The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-07-24

nayNght. The Farmer and his wife were
members of the temperance society, and had
signed the pledge; and had often heard
INN say, that he believed il bad saved him
from destruction. He had, before his mar
rlage, and for year after, been in the habit
Of taking little spiril every day Hewas
an industrious, thriving man; but shortly at-
ter his marriage, he became bound for a
neighbor, who ran off, and he was obliged 10
pay the debt. have heard him declare,
that, when the sheriff took away his pro-
perty, and stripped his little cottage and
and scarcely left him those trifles,
which are secured to the poor man by law;
and when he considered how i'll his poor
wife was, at the time, in consequence oil the
loss Of their child, that died only month
before, hewas restrained from resorting to
The bottle, in his moments of despair, by
nothing but recollection of the pledge lie
had signed. Farmer Johnson's minister
was in favor Of pledges, and had often told
hims that affection might AIKEN his judg-
ment and his moral sense, and that The
pledge might save him at last, as the plank
saves the life of mariner, who is tosi
upon the waves. tfa 3hAF5
Our good Clergyman was unfortunately
Of a different opinion. He had often dsap-
proved OF pledges: the Deacon was Of the
same opinion; he thought very lily Of Pied
ges. sifa
Month after month passed, and our hap
piness was utterly destroyed. My hus-
band neglected his business, and poverty
hpr In NT,i,,
standing my best exertions, it was hard
work to keep my little ones decently clothed
and sufficiently fed. II my husband earned
a shilling, the dram-seller was as sure of il,
as if it were already in his till. ! some
times thought had lost all my affection for
one who had proven so entirely regardless
Of those, whom it was his duty to protect
and sustain; but, whenl looked inthe faces
Of our little children, the recollection Of our
early marriage days, and all his kind words
and deeds soon taught me the strength Of
the principle, that had brought us together.
shall never ceaseto remember the anguish
] felt when the constable took him to Jail
upon the dram-seller's execution. Till that
moment, | did believe, that my affection
could have survived, under the pressure OF
that misery, which he had brought upon US
all, Iput up such lhings, Of the little that
remained to US, as thought mightbe Of use
and ! turned my back upon a spot, where !
had been very happy and very wrctched.--
| Our five little children followed, weeping
bitterly. The Jail was situated in the next
town. sob, George said ], if you had
only signed tho pledge, itwould not have
come to this" Hesighed, and said nothing
and we walked nearly a mile in perfect 81
lcnce. As we were leaving the village,
we encountered our Clergyman, going forth
upon his morning ride. When ] reelected
that a few words from him would have in
duced my door husband to sign the pledge
and that, if he had done 50, he might been
The kind father and afiectionate husband that
he once was, | own, it'cost me some con.
siderable effortto suppress my motions.
"Whithcr are you goingf" said The holy
man. My husband, who,had always ap-
pcared extremely humble, in presence Of The
minister, and replied 10 all his inquiries, in
a subdued tone Of voice, answered, with IN
sual frmness, SssTo jail, reverend sir. ~
$40 jail!' said he, 6 ah see how tits you
have wasted your substance in riotous lv-
ing, are going toIpay for yourlimproyidence
and folly. You have had the advantage OF
prccept and example, and you have turned
a deaf ear 10 the one, and neglected the 9TH
er.o 4, reverend. sir.D my husband replied
CALLED by thisireproof, which appeared 10
him, at that particular moment, an unnecces-
sary aggravation Of his misery, reverend
sir, urpreceptand yourexample havebee
myruin have followed them both You,who
had no experience Of the temptations, to
which yourlweaker brethren are liable, who
are already addicted to abe temperate and
daily use ofardent spirits, advised me never
to. sign a pledge. have followed your adj
4 wise 10 the Letter. You admitted, that ex-
traordinary occasions might Justify tile use
ofardent spirit, and that, on such occasions
yon might use il yourself. ! followed
your example; butt has been my misfor-
tune never to drink spurious liquors with
out finding thai. my occasions were more ex-
traordnary than ever. Had followed the
preCept and example Of my neighbor John
son, Ishouid not have made a good wife
miserable, nor my children beggars.''--
While. he uttered these last words, my hus-
/ baud lookedupcn his liulc ones and hurst IN
/ to tears; and the minister rode slowly away
without ulicring word. ! rejoiced, even
in the midst ofour misery, TO see that the
heart OF my poor George was tenderiy az
fected; for il is not moro needful, that the
hardness of wax should be subducd by fire
than that the heart of man should he soften
| ed by affection, before deep and lasting
impression can be made. ssDear husband
said /, "we are Dung; it is not too late, let
US trust in God, and all may yet be well !
lie made no reply, but continued to walk
on, and weep in silence. Shortly after, the