Democratic banner., 1846-06-06
TRUE STORY.

Alice arrived at s. 4 great eXperienc
meeting was to be held in one Of the churche:
Her friend, who had become enthusiastic in III
cause, urged her to goto this meeting, which Al
ice did, although with a feeling Of reluctance
The house was crowded, abvoe and below. Th
preliminaries usually appertaininS to such meet
ings having been arranged, 4 briefOpening a
dress was made by one cfthe ministers. \ re
formed nun then related his experience Wit
great effect. After he lad finished, there was
pauae Of nerly a minute At length a man VIII,
had been seated far back, with his face partl,
turned from the aulsace, arose slowly. moved t
the front Of the staG1k-
A half suppressed exclamation escaped Alice
as her eyes caught the well known features Of
him who had been her husband, while a quick
thrill ran through her. Then her whole frame
trembled in accord with her f~luttering heart
The face of Mr.. Delaney was greatly changed
since she had last looked uponit. Its calm, dig
niied elevation had been restored, but with
what diifercnce-what before was cheerful was
SAD, very sad.
'Mr. President he began in subduel voice,
although l had consented at your urgent ~solicita-
ton, to address this large assembly TO night, yet
| have felt so strong a reluctance to doing so, that
it has been with the utmost difficulty cuull
drag myself forward. Bat | had passed my word,
l could not violate it. As to relating my eXpe-
rience, that | do not think | can venture upon.
The pastI daae not recall. Wotl! toIIoaventlal
Just ten years OF MY life were blottcd cut
The speaker paused a moment, already much
affected. Then, resuming in a tirmer voice. said:
"But something must be said of my own case,
or shall fail to make that impression on your
minds that l wish 70 produce"
Pictures OF real life touch the heart with pow
er, while abstract presentations Of truth glitter
coldly III the intellectual regions of the mind, and
then fade from the perception like dissolving fig
ures in the diorama.
Your speaker once stood among the first mem
bers the in neighboring State. Nay, more than
represented his country for three years
in the Assembly of the Commonwealth. And
more than that still-occupied a seat in Congress
for two Congressional periods.
At this announcement, the stiffness Of death pre-
Vaded the crowded assembly.
"And yet more than all that, he continued his
voice sinking into 2 low thrilling tone--'.he once
had a tenderly loved wife, and two sweet children.
all these honors, all these blessings have de-
parted from him." he continued, his voice grow
ing louder and deeper in his effort to contol mn
self. "He was unworthy TO refrain them. Ills
threw him of because he had debas-
ed himself. and disgraccd them. And worse
Il n Al-she who had borne him two dear babes,
forcedt to abandon, and seek an asylum in her
house. And why? Conld | become
so changed in a few short years? What power
was there so to ablse me that my fcllow-beins>
spurned, and even the wife Of my bosom TUNED
away, heart stricken from me? Alas! my friends
it was a nal Indulgence in mockery! Al
.,or,y Io,on e, e., ,l.,,. al l,,,,, -, I,t,l
the beastial, but for this, and were now an
honorable and useful representative in Congress.
pursuing after my cOuntry's COOL, ard blessed in
the home circle with wife and children. But /
have not told youall. After my wife separated
from me-, / sank rrpidly. A state of perfect So
briefly bro't too many terrible thoughts; l there
fore drank more freely, and was rarely if ever
from under the bewillering effects OF plrtial in
toxication. | remained in the same village for
some years, but never once SAW her during that
time; nor a glimpse Of my chri!lrcn. At last |
became so abandoned in niylife, that my wife, urged
On BY her friends, no doubt ill ID an application for
adivorce; and as clusc coull readily be slown
why il should begr:ntel, a separation WIS legally
declared. To Complete my disgrace, at the next
Congressional cenv.ss | was lett off the ticket
as unfit to represent the district; l then let the
country and State, where | had Tired from my
boyhood up.
Three years had passed since then. For two
years of that period l abandoned myself to the
fearful impulse ofthe ap-tite | hal acquired. Then
/ heared of this new movement; the great temper
ance cause. At first | snecrcd. then wondered.
listened at last, AMI finally threw myself upon
the great ware that was sweeping onward. in the
hope Of being carried by it far ont OF the reach Of
danger. dill not hope with Il vain hope. 1t did
for me all ana more thIn | could have dreamed.
1t set me once more upon my feet; once more
male a mm of me. \ year OF sobriety, earnest
devotion to my profession, AMI ~fervemt prayer to
Him who alone gives strength in every COOL res
~Olution, has restored to me much that | have lost;
but not all: not the richest treasure that | proved
myself unworthy TO retain: not my wife AMI chill
dren. All between myself anil them the law had
laid its stern, impossible Introduction. | have NJ
longer a wife; no longer a child: though my Eeart
goes ont towards those dearly beloved ones with
the tenlerest warnings, Pictures of our early
days ofwelded love are ever lingering in ms
Imagination. | dream o. the sweet fresidc circle,
l see eUer before me the once placid face of IN,
Alice, as her eyes looked into my own with intel
lisent confidence. l feel her arms Irvine,
about my neck; the music o. her voice is eyeI
sounding in my ears
Here the speakers emotion over came him