Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-11-04
MARRIAGE Alta TEMPERANCE
MEETING.

MAhhiAlIls 4 a lEWPEhANCE
.v MEETING.
The s.. Louis Republican endorses
the following interesting sketch as a
True SraRY.
Ia the evening ofthe day on which
Alice arrived at S. great Tenn
perance meeting was to be held in one
of the churches. Her friend who had
become enthusiastic in the cause, arg
edher TO 60 to the meeting, which Alice
did, but with great reluctance. The
house was crowded above and below.
The prelimlnaries usually appertain-
ing TO such meetings having been ar
ranged, brief opening address was
made by one Of the ministers. A re-
formed man then related his experience
with great effect. After he had en-
ished, there was pause Of nearly a
minute. AT length a man who bad
been seated far back, with his face
partly turned from the audience, arose
slowly, and moved to the front Of the
stage.
A half suppressed exclamation es-
capped Alice, as her eyes caught the
well known features Of him who had
been her husband, while quick thrill
ran through her. Then her frame
tyemb'ed in accordance with her hu-
:ering heart. The face of Mr.. DE Lam
cy had greatly changed since she had
last looked upon it. Its calm, dignl-
fed elevation had been restored, bu!
what difference! "Mr. President"
he began in broken soice, although
| had consented at your urgent sollci-
talion,,o address this large assembly to-
night, YET have feh so strong IA reluc-
.ance to do so, thai, j, has been with
the utmost difficulty that | could drag
myself forward. Blu, had passed my
word and could not violate 1t. As to
relating my experience, that | do not
think | could venture upon. The past
| dare not recall. Would to heaven
that just ten years of nay life were blot
ted CUT"
The speaker here paused a moment,
already much affected. Then resum-
ing a frmer voice, and said:
"Bu, something must be said of my
own case, or shall fail to make that
impression on your minds that wish
TO produce.
Pictures ofreal life touch the heart
with power, while abstract p'esenta-
tions of truth glitter coldIy IN the in
tellectual regions Of The mind, and then
fade from the perception like figures IN
a dorama.
Your speaker once stood among the
first members of the bar in a neighbor-
ing State. Nay, more than ,ha'-he
represented his county for three years
in the Assembly ofthe commonwealth.
And more than that sid. occupied a
seat in Congress for two Congression~
al periods. -
AT this period the stiffness Of death
pervaded the crowded assembly.
Sand yet more than all that" he
continue1, his voice sinking into a low
thrilling tone; che bad a tenderly loved
wife, ard two sweet children. Bu, all
those honors; all those blessings have
departed from him." he continued, his
voice growing louder and deeper in his
efforts TO control himself. He was
unworthy to retain ,hem
His constituents threw him off be-
cause he had dsbased himself and dis
sraced them. And worse :han all
she who loved him devotedIy-she
who had borne two dear babes, was
forced to abandon him, and seek an a.
syium in her fathers house.
And whys Could | become so
changed in few short years. Wba,
power was there so to abase me that
my fellow beings spurned, and even
the wife of my bosom turned away
heart stricken from me' Alas, my
friends, it was mad indulgence in
mockery! A very demon-a Gree
changing the human into the beslial.
But for this, | were an honorable and !
useful representative in Congress, pur-
suing after my country's good, and
blessed in the home circle with wife
and children. But | have told you all.
After my wife separated from me sank
rapidly.
A state Of perfect sobrieiy brought
too many terrible thoughts; | therefore
drank more freely, and was rarely, if
ever, from under The bewildering effects
Of ntoxication. At last became so
abandoned in my life, that my wife
urged on by her friends, fled an appi-
cation for divorce, and as cause 20 lid
easily be shown why il should BE- gran
ted, separation was legally declared.