Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-02-11
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8 f$Qn4I HtSEE AutXSt tu0 EUIuMcueSHlNhs W
tho temperance reformation. wAsa child
at the time, seine ten years Of age. Our
home had every comfort, and my parents
the table, and both my father and my mother
frequently gave it to me in the bottom Of my
morning glass.
One SUNDAY, at church, startling an !,
nouncement was made TO our people.
knew nothing Of its purport, bat there was
much whispering among the men. The pas
tor said on the next evening there would be
meeting and an address on the evils Of In
temperance in the use of alcoholic drinks
He expressed himself ignorant of the object
Of the meeting, and could not say what course
it would be best to pursue in the matter
The subject of the meeting came up at our
table after the service, and questioned my
father about ii with all the curious eagerness
of child. The whispers and words which
had been dropped in my hearing clothed the
| whole affair with great mystery to me, and
was al, eagerness to know the strange thing.
Ny father said it was merely some scheme
to unite Church and State.
| The night came, aad groups of people gath
cred on the tavern steps, and heard the jest
and the laugh, and saw drunken men come
Keeling out of the bar-room. urged my IA
ther to let me go, but he at FIRST refused
/ Finally, thinking that it would be an inno-
cent qualification of my curiosity, he put on
/ his hat, and we passed across the green to
/ the church. remember well how the peo-
pie appeared as they came in, seeming to
/ wonder what kind of an exhibition was to
come of. J.
In one corner was the tavern-keeper, and
. around him number Of his friends For
an hour the people of the place continued to
come in, until there was a fair house-fulL
All were curiously watching at the door,
wondering what would appear next The
pastor stole in and took o seat behind the
4 pillar under the gallery, as if doubtful of the
propriety of being in the church at all
Two men finally came in, and went to the
alter and took their seats. All eyes were
fixed upon them, and general stiffness pre-
vailed throughout the room.
The men were unlike in appearance, one
being short and thick-set in his build; the
other tall and well-formed The younger
had the manner and dress Of a clergyman; q
full, round face, and quiet good natured
look, as he leisurely looked around over the
audience.
But my childish interest was in the old
man. His broad, deep chest, and. unusual
1 Y,
up the aisle. His hair was white, his brow
deeply SCARED with burrows, and around his
handsome mouth lines of calm and touching
sadness His eyes were black and restless,
and kindled as the tavern-keeper uttered a
| low Jest aloud His lips were compressed,
and crimson flush went and came over his
pale cheek One arm was off above the right
| elbow and there was wide scar above his
eye.
| The younger finally arose and stated the
object of the meeting and asked ifthere was
clergyman present to open it with pray
| er.
Our pastor kept his seat, and the speaker
himself made ashortprayer, and then short
address at the conclusion calling on any one
present to make remarks. The pastor rose
under the gallery. and attacked the position
of the speaker, using the arguments which l
have often heard used since, and concluded
by denouncing those engaged in the new
movement as meddlesome fanatics who wish
ed to break up the time honored usage of
good society, and injure the business of res
pectable men. AT the conclusion Of his re-
marks the tavern keeper and his friends got
up a cheer, and the current of feeling was
evidently against the strangers and their
plan.
While the pastor was speaking, the old
man had fixed his dark eyes upon him, and
leaned forward as if to catch every word
As the pastor took his seat the old man
rose, his tall form towering in it's symmetry,
and his breast swelling as he inhaled his
breath through his dilated nostrils. To me,
at this time, there was something awe-in
spring and grand in the appearance of the
old man, as he stood with his full eyes upon
the audience, his teeth shut close, and 81
lence like that of death throughout the
church
| For q moment he seemed lost in thought,
and then, in a low and tremulous tone, COM
menced There was depth in that voice,
a thrilling pathos and sweetness, which riy-
eted every heart in the house before the first
period had been rorCded. My fathers at
tention had become liked upon the eye of
the speaker with an interest which l never
before had seen him exhibit / can but
briefly remember the substance of what the
old man said, though the scene is as vivid
before me as any ever witnessed:
"My friends-l am stranger in your VIII
lage, and / trust may call you friends-a
new star has arisen, and there is hope in the
| dark night which hangs like pail of gloom
over our country" With thrilling depth
of voice the speaker locked his hands to-
gether, and continued: ooh, God thou
who lookest with compassion upon the most
erring of earths children, thank thee that
brazen serpent has been lifted up upon
which the drunkard can look and be healed;
that beacon has burst out upon the dark
ness that surrounds him, which shall guide
back to honor and heaven the bruised and
weary wanderer
1t is strange what power there is in some
voices The speakers voice was low and
measured; but a tear trembled in every tone,
and before knew why, atear dropped upon
my hand, followed by other like drops.
The old man brushed ore from his own
eyes, and continued:
"Men and Christians! You have justheard
that am vagrant fanatic. l am not. As
God knows my own sad heart, came to do
good Hear me and be just
81 am an old man, standing alone at the
end of life sjourney There is deep sor-
row in my heart, and tears in my eyes. /
have journeyed over dark and beaconless
ocean, and life's hopes have been wrecked
l am without friends, home or kindred on
earth, and look with longing. to the rest of
death. Without friends, kindred or home!
1t was not once so.
| No one could withstand the touching pa
thos of the old man. noticed tear trem-
bling on the lid of my fathers eye, and no
more felt ashamed ofmy own.
mo, friends, it was not once So Away
over the dark waves which have wrecked my
hopes there is the blessed light of happiness
and home. l reach again convulsively for
the shrines Of the household idols that once
were mine, now no more.
The old man seemed looking away through
fancy upon some bright vision; his lips apart
and his finger extended l involuntarilly
turned in the direction where it was pointed,
dreaming to see some shadow invoked by its
magic movements.
II once had mother. With her old
heart crushed with sorrows, she went down
to the grave ! once had wife-a fair an
gel hearted creature as ever smiled in an
earthly home. Her eyes as mild as summers
sky, and heart as faithful and true as ever
guarded husbands love. Her blue ewes
II q 4 n =