Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-04-20
VOLUME 6.
From the Waterman of the Valley
A TRUE STORY.


meeting was to be held at one of the
churches. Her friend. who had become
enthusiastic in the cause, urged her TO
go TO this meeting, which Alice did.
though with feeling of reluctance.-
The house was crowded both above and
below.
The preliminaries usually apper,aining
to such meetings having been duly ar
ranged. brief opening address was
made by one of the ministers. A re.
formed man then related his experience
with great force and effect. After he
had finished there was a pause of nearly
minute. AT length man, who had
been seated far back with his face partly
turned from the au,iience, rose slowly,
and removed to the front of the stage.
A half-suppressed exclamation es-
capped Alice, as her eyes caught the
well known features of him who had
been her husbsnd, while quick chill
ran through her. Then her fame ,rem-
bled in accord with her huiiering heart.
The face of Mr.. Delaney was greatly
changed since she had last looked upon
II. Its calm, dignifed elevation had been
restored, but with what difference!--
What before was cheerful, was now sad,
very sad.
"Mr. President" he began, in bro.
ken voice, "although | had consented,
at your solicitation, to address this large
assembly tonight yet l have felt so
strong reluctance to doing SO, that it
has been with the utmost difficulty !
could drag myself forward. But l had
passed my word and could not violate
it, AS TO relating my experience, that |
do not think | can venture upon. The
past | dare not recall. Would to heav-
en- that just ten years of my life were
blotted QUIZ
The speaker paused a moment, already
much affected. Then resuming, in a
frmer voice, he said:
''But something must be said OF my
own case, or | will fail to make tina. i'm
preston on your minds which wish to
produce. Pictures of real life touch the
heart with power, while abstract presen-
tations of truth glitter coldly in the in
tellectual regions of the mind. and then
fade from the perception like figures in a
DRAMA"
"Y our speaker once stood among the
first members of the bar in neighbor-
ing S.ate-nay, more than that, he rep
resented his country for three years in
the Assembly of the Commonwealth;
and more than this, occupied seat in
Congress for two Congressional peri
ods."
AT this moment the stiffness of death
pervaded the Assembly.
"Yei more than all that, he" continued,
his voice sinking into a low, thrilling
tone, ~ once had sender, loved wife,
and two sweet children. But all these
honors, all these blessings, have parted
from me-" he continued, his voice grow
ing louder and stronger in his efforts 10
control himself. 81 had no means where
by TO retain them! My constituents threw
me off because had debased myself and
disgraced them. Aud worse Iran all,
she who had borne me two babes, was
forced to abandon me and seek an YUM
liz her fathers house. And why could
have become SO changed in few short
years? What power was there to abuse
me that my fellow beings spurned, and
the wife of my bosom turned away heart
stricken, IRON me? Alas! my friends, it
was Gree, changing the human into a
bestial. But for this, | were now an hon
orable ond useful representative to Con.
gress, pursuing after my country's good,
and blest In the house circle with my
wife and children. But have not told
.ou all. After my wife separated from
me, l sank rapidly. A state of perfec,
sobriety brough. too many terrible ,ho'ss;
l therefore drank more freely, and was
rarely, if ever, from under the effects of
partial in.oxication.
81 remained in the same village for
some years, but never once saw her DUR
ing that time, nor glimpse of my child.
rem. At last became SO abandoned that
my wife, urged on by her friends, no
doubt filed an application for divorce;
and as cause could easily be shown
why il should be granted, sep ration
was legally declared. 10 complete my
disgrace, at the next Congressional can.
yass was left off The ticket as unfit to
represent The 6isttici. lel, The county
and Stale where l had lived Mn my
boyhood up.
"Thlee years have elapsed since then.
For two years Of that period l Dad
abandoned myself to the fearful impulse
Of the habit | acquired. Then I'D
Of this new movement--ihc great I'M
perance cause. AT FIRST sneered, then
wondered. listened at last, and finally
threw myself on the great WAYS hat was
sweeping onward, on the hope 81 being
carried by il far out Of danger, and l
did not hope in vain. II did for msall,
and more than could have dreamed.--
Ii rel me once more upon my feet-once
more made man of me. A year Of sos.
briefly, OF earnest devotion to nv PROBES
sion, and feryent prayer to Him who
alone gives strength in every good reso.
luton, has restored TO me much shalsI
had lost, but not oil, not the richest treas
ure that proved myself unworthy TO
reiain-not my wife and chiicrenE All!
between myself and these tho.zjGw had
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