Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-03-05

: there would be a meeting, and an address upon
the evils of intemperance in the use Of alcoho
drinks. He expressed himself ignorant of the Q
Jeet OF the meeting, and could not say what eonr
J. IT would be best to pursue in the matter .a
{ The subject Of the meeting came up at onr tab
: alter the service, questioned my father about
win all the curious eagerBess of child III
Whispers and words which had been dropped in m
nearing Clothed the whole affair with great nv
{ 'ery 70 me, and was all eagerness TO learn tb
strange thing.
My father merely said is was some scheme Z
unite Church and State s..i +
THE night came, and groups of people gathere
on the tavern steps, and I heard the jest and tn
langh, aud saw drunken men reeling ont of tn
bar-room. / urged my father to let me go, but h
at first refused Finally thinking it would be an in
nocent qualification of my curiosity he put on hi
hat and We passed across the green to the Church
remember well how the people appeared as the
! came in, seeming to wonder what kind of an exhi
bition was to come Off
In the corner was the tavern-keeptr, and aroun,
him number of his friends. m
/ For an hour the people of the place continued
to come in, until there was fair house full. AL
were curiousy watching at the door. wonderipe
what would appear next. The pastor stole in and
took a seat behind pillar under the gallery. as II
doubtful of the propriety Of being in Church at
| all.
Two men finally came in and went to the altar.
and took their seats. All eyes were fixed upon
them, aud general Stiffness pervaded the house.
The men were unlike in appearance, one being
! short and thick set the other was tall and well
| formed. The younger had the manner and dress
OF aelergyman, full round free, and quiet, good
natured look, as he eisurely looked around the au
dence
But my childish interest was all in the old man.
His broad, deep chest and uiiusua height. looked
sant-iihe as he strobe up the aisle His hair was
white, his brow deeply scanned with farrows. and
around MS handsome mouth. lines Of calm and
touching sadness. His eye was black and restless.
and kndled as the tavern-Aeeper uttered low lest
aloud. His lips were compressed and crimson
flush went and came oyeI his pale cheek One arm
was on above the elbow, and there was n wide
scar over the right eye 4 O.
=
OF the meeting, and asked il there was a clergy
man present to open with prayer
Our pastor kept his seat, and the speaker him
self made short prayer, and then made short
address, at the conclusion calling upon any one
present to make remarks ..-- ,r-- .
L. The pastor rose under the gallery, and attacked
the positions of the speaker, using the arguments
which have often heard since, and concluded by
denouncing those engaged in the new movement as
meddesome fanatics, who wished to break up the
time honored usaes of good society and injure the
business OF respectable men. At the conclusion
OF his remarks, the tavern-keeper and his friends
got up cheer and the current of feeling was evil
IDENTIFY against the strangers and their plan.
While the pastor was speaking, the old man had
fixed his dark eye upon him, and leaned forward as
if to catch every word. s-... -1
As the pastor took his seat, the old man arose
his tall form towering in its symmetry, and his
chest swelling as he inhaled his breath through his
thin diated nostrils. To me, at that time there
was something awe-inspiring, and grand in the ap-
pearance of the old man as he stood with his full
eye upon the audience, his teeth shut hard, and a
IN.
he bent his gaze upon the tavern-keeper, and
that peculiar eye fingered and kindled for half
moment.
The scar grew red upon his forehead, and be-
meath the heavy eyebrows bis eyes glittered and
glowed like those of serpent. The tavern-keeper
quailed before that seagching glance and felt
relief when the old man withdrew his gaze For
a mi ba Lost in Al.
meneed There was a depth in that voice a thrill
ing pathos and sweetness, which rivetei every
heart in the house, before the first eriod had been
rounded My fathers attention had become fixed
on the speaker with an interest which had never
before scere him exhibit can but briefly remem-
Der the substance of what the old man said though
the seen is as vivid before me as any that have
ever witnessed s..-.
Ny friends Il am stranger in your village,
and trust 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 thrilling depth,of voice, the speaker con-
tidued o God, thou who lookest with compass
sion upon the most erring Of earth's children
thank thee that brazen serpent has been lifted,
upon which the drinkard can look and be helped
that beacon has burst out upon the darkness that
surrounds him, which shall guide back to honor
and heaven, the bruised aud weary wanderer'
1t is strange what power there is in some voices.
The speaker slow and measured. but tear
trembed in every tone and before knew why, q
tear dropped 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 am a vagrant and fanatic. j am not. As
God knows my own sad heart came here to do
good and be just. @
:" i am an old man, standing alone at the end Of
lifes journey. There is deep sorrow in my heart
and tears in my eyes. l have journeyed over a
dark and beaconless ocean, and all Ifes hopes have
been wrecked. am without friends, home or kin
dred upon earth, and look with longing to the rest
of the night of earth. Without friends, kindred
or home! 1t was not so once"
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.
:" o my friends, it not SO once. Away
over the dark waves which have wrecked my hopes,
there is blessed light of happiness and home l
! reach again coRyulsively for the shrnes OF tine
Ioncabold idola that opca uoU mine more"