Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-05-11


When showed her the dripping taps
and the broken bottles, she called me,
and believed me mad; she never un-
derstood me. but less than ever. then.
l had, Of coarse. more than one
scene with her; and when told her
that. instead Of ale, ! should sell coffee.
and substitute tea for brandy, she,
like too mary others. attaching an
idea Of feebleness and duplicity, and
want Of respectability to Temperance.
resolved to find another home. We
passed q stormy hour together, and
among many things. she claimed the
Drunkard's Bible. but that ! would
not part with.
81 lost no time in finding the dwell
ing Of Peter Croft. Poor Emmal II
| had met her In the broad sunshine |
should not have known her; but. if I
had heard her speak, should have
recognized her voice among thou.
sand. Misery for her had done its
worst. She upbraided me rs deserved
"You." she said. "and such rs. you,
content with your own safety, never
think Of the safety OF others. You
take care to avoid the tarnish and
wretchedness ofdrunkennes yourselves,
while you enticc others to sin. Mod
GRAFTON Is your safeguard; but when
did you think 1t a virtue - your
customers?"
told lsr what had done, that in
future mire would be strictly q TEN.
pcrance house; that would by every
means In my power undo the evil l
had done.
"will that she answered in low doep
tones Of anguish--"will that restore
what / have lost?--will II restore my
husbands charaster?-will II save
hin. even II converted, from self re-
proach?-will Il open the grave, and
give me back the child. my first.born;
who. delicate from its cradle, could not
endure tho want Of heat and food,
which the others have still 10 bear?-
will II give us back tho means squan.
dered In your housc?-will II eiface
the memory Of the drunkard's songs.
and the impunity OF the drunkard' q
acts? o Mathewl that you should
live. and grow rich and respeota.
BILE. by what debased and debauched
your iellow.creatures. Lookv she ad-
ded. and her words pierced my heart
--"lookl had my young days over
again. would rather--supposing that
love had nothing to do with my choice
II would rather appear with my do
graded husband. bad Ms he is.at the bar
OF God-than kneelthere as your wifel
You, cool.headed and moderated by
nature, knowing right from wrong.
well educated, yet tempting, tempting
others to the destruction which gave
you food and plenishing-your fine
gin.paiaeesl your comfortable roomsl
your intoxicnting drinks the pleasan,
companyl all! all wiling the tradesman
away from his home. from his wife,
from his children. and sending him
back when the stars are fading in the
daylight. OIL to what homel Oh
in what n statei
II do think as you stand there,
Mathew Hownlcy. well dressed. and
well fed. and respectable--yes. that Il
the word, respsctable!--that you are
at this moment. in the eyes OF the AL
mighty. a greater criminal than my
poor husband. who Is lying upor
straw with madness in his brain. trem
bling in every limb, without even .
Bible to tell him Of the mercy which
Christ's death procured for the pen
itent sinner at the eleventh hour'
| laid her own Bible before her.
did not ask her to spare me, every
word was true, deserved I! all.
went forth. sent coal, food. and cloth
ing into that wrctched room; sent Z
physician; | prayed by the bedsides o
Peter Croft. as if he had been deal
brother. I found him truly penitent
and with all the resolves for amend
ment which SO often fade in the sun
shine Of health and strength, he wailet
oversshis lost time. his lost means. hii
lost character-all lost; all God hae
given-hcalth, strength, happiness, al
gone-ail but the love Of hiss ill.uset
and neglected wife; that had nevel
died! "Hnd remember she said :,
mo, there are hundreds. thousands o
cases as sad as his in England, in tn,
Christian land we live in! Strong
drink fills our jsils and hospitals. will
sin, with crime, with disease, viii
death; its mission is sin and sorrow L
man, woman and child; under. tn,
cloak of good-fellowship it draws mcr
together. and the "good.fellowship,
poisons the heart and mind! Men be
ccme mad under its influence. Woult
any man not mad. squander his mon
ey. his character. and bring himsel
and all he is bound to cherish to th'
verge Of the pauper's grave: nay. int
it? OF five families in this wretchee
house, the mothers Of three. and th,
fathers Of four, never go to their rag
ged beds sober; yet they tell me, goot
men, wise men. great men, refuse I,
ptomote temperance. Oh! they hav'
never seen how the half-pint grows Il
the pint-the pint to the quart--th
quart to the gallon! They have new
er watched for the drunkard's return
) or experienced his neglect or illus
age-never had the last penny 70
their children's bread, turned int
spirits--never woke to the knowledge
that though the snow Of December b
foot on the ground, there is neithe
food nor fire to strengthen for the day
, TOLL"
Poor Emma! she spoke like one in
spirel; and though her spirit was sus
/ tanned neither by flesh nor blood. sh
seemed to find relief in words.
f When spoke to her of the futur
, with hope. she would not listen. No,
she said, my hope for him and my
selfls beyond the grave. He cannc
1 rally; those fierce drinks have brands
his vitals, burnt into them. Life
I not for either Of us. wish his fate