Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-05-21
uisCgLLAyEOUs SELECTIONs.-
.srr sxEBRIATE,s FAMILY. OR THE POXVI
OF KINDNESS.
a Thrilling .auso6iographieni .Farra:ire.
JouN NJ.

denscd account Of tho experience of Mr.. Hawkins
.,,hered from his several lectures delivered while
At indianapolis. but on receiving tho following,
which VIC copy from the White Mountain Torrent,
wa find moro correc. and condensed sketch than
VIC had gathered, and ut once substitute It instead
of the ono we had prepared.
We sorry. however. that the reader VIII
necessarily fail to experience that peculiar
thrill Of sympathy for the unfortunate inebrinto,
and fear of the intoxicating cup, which Mr..
RI. always imparts in his dicourscs. when
in his experience, no comes TO the mention of his
emaciated wife, who was all kindness and for
bearance, and when poor little Hannah put her
hands upon his mouth, while sho repeated to him
tho favor that she wished Of him. on his promise
10 grant her any request she would make: say
whom he narratcs this part Of his experience,
with eyes streaming with tears of JOY for his de-
liyerance, tho soutest hearts melt before his
natural e!oquence. But wo must give the MR.
rativc as VIC have it. hoping that it may DO much
good:
..In speaking Of the efforts mado by families,
and friends. it bears heavily upon my mind :,
said Mr.. H., mean the efforts to mo from
tho destruction | sought nftor, as to present an
opportunity for drawing facts from my own por-
sonal experience. Many Of you arc compare
tively unacquaintod with my case, and of the
misory was bringing upon my own family, by
INDUCING my taste for arden, spirits. At that
imo endeavored TO raise my head as high as
couId-my homo, onco happy, was in dreadful
condition. condition which my best friends.
apart from my family. know nothing of. Amid
tho tears, prayers, and groans Of my family.
was rushing rapidly, into destruction-yct like
tho blind man mentioned in the Scripture, drow.
at times, some comfort. The poor blind bcr,1r
had hoard of great and compassionate, n11n,
who was going through tho country opening Tho
Dyes Of tho blind, healing tho sick, and restoring
the dead to thoir fricnds-hc thought if he could
approach him that no might DO healed Il.
seems to me after being brought TO his sight, his
worry soul must havo cXulted and reioicod in what
ho had boon permitted to look upon, A change
had come over him, and his features, perrin rs,
wore altered, that many who had known him
previously, doubted thcir own Dyes. on boholding
him. lIo could not give them satisfn ction-yet
one thing he could say, "that whereas was blind
now soo!'' And, my friends. ca say, though
once was drunkard, am sober man!
(Appause.) Without any of the consideration
of vito, children and friends, that alono has
given that satisfaction which the world could
not mako me give up.
When look back, as in book, upon tho dark
and gloomy pages Of my life. am absolutely
astonishcd 1t is four years since ! tasted intoxi
eating liquors. IL any man had told mo at that
time, that would havo kept the pledge should
not have believed him. | was then fortv-lhree
years Of age, and thought if | reformed, might
probably live ton years longcr-possib!y might
attain the ago of sixty three. | trcInbled and
asked myself will over go back! And when |
vowed by the help of God would never taste
another drop, felt possessed of bracing in
fucnce. From 1911 to 1910 there was not Il
year passed over my hcad--thoro was not a month
IN which had not been intoxicated; and during
tho last hteon months of that period my wife
has told mo that did not draw 4 sober breath!
Now have travelled four years IN tie cause, and
feel like going on more than at any other period
OF my life. feel that it is my duty to make
e'ery reasonable sacrifice, every sacrifice can
conveniently mako for the cause and the good Of
my fellow mon. am confident, that there is not
family IN which may not DO found son or
father, whore efforts may not be made 10 reclaim
tho inebriate. Let me tell some little things that
love 10 rcco!icct In so many dark and gloomy
scenes there arc some private ones which the
world knows nothing of-and love to remember
them.
There ono or two friends who stood BY
me in my atfliction. | am not in the habit oil
telling Of tho sprecs in which have boon cnga god
many and disgracefu as they would be found
wero to relate them. was passing to-day by
tavern Ill which was won't to drink, the cir
cumstances OF tho period were recalled to my
mind. was out of work and out of money.
and was reduced much lowor than ono who visited
my house, save my mother, knew nny thing of.
l mad not only sold all of my furniture to procure
bread but had pledged my coat TO get five dollars
to purchase good things for my family. Before
setting out took one drink, and when I reached
home every cent was gone.
90 not relate this boastngly, for no one
KNOWS the condition of tho drunkard so we'll as
ono VINO has passed through the scenes that
nave. | became so reduced. while residing a.
corner OF Sharp street and Busy allev tina, Law
upon the floor on straw my furniture had been
sold by Bool-and my clock and coat were at the
pawnbroker's. Those who knew me did no,
suppose could DO in n condition so degraded.
myself.
IL was on a cold winter evening. when co -
duced, and being very drunk, that l lef. this
tavern and started homo. Tho wind was blow.
ing hard from the northwest, freezing the snow
and slush. Alternately falling and raising il