Angel Adjutant of Twice Born Men | Page 5

with their choice of religion, for they were 'such good girls.'
But to break her home circle was not in her reckoning. It was a pain
that went deeper than the parting which caused tears to sting Lucy's
face as, on a snowy New Year's day, she said good-bye to mother and
sister and left home for the Training Garrison; but in her heart rang the
words, 'If any man love father or mother more than Me, he is not
worthy of Me.' She must put God's call first, and trust Him to bring all
right.
Kate's health remained frail, but her spirit grew stronger and stronger.
Whenever able, she hied off to The Army hall, carrying her tambourine
in a little green baize bag, and, as often as not, a bundle of 'War Crys'
under her arm. In the Army papers she saw a powerful means of
spreading Salvation, and she became a fearless Herald. [Footnote: One
of a voluntary brigade of regular sellers.]
There are comrades at Wood Green who recall how on Wednesday
nights Kate would go to the hall, fold a large bundle of 'War Crys,' and
sally forth to the streets to sell them. The first time she ventured out on
this service she saw a great, drunken navvy lounging against the door
of a public-house. Mustering all her courage, the girl advanced and
offered the paper to the drunkard. She felt she had scored quite a
victory when the navvy bought a copy. By degrees she became braver,
and would even go into the saloons to sell the periodicals. Then,

noticing how the newsboys boarded buses with their papers, she
thought that in the Lord's service she should be as eager and
enterprising as they, and she became quite agile, running up and down
the iron steps as she joined the buses and offered her papers for sale to
the passengers.
Veteran soldiers also recall Kate's spiritual, earnest face, as she sat in
side seats--known as 'the boxes'--at the Wood Green hall, whence she
could study the congregation. As she recognized how people fell under
conviction of sin during the progress of the meetings, she felt that she
might help girls of her own age, who 'didn't look saved,' if she sat
beside them in the hall, and spoke to them when the prayer meeting
was begun.
She was still shy, still nervous, but she suffered no excuse for herself
when the heavenly vision made clear a path of duty. In later years, a
corps cadet asked her if, in those days, she never said 'I can't.' 'Yes,' she
replied, 'I often said "I can't, but I MUST,"' and so she conquered.
To wear full Army uniform was still the desire of Kate's heart. When
she needed a new dress, she prevailed upon her mother to let it be a
blue one, and by dint of great perseverance she made a uniform herself.
Now, if she might but have the bonnet!
Lucy had passed through the Training Garrison, and was now an officer
in the Field. A great Salvation demonstration was held at that time at
the Alexandra Palace, and Lucy, with her captain, came to London for
the important event. The mother and sisters met in the ground of the
Palace. Lucy's eyes were sparkling with quite extraordinary delight,
and, needing a wash and brush up, she asked her mother to excuse Kate,
and the girls slipped away.
'Guess what I've got for you, little dear,' Lucy exclaimed when they
were alone. Kate laughed, but shook her head. Then, from a box, the
elder sister drew a small Army bonnet. 'Oh!' gasped Kate, 'where did
you get it?'
'I've been saving and saving for it, and at last here it is; and you're

going to wear it right off.' Kate's hat was transferred to the box and the
bonnet tried on. 'Darling, you look lovely; now come to mother,' cried
Lucy. Kate's face was pink with pleasure, and her eyes shining with
anticipation when the girls returned to Mrs. Lee. She looked a moment
in surprise, then her eyes filled with tears. There was a beauty not of
this earth about the child. She would not mar it. Kate might wear the
bonnet. And thus it was that the mother, herself unreached with
revelation, and untouched by inspiration, followed slowly but surely in
her daughters' steps.
Whilst Lucy was stationed at Folkestone it was a great joy to the sisters
when it was arranged for Kate to visit her. To work amongst the people
all day long, get them to the meetings at night, and 'land' them at the
mercy-seat, seemed to Kate service that the angels might envy. One day
she begged to be allowed to 'visit' [Footnote: Visiting the people in
their homes--usually