The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1847-07-22

assembly tonight, set have fill 80 slrorg
. reluctance o. Dung -. that il las been
with The utmost difficulty could drag
myself forward. IIUt had passed N.
woTd--I could nol whale il. A. 10 Ie,
lsiing my experiences, that , - nai think
] can venture Epon. The past dare not
recall. Would 20 heaysn thai just Ten
ysars Of ny life we're b,0,led cut $50
The speaker paused moment. already
much AFFECTED. Then resuming in firm.
er voice lie said: s-~~e@ - SIS.
But something must he said nj my
own case or shall fail 10 make that i'm
preston on yOuT minds that ! wish 10
produce. ......-.a -~. ~
Pictures n real life touch The hearl
with pnwer, while sbslraci presentations
Of truth glitter coldly in The intellectual
regions Of the mind and then fade from
the perception like figures in diorama.
Your speaker once stood among The
frat members Of the bar in neighboring
State. Nay. more Than ihat-he repre-
secuted his county Tor three years in the
Assembly Of The Commonwealth. and
more than that siill-occupied sea, in
Congress fer two Congressional periods.
Al this announcement. the stiffness of
death pervsded The crowded assembly.
And yet more than all that he c"n-
iinued, his voice sinking inlo . low, Thrill
ling tone he once had ienderly loved
wife and two sweet children. But all
these honors-sll these blessings have
departed from him. he continued, his
voice growing louder and deeper in his
efforts to control himself. lie was nm
worthy 10 retain them! Ills constituents
threw him OF because he had debased
himself. and disgrsced them. And worse
than all--she who had loved him devo.
tedly-she who had horne him two dear
babes. WAS forced 10 abandon him. and
seek an asylum in her fathers house.
And why! Could l become so changed
in Few short years! What power was
there 90 to ahase me that my fellow be-
ings spurned, and even the wife Of my bo.
SON TUNED away hear, siriken from me
Alas! my friends, IL was mad indulgence
ia mockeryl A very dcmon--a Gree.
changing the human into the bestisl. But
FOE this, was now an honorable and USE
ful representative in Congress, pursuing
after my country's good, and blessed IN
the home circle with wife and children.
u. have not told you all. Alter my
wife separated from me. l sank rapidly.
"A state Of perfect sobrie,y brought TOO
many terrible thoughts; ! therefore drank
more freely, and was more rarely, If ever,
under the bewildering effects Of partial in
ioxicati0n. j remained in The same vii.
lage for some years, but never once saw
her during that Iime--nor glimpse Of
INV children. At last ! became so aban-
doned in my life, that my wife. urged on
BY her friends, no doubt, fled an applica-
ilon for divorce, and as cause could ea-
silly be shewn, why il should lie granted,
a separation was legally declared. Id j.
10 complete my dIsgrsce.sa, The next
Congressional canvass, was lefi Off the
ticket, rs unit, 10 represent the district. 1
Left tie county and State where had Ii, :
ed from my boyhood up. *a e@s~. T. ~
Three years have elapsed since then.
For Two " ars Of This period, ! abandoned
myself TO the fearful impulse Of The appe.
tile had acquired. Then heard of this
new movement -fhe great Temperance
cause. At first ] sneered, then won.
dered. listened at last. and finally threw
myself upon the great wave that was
sweeping onward, in the hope of being
carried Oft by it far GU, OF the reach OF dan
ger, and did no, hope with vain hope.
II did for me all and more than | could
have deemed. Ii sci me once more upon
my fcet-once more made man Of me.
A year Of sobrie,y, earnest devotion TO my
profession, and fervent prayer TO Him
who alone gives strength in every good
resolution, has restored 10 me much that
| have lost--but not all--not The riches.
treasure that proved myself unworthy
To re.ain-not my wifi. and children. All
between myself and these, the law has
laid It's Eern impossible Introduction.
have no longer wife ; no 'onger children;
though my heart goes OUT towards these
beloved ones with the ,enderest warnings.
Pictures Of our early days of welded love
are ever lingering in my imagination. l
dream of the.swe fre-side circle | see
ever before me the ol.ce placid face Of my
Alice. as her eyes looked into my own
with intelligent confidence. feel her
arms Irvine about my neck; the music
Of her voice is ever BOUNDING ia my ear.
Here The speakers emotions overcamc
| him. His u,,erance became choaked, and
he stood silent. with bowed head and
trembling limbs. The dense mass oil
people were hushed into an oppressive
Stiffness. that was broken. here aud there,
by halfslifled sobs. Al this momen,there
was movement in the crowd. A single
female figure, before whom every one ap.
peared instinclIy TO give way. was seen
passing up the aisle This was not OBJ.