Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-03-19

the dark night that hangs like a pail o
gloom over our country"
With thrilling depth of voice the speak
er continued, OH God, thou who looketh
with compassion upon the most erring Of
earth's frai children. thank thee that a
brazen serpent has been lifted up, on which
the drunkard can look and be healed That
becon has burst out upon the darkness that
surround him, which shall guide back to hon
or and heaven the bruised and weary wan
derer
it is strange what power there is in some
voices. The Speakers voice was low and
measured, but tear trembled in every tone,
and, before knew why, tear dropped on
my hand followed by others like rain drops.
The old man brushed one from his eye and
continued.
"Men and Christians, you have just heard
that | am a vagrant and fanatic. L am
not. As God knows my own sad heart, |
came here just to do good. Hear me and
be just.
am an old man standing at the end Of
life's journey. There is deep sorrow in my
heart, and tears in my eyes. [ have journey
ed over q dark beaconless ocean, and all llte's
bright hopes have been wrecked. L am
without friends, home or kindred, on earth,
and look with longings to the rest Of the
night of death. Without friends, kindred or
home | was not once so!
No one could withstand the touching pa
thos of the old man. | noticed a tear trem-
bling on the lid of my fathers eye, and |
no more felt ashamed of my own.
"No my friends it was not so once. Away
over the dark waves that have wrecked my
hopes, there is the blessed light of happi-
ness and home. reach again convulsively
for the shrines of the household idols that
once were mine but alas, they have fled for
ever!"
The old man seemed looking away into
vacancy upon some bright vision, his lips
parted and his finger extended. L involun-
tarily turned in the direction where it was
pointed, dreading to see some shadow invok-
ing by its magic moving.
81 had once a mother. With her heart
crushed with sorrow she went down to the
grave. | once had wife-a fair angel
hearted creature as ever smiled in an earthly
home. Her eye was as mild as the summer
sky, and her heart was as faithful and true
as ever guarded and cherished husbands
love. Her blue eyes grew dim as the floods
of sorrow swept away; its brightness; and the
living heart wrung till every fiber was bro
ken. | once had noble, brave and beau
tiful boy, but he was driven out from the ru-
ins of his home, and my heart yearns to
know if he still lives | once had babe, a
sweet tender blossom; but these hands des-
troyed it, and it lives with one who loveth
children.
Do not be startled friends, | am not a
murderer in the common acceptation of the
term. Yet there is light in my evening
sky. A spirit mother rejoices in the return
of her prodigal son. She smiles upon him
who again turns back to virtue and honor
The angel child visits me at nightfall, and i
feel the hallowing touch of tiny palm
upon upon my feversh cheek. My brave
boy, if he still lives, would forgive the sor-
rowing old man for the treatment which
sent him into the world, and the blow that
manned him for life. God forgive me for
the ruin brought upon me and mine."
He again wiped "a tear from his eye. My
father watched him with a strange intensity,
and countenance unusually pale and excited
by some strong emotion.
81 was once fanatic, and madly followed
the malign light which led me to ruin. l
was fanatic when sacrificed my wife, chill.
dren, happiness and home, to the Accusing
demon of the bowl. | once adored the gen
tie being whom injured so deeply.
81 was drunkard. From responsibility
and affluence, plunged into degradation and
poverty. For years saw her cheek pale and
her step grow weary. l left her alone amid
the wreck of her home idols and rioted at
the tavern. She never complained, yet she
and her children went hungry for bread.
"One New Years night, | returned late
to the hut where charity had given us roof
She was yet up, and shivering over the Goals.
| demanded food, but she burst into tears and
told me there was none. I fiercely ordered
her to get some. She turned her eyes sadly
upon me, the tears falling fast over her pale
cheek.
At this moment the child in its cradle
awoke and sent up furnishing wall,
startling the dcspairing mother like aserpents
sting"
awe have no food, James-have had none
for two days. have nothing for the babe.
AT l. n 4 I 4