Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-09-03
I" Better not, sir, he is a savage now, and

must dtlu VIII eee JOHN, TeElltu, anu
started Immediately for The store, according
to her direction. There was no time to lose,
for was to he at conference, whlher was
bound, at certain time appointed. readi.
Iy found the store and entered. The first
sight disclosed four men playing cards at a
table. The next glance discovered man
stretched out along whisky hogsbead. The
landlord was sitting by, but instantly hopped
up aud ran behind the counter to wait upon
me. supposing | was customer. Says |,
ais John McL-d here"
They all looked at me on hearing the
question, as if had been the old one or a
Sheriff.
"What is that to you," he sulleny replied.
g. want to see him." answered. While
was speaking took another sweep of the
room with my eye, and saw something like
a man asleep in the corner. Z" Is that John. ?"
asked.
"None of your business" answered the
surly bar.keeper.
"If it is that unhappy man, you will find
it some Of my business" replied. So |
went to him, recognized him, though in this
shocking, heastly plight, aud began to wake
him. This was no easy job, and while was
about it, the rumseler and his guests remon.
s,rated, telling me to go away, threatening
chastsement and showing violence. had
IN my hand loaded whip, am not inferior,
you know, in point of wiry, muscular pow
err; and though a man of peace, confess
| IL, -, tho 1 hay hpat
in the ministry, never felt SO strong dis.
! position us at that moment, to give four or
five men thrashing. They were intimida.
ted and succeeded at length in getting
John upon his legs, and trotting him oft
homeward. My presence and the exercise
subered him, SO thar when he reached his
hoveI he was in his right mind.
forgot to mention that when first went
into the house, the child upon the ground
started up atFrighted, running to her mother,
crying, " Is he going to carry us TO Jail,
mother, where father was!" And that poor
mother sobbed upon my hand, as if her heart
would break. Well, couversed with them
an hour, talked of old times in Connecticut,
the old village, and school days. He was
s0ltened; his heart was touched. Then |
urged the pledge; his wife put in her pro-
iuuudly earnest, almost frantic plea. She
felt this, indeed, to be the hour Of destiny
"Do you think can keep it Z" said, at
length, the miserable man, ouce so promising,
tsswss @ 3, sslsass' i: as's lar ns e s
:" 1t is" said |, with confidence and hope;
you can keep it. know you can. 10 tue
name of humanity and religion, try it, tea'
John and God will help you." At last he
consented We kuelt dawn on the earth
there was no chair, no table in the house,
uok out the pledge, which always carry
in my pocket, placed it on the stool where
Mary had been sitting, and handed him my
pencil He wrote his name. thank God
Notwithstanding his condition, it WAS beau.
ifully written, as | afterwards observed, for
he was an excellent schniar. We did nut
rise till had relieved my overburdened heart
in prayer, and prayed with all my strug
Cling soul, and his despairiug wife joined
me in the solemn Invocation, that the Father
of mercies would receive The returning pro-
digal to his arms, aud that he might never
20 astray again. 1t was now quite time for
me 10 90 and resume my journey; but !
could not leave the town before called up
on the class leader, left him some money for
the family, and enjoined upon him TO look
after them, and throw around John the seed
of all good influences, to prevent his suffer.
ing a relapse. Whatever further charges he
should incur on their account, promised TO
nav as soon as informed of them
Another decade rolled by, during which
no tidings came to me al the East from this
interesting couple. At length | was called
again to visit those Western regions, and to
pass near the residence of this unfortunate
brother On reaching the town, my disap.
poin,ment was extreme to learn that he had
removed to dis ant country. | anticipated
misfortune; but as the place designated was
not far from my intended route, resolved
to go and see him. When entered the
town Of, where John was said to live,
made enquiry for his dwelling, and was
told it was the second house on the left
nand side of the road. Being now so near,
FASTENED onward eagerly, and presently Il
nice frame building paIuted white appeared.
could not help putting up a prayer, that
my dear friend nigh be sn happy as to oc-
cupy any house half as respectable as this.
Expectation now became painfully intense.
What in mercy was sent to see2 A scene
like that or worse, which ten years before
left such awful traces on the memory, never
to be obiteratedl | could not tell. Alta
sudden turn in the road thought discern.
Ell another white house in the distance among
the trees; yes, it is So with green blinds;
and us went nearer, graveled walks wee
seen, handsome paling. and ornamental
trees and shrubbery Sur ly there is some
mistake in The direction; this can't BE- Johns
home! yet it is the second on the left.
Fastening my beast to hook, went to
the door and knocked. a girl, just on the
verge Of womanhnod, opened it.
"D"rs Mr. McI.--d live here 2"
asked with trembling.
He d"es, sir I"
els lie or his wife at hnmes"
Mother is within, sir; but father is in
the field Please to walk in, sir"
My eye glanced through the open parIur
door. "A find carpet covered the floor. There
were handsome chairs and other furniture
but saw no more. for Mrs. MrL-d by
this time w.s informed of pen,lemau's