Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-11-14
The Experience Meeting.

CES, DIS usual, were 10 De reformed drunk
ards. An eslimable woman whom we will
call Alice, was induced to attend. When
the meeting was somewhat advanced, a
late member OF Congress arose with APP
parent sadness and said - Mr.. President,
altOugh had consented to your urgent So
lIcitation, 10 address this large assembly
tonight, vet | have felt so strong reluc-
tance TO doing it, that it has been with the
utmost difficulty | could drag myself for
ward. But had passed my word, | could
not violate ii. As to relating my expe-
rience, that do not think | can venture
upon. The past dare not recalI.--W ould .
10 heaven that just ten years Of my life
was bIoted out
The speaker paused moment, already .
much affected. Then resuming in a fir !
met voice he said:
But something must be said Of my own
case, or | shall fail to make that impress
sion on your minds that wish to produce /.
Pictures of real life touch the heart
with power, while abstract presentations of
truth glitter coldly in the intellectual re-
gIons of the mind, and then fade from the
perception, like figures in diorama.
y our speaker once stood among the
first members Of the bar, in a neighboring
State. Nay, more than that-he repre-
sented his county three years in the AS
sembly of this Commonwealth and more
than that still-occupied seat in Con-
gress for two Congressional periods
At this announcement the stiffness of
death pervaded the crowded assembly.
'And yet more than that he continued,
his voice sinking into thrilling tone he
once had tenderly loved wife and two
sweet children. But all these honors-
all these blessings have departed from him.
he continued, his voice growing louder and
deeper in his efforts to control himself
lie was unworthy to retain them His
constituents threw him off because he had
debased himself and disgraced them. And
worse than aIl-she who had loved him
dcyoledly-she who had borne him two
dear babes, was forced to abandon him,
and seek an asvlum in her fathers house
And Why Could | become 50 changed
in few short years What power was
/ there so to abuse me that my fellow beings
| spurncd, and even the wife of my bosom
turned away heart stricken from me -
/ Alas my friends, it was mad indulgence,
! intoxicating drinks. But for this, | were
/ now an honorable and useful representative
/ in Congress, pursuing after my country's
/ good, and blessed in the home circle with
/ wife and children.
But have not told you all. After my
wife separated from me. sank rapidly
! 4 state of perfect sobriety brought too
many terrible thoughts, therefore drank
/ freely and was constantly, if not ever, under
/ the bcwidering effects of partial intoxi-
cation | remained in the same village
/ for some years but never once saw her
/ during that timc-uor i glimpse of my
children At last became so abandoned
/ in my life that nv wife, urged on bv her
/ friends no doubt, filed an application for a
/ divorce, and as cause could easily be shown
/ why it should be granted, separation
was legally declared. To complete my
/ disgrace, at the next Congressional canvas,
! was left off the ticket, as unfit 10 rep
/ resent the district.
Three wears have elapsed since then
/ For two years of this period abandoned
! myself to the fearful impulse of the appetite
/ | had acquired. Then | heard of this
new movement--the great temperance
cause. At first | sncercd, then wondered;
listened at last, and finally threw myself
upon the great wave that was sweeping
onward in hope of being carried oy II far
out of the reach of danger, and | did not
hope in vain. 1t did for me all and
more than | could have deemed. ltset
me once more upon my teet-once more
made 4 man Of me. A year of sobrety,
earnest devotion to my profession, and fer
vent prayer to Him who alone gives
strength in every good resolution, has re-
stored to me much that have lost-but
not all-not my wife and children.
sAh! between myself and these the law
had laid It's stern impossible interdlcuon.-
[ have no longer i wife no longer chll-
drcn; though my heart goes out towards
these beloved ones with the tenderest
vearnings. Pictures of our early days of
welded love are ever lingering III my I'M
animation. dream OF the sweet fire side
circle: see ever before me the once pla-
cid face Of my Alice as her eyes looked
into my own with intelligent confidence.
| feel her arms lwine about my neck; the
music of her voice is ever sounding in my
ears
Here the speakers emotions overcame
him. His utterancc became choked and
he stood silent with bowed head and
trembling limbs. The dense mass OF
people were hushed into an oppressive still,
ness, that was broken here and there by
halE-stifed sobs. At this moment there
was movement in the crowd. A single
female figure, before whom every one aP-