Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-01

for another, and then another and before Il after
noon was half gone, 'Dennie' was dead drunk; ane
the workmen had laid him on board under tree
About four o'clock his father called to aeeoups-
nv him home; not seeing him about he eagerly in
quired for his child they pointed him TO the place
where he lay. With a heart full OF sorrow he car
red him home to his neither and sisters TOgeth-
er his parents watched By his bed during the tedi-
Gus night that followed not knowing but the dread
fal stupor would result in his DEATH but fully re-
solved if he lived not to leave untred any eor that
might promise to save him.
Ii was not until the evening of the second day
that he was restored TO perfect Consciousness His
parents thought it best to not speak TO him OF the
cause of his illness for days, hoping his own
reflections would do much more good; but in this
they were disappointed-he did not exhibit the first
symptom Of remorse or consciousness that he had
done wrong.
About week after the event just related, his ia
ther invited him one pleasant morning to take
walk. Their road lay along the shore Of the lake,
and was lired with stately trees on either side For
a time they Wlked on in silence.
"Ie10R, GO luu E.pN nHot II ""7
made you sick the other day?"
why suppose drank too much rum" he
heartiessly replied
"WeiI lly 500, DO yoa know that think yoa
are in danger OF becoming dFunksrd:"
why, father, know ycu tell me so but am
not afraid oft You drink rum every day, and you
are not drunkard; and when get old enough TO
know how much it will DO for me TO drink, then
can keep from getting drunk, too"
They both seated themselves on rock near the
shore, and most faithfully did his father speak Of
the evils Of intemperance; then taking small gold
watch from his pocket, which Dennie had long de-
slred to call his own, he said "Dennie, if you will
never drink any more rum will give you this gold
watch. VIII you do it?'
Rising from his seat, and looking his father full
in the face, he replied, " If it is wrong for me to
drink rum scorn TO be harsd not to drink ii. But
| will tell you, sir, what aoH do Fiji is wrong
for me to drink it is wrong for YOU and if you will
stop drinking will"
Had fash of lightning burst from the cloud
less sky above them his father would not have been
more startled How could he preach or perform
the laborous duties of pastor without his daily glass
Of bitters? How could he get up in cold winter
night and go and pray by the bedside OF some dy'
.ng parishioner, without glass of something to
prevent his taking cold How could he attend to
the various ecclesiastical meetings of the church
without something to help him bear the fatigues o
the Journey? The sacrifice was indeed great, but
Il -
ing all his resolution, With fatering voice, he re
| plied-"I ,cM do at my GOA" And TINS, they
pledged themselves to total abstinence.
The lake, the trees, and the pure blue sky, wer'
the only witnesses save only that holy Being whC
| is everywhere. As they retraced their steps, hi
father taking the little watch from his pocket, gavi
il to Dennie and said, MY son, you have long wish
ed that should give you this watch. 1t is your
as long as you keep your promise. Should that eV
| ex be broken, shall expect you to return it to me
till then, let it be token to you of this promise
have .aoW made
Years have passed, and the same little "Dennie
is now distinguished clergyman in enc OF GU
most populous Western cities. Four bright littl
BOYS call him father. The same little gold watc
decorates his paror wall, and often does he point
it and tell of his danger and his escape from tn
whirlpool of intemperanne.