The publicans, too, missed his songs and merry stories, that always led
to rounds of applause and renewed treating. The landlord of the "Brown
Bear" stood at his door to watch for Paddy, and offers of free drinks
and boisterous welcome met him almost every night.
But he had learned to distrust his own strength, and to lean upon the
promised help of God. Night and morning he knelt by his chair and
prayed for the victory, and with the thought of Lionheart to help him
he went out to the battle girded with the strength that never fails.
On the first wage night after signing the pledge he went straight to
the Post Office and put a good portion of his money into the Savings
Bank, and then went home by a roundabout way to avoid the
public-houses. "It's no use to pray 'Lead us not into temptation' and
then go right by the Bear's Den when you aren't obloiged to," he said
to himself.
He bought a large print New Testament and spelled out a chapter before
he went to bed--the chapter which told of the Prodigal going home to
the Father's house, and the sweet sense of God's forgiveness for all
his wasted years, made him feel so happy that he could not sleep for a
long while.
"I'll save me money and go after that boy to Ironboro', for shure; it's
to him I owe it all.
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