best gardens, best-looking yard, finest flower-beds, neatest interior of cabin, most fruit on a place, most improvements during the season, etc. 'Tou would be astonished to see what has been done along this line. Unsightly yards, dirty alleys, shiftless cabins, are a thing of the past. One of the prettiest parts of Merton is Freetown. The parks in front of the houses are arranged in original designs of flowers; the yards are ablaze with roses; and shade-trees, fruit-trees, vines, and lawns have so transformed the district that it is a favorite drive for Merton people to pass through Freetown. All this may seem im- possible, but I believe you will see how it is within the reach of human effort when I tell you a little more about how it has all been secured. "In the first place, some of the most prominent people in Merton have actually i^ THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 127 lived in this settlement house, and have given their time and their strength and their brains to the actual redemption of the place. For instance, there is Judge Vernon, whose son I mentioned. He has been a resident a part of the time. Tt had been his custom once a year, before the settlement house was built, to go off with two or three old college class-mates on a rr^onth's hunt or camping expedition. He bas frequently, in past years, given that amount of time to residence in the settle- Tfent. He told me that his service there bad proved as full of recreation and stimu- lus as any of his previous vacations. He '" « mnn of crreat influence because of bis character and position, and his example has been a wonderful one for other men in Merton. **Bj the way, I meant to tell you that It was found several years after his son's death that the negro, Williams, who it was supposed waa the cause of it, was innocent. 128 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. A confession made by one of Claude Ver- non's social acquaintances disclosed the fact that on the way home that night he quar- relled with another companion, while both were under the influence of liquor, and blows were exchanged with fatal results to Judge Vernon's son. His companfon shielded himself behind the bad reputation of the negro, and revealed the facts only on his own deathbed^ "I mention this because it had a good deal to do with the change in public opin- ion towards Freetown on the part of many families, notably the judge's own. His mar- ried daughters, Isabel and Winifred, I have met once or twice. They belong to the fashionable society here, and I suppose have no great sympathy with the unusual inter- est taken by their father in the Freetown work. " The Carlton family is another remark- able help to the work done by the settle- ment. Father, mother, and daughter have I ti THE REDEMPTION OP FREETOWN. 129 been for the most part permanent residents. Miss Inez is a beautiful young woman of great force of character. She has made her life-work the redemption of the place. Mrs. Carlton has given much money to the work; but that is a small thing by the side of her own personal attention to the work itself. I was struck repeatedly with the unusual charm of her manner, and wonder- ed that a woman of such social distinction as she evidently was had been willing to live in su6h surroundings. Her daughter also impresses every one in the same way. " Mr. Douglass, pastor of the Emmanuel Church, has, with his wife and family, lived in the house a part of the time. He has been obliged to work out the problem of the residence in connection with his own church work. His church heartily stood by bim, notably his Christian Endeavor soci- ety, which has furnished during these years some of the best material in the city for re- sidents. The young man who was presi- ■ 130 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWK. dent of the society the year the settlement house was built is now the head resident, and manages the business of the house when Mr. Douglass is absent. " One of the most helpful residents has been Mr. Brooks, a well-known lawyer of Merton. He has given a large part of his time and money to make the settlement powerful for good. "Another imp9rtant fact has made the redemption of Freetown possible. The work has been well endowed. A short time after the dedication of the house, Mrs. Lewis, president of the United Clubs of the women of Merton, succeeded in gaining the co-operation of a majority of the clubs to work for an endowment fund to place the settlement on a firm basis. This work of the clubs has been very successful. In- stead of meeting for entertainments, recep- tions, parties, or ethical and literary discus- sions, the women of fashion and social power have met to work for a humanity 7 k i; k. THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 131 that, was in more need of being redeemed than they themselves were of being im- proved in their minds, and the result has justified the effort. The Freetown social settlement is a permanent enterprise be- cause it is so thoroughly established on a firm financial basis. " I ought not to omit mention of the churches of Merton, which have also, with- out regard to denomination, helped the settlement all these years in many generous ways. In fact, nearly all the Sunday work there is done by members of the different churches and Christian Endeavor societies. This has been a wonderful aid to unite the denominations. "The political aspect of Freetown has been completely transformed by the politi- cal school formed by the Christian citizen- ship committees of the Endeavor societies. This alone would necessarily prove of un- told value to the city. "Fifteen years seems like a compara- I; 132 THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. tively short time to redeem a place such aa Freetown was. But it is the personal life going into the heart of the great need that has done it. Don't you think it is because Christian people do not generally do their work on a large enough scale that the re- sults are so small? It is because so many prominent people here, people of wealth and mental ability and social influence, have been willing to give their lives to the redemption of Freetown that it has been redeemed. I do not mean, of course, that everything is all right in Freetown. But in a very true sense it has been redeemed. And it is no miracle, unless we call love for lost souls a miracle. If you are in doubt about all this, come out here and look for yourself. Mr. Douglass has just called to take me over to see the exercises in the kindergarten hall in honor of Lincoln's birthday. " Very truly yours, "Alfred Harris." 'i THE REDEMPTION OF FREETOWN. 133 An hour later Mr. Alfred Harris came out of the hall. He shook hands with Mr. Douglas and the other residents, and started do^vn the street. It was his last day in Merton. As he reached the corner, he stopped and looked back. The children came out of the hall, and were standing about the minister and his wife. Inez Carlton and her mother were standing on the steps just above the group. The whole scene im- pressed the newspaper man profoundly. An elderly man touched his arm. "It's been worth while, don't you think?" ^ "O, it's you, Mr. Brooks. 'Worth while I' I should say so. Why cannot the same thing be done in every city where the need is as great?" "It can, if ,» the lawyer paused thoughtfully a moment. « If ^» gaid Mr. Alfred Harris, look- ing gravely at the lawyer. 134 THE REDEMPTION OF TREETOWN. " If the world will give itself to redeem itself." He went on toward the settlement, and the other man went his way with his head bent in reverie. Somehow he seemed to hear the words borne to him from the settle- ment, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." Ah, yes! Shall the world ever be "re- deemed in any other way? "And they shall call His name Em- manuel, which being interpreted is, * God with us.* " THE SND.