Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-02-10
For the Journi
The Old Mans Story.

The Old Mans Story.
Nearly twenty years ago, willie there yet
remained few who would advocate the use
of liquors ms necessary to health and comfort
"a company OF travellers gathered from various
quarters, and winding up and down the long
hills Of the Green Mountain State, in an old
fashioned six horse stage coach. These yihe.
cles which will on be regarded rs relics Of
antiquity, were famous for their social quail
ties. The travellers who were every now and
then pitched toward or backward, and compel
led to aid each other TO keep their seats, soon
learned to regard each o;her as friends or Mt
least as acquaintanccs. The conversation
proceeded as steadily as the unsteady vehicle
would allow and tu ned on the subject of tenn
pcrancc Two or three soon declared their
s:rtments ~ tet>tallrrs. Others. though cv
dently unbellevers. did not not seem disposed
to argue the point But in The front of the
stage with h s back 10 the horses, set hale
old man of sixty or more, who might have
set for a picture Of the Vermont farmer, who
commencing with his hands had achieved n
competence, and in his declining years set
himself down, with strong feeling Of salts
faction, 5othin the achievement and in the
possession. His face bore hue little too
ardent, which would have satisfied ii close OBJ
server, that he was not at any rate tectollcr.
He took up the gauntlet on the liquor side.
The substance of his argum Mt was this that
he had drank all his life, and was not drum
kard and that his appearance was proof e.
nough that the use of ard mt spirits was pro-
motive Of health and long life The silent
friends of liquor aboard seemed to regard this
IS settler, aud looked upon The advocates of
temperance as totally defeated. But one Of
them begged leave to propose to the old gen
teman one question. "You are an old man."
said he. "and tell us that you have drank ar
dent spirits all your life doubtless you had
many compani ms in your youth. who drank
with you will you tell whether the greater
number died drunkards or sober men," The
old man looked for moment fixedly a: the
speaker. The question evidently awakened
II train of thought that had never passed
through his mind, He paused for some time
in deep reflection, and then with an evident
effort, but with stern deter mination to be
truthful, replied with startling energy, "Sir.
nearly all the companions of my youth who
then drank with me are in drunkard's graves"
The temperance man were too gentlemanly
to express any audible triumph :; but after some
time the same person who had put the ques-
ton perreiyinS that the old mans experience
must be interesting, and that be might not be
h unwilling te relate it, asked if he would not
favor them with more particular account of
a his own early history, and Of the fate Of his
:, companions. 81 see," said the old man, chat
you mean to make me testify against myself.
), and the cause have advocated, but no mat err.
a Your question has awakened new train of
thought, and now see that while multiiudes
!, are dying drunkards, we do not shudder at
a the extent of the evil, because they die one
n by one But to my story. am the son Of u
n Vermont farmer and belong TO the same hon.
orable class myself. My father was in COM
Portable circumstances though not rich.
;, was required to work, but was allowed time
and means sufficient for recreation. My COM
panions were the sons Of the neighboring far
mers, with a few young men of the village.
AT all our gatherings the liquor appeared
sooner or later. and all the young men drank.
y We did not always return home entirely So
u Der, still no one thought that We were in any
81 danger will sketch the history Of two or
three of my companions; David G--was
J. the son of one OF our weaIlhest farmers, lie
had more money 10 spend than my OF us
His father was an officer in the Church, and
= an eNcellent man, OUT llie son IuIeV nun. III
he wanted money and his father was unwiL
ling to grant it. he would refuse all obedi-
ence. and even address the most insulting
names to the father. Till his request was gran
!. ted. forgot to say that he was an only son.
T. 1t was early manifest that he loved stroKg
m drink. Still he did not become what the
y world then called drupkard till after he's
y marriage. Then all restraint seemed to be
re thrown of, and he became an habilssi sot.
=, AT his fathers death he came into possession
II of considerable property which he soon
' squandered, and died 5lested wretch. leav-
Is ing helpless aRd dependent family.
Joseph -, was law studentn the
T. village. lie had fine talents, handsome face
and excellent prospects. He drank with us
at our social gatherings but he was the last
is Of whom il would have been said he will de
a drunkord. yet he now slespsin drunkard q
grave. He married the best girl in towr.
"a She brought him small FRO eIty. and many
~ friends. For time he prospered. Then il
began VI be whispered that be had become a