Poor fellows,
they cheered and said I was in the right, but whether they will keep
to it is another thing."
They did keep to it. All that winter, while the chapel was building,
there were only five cases in which the money had to be returned, and
two of those took the pledge, pleaded hard, and were restored.
Indeed, I believe it was only the habitually sober who ventured on
the tolerated pint. Of course there were some who never came into
the thing at all, and continued in their usual course; but these were
the dregs, sure to be found everywhere, and the main body of the
Hydriot potters kept their word so staunchly, that the demon of
intoxication among them was slain by those Samson windows, as Harold
had never slain it during his life.
Beautiful bright windows they are, glowing with Samson in his typical
might, slaying his lion, out of the strong finding sweetness,
drinking water after the fight, bearing away the gates, and slaying
his foes in his death. But Samson is not there alone. As the more
thoughtful remarked, Samson was scarce a worthy likeness for one who
had had grace to triumph. No, Samson, whose life always seems like a
great type in shattered fragments, must be set in juxtaposition with
the great Antitype. His conflict with Satan, His Last Supper, His
pointing out the Water of Life, His Death and His victory over death,
shine forth, giving their own lesson of Who hath won the victory.
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