The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-04-23
The Drunlkard's Bible.

mir. frGStuent, SnIu SNORT, STOUT
man, with good humored countcnance,
and a Aorid complexion, rising ms the
last speaker took his seat,-"l have
been O tavern Keeper
At this announcement there was
movement through tho whole room;
and nn expression OF increased interest.
ayes, Mr.. President he went on, 81
have been tavern keeper, and many
gluss have sold 10 you, and 10 the
Secretary there, and to dozens ofothcrs
that see here gloncing around upon
the company.
"Thal's fact broke in the
President many gin.toddy and
brandy punch have taken at your
bar. Eut times are changed now, und
we have begun tn carry the war into
The enemy's camp. And our war has
not been altogether unsuccessful, for
we have taken prisoner one Of the
tumsellers, brnvcst Generals! But 20
on friend W., let us have your
experience
"As 10 my experience, Mr..
PRESIDENT, the OK tavern keeper re-
sumcd; siii rum.selling md rdnf.drink-
ihe, Tor have done good deal OF both
in my time, that would bc rather too
long to fell ,o.night-and one that |
would much rather forget than lela,c.
7, makes me tremble and sick nj heart.
Whenever look back upon the evil |
have done. I, therefore, usually look
ahead with the hope Of doing some good
to my fellow. linen.
Blu, ilcre is one incident vi relate.
For the last five years, n hard .;s'&g5lss;sggg
mecbppltee,7swsittIha with f. ant! sn,SsAsfEss..S
children, came regularly. almost every
night TO my tavern, and spent The
evening in my bar.room. He came 10
drink, Of course, and many dollar
Of his hard earnings went into my TIL.
A, last he became perfect sot--
working scarcely one fourth of the
time, md spending all he earned in
liquor. His poor wife had to tnke in
washing to support herself { and children,
while he spent his Time and the little he
could make ut my bar. But his np.
petite for liquor was so strong, that his
weeks earnings were usually gone hy
Tuesday or Wednesday, and then had
to chalk mp n score ngnins, him, TO bc
paid off when Saturday nigh, cnmc.
This score gradually increased, until
it amounted to three or four dollars
over his Saturday nights pay, when
refused to sell him any more liquor
until il wns settled. On the duy nftc,
had thus refused him, he came in will
neat mourning br"nst pin, enclosing
some hair--no doubt, thought, o
deceased relative. This he Offered
in payment Of what he owed. | nc
ceptct it, for tho pin | saw at once was
worth double the amount Of my bill
I did not think, nor indeed care about
the question, whether he wns the owner
or not; ! wanted my own, md in my
selfish cascrncss to get it, | hcsitateG
not 10 take little more than my own.
laid The brcas, pin away, md oil
filings wen, on smoothly for n while.
But he gradually got behind hnnd agnin,
and agnin cn, Off his supply ofliquor.
b This time he brought me pair ofbrass
andirons, and pair Of brass candle.
sticks, and ] took them and wiped of
fi.e scnre tegainst him. At last he
brought large family Bible, and
took that too--,hinking, no doubt,
could soil il for something.
On the Sunday afterwards, having
nothing to do. for | used 10 shu, my
bnr on Sund,lys, thinking it was not
respectable 10 sell liquor, | opened this
poor. drunkard's family Bible, scarcely
thinking Of what | was doing. The
first place turned 10 was the family
record.--There it was stated, that upon
acertain day, he had been married TO
Emily -------. had known Emily
------.--., when was young man,
very well, md had once thought
seriously ofofsring myself 10 her in
marriage. ! remembered her happy
young face, nnd seemed suddenly to
hear a tone of her merry laughter.
.Poor crenture!' sighed nyoun.
tarily, as thought Of her present con.
dillon CROSSED my mind--and then with
no pleasant feelings turned over nn-
other leaf. There was tho record Of
the birth Of her four children; tho las,
had been made recently, and was in
the mothers hand.
| never had such strange feelings
ss now came over me. felt that
had no business with this book; but
fried to stinle my feelings, and turned
over several leaves quickly.--As !
suffered my eyes 10 rest upon an open
page, these words arrested my attention.
Swine Is a mocker, strong drink is
raging; whose is deceived thereby Is
not wise.'
This wns just the subjeo. that under