Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-08-21
Ertrnct from a speech by Cough.


In the following pa'asc, by this eItraor-
binary Temperance orator, he apeaks much
Of children, and in way which must touch
the hearts Of the old, rs well as the young;
There j, no power on earth which will
make man a hend like the power OF the
drink. One circumstance in my own rcmi-
nisancc will give to YOU. was asked by
an individual 10 g and 80 the hardest easo
then in town ! said :" I hayo no right 10
20 and SEQ him; he will ay to me Who
sent YOU to me who told You | was
druukard? You mind your business aud /
will mine; YOU wait I'll! you are sent for;
and when want YOU will send for you
| have no right" | aid to 50 to him"
{" Well" said he, " he is hard case he
beat q daughter Of hi., fourteen year. OF
ago. with a shoemaker's strap, 50 that sho
will carry the mark 10 the grave" Said |.
" Hes brute" 4" His wifo is very III
now with q fever and tho doctor ays no
thinks she canuo, get over IL the man has
not been drinking ror many days. and II
YOU can got At him now, think you can
DO him good"
I thought would g. knocked at tho
door: hc came to open il. llc had been 10
ono or two or our mc,'insI The moment
bs .aw me no knew m,. Said he, " Mr..
Cough. | beli.,c2" " Yes, that - my
name would YOU bc good enough 70 givo
mc a elas, Of water. II you please -
Certainly" p" ail be-, " come in"
Sol got in. sat On ono side Of tho
table, and ha at on tho ether. There were
two Children in the room where the wife
was IN. .at aud talked with him aooui
everything could think Of bat the subject;
talked ol trade ana crops, and railroads
and money matters. and then | got on the
publrc houses, and then drinking, and hs
headed me OF again. looked, and though,
| saw a mah,Ipu, twinkle in his eye, as
much q. to say. " Young man, you are not
up to your business yet"
wa, about to give il up; but, think
pr,yiIrntialy, ! saw the children. | said
to him. you have got two bright looking
children there, sir" 80 yc,, yes, brigh.
U,lo uins.," sad I, You love your
children. don't you?' Blcs, the children,
u be- sur, love them" SAID I, "wouldn't
YOU do anything u benefit your children -
H. looked at me as il ho thought something
c's, wa. coming after. well, TO bo sure,
.ir, said he, "a man ought 70 do every
thru: {, b,nef, his children"
Then stood up, 80 that might get on.
Of tie door as speedily a. possible, and said,
" Don't b. angry with me; am going to
ask YOU a plain and simple question; you
know who ! am, therefore you won't be an
CRY. Suppose you never Use any more in
toKicauns liquor, don't you think yolr
children would be better oH2" "well.
we'll ," sail he. "y5u hav, got me thi,
time A." Said I. Yon have got a good wife
haven't you 80 "Yo-, sir, as good a wo-
man rs ever a good man had fJr a wife"
" And YOU love your wiie?" To he snrO
I do. il /. natural that a man should loVO
his wife" And you would do any thing 10
please your wife" well | ought to-"
Surp1s' you sign a temperance pledge,
would that please her"
by thunder, | rather think 1t would;
could not DO q thing that would please my
wiro Ike that. II was TO put my nams
Down there. WY, the oil woman would bo
up ami about her business in two weeks"
4" 4. she i..ick," said |, thenyou will do
IT," "Ycs, guess will do IT," And ho
q, once opened closa,, took on, pen and
ink, and spread out the pledge, and no
wrote hi. name.
The children had been listening with eyes.
ears. and mouths wide open. while we were
talking about temperance. They knew what
a drunkarl father was, they knew what tho
principle Of abstinence would do for him;
and when he had signed, on, said to tho
other: " Now III - and tell my mother"
and away sho ran IN the other room. But
tho mother had heard 1t, and listened to
her calling. " Luke Luke come in here =
moment" Said he, &" Come in hero along
with me- come in and 80 my wife"
went aud stood by her bedside. Tho
face was ghastly pale, the eye largo and
sunk deep in IT, socket; and with her long.
thin, and bony fingers, she griPPelmy hand
and with the other took the hand Of her
husband, and began To tell me what good
husband she had. Luke" oid she, " Is
kind husband and good father he takes
care Of the children and Is very kind to
them but the drink, o. the drink makes
terrible lificulty." That difficulty God
only and the crushed wife Of the intemper-
ate man know anything about It.
The man shook like leaf he snatched
the hand from the grasp Of bis wife tore
down her night dress from her shoulder,
and said, 4" Look at that :" and ON her white
thin neck, close to her shoulder was bad
mark. SAID be, look at that, sir did
it three days before she wa. taken down up
on the bed; and she has told you that .hs
has good husband. Am II Am q good
husband to her? God Almighty forgive
me" And he bowed over that woman and
wept like child, gripping the bcd-clothcs