Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-06-16
Price Two Cents.
G8e laiIg sRg.
FRInAY, JUNE 10, Iss4.
Reformation Of William VITA True
Incident im his History.

The distinguished William Writ, within six
or seven months after his first marriage, be-
came addicted to intemperance, the effect Of
which operated strongly on the mind and
health of his wife, and i'll a 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 bacchanaliau
revelry. His true friends expostulated with
him to convince him of the injury he was do
ing to himself. But he still persisted. His
practice began to fall off, and many looked on
him, as on the sure road to ruin. He was adj
yised to get married with view of correcting
his habits. This he consented to do if the
right person offered. He accordingly paid his
addresses to Miss Gamble. After some
months attention, he asked her hand in mar
riage. She replied -
"Mr. Writ, 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 l not re-
ciprocated the affection which you evinced
towards me. But cannot yield my assent
until you make me a pledge never to taste,
touch, or handle any intoxicating drinks"
The reply to Writ was as unexpected as it
was novel. His reply was, that he regarded
that proposition as bar to all further consid-
Grafton of the subject, and he left her. Her
course towards him was the same as eyer-his,
resentment and neglect.
In the course of few weeks, he went again
and solicited her hand. But her reply was
that her mind was made up. He became in
dignant, 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, a young lady, whom it is not necessa-
ry to name, was passing that way to her home
not far off, and beheld him with his face up
turned to the rays of the scorching sun. She
took her handkerchief, with her own name
marked upon it, and placed it over his face.
After he had remained in that way for
some hours, he was awakened, and his thirst
being so great, he went into the little grocery
and grog shop to get drink, whom he dis
covered the handkerchief, at which he look
ed, and the name was on it. After pausing,
he exclaimed
"Great God! who left this with ne Who
placed this on my face
No one knew. He dropped the glass, ex-
claiming:
" Enough enough
He retired instantly from the store, forgetting
his thirst but not his debauch, tho handker-
chief, or the lady, vowing, that if God gave
him strength, never TO touch, taste or hahdle
Intoxicating drinks
Tomeet Miss Gamble was the hardest 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 in note under
her own hand inviting 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 re-
ply was
"My conditions are now what they ever
have been.'
| Then said Writ, {" 1 accept them"
| They soon married, and from that day he
kept his word, and his affairs frightened, while
honors and glory gathered thick upon his
! brow.
| His name has been enrolled high in the tenn
| pies of fame; while patriotism and renown
live after him with imperishable lustre.