Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-08-03
edwards came in .Moupt this table and

4
make first rate temperance Lecturer
"Do, and Tll treat you to the stiffes
glass of whiskey toddy the landlord car
mix,' added another. 'Or perhaps yor
would like mint julip or gin cocktail
better! Anything you please. Make a
speech and call for the liquor. I'll stand
for the treat.'
'What dye say landlord? Shall he make
the speech?' said another, who was eager
for the sport.
please yourselves" replied the land
lord, 'and you'll please me.'
'Very well. Now for the speech, old
fellow! Here, mount this table, And
two or three of the most forward took hold
of his arms.
I'm not in the humor 10 make speech,
said the temperance man, but if it will
please you as well, 'l sing you song"
'Give us a song then. Anything TO ac-
commodate. But come, let us have the
liquor first
NO. said the other firmly, d must sing
the song first if ! sing at al.'
Don't you think your pipes will be all
the clearer for little drink of some kind
or other q
perhaps they would was replied.-'So,
provided you have no objection, 1'il take
glass of cold water-f such thing be
known in this place.
A glass OF cold water was presented, and
then the man, who was somewhat advan-
ced in years, prepared to give them the
promised song. All stood listening atten-
lively, Edwards among the rest. The
voice of the old man was low and tremu-
lous, yet every word was uttered with pa
thos and distinctly which showed that the
meaning was felt. The following well
written temperance song was the one he
sang and while his voice filled the room
every other sound was hushed:
''Where are the friends that to me were 50
dear,
Long, long ago-ong long ago!
Where are the hopes that my heart used 10
... cheer
Long, long ago--long ago!
Friends that loved in the grave are laid low,
Hopes that cherished are fled from me now;
| am degraded, for rum was my foe,
Long, long ago-long ago.
Sadly my wife bowed her beautiful head
Long, long ago-long, long ago.
She was my angelmy love and my guide
| Vanly TO save me from the ruin she tried,
Poor broken-heartcd twas well that she
died
Long, long ago-long ago.
Let me look back OH the days of my youth
Long, long ago--ong, long ago.
| was no stranger 10 virtue and truth,
Long, long ago---ong ago,
Oh, for the hopes that were pure as the day
Oh, for the Joys that were purer than they !!
Oh, for the hours that Fve squandered away
Long, long ago--long ago."
The silence that pervaded the room wher
the old mans voice died, or might rather
be said, sobbed away, was the silence o
death. His own heart was touched, Tor he
wiped his eyes, from which the tears hac
started. Pausing scarcely a moment, he
moved slowly from the room, and left hi
audience to their own reflections. There
was not one of them who was not more o
less affected, but the deepest impression
had been made on the heart OF Edwards
The song seemed as if it had been made TO
him. The second verse, particularly, wen
thrilling to the very centre of his feel
ings -
, "Sady my wife bowed her beautiful head.n
How suddenly arose before him the sor
row-stricken form of the wife of his yout
, at these words and when the old man
voice faltered on the line
: oPoor broken-hearted; twas well that she died."
r the anguish of his spirit was SO great, tha
he only kept himself from sobbing aloud b
a a strong effort at seli-control. Ere the spe
was broken or a word uttered by any ont
!. he arose and left the house.
For minutes after her fathers departure
Mary sat weeping bitterly. Tenderly di
d she love her parent, but this love was onl
e a source of the keeneSt anguish, tor ST
r saw him swiftly passing along the road
y destruction without the power to save hlr
n Grief wastes itself by its own violenc
! So it was in this instance. The tears
J Mary were at length dried, her sobs we
9 hushed, and she was about rising from h
chair, when binding flash Of lightniI
Is glared into the room, followed Instantly
= :. a deafening jar of thunder.
W ooh, if father were home q she murmu
&c ed, clasping her hands together.
= Even while she stood in this attitud
AS the door opened quietly, and MIR. Edwar
entered.
- 81 thought you would be afraid, Maj
10 m and so l came home,' said be In kl
voice.
" " Mary looked at him with surprise. II
y was soon changed to joy as che perceiv
50 that he was sober. ....
co sOh, fathern she sobbed, unable to &C
sat troll her feelings, and leaning her face
n his breast as she spoke-'if you would ne
Gu er go awayn
,or Tenderly did the father draw his a
ne round his weeping child, and kissed
"a, ia' pure forehead.
TN sMary,' said he, calmly as he could spe
Ia sfor your mothers sake'-but he could
'h- finish the sentence. His voice quiveI
and became inartIculate.
Tho Solemnly in the silence OF his own hi
our did the father, as he stood thus with
he'd child in his arms, repeat the VOWS he