Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-01-15
The Fatal Gift.


he MlNlSCENCbb VI An EA-hGkNls
During one portion of my career as an a.
gent of the Total Abstinence Society, | was
engaged for some months in striving to con.
vert the good folks of Chancel Islands, TO a
right apprehension and a practical adoption
OF the teetotal system. 1t was my custom at
that time, 10 hold forth five evenings in the
week, TO the inhabitants Of St. Peters Port.
AS the town was not so large as many of our
English towns, | had of course to FURNISH
up my wits somewhat industriousl y, in order
to find new matter for the edification of my
auditors. In kind consideration of the ardu-
Gus character of my task, a few members of
the Temperance Society were in the habit of
giving short addresses at my meeting, aud
not unfrequently imparting much interest to
the meetings, and much instruction to the
people who composed them. OF one of
these kind friends | shall ever think respect
fully and g.eaifnIly. He was 4 member of
the Society of Friends, rather advanced in
years, Of "A most benign aspect, and a truly
benevolent disposition. lie possessed some
properly and considerable influence. and fire.
quently devoted a portion of both to the
spread OF the Temperance cause. One eve
ming he presided 1T one of my meetings. 1t
was held in the Friends meeting house.
The day towsrd its close had been gloomy
and stormy, and as a natural result the con-
gregatlon was scant. However the most
crowded meetings are not always the most
interesting. On rising, the chairman re-
marked that the place was not filled with
people, but he trusted that every mind would
be filled with good. For his own part he
had felt his thoughts draw powerfully to the
consideration of The danger of the practice of
giving and offering intoxicating drinks to
others. His memory, moreover, furnished
him with IA serious illustration of the peril
Gus and in some cases the deadly nature of
the custom 10 which he had adverted. He
then In a style which fixed The attention of
all, and drew tears from the eyes Of many
who were present, spoke in substance to the
following effect.
''Several years ago, long before | had
heard of teetotalism, | had occasion to take a
voyage in a sailing vessel, from this port to
the coast OF France. was accompanied by
my two daughters. In the expectation that
they would be troubled by sea-sickness, and
in conformity with the general opinion, we
had provided ourselves with a bottle of the
best cognac brandy, to BIZ used as a ~quleiiuy
medicine in The event ui illness. OF course,
| see the absurdIty OF believing that a strong
stimuiaHt like ardent spirits is fit to be used
when sickness has already over-excited the
stomach, But TO proceed our voyage was
delayed, OH account of the wind, or other cir
cumstances, so much that night came on
soon after We sailed and we made prepaTa-
tlons for retiring to our berIhs, with IA view
OF passing, It possible, several hours of re-
pose. Prior TO retiring for the night, we
each took d small glass-tull Of brandy aud
as the captain of the vessel, a F%renchman,
happened to be below just then. he was ask
ed TO have a little of our brandy. lie tosseI
oil a draught of liquor with evident relish,
smacked mis- lips after drinking, ard bidding
us adieu for the night, went on deck. We
had not rested more than a few hours, ere we
were awakened by the trampling of feet, and
a confused noise of voices. hastened on
deck. The night was cloudy the seamen
were shouting TO each other and hurryinp to
and fro. 'What is the matterl" enquir-
ed "Where is the captain 7" Judge OF nv
horror and regret. when | learned that he
had been set on to drink by the brandy | had
, given him, had got intoxicated, and in that
shocking state had fallen overheard! The
boat put out, and the men rowed aboutin the
t darkness Tor a considerable lime, but alas!
all was In valn-the poor man ID gone, to
be seen no more until ''the sea shall give up
lis Dead As may he expected, sleep for
r v Oui OJCliuo " III rest OF The MONT, and
the captainless ship neared the French shore.
, Just as The sun began TO show its face of fire
| In the glowing east. When we drew near
> our desired haven, | took the ships glass,
: and began to scan The neighborhood. no.
4 tlced in particular, one neat looking house
: near the landing place, at an upper window
OF which | saw a female, who seemed to he
n alternately straining her eyes, and waving a
n handkerchief in the direction of our vessel.
D SAID to one of the crew, ''some female at
/, that house with a white front, near the har-
4 bor' seems looking out for the ship, Tbe
rough French sailor drew the back of his
1 hand across his glistsning eyes. all we, with
| tears, and said in a lone made tremulon,
with emotion, 'Ah, God help her, that's the
t poor captains wife, Monsieur!"
y necessity my grief was deep and trv-
Ing; but until the light of teetotalism broke
upon my mind, | never saw 80 clearly as I
have done since, that my giving and Offering
strong drink TO a fellow-cTeaIure was the
moving cause ofthis most real and distress.
ing tFag'ay."-IE'~ish Tsmpsrsoss Trssis,