Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-11-07
Reformation of VIM. Writ.

The distinguished William Writ, within
six or eight months after his first marriage; be-
came addicted to intemperance, the effect of
which operated strongly on the mind and health
of his wife, and in a few months more she was
numbered with the dead. Her death led him
to leave the country where he resided, and he
moved to Richmond, where he soon rose to dis
%tinction. But his old habits hung about him,
and occasionally he was found with iolly and
frolicksome spirits in bacchanalian revelry.-
His true friends expostulated with him, to con-
vince him of the injury he was doing himself.
But he still persisted. His practice began to
fall off, and many looked on him as on the sure
road to ruin. He was advised to get married,
with a view of correcting his habits. This
he consented to do, if the right person offered.
HE accordingly paid his addresses to Miss Gam
BILE. After som months attention, he asked
her hand in marriage; she replied: "Mr. Writ,
| have been aware of your intentions for some
time back, and should have given you to un-
derstand that your visits and attentions were
not acceptable, had l not reciprocated the affec-
ton which you evinced for me. But / cannot
yield my assent until you make me a pledge
never to taste, touch or handle any intoxicating
drinks" This reply to Mr.. Writ was, that he
regarded the proposition as a bar to all further
consideration of the subject and left her. Her
course towards him was the same as ever-his,
resentment and neglect. In the course of a
few weeks he went again, and again solicited
her hand. But her reply was, her mind was
made up. He became indignant, and regarded
the terms she proposed as insulting to his
honor and vowed it should be the last meeting
they should ever have. He took to drinking
worse and worse, and seemed to run h~eadlong
to ruin. One day, while lying in the outskirts
OF the city, near a little grocery or grog shop
dead drunk, a young lady, whom it is not ne
cessary to name, was passing that way to her
home, not far of, and beheld him with his face
upturned to the rays Of a scorching SUM-
She took her handkerchief with her own name
marked upon it, and placed it over his face
After he had remained in that way for some
hours, he was awakened and his thirst being so
great, he went into the little grocery or grog
shop to get a drink, when he discovered the
handkerchief, at which he looked, and the name
that was on it. After pausing a few minutes,
he exclaimed: "Great God! who left this with
mel! Who placed this on my facet" No one
knew. He dropped the glass, e~xclaiming
Enough! Enough!" He retired Instantly from
the store, forgetting his thirst, but not the
debauch, the handkerchief, or the lady, vowing,
If God gave him strength, never to touch, taste,
or handle intoxicating drinks.
To meet Miss G. was the hardest effort of
his life. If he met her in her carriage, or on
foot, he would dodge round the nearest corner.
She at last addressed him a note under her
own hand, inviting him to her house, which he
finally gathered courage enough to accept
He told her if she still bore affection for him
he would agree to her own terms. Her re-
ply was: "My conditions are now what they
ever have BEEN" @Then," said the disenthrai-
led Writ, II accept them"
They were soon married, and from that day
he kept his word, and his affairs frightened,
while honors and glories gathered thick upon
his brow. His name has been enrolled high
in the temple of fame, while his deeds, his pa
%triotisrI and renown live after him with imper-
ishable lustre. How many noble minds might
the young ladies' save, if they would follow the
example of the heroine-hearted Miss g., the
friend Of humanity of her own country, and
the relation of LAFAYETTE.