Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-09-29


OF no better way TO express my feelings
than to sing that hymn. Did you think
il out Of place
IT o, no I think he deserved II.
Well, now. my dear husband, why
will you not pledge yourself 10 me that
you will never drink another drop Of in
toxicatlng liquors J Can you not, in
view OF the wrelchedness Il has brought
upon you and your poor suffering wife
and children she ash ed, with her arms
tenderly thrown around his neck.
Olivia, IL yoi knew the strength VI
my appetit }, you would not wonder that
hesitate to answer your question in
the Affirmative. II Is right, dear Olivia,
you should feel deeoly on this subject
but am afraid you will never see me n
reformed man.
o, John don't talk SO. How can |
live II you 20 on az you have done for a
few years psst | must save you from
drunkard's grave, she replied. as she
drew him up convulsively 10 her.
Dear Olivia, appreciate your feel
ings, said Holyday, ts the tears rolled
down his incc. | esteem you for your
tender sollcltude over me, and Tor all
your kindness in overlooking my faults;
but you must make up your mind to give
me ap.
Why do you talk so. my husbandl--
Others have been reformed |; and Is
there not hope in vour case :
You have no idea Of the difficulties In
the way OF my reformation. have n
good many associates wherever | 20,
| SEQ them; they use all their inhuon, 0
over me to keep me drunk. And there
too. Is the landlords influence how Is
II possible for poor nebriate 10 get
out OF the ditch, when there are 80 many
ready TO push him back | have felt for
long time | should like 10 reform, and
have often resolved ! would reform
but tho temptation that every where
meet has been too strong Tor my feeble
resolution. | have now settled down In
the belief that | shall never be able to
reform until we get a law to .. ohblt
the sale Of liquor.
. my dear husband, don't give up In
despair. I beg OF you. for tie sake OF
your afflicted wife and innocent children,
aud for the sake ofyourseli--0, do make
ono more effort 10 escape from the grasp
OF the desi oyer. I will do all can TO
asslsi you, whatever II may DO. AZ for
your assoslltes. you need not sec them;
you can shut yourself up away from
their influence until your strorg appetite
subsidies.
Your reasoning, Olivia, lsvery good.
I am half tempted by your oloquenco to
follow your prescription.
d, will you, John she asked, with
bright and animated co intenance.
Twill try Il, my dear Olivia, he repli.
ed, drawing her up 10 him, and kissing
her forehead.
The reader need not be informed that
this pledge brought great amount OF
happiness to Holyday's family. Willie
aud Alice both. though young, seemed
10 understand what had bocn done. and
shared largely In their mothe''s Joy.
For number OF weeks Holyday
was sober, aud seemed anxious 10 break
up all hls habits Of dissipation, and again
DO man, and kind aud atfeetlonate
husband pnd father. Ho spont tho most
of his time In or about the house whore
ho would DO Ia no. danger from lntem.
perate associates or tho landlords pow.
erIu temptation.
Ills wite. being encouraged In view OF
his effort aud pledge 10 reform. rcaumed
her music class, aud taught with u do.
gree Of skill and efficiency which she
never before possessed. She lancled
tha. the tones OF her plano were far
richer and nweeter than rver beiore,--
Her soul seemed TO swell with lull tide
OF happiness, and the bright daystar OF
hope had dIspelled tho long, dark night
Of gloom.
Several months after IIolyday had
pledged himself 10 reform, came elec-
ton. The parties were nearly equally
divided, which caused the Excitement 10
ron high, aud induced demagogues TO
exert all the influence they possessed 10
carry their points. Holyday had been
In his day u polltlclpn, and wished TO
attend. especially on account Of the as
sembly man, 10 secure the Maine l,w.
] am AFRAID, my dear, TO have you 60,
said his wife
way are you hlrulu, OHslu
VIII you not put yourself under the
influence Of your old associates ! and
will they not make an effort to get you
to drinking again
Twill take care OF that. | feel strong.
think | shall be uble TO Withstand
their influence.
lam really afraid to have you go, my
husband.
| think, Olivia, ! ought TO go. Mr..
Aiken Is running for the assembly; aud
understand, II he Is elected, he will
vote for the Maine law. And since
Jenks and Parks are doing all they can
TO defeat him, | think II would be wrong
Tor me not To go
We'll, can you not 60 and put in your
vote and come right back
can do that, he replied, as he left
the hnise. pe little understood his own
veal. nc ), and the power OF his 1850
ciates aud the lDndlord's to draw him
bac X again TO his cps aud inebriation.
lie had no. been on the ground more
than ten minutes before he was prevail
ed upon, moi only to drink, bat 10 vote
for the liquor candidate. Ia few
hours he was reelng In the streets, clad
with rags, and bespattered with mud,
Tor hc already traded away the clothes
he wore from home.
About twelve o'clock at night he was
assisted in getting home by two indlvid-
uals, for he was 50 much under the in
fuence Of run that he had very little
use Of his lipbs.
Iva, you--see I-I'm leetle un.
der The weather. But never mind, Liv'a
lection comes--On-only once u year,
YOU know. Found old friends, lots ON
'em and | swow, had to drink with
all on-'em. which was leetle too
much for me in my present siiiwatipn,
ue stummered out, Us he c. awled on his
hands aud knees into the house.
o John John was fearful this
would be the result. o, why did you 20 I