Holly Springs gazette., 1844-03-09

l l.
From this time all appeared lost; matters
grew worse every day. his tools were soon
sold tor rum; the COW went in the same
way; our household furniture was sacrific-
ed article by article. until all was gone
went and demonstrated with MIR Jones the
tavern keeper, but it did no good he took
bread for which you and | often went hun
! cry. | labored to support the family as
well as | could. bat even nv own little ear
min cs were cpant fnr rnm when they could
| be seized for tina: purpose
| AT last the final blow was struck; Mr..
Jones purchased a mortgage which he held
against our house and lot, and we were turn
ed out of Goors. went to your grand-fath-
er's, and took you with me. | think YOU
must remember something about our living
there Your father became street drunk
AID, without money and without friends
except your mother, who, drunkard as he
was, still regarded him with ndying affec-
tion.
Time passed on-one drunkard after an
other went to dishonored grave but your
father still lived, and | failed not to offer dai-
ly prayer to God with tears, that | might
once more embrace h.m sober and in his
rig ht mind
About three years go, Washingtonian
temperance lecturer came into the place,
and MANY went TO hear him. Among the
rest went The house was full. and he
commenced his lecture by stating that be
had been a drunkard, one of the most de-
graded sort of drunknrdS, that he had been
given up as hopeless case, by net only all
his friends but by hinself--by his oft a.
bused yet ever patient and affectionnte wife
and woman'S hope. said he, is last to fail;
and at that word / felt ray Of light dart'a-
cross my own dark and almost desponding
soul He stated that the cases of confirmed
dIunkardS had been considered hopeless,
bat that under the new temperance dispen-
satinn of Wa~ hingtonianism, il had been
proved that the worst of drunkardS could be
saved = Al this was started at the sound of
my own voice, as | said, not knowing what
did. 20 that James Hanson was here to
hear that" and put my hand upon my
breast IN vain attempt to silence my heart
which appeared as though it would leap
from It's confinement The lecturer pro.
ceeded, and gave an account OF his degrada-
tIon and that OF his family, and how he re-
covered himself through the influence of
some WashIngtouian friends how health.
peace, pl nty and happiness had returned 10
hlmselfsnd family During this drscri2-
ton Of himself of his fall. and of his reform
alton. endured dreadful conflict of feel
iog; 1t was with difficulty that could re-
fam from weeping aloud. and more than
once L was on the point of repeating the
'"ioh that lanes Hanson could hear that,
as something was SAID which L thought
would touch his case; but caution came to
my relief so that believe | did not speak
Il second time so as 10 be heard The spea-
xer closed by saving that 1t was the simple
pledge of total abstinence that had saved
him. and then called upon all. and drunk
ards In particular, to come forward aud
81 On the pledge which had done so much !
for him.
One after another came forward and pla-
ced his name upon the paper, some Of whom
were among the most sober in town. while
others were drunkards | saw several
whom knew to be among the com lanions /
of your father in drunkenness, and felt as
though | would have gwen the world, had
possessed it, 20 have had your father there /
1t appeared to me. that had be been present /
his heart hard as 1t was. would have melted /
and that he would have been redeemed that
night.
Some little confusion was caused In the l
by so MANY coming forward /
from their seats TO sign the pledge, and a
nunber were Standing about the table, so
hat had been unable for some minutes, to
see who came forward The people be
:ame excited, and began to clap when any
considerable drunkard came forward, pro-
his name aloud.
had almost f,rSotren myself my mind
lad wandered from the scene before me,
md was occupied with thoughts of other
laws, of both JOYS and sorrows, the intensity
,fmy feelings had passed away, and | had
ettled down into that :nelancholly state
which made me feel as though | were the
,nly person in the world, even amid the
shouts and clapplng with which was sur
ounded, when suddenly | was electrified
md brought upon my feet as by galvanic
,atterv, at the cry of "Hanson Hanson"
which was shouted at the top OF dozen vol
:es Owing TO the press of people between
ne and the table. it was not until your fatn
,r had placed his name on the paper. that |
.ould gain the place; and he having ac
.omplished the object and turned round to
etire, we met as | was rushing up under
he impulse the pronouncing OF bis name
lad given me- Until this moment. each