You have my warning." "May I not also have your help!" cried Philip, hungry of soul for companionship in the struggle which he saw was coming.
"It would ruin my business to come out against the saloon," replied the man, frankly.
"And what is that ?" cried Philip, earnestly.

"It has already ruined far more than ought to be dear to you.

Man, man, what are money and business compared with your own flesh and blood?
Do you know where your own son was two nights ago?
In one of the vilest of the vile holes in this city, where you, a father, license to another man to destroy the life of your own child! I saw him there myself; and my heart ached for him and you.
It is the necessary truth.

Will you not join with me to wipe out this curse in society ?" The merchant trembled and his lips quivered at mention of his son, but he replied: "I cannot do what you want, Mr.Strong.But you can count on my sympathy if you make the fight." Philip finally went away, his soul tossed on a wave of mountain proportions, and growing more and more crested with foam and wrath as the first Sunday of the month drew near, and he realized that the battle was one that he must wage single-handed in a town of fifty thousand people.
He was not so destitute of support as he thought.

There were many mothers' hearts in Milton that had ached and prayed in agony long years that the Almighty would come with his power and sweep the curse away.
But Philip had not been long enough in Milton to know the entire sentiment of the people.