The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-19
Reformation of William Writ

l
The distinguished William Writ. within
SIN or seven months after his marriage. be-
came addicted to intempcrancc, the effect
OF which operated strongly Oh the mind
and health OF his wife, and in few months
more she was numbered with the dead
Her death led him to leave the country in
which he resided, and he removed to Rich
mond, where he soon rose to distinction.
But his habits hung about him, and occa-
sionally he was found with jolly and frolc-
some spirits i'll Bachanalian revclrv. His
practice began to fall off, and many looked
on him as on the sure road to ruin. He was
advised to get married with a view of cor
rectlng his habits. This lie consented to do
II the right person offered. Heaccor,liup
| ~ pad his addresses to Miss Gamble
Alter some months attention he asked her
hand IN marriage. She replied
MIR. Writ, | have been we'll aware oc
your attentions some time back, and should
have given you to understand that vour
Visits and attentions were not acceDtible
hau not reciprocatcd the affection YOU
evlnced for me. But I cannot yield assent
until you make me pledge, never to taste,
touch or handle any Intoxicating drink"
This reply to Writ was unexpected as it
was novel. His reply was, that he regar-
ded the proposition as bar to all future
consideration on the subject, and he left her.
Her course towards him was the same
his resentment and neglect.
In the course of few weeks he went
again and solicited her hand He became
and regarded the terms she pro-
posed as an insult to his honor, and vowed
that it should bc the last meeting tl,ev
should ever have. lie took to drinkinr
worse and worse, and seemed to run head.
long to ruin.
One day while lying i'll the outskirts of
the city, near little grocery or grop shop
dead drunk, young lady whom It is not
necessary to name, was passing that wav to
her home, not far off, and beheld him with
his face turned up TO the rays Of the scorch-
ing sun, she took her handkerchief with her
own name marked upon it, and placed it
over his face. After having remained in
that way for some hours he was awakened,
and his thirst being SO great, he went into
the little grocery or grogslIop to get a |
drink, when he discovered the handker-
clief, at which lie looked, and the name
was on it. After pausing few minutes he
exclaimed:
"Great God who left this with me g.
who placed this on my face?'
No one knew. Tie dropped the glass
exclaming-
Enough Enough n'
He retired instantly from the store, for
getting his thirst but not his debauch, the |
handkerchief or the lady, vowing, if God
gave him strength, never to touch, taste or
handle Intoxicating drinks.
To meet Miss Gamble was the hardest ef- |
fort of his life. If he met her carriage or
OIL foot, he popped round the nearest corner.
She at last addressed him note under her
own hand, inviting Him to her house, which
he finally gathered courage to accept. He
told her if she still bore affection to him he
would agree to her own terms. Her re-
ply was:
my conditions are now what they ever
have been."
"Then," said Writ, "I accept them"
They wero soon married, and from that
day he ke t his word and his affairs bright
ened, while honors and glory gathered thick
upon his brow. His name has been en-
roled~high in the temple of fame; while
patriotism and renown live after him in i'm
perishable lustre.
How many noble minds might the young
ladies save, if they would follow the exam
pie of the heroine-hearted, the friend Of hu-
manity, of her country, and the relation Of
Lafayette!
Smith Drunk US. Smith Sober.
"a, Smith, the Razor Strop man, occasionally