Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-06-02
Affecting Incident

l recollect one member of Con
gress, who was always rallying me
about our Cong gressional Temperance
Society.
Briggs he used to say, 4 an
going to join your Temperance So
ciety, as soon as my demijohn !:
empty But Just before it became
empty be filled it again. At Sn(
time towards t he close of the session
he said to me: 4 am going to sigl
the pledge y ben l get ~home.
am in earnest continued he my
delaijohn is ne hrly empty, and | an
not going to fl b it again. lie spokF
sill an air Of seriousness ! had
not before obs erved, and it impress
ed me; and | asked him what ii
meant what had changed his feel
ings-
4 Why said be. 4 made 2 short
time since a visit to my brother
Who stated to me fact that more
deepfy impressed and affected me,
Than anythins recollect tc have
heard on the 5ubject, in any temper
ance speech | ever heard or read.
In my neig ghbophood is a gentle
pnahof my acb buaintance, well educa-
ted, who Que had property, but is
how reduced poorl lie has a beau
tilul a,4I Lowell ly wife lady of cul-
kivation and efnement-ahd most
chart ming daughter.
TIis gentl eman had become deci-
dedly intem9d rate in his habits, and
had fully alarl med his friends IN re-
gard to him. At one time VII a
number Of bis former associates were
together, they counselled as to what
could be done for him. Finally. one
Of them said 10 him: why don't you
send your darl lghter to a certain, dis
tiDguiehel sci Iool? which he named
.0h I cann4t said he, it is out Of
the question. I am not able to bear
the expense Poor girl! l wish |
could
wei, said his fiend, 'if Sou uill
yisn the temperance pledge, will be
1t the expense of her attending
school lor one year
What does this meln,' said be,
do you think me in danger Of be-
coming a drunkard?'
,No natter said his friend, about
that a ow; but l will do as ! said.'
Aud /, said another, will pay the
reat Of Your farm a year, if you'will
sign i he pledge
Wen these offers are certainly lib
eral. bat what do they mean?' Do
yoa think me in danger OF becoming
A drunkard2 What can it meanc-
But, gentlemen, in view of your lib
eralitY, | will make an offer. | will
sign ii YOU Wills
This was proposition they had
not considered, and were not very
well prepared to meet; but for his
sake they said they would and did
sign. aud he with them.
Aud now for the first time the
truth hid poured into his mind, and
he saw His condition, and sat down
bathet4in tears.
Now, said he, gentlemen, yon
must go and communicate these facts
to nly wiro--poor woman! | know
she will Be glad to hear Of it, but 1
cannot tell her.
Two Of them started for that pqr-
pose. The lady met them at tie
1oor, pale and trembling With emo
ton.
What she inquired. is the mat
ter? what has happened to ny hus-
band?!'
They hade her to dismiss her fear,
assuring her they had come to bring
her tiaings ol her husband good IL
9ings, sucll5as she would be glAd to
her.
Your husband has signed the tenn
perance pledge-yea, signed ip good
filth y
The joyous news nearly overcame
her. she trembled with excitement,
went freely,and clasped her hands de-
rotionally, she looked Up to heayep,
and thanked God for the happy
change. .Now,5 said she, ! haye a
husband us he once vas, IN tAe days
Of early love
.sIsut this wss not what moved me,
said the gentleman. There was IN
fhe same vicinity another gentleman
IA generous, noble soul. married
yob0g married uell-ias0 : 9asrin-