The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-08-02
REFORMATION OF WILLIAM WRIT.

The distinguished William Writ, with
in six or seven months after his first mar
riage, became addicted to intemperance,
the effect of which operated strongly on
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 where he resided, and
he moved to Richmond, where he soon
rose to distinction.-But his habits hung
about him, and occasionally he was found
with jolly, frolicsome spirits of bachana-
lian revelry. His true friends expostu-
lated with him to convince him Of the
injury he was doing to himself. But he
still persisted. Ills practice began to
fall of, and many looked on him as on
the sure road to ruin. He was advised
to get married with a view Of correcting
his habits. This he consented to do, If
the right person offered. He according
IL paid his addresses to Miss Gamble.
After some months attention, he asked
her hand in marriage. She replied,
"Mr. Writ, I have been well aware
of your intentions some time back, and
should have given you to understand
that your visits and attentions were not
acceptable, had not reciprocated the af-
fection which you evinced towards me-
But 1 cannot yield. my assent until you
make me pledge never to taste, touch
or handle any Intoxicating drinks !"
This reply to Writ was as unexpected
as it was novel. His reply was, that he
regarded that proposition as bar to all
further consideration of the subject, and
he left her. Her course towards him was
the same as erer-his, resentment and
neglect.
In the course of few weeks, he went
again to solicit her hand. But her re-
ply was that her mind was made up. He
became indignant, and regarded the
terms she proposed as insulting to his
honor, and vowed it should be the last
meeting they should ever have. He
took to drinking worse and worse, and
seemed to run headlong to ruin.
One day, while lying IN the outskirts
of the city, near little grocery or grog
shop, drunk, young lady, whom it is
not necessary to name, was passing that
way to her home not far off, and beheld
him with his face upturned to the rays
of the scorching sun. She took her hand
kerehief, with her own name marked up
on it, and placed it over his face.
After be had remained in that Esy
for some hours he awakened, and his
thirst being so great, he went into the
little grocery and grog shop to get
drink, when he discovered the handker-
chief, at which he looked, and the name
that was on it. After pausing, he ex.
claimed,
"Great God who left this with me
Who placed this on my face pr
No one knew, He dropped the glass,
exclaiming:
Enough Enough ~
He retired instantly from the store,
forgetting his thirst, but not his debauch,
the handkerchief, or the lady, vowing,
&c that if God gave him strength, never
to touch, taste or handle intoxicating
drinks ;"
To meet Miss Gamble was the hard
est effort of his life. If he met her in
her carriage or on foot, he popped around
the nearest corner.
She at last addressed him note, in
viting him to her house, which he finally
gathered courage enough to accept. He
told her if she still bore affection to him
he would agree to her own terms. Her
reply was,
"My conditions are now what they
ever have been
"Then ;" said Writ, !" / accept them
They soon married, and from that day
he kept his word, and his affairs bright.
ened, while honors and glory gathered
thick upon his brow.
His name has been enrolled high in
the temples of fame; while patriotism
and renown live after him with imper-
ishable lustre. ttc1r