Washington sentinel., 1854-01-29
From the watchman Of the Valley.

In the evening of the day Alice arrived at
s., great experience meeting was to be
held in one of the churches Her friend, who
had become enthusiastic in the cause, urged
her to 60 to this meeting, which Alice did, al
though with feeling of reluctance. The house
was crowded above and below.
The preliminaries usually appertaining to
such meetings having been duly arranged, a
brief opening address was made by one Of the
ministers. A reformed man then related his
experience with great effect After he had fin
ished, there was pause of nearly minute.
At length man, who had been seated far
back, with his face partly turned from the au-
dience, rose slowly, and moved to the front of
the stage.
Ahalfsuppressed exclamation escaped Alice,
as her eyes caught the well known features Of
him who had been her husband, while quick
| thrill ran through her. Then her frame trem-
bled in accord with her futtering heart. The
face of Mr.. Delaney was greatly changed since
she had last looked upon it. It's calm, digni-
fed elevation had been restored, but with what
difference! What before was cheerful was now
sad, very sad
"Mr President" he began, in a broken voice,
"although had consented, at your urgent So
licitation, to address this large assembly to-
night, yet have felt so strong reluctance to
doing so, that it has been with the utmost diff
ficulty could drag myself forward. But had
passed my word; / could not violate it. AS to
relating my experience, that / do not think l
can venture upon. The past dare not recall
| Would to Heaven that just ten years Of my life
were blotted out"
The speaker paused moment already much
| affected. Then, resuming in frner voice, he
said:
"But something must be said of my own
case, or shall fail to make that impression on
your minds which wish to produce. Pictures
of real life touch the heart with power, while
abstract presentations Of truth glitter coldly in
the intellectual regions of the mind, and then
fade from the perception like figures in
| drama.
"Your speaker once stood among the first
members Of the bar in neighboring State
nay, more than that, he represented his county
for three years in the assembly of the Com
| monwealth; and, more than this, occupied
seat in Congress for two congressional pc
| riods."
| At this moment the stiffness of death per-
vaded the crowded assembly.
| Yet more than all that" he continued, his
voice sinking into low, thrilling tone: tT once
| had tender, loved wife, and two sweet chill
dren. But all these honors oil these bless
ings, have parted from me- he continued, his
voice growing louder and stronger in his ef-
forts to control himself. "I had no means
whereby to retain them! My constituents threw
me off because had debased myself and dis
| graced them. And, worse than all, she who
had loved me, she who had borne me two
babes, was forced to abandon me and seek an
asylum in her fathers house. And why could
have become so changed in few short years2
What power was there to abuse me, that my
fellow-beings spurned, and even the wife of my
bosom turned away heart-stricken from me
Alas my friends, it was mad indulgence In
mockefy. A very demon, Gree, changing
the human into bestial. But for this were
now an honorable and useful representative to
Congress, pursuing after my countrys good,
and blest in the house circle with wife and
children. But have not told you all After
my wife separated from me, / sank rapidly. A
state Of perfect sobriety brought too many
terrible thoughts; ! therefore drank more
| freely, and was rarely, if ever, from underline
| effects of partial intoxication.
81 remained in the same village for some
years, but never once saw her during that time,
| nor glimpse of my children. At last / became
so abandoned in my life, that my wife, urged
| on by her friends no doubt, filed an applica-
ton for divorce; and, as cause could easily be
| shown why it should be granted, a separation
was legally declared To complete my disgrace,
| at the next congressional canvass was left off
the ticket as unfit to represent the district. I
| left the county and State where / had lived
| from my boyhood up.
Three years have elapsed since then. For
| two years of that period / had abandoned my
self to the fearful impulse Of the habit ac-
| quired. Then heard Of this new movement
| the great temperance cause. At first i sneered,
then wondered, listened at last, and finally
ha oraa hot
sweeping onward, in the hope of being carried
by it far out of danger; and | did not hope in
vain. 1t did for me all, and more than / could
have dreamed. 1t set me once more upon my
feet; once more made man Of me. A year
of sobriety, earnest devotion to my profession,
and fervent prayer to Him who alone gives
strength in every good resolution, has restored
to me much that / had lost, but not all ; not
the richest treasure that proved myself un-
worthy to retain-not my wife and children.
All! between myself and these the law has
laid its stern, impossible Introduction ! have
no longer wife, no longer children, though
my heart goes out towards these dearly beloved
ones with the tenderest yearnings. Pictures
of our early days of welded love are ever lin
gering in my imagination. / dream of the
sweet ireside circle; ! see ever before me the
once placid face of my Alice, as her eyes looked
into my own with intelligent confidence /
feel her arms twine about my neck; the music
of her voice is ever sounding in my ears"
Here the speakers emotions overcame him.
His uttcrance became choked, and he stood
silent with bowed head and trembling limbs.
The dense mass Of people were hushed into an
oppressive stiffness, that was broken here and
there by half-stifed sobs. At this moment
there was a movement in the crowd. A single
female figure, before whom every one appeared
instinctively to give way, was seen passing up
the aisle. This was not observed by Delaney
until she had come nearly in front of the plat
form on which she stood. Then the movement
caught his ear, and, lifting his eyes, they in
stantly fell on Alice, for it was her that was
pressing onward. He bent forward towards her
with sudden, uplfted hands and eager eyes, and
stood like statute until she had gained the
stand and advanced quietly to his side. For
moment the two stood thus the whole audience
thrilled with the scene were upon their feet.
and bending forward. Then Delaney opened
his arms, and Alice threw herself upon M.s
hoon,,, with a nn;ck wild gesture. Thus, for