Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-07-19

er With that produced by tie excessive guam
tiiy Of brandy he bad taken, bis state was
little less than that Of mad-man. Soon as
Ee learned that be had lost his bet. he rush.
cd from the den, and sought bis bed but he
could not sleep
~The Sabbath morn dawned bright and
clear, and James arose from his sleepless
bed with feverish brain. aud throbhing
tpulso The breakfast hour arrived, but be
could not eat lie stroled into the country
and it produced calm. As he was return
ing, the sound Of the distant church bel
reached bis ear. 1t seemed Ike voice
calling him back to the path Of virtue
from which be had wauderedl He quiekeaed
step, and just as its last note died upon bis
ear. he reached tho door. lse entered tie
temple Of Ged, the frst time for many
months The choir Of well trained musical
voices, accompanied by the deep toned organ,
sent up song of praise. Itentercd bis soul
| filing him with solemn awe, and preparing
him for the exercise that were to follow.
At length the minister, the Rev. Mr.. T.,
arose, and announced the following words as
his text Woe unto him that gipeth his
neighbor drink that putteth thy bottle to him
and maketh him drunken
Although we heard the sermon it is i'm
noecibIa for nc 70 ynato n rono-t fb.t ,vo,lJ
in the slightest, do justice to that truly elo-
quent discourse. To James it seemed that
every word was particularly intended fer him.
and at its conclusion be had formed the re
solution never gain. under any circumstance
to PIT the bottle to his neighbor's lips. But
be did not depend upon himself alone; be
looked to heaven, and asked for such strength
as would enable him to carry out bis good
resolution.
The next day James was in attendance at
the store as usual, but whenever the custo-
mers he was waiting on, called for liquor, be
refused to draw it. This had continued for
several days, when Wolf called him aside and
said,
Well, James, understand you refuse to
wait upon my customers ?
4 dc, sir, replied ,James, refuse to wait
upon them SO far as the selling Of liqour is
concerned
Then said Wolf, you must do one of two
things, supply my customers with any ar.
ticlo they may cali for, or leave my stcre.'
MIR. WOLF said James, II anticipated this
result. ] will choose the latter; yet sir,
have not come to this determination without
a cause. | have seen some of the evils re-
sulting from your troflic in ardent spirits. l
cannot think that even | will DO held guilt
less for supplying your customers with that
which destroys both soul and body. Two
years ago entered your store pure aud in
nocent | was caused to associate with dis
solute companions. They led me on, step by
step, until | became druukard aud a gam
bier. A light beaming upon me from heav
en- revealed the fearful preoipicc upon the
brink of which | stood, and was saved
Aud would you have me longer continue in
this traffic? No. Turn me Off would
brave poverty -eyen death in its most up.
pallipg form, yea, if you could invent ma
chine that would, in one instant. tear my
body into thousand atoms, so that each
quivering part would still be capable of en-.
daring thousand pangs, | would willingly
suffer it all rather than continue for another
day. even as clerk, in a traffic, that is anDu-
ally sending its tens of thousands of victims
to drunkard's grave, and as many souls To
drunkard's hell
James paused. He was astonished at bis
own language. Then taking his hat, be
walked slowly away, leaving Wolf the per-
feet picture of astoniShment
James Immediately went home, and com
munoatcd to It's parents what had occurred
between him and Wolf; and when he made
known the causes which led to the separa.
ton, they highly approved his conduct. lie
has, up to this time, religiously kept bis res
olutioa; and he is now respected and use
ful citizen of the community in which be lives.
Wolf is still engaged in the liquor trade (;
bis love for gam being such that be will not
abandon traffic, which he cannot help but
know is o curse to man.
AS is generally the case with men who dis
charge their duty, or speak the truth, Mr.. T..
the minister had made enemies. After
preaching his temperance sermon be was
panied to observe that Lis congregation, Of
which Wolf was amcmbet, grew smaller and
smaller each successive Sabbath. But be had
been instrumental in saving one soul, and he
was amply rewarded. Having received a
call he shortly after removed to populous
city, where he bad much larger field Of la
l.. L.. 90 Ii