The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-03-28

On the day he was declared the successful candidate
his wife returned with her children, her fathers house
and sought protection of her own family All bis for
mer tender love TOR her had faded from his mind. He
regarded her codly and sometimes with positive un
kindness. And he was moreover, SO abandoned in his
habits that such woman as Alice could not live with
him. A feeble remonstranee was made against her
precipiae course of action followed by threat to take
the children from their mother, and then the heartsrick
en- wife was left in the asylum she had sought.
A year afterwards owing TO the gross abandonment
of himself to vile and evil courses Of conduct his wife
urged on by her friends applied for and obtained di
yorce from Delaney He went to Congress for second
term, and was then dropped by the party as unfit to rep
resent them He had become little better than a COM
mondtunkard Thus disgacsd, he Jeff the county, and
went no one knew whittier
Three years passed. during al Of which time Alice,
who eontinuedO live with her father heard nothing of
him who had once been her husband Gradually her
feelings were beginning to rise from the shock they had
received Her childpn unfolding before her like
plants that were pleasant look upon and the fragrance
of whose leaves affected the sense Of delight. About
this time she went to visit a friend who had married
and moved Away to neighhoring State. Twas about
the time when the Washngtonian excitement was atits
height. Every village, town, and city, gave forth its
crowded audiences to listen with intense interest to the
thrilling experience of men who had arisen into life as
from the dead The wonder was in every thought and
upon every lip People looked at the new phenomenon
5 with bewildered astonishment
In the evening Of the day on which Alice arrived at
y S. great experience meeting was to be held in
one ofthe churches Her friend, who had became en-
husiast in the cause urged her to go to this meeting
which Alice did although with feeling Of reluctance,
d The house was crowded above and below A broad
platform had been laid upon the railing of the altar
upon which sat the president of the society," the secyea
ry ministers of various denominations and several re-
k formed men, who were to be the principal speakers
ct The peiminaries usually appertainng to sucR meet
ings having been arranged bref opening address was
n made by one of the ministers. reformed man then
related his experience with great effect After he had
q finished, there was pause Of nearly minute. Al
IS length man, who had been seated far back with his
n face partly turned from the audience arose slowly and
le moved to the front Of the stage
half suppressed exclamation escaped Alice as hel
r eyes caught the we-known features of him who hai
ut been her husband while quick thrill through her
Then her whole frame trembled in accord with her lut
is ering heart The face Of Mr.. Delaney was greatly
ne changed since she had last looked upon it. Its calm
dignfed elevation had been restored but with this diff
in erencewhat before was cheerful, was now sad-very
en- sad.
mr. President he began, in a subdued voice, 'al
though had consented, at your urgent solicitation
address this large assembly tonight yet have felt 81
a to thofi 4 hoch hooY
d. the utmost difficulty, could drag myself forward. Blu
ch had passed my word, could not violate it As to re
ed lang my experience that do not think ventur
" upon The past dare not recall Would to Heav
al en- that the memory of just ten years Of my life wer
Ter botted out
"a The speaker paused moment, already much affec
Is ed. He, resuming in frmer voice, said
Sc But something must be said of my own case, or
lat shall fail to make that impression your minds that
wish to produce. Pictures of real life touch the heal
with power, while abstract presentations of truth gtte
ed coldy then fadefror
ne the perceptions kedissovng figures in the dorama
ed your speaker once stood among the first members
til the bar in neighboring State Nay than tha
e. he represented his county three years in the As
n sembly of the Commonwealth And more than tha
ed still-occuped seat in Congress for two Congression
al periods .H .l.
by At this announcement, the stiffness of death perva
o. ded the crowded assembly.
ly 'Andyet more than all that he continued his voc
at sinking into low, thrilling tone-'he once had ten
ri dery loved wife and two sweet children But all thes
in honors all these blessings have departed from him.
ce confined his voice growing louder and deeper in his e
s. foul to control himself He was unworthy TO retail
hem His constituents threw him off, because he ha
It's debased himself and disgraced them. And worse thai
n all-she, who had loved him devotedy-she, who ha
to borne him two dear babes was forced to abandon him
ed and seek asylum in her fathers house. And why
a. Could become so changed in a few short years?
to What power was there to debase that my fellow
n beings spurned and even the wife of my bosom urne
ST away, heartsricken from me? Alas my friends-i
n was mad indulgence in strong drink. Strong drink
rs aye, is it not mocker2 A very demon-a Circe
changing the human into the bestia But for this, ant
i were now an honorable and useful representative il
a. Congress pursuing after my counys good and blessed
in the home circle with wife and children. But hav
lie not told you ALL After my wife separated herself from
he me, Isunk rapidly state Of perfect sobrey brough
e too many terrible thoughts therefore drank NOR
is freely and was rarely if ever from under the bewider
ID ing effects Of partial ntoxcaon. l remained in th
same village for some years, but never once saw he
70 during that time-nor even glimpse Of my children
j. AT last became abandoned in my life, that mget