Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-07-10

A TRUE STORY.

held IN one OF tue CnuICllGS. llCl IllOlu NV
had become enthusiastic in the cause. urged
her TO 90 to this meeting, which Alice did,
although with a feeling of reluctance. The
house was crowded both above and below.
The preliminaries usually appertaining to
such meetings having been arranged, a brief
opening address was made by one Of the min
listers. A reformed man then related his eX-
p]erience with great effect. After he had fin
ished there was a pause of nearly a minute.
At length a man, who had been seated far
back, with his face partly turned from the au-
d~ience, slowly arose, and moved to the front
of the stage.
half-suppressed exclamation escaped from
Alice, as her eyes caught the well-known fea-
lures of him who had been her husband, while
a quick thrill ran through her. Then her
frame trembled in accord with her futtering
heart. The face of Mr.. Delaney had greatly
changed since she had last looked upon it
Its calm, dignified elevation had been restor-
ed, but with what differences What before
was cheerful, was sad, very sad. "Mr. Pres
ident," he began, in a broken voice, "al-
though had consented at your urgent soil.
citation, 10 address this large assembly to-
night, yet l have felt so strong a reluctance
to doing so, that it has been with the utmost
difficulty | could drag myself forward. But
| had passed my word, | could not violate it.
AS to relating my experience, that | do not
think / can venture upon. The past | dare
not recall. Would to heaven that lust ten
years of my life were blotted out"
The speaker paused a moment already
much affected. Then resuming in a firmer
voice, he said
Is something must be said of my own
case, or | shall fail to make that impression
on your minds that wish to produce.
"Pictures of real life touch the heart with
power, while abstract presentations of truth
glitter coldly in the intellectual regions of the
mind, and then fade from the perception like
figures in a diorama.
our speaker once stood among the first
members of the bar in a neighboring State
nay, more than that-he represented his coun-
ty for three years in the Assembly of the Com
monwealth. And more than that still-occu
pied a seat in Congress for two Congression-
al periods"
AT this announcement the stiffness of death
pervaded the crowded assembly.
And yet more than that" he continued,
his voice sinking into a low, thrilling tone
he once had a tenderly-loved wife and two
sweet children. But all these honors-all
these blessings have departed from him. he
continued, his voice growing louder and deep
er in his efforts to control himself. "IIe was
unworthy to retain them! His constituents
threw him off because he had debased him
self and disgraced them! And worse than
all-she who had loved him devotedly-she
who had borne him two dear babes, was for
ced to abandon him, and seek an ASYLUM in
her fathers house. And why Could | have
become so changed in a few short wears q
What power was there TO abase ne that nv
fellow beings s%purned, and even the vile of
my bosom turned away heart-stricken from
me! Alas my friends, il was a mad indul-
gence in mockery! very demon-a Gree,
changing the human into a bestial. But for
this, were now an honorable and useful rep
resentatiye in Congress, pursuing after my
country's good, and blest in the house circle
with wife and children. But | have not told
you all. After my wife separated from me,
| sank rapidly.
"a state of perfect sobriety brought too
many terrible thoughts | therefore drank
more freely, and was rarely, if ever, from un-
der the bewildering effects of partial intoXica-
ton. | remained in the same village for some
years, but never once saw her durinr that
time-nor a glimpse of my children. At last
l became so abandoned in my life, that nv
wife, urged on by her friends, no doubt, filed
an application for a divorce, and as cause
could easily be shown why it should be grant
ed, a separation was legally declared. To
complete my disgrace, at the next Congress-
lonal canvass, ] was left off the ticket as un-
Tit to represent the district. | left the county
and State where | had lived from my bow
hood up.
"Three years have elapsed since then. For
two years OF the period | abandoned myself
TO the fearful impulse Of the habit [ had ac-
qulred. Then | heard of this new movement
the great temperance cause. At first |
%sneered, then wondered, listened at last, and
hnally threw myself upon the great wave that
was sweeping onward, in the hope of being
carried by it far out of the reach of dancer.
and did not hope with a vain hope. 1t did
for me all and more than ! could have deem
ed. 1t set me once more upon my feet-once
more made a man of me. A year of sobriety,
earnest devotion to my profession, and f~ervent
prayer to Him who alone gives strength in
every good resolution, has restored to me
much that | had lOst-but not all-not the
richest treasure that ! proved myself unwor-
thy to retain; not my wife and children. All!
between myself and these the law has laid its
stern impossible Introduction. have no lon
ger a wife, no longer children, though nv
heart goes out towards these dearly beloved
ones with the tenderest warnings. Pictures
Of our early days of welded love are ever lin
gerlng in my Imagination. | dream of the
sweet hreside circle; | see ever before me
the once placid face Of my Alice, as her ewes
looked into my own with intelligent conf.
dence. ! feel her arm twipe about NV neck
the music OF her voice is ever soundinr in mn