Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-09-11

posed Of Messrs. Stansbury and Mi
chael, have been laboring among us for
the last seven days with some degree
of success. The citizens have become
enlisted in the principles which they
advocate, and are taking hold Of the
subject in a deliberate manner.
On Monday evening Messrs. Stans-
bury and Michael addressed large
company of gentlemen that assembled
before the south side of the court house
in Centre square, when a number signed
the pledge. On Tuesday evening the
court house was crowded by ladies and
gentlemen; Christian Buchman, Esq.
presided, and after the meeting came
10 order, Mr.. E. Michael gave some
parts Of his experience in ntemperance
as follows:
1t may appear strange to you, my
friends, that | appear before you this
evening, to relate my experience in in
temperance, and the numerous ditlicul>
ties and evils which beset me while
leading life Of folly and drunkenness;
they are days that are as wormwood
and gall to my heart; | would ialn obs
literate them from my memory, and
leave them in the darkness of oblivion,
but am urged by the feeling that my
example may serve as lesson TO o.
theirs who are about treading the same
path which led me TO SO much unhappl>
ness in my early life, and ! therefore
cheeriully waive every consideration
for the purpose Of endeavoring 10 re-
deem my lost brother.
In my earlier years | was subject to
the guidance Of tender parenlS-no
wish ungratitied Of a moral character.
All passed smoothly as the unrutlled
waters in my juvenile days; pearly
hope glstened before me as the sun
beam; they were days, however, that
soon passed around and left me misera-
ble when ] should have been most buoy
ant and cheerful. My father, at his
death, bequea,hed to me sutficiency to
keep me comfortable all my days. At
length the destroyer came in all his
bright and aluring colors, leading me
by degrees into vortex or eddy which
had nigh forever ruined me. | com
menced the career of moderate drink
ing, trusting in my own power 10 dis
continue its use when it seemed meet
and proper 10 my mind.
| commenced the career of moder-
ate drinking, together with large cir
q Gle of associates and acquaintanceS, and
our resort soon became the tavera
where we were introduced TO Wine
. then came the stronger intoxicating
drinks with the most direful results.
subsequently, drank to such an excess
, that became one Of the most abando
-, ned outcasts on the face of the earth
ripe for all scenes of disorder and drum
). kenness. grew so low in life that
attempted suicide, but was rescued il
the act and raised from a drunkard't
grave, and stand here tonight as thougi
was one raised from the silent dead
: In,emperance has completed y swept m.
" fireside, nor has it left me stock or stone
= it has alienated the affections of my wifi
II who is now living with another man
y Long did my children live under IN
- impression that | was dead Th
- ~ earth may yield her increase, but hu
- man nature can never restore TO m
y what have lost. have wandered uE
10 on the broad face of the earth, va
=. :, grant, despised by all, known by none
- :. save one, MY MOTHER, who hoped {
. . gainst hope; it appears the worse
- grew, the tighter she held to that hop,
~ :" nor has that hope been disappointe'
- =, The Washington Temperance Societ
- - has claimed me. the dispised one; it hS
'' beeL to me the good Samaritan il h;
~ w. poured oil into my wounds, and set n
v" Oh my feet again. God works in
" mysterious way. believe the socle'
ID of drunkards to be one Of his agencl'
yes when the united wisdom Of the wor
he was bafIled in their projects for the 7
the clamation of the poor inebrate, it h
accomplished a mighty work. II
: truth is sealed, the DRUNKARD CAN !
sAvED,-I stand here living witness
In my early career mingled in Il
rk, best of society, and freQuented the mt
RS. respectable hotels in the city OF Bal
o. more but mark my end ] became
ng reduced and sunk in degradation aite
'e> wards, that with tottering steps a
rk. trembling limbs would seek out sor
gh obscure groggery, and there procure
yer beggarly cents worth of whiskey, a
rid having obtained it, could not with o
or, hand raise it to my mouth; It requlr
the united efforts Of both, and even ,h