Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-05


ny body was going, not even my wife. had
got out Of difficulty but did not know how long
would keep out. The six Founders of the so-
clety were there. We had fshed together,
aud got drunk together. You could not break
us up when drunk. We stuck like brothers,
and so we do now we are sober. One said
here Is Hawkins, the "regulator," the old
BRuIsER; and they clapped and laughed as you
DO now But there was no clap or laugh in
me. was too sober and solemn for that. The
pledge was read for my accommodation. They
all lookct over my shoulder to sec me write my
name never had such feelings before. 1t
was great battle, I once fought the battle at
North Point, and helped to run away too, but
now there is no running away. found the
Society had large pitcher Of water-drank
toasts and told experences.-There laid my
plan; did not intend to be a drone. Alcohol
promised every thing, but found him great
deceiyer, and now mean to do him all the
harm can.
At II o'clock went home, because, when
| went home late, always went home drunk.
Wife had given me up, and thought | would
come home drunk again, and she began TO
think about breaking up and going home to
mothers. My yard is covered with brick,
and as went over the brick, wife listened as
she told me, TO determine whether the gate
opened drunk or SOBER for she could tell, and it
opened sober and shut sober; and when enter
ed, my wife was standing i'll the middle Of the
room TO sec me as came in. She was as
tonishcd, bat smiled and she smiled, as
caught her black eye. | told her quick |
could not keep it back, i have put my name
to the temperance pledge, never TO drink as
long as live 1t was happy time. | cried
and she cried we could not hush it and our
crying walked up our daughter, and she cried
too. tell you this, that you may know how
happy this reformation of a drunkard makes
his family. slept none that night my thoughts
were better than sleep. Next morning went
to see mother, old as was. must go to sec
her and tell her of our JOY. She had been pray
ing 20 years for her drunken son. Now she
said, 1T is enough, l am ready to die 1t made
my connexions all happy.
The next thing was TO determine what
was TO be done. My mind was bunted-
character gone; was bloated and was get
ting old but men who had sighted me came
to my help again and took me by the hand, helc
me up, encouraged and romforted me. II
| l-,r I live bf
needs sympathy and is worthy of it, poor anC
miserable as he is he did not design to be
come drunkard and people have too Ions
told him he cannot reform; it's no use ht
must die drunkard. But we now assure hin
he can reform, and need not live or die So anC
we show ourselves, 1000 in one year, as evi
dence of the fact. The poor wretch here i
crammed into the poor house or prison, ant
when he comes out, he meets temptation a
every step-he begs you to succor him; bu
he is led by appetite and neglect, straight t
the grog-shop. Drunkard como up here, yo,
can reiorm-take the pledge in this Cradle c
Liberty, and be ever free Delay not. me
gentleman this morning, who reformed fou
weeks ago, rejoicing in his reformation. ii
brought man with him who took the pledge
and this man has already brought two other;
: This is the way we do the business up in Bait
more we reformed drunkards are a COMMIT
= TEE OF THE WHOLE on THE STATE OF TIRE
MON. are all missionaries don't slight tn
t drunkard, but love him. No. we nurse hi,
as the mother does her infant learning to wall
. | tell you be kind to him and he will nevt
t forget you. He has peculiar feelings whe
5 the boys run after him and hoot at him ; tax
d his part and he'll never forget it. He h;
d better feelings than the moderate drinkel
e don't lay stumbling block in his way. Or
it man-poor, miserable, wretched, ragged
REAL WHARF RAT 4 suppose you have sue
!. here, we had plenty of them in Baltimore, b.
/ much lessened now y he was n buster abo
, year ago. his clothes not fit for paper rag
l. his family had nothing to eat, no fuel, nor eve
~ clothes. Well, he told his brother he was G
~ ING TO quit, and wanted him to go his securl
f, for a horse and cart, bat he would not. o
| men went to his brother and he was persuade
10 He has paid for his horse and cart, his FAM
| and hmselfare well clothed, cellar full of WOO
4, a barrel of -four, and he has become a gent
Sc man and christian. And all this in one she
a year
II. Just let me tell you about one of our refor
"a, ed men. We all changed great deal in {
1 appearance; some grew tim some pale
l. L.