The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-04-20
March 20. 1850.
. A true story.

The following, although it happened some
seven years since, is worth recording
A young man, apparently about nineteen
years of age, coming down the Bowery, met
another OF about the same age, on the corner
of Grand street where the following conyersa-
tion was held.
1ou look mighty sober, JIM said the first
mentioned person, if any of the suckers should
see you. they would mark you down as turned
parson, or temperance lecturer
i feel sober replied the other, which is
more than you have done for month, and
as to the sukers, care not what they think or
say
Then you're going to cut them, 'spose and
give up all their fine spree.
1 have cut them already, Tom and advise
you, if you ever wish to be any body, TO do the
same. I've had sprees enough to last me as
long as live, and mean to lead a temperate
and virtueus life hereafter.
We'll Jim, don't intend just yetto leave the
Club, because you know ore half of my liquor
money comes from i; by virtue of my station
among them, but I'd just ike to know where
You got your sanctimonions notions from, that
| may drop in sometime, and get small bite,
Been to temperance meeting, 'spose.
'Yesi
Signed away your freedom. 'eigh.'
No! have just regained my freedom
How Sc?
4 used to be a slave to the custom of drink
ing and spreeing; now / am free from both.
who stuffed such foolish notion into your
head. | always thought yon an ornament to
society before
Tom, you wanted to know where got nay
new impression from, and if you viii listen to
me, you shall hear. Yo know have not met
with the Club for two weeks The last time
1 was at the meeting, started for home about
ten O'Clock, and as | was passing through a
dark street near home, heard something like
woman screaming. j followed the sound
as well as Icould, through an alley to rear
house, from which l heard the cry of murder!
help! and such like cries of distress. hur-
ried up stairs to which l saw a light and open
ing the door, saw scene that made me mad.
A fine looking woman was bound down to a
rail of the bedsted, while her brute of a hus-
band sat on the head of barrel, beating her
with the leg of table he had torn to
pieces, I sprung upon the monster, and
cIinching him by the hair of his head, fairly
dragged him to the topof the stairs, and push
O0 41itI 0OnA NAAO
lease the woman had scarcely done this
when the brute again entered, started back
in horror, for it was my own brother. He
had come to New York unknown to me, and
lived here life of drunkenness. The next
night recorded my pledge, never TO taste,
touch, or deal in rum. This. Tom, is the rea-
son | shall meet no more with the club. 1t
has brought my brother to the mad-house, and
might do more to me, did l not abandon his
footsteps"
81 begin to feel, since you have told me
about your brother John. that the Club ai'nt
exactly the thing, after ALL"
"You may be sure of that, Tom, and if you
will go to the temperance meeting with me
this evening" and sign the pledge, depend upon
it you will never regret it,
'Weli, Jim, am satisfied | will 60
He did go. Jim is now preacher of the
Gospel, while Tom is celebrated temperance
Lecturer. w.