The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-06-15
Reformation of William Writ.
A TRUE INCIDENT IN his HISTORY.

The distinguished VIM. Writ, within six or
seven months after his first marriage, became
addicted to intemperance, the effect Of which
operated strongly on the mind and health of
his wife, and in 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 being about him,
and occasionally he was found with jolly and
frolicksome spirits in bacchanalian revelry.-
His true friends expostulated with him to con-
vince him of the injury he was doing himself
But still he persisted. His practice began to
sure road to ruin. He was advised to get
married, with view of correcting his habits
This he consented to do if the right person Of
fered. He accordingly paid his addresses to
Miss Gamble. After some months attention,
he asked her hand in marriage. She replied !:
MIR, Writ, l 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 not re-
ciprocated the affection which you evinced for
ME. But l cannot yield my assent until you
make me a pledge never to taste, touch, or
handle any intoxicating drinks
This reply to Writ was as unexpected as it
was novel; His reply was, that he regarded
the proposition as bar to all further cOnsid-
GRAFTON Oh the subject, and he left her. Her
course towards him was the same as ever
his, resentment and neglect.
In the course of a few weeks he went again
and solicited her hand. But her reply was,
her mind was made nr He became indg-
nant and regarded the terms she proposed as
insulting to his honor, and vowed it should be
the last meeting they .ould 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, dead
drunk, a young lady whom it is not necessary
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 grog shop to get
drink, when he discovered the handkerchief, at
which he looked, and the name on it. After
pausing few minutes, he exclaimed:
Great God who left this with me? Who
placed this on my face?
No one knew. He dropped the glass ex-
claiming:
Enough enough!
He retired instantly from the store, forget
ting his thirst, but not his debauch, the hand
kerchief, or the lady, vowing if God gave him
strength, never to touch, taste, or handle in
tOxicating drinks.
To meet Miss Gamble was the hardest ef-
fort Of his life. If he met her in her carriage
or on foot he popped around the nearest cor
ner. She at last addressed him in note un-
der her own hand, inviting him to her house,
which he finally gathered courage enough to
accept He told her if she still bore affection
for him he would agree to her own terms
Her reply was:
My conditions now are what they ever have
BEEN
Then said Writ, 4 accept Them
They were 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 temples of fame; while patriotism and
renown live after him with imperishable lus-
ire.
How many noble minds might the young
ladies save, if they would follow the example
of the heroine-heartcd Miss Gamble, the
friend Of humanity, of her country, and the
relative, of Lafayette