Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-08-20

uIeu lOI Udli d IiOtnenl.
The scar grew red upon his forehead
and beneath the heavy eyebrows bis eyes
glittered and glowed like serpent's. The
taven keeper quailed before that searching
glance, and L felt relief when the old man
withdrew his gaze. For a moment he
seemed lost in thought, and then in low
tremuous tone commenced. There was
depth in that voice, thrilling pathos and
sweetness which rivited every heart in the
house before the first period had been
rounded. My fathers attention had be-
come fixed on the eye OF the speaker with
an interest which had never before seen
him exhibit. ! can but briefly remember
the substance of what the old man said,
though the scene is as vivid before me as
any that ever witnessed.
"My friends am a stranger in your
village, and trust l may call you friends.
A new star has arisen, and there is hope
in the dark night which hangs like pail
of gloom over our country" With thrill
ling depth Of voice, the speaker locked his
! hands together and continued-"Oh God,
thou who lookest with compassion upon
the most erring of earth's children, thank
! thee that brazen serpent has been lifted,
upon which the drunkard can look and be
healed that beacon has burst out upon
the darkness that surrounds him, which
shall guide back to honor and heaven the
bruised and weary wanderer."
1t is strange what power there is in some
voices. The speakers voice was low and
measured, but a tear trembleG in every
tone, and before l knew why, tear drop
ped upon my hand, followed by others like
rain drops. The old man brushed one
from his own eyes and continued:
"Men and Christians You have Just
heard that I am a vagrant fanatic. l am
not. AS God knows my own sad heart,
came here 10 do good. Hear Inc and be
just.
81 am an old man, standing alone at the
end Of ife's journey. There is deep sor-
row in my heart and tears ia my eyes. l
have journeyed over a dark beaconless
ocean, and life's hopes have been wrecked.
am without friends, home or kindred on
earth, and look with longing to the rest OF
the night of death. Without friends, kin
dred or home II was not once so
No one could withstand the touching
pathos of the old man. noticed tear
trembling on the lid of my fathers eye,
and no more felt ashamed Of my own.
"No, my friends, it was not SO once
Away over the dark waves which have
wrecked my hopes, there is the blessed
light of happiness and home. I reach
again convulsively for the shrines of house
hold idols that once were mine, now mine
no more"
The old man seemed looking away
through fancy upon some bright vision, his
lips apart and his fingers extended. l in
voluntarily turned in the direction where
it was pointed, dreading to see some sha
dow invoked by its magic movement.
81 once had a mother. With her ole
heart crushed with sorrows, she went dowr
10 her grave. | once had wife, fair
angel-hearted creature as ever smiled in ar
earthly home. Her eyes as mild as a sum
mer sky, and her heart as faithful and ,ru,
as ever guarded and cherished husband
love. Her blue eye grew dim as the food
of sorrow washed away its brightness, ant
the living heart wrung until every fbr,
was broken. once had a noble, brav,
and beautiful boy, but he was driven ou
, from the ruins of his home, and my olt
heart yearns to know if he yet lives.
once had babe, sweet tender blossom
but these hands destroyed it, and it livetl
with one who loveth children.
"Do not be startled, frends-I am not
!, murderer in the common acceptation o
the term. Yet there is light in my evening
sky. A spirit mother rejoices over the re
turn OF her prodigal son. The wife smile
upon him who again turns back to virtu
and honor. The child angel visits me a
nightlal, and feel the tiny palm upo
my ieveriSh cheek. My brave boy, il h,
yet lives, would forgive the sorrowin
old man for treatment which drove hin
into the world, and the blow that maime
him for life. God forgive me for the rui
l have brought upon me and mine.",
, He again wiped tear from his eye
My father watched him with a strange IN
tensty, and countenance unusually pal
and excited by some strong emotion.
81 was once fanatic, and madly follow
ed the malign light which led me TO ruir
was fanatic when sacrificed my viii,
children, happiness and home, to the ac
cursed demon of the bowl. once adore,
the gentle being whom / injured so deeply
81 was drunkard. From respectable
and afiuence, plunged into degradato
and poverty. | dragged my family dow
with me For years saw her pale cheel
and her step grew weary. left her alon
; amid the wreck Of her home idols and riot
ed at the tavern. She never complained
yet she and the children went hungry fc
bread.
"One New Years night I returned lai
to the hut where charity had given US roo
She was yet up, and shivering over III
:, Goals. demanded food, but she burst il
to tears and told Inc there was none.
: fiercely ordered her to get some. She turI
;, ed her eyes sadly upon me, the tears fallir
d fast over her pale cheek. AT this momeI
q the child in its cradle awoke and sent u
a tarnished wall, startling the despairr
n mother like serpent's sting.
y "'We have no food, James-have hs
is none for several days. have nothing 4
e, the babe. My once kind husband, mu
J. we starvep
e "That sad pleading face and tho
IN streaming eyes, and the feeble wall of Il