Washington telegraph., 1849-08-29
REFORMATION OF WIN. WRIT.

4
The distinguished VIM Writ, within
six or eight months after his first marriage,
became addicted to ntemperance, the eff
feet of which operated strongly On the
mind and health of his wife, and in 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 habits hung about him,
and occasionally he was found with Jolly
and frol!cksome spirits in bacchanalian
revelry. His true friends expostulated
with hun. to convince him of the injary he
was doing himself. But ne still persisted.
His practice began to fall off, and many
looked OH 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 according paid his addresses to Miss
Gamble. After some months attention,
he asked her hand in marriage; she re-
plied--'Mr. Writ, have been we'll aware
of your intention some time back, and
should have given you to understand that
your visits and attentions were not accept
able, had not reciprocated the affection
which you evinced for me. But L can
not yield my assent until you make me
pledge never to taste touch or handle any
intoxicating drinks. This reply to Mr.
Writ was as unexpected as it W as novel.
His reply was, that he regarded the prop
osition as bar to all further consideration
of the subject, aud left her. Her course
toward 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 in
dignant, and regarded the terms she pro-
posed 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 headlong
to ruin. One day, while lying in the out
skirts Of the city, near little grocery or
grog-shop, dead-drunk a young lady,
whom it is not necessary to name, was
passing that way to her home, not far off,
and beheld him with his face upturned to
the rays of the scorching sun. She took
her handkerchief, with her own name
marked upon it and placed it over his
face After he had remained in that way
some hours, he was awakened, and his
thirst being SO great, he went into the
little grocery or grog-shop to get drink,
when he discovered the handkerchief at
which he looked and the name that was
ON it. After pausing few minutes, he
exclaimed-'Great God! who left this
with me. Who placed this on my facen
No one knew. He dropped the glass,
exclaiming Enough! Enough He re-
tired instantly from the store, forgetting
his thirst, but not the debauch, the hand
kerchief or the lady, vowing, if God gave
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 note under her own hand, inviting
him to her house, which he finally gath
cred 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
disenthralled Writ, L accept them.'
They were soon married, and from that
day he kept his word, and his affairs
frightened, while honors and glorles
gathered thick upon his brow. His name
has been enrolled high in the temple of
fame, while his deeds, his patriotism and
renown live after him with imperishable
lustre. How many noble minds might
the young ladies save, if they would fol-
low the example of the heroine-hearted
Miss G., the friend of humanity of her
country, and the relation of La Fayette.