Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-05-09
= selttt Gale.
THE RECLAIMED,
BY JOHN B. COUCH.

There is no power on earth will make
man a fend like the power or orlnK.--Une
circumstance in my own remniscence l will
give to you. was asked by an individual 20
20 and see the hardest case then in town.
| said:
81 have no right to 60 and see him he will
say to me, who sent you to me ? Who told
you was drunkard You mind your own
business and will mine you wait till you
are sent for; and when | want you / will
send for YOU have no right, l said, to go
to him."
"Well," said he. "he is hard case; he
beat q daughter of his, fourteen years of age,
with shoemakers strap, so that she will
carry the mark to her grave"
Hes brute" said /.
III wife is very i'll now with the fever,
and the doctor thinks she cannot get over it |;
the man has not been drinking for some days,
and il you can get at him now think you
might do him good"
thought would go. knocked at the
door he came to open it. lie had been to
one or two of our meetings. The moment he
saw me he knew me. Said he
"Mr. Cough, believer"
"Yes, that is my name would you be good
enough to give me a glass of water, it you
| please Z"
Certainly" said he, "come in"
| So ! got in. ] sat on one side OF the
table and he on the other. There were two
children in the room playing together, and a
door half way open that led into the room
where his wife was i'll. sat and talked with
him about everything ! could think OF but
the subject; | talked of trade and crops
railroads and money matters, and then drink
| ing, and he headed me of again. l looked
and thought / saw malicious twinkle in
his eye. as much as to say, young Man, you
are not up to your business yet"
was about to give it up; but, think
providentially, saw the children. / said tc
him:
You've got two bright looking childrer
there, SIR"
80 yes, yes; bright little things"
"You love your children, don't you p sait
"Bless the children, to be sure I Low,
them"
"Would You do anything to benefit you
children ?" | asked.
He looked at me as if he thought some
thing was coming after.
"Well to be sure, sir a man ought TO d,
everything to benefit his children"
Then.I stood up, SO that ! might get ou
as speedily as possible. and said
"Don't be angry with me; am going t
ask you a plain and simple question yo
know who ! am, therefore, you won't b
. angry? Suppose you never sse any more in
toxicatng liquor, don't you think your chi
dren would be better OFF,
"Well, well" said he, you have got m
: this time"
, "You have got good wife haven't you
said |.
Yes, sir, as good woman as ever goo
}. man had for a WIFE"
|. "And you love your wife ?"
' 40 be sure do; it 10 natural that ma
T should love his wife"
n And you would do anything to pleas
e your wife I"
e "Well, | ought to-"
! Suppose you were to sign q temperanc
II pledge, wonld that please her p
), "By thunder, / rather think it would;
= could not do the thing that would please m
o wife like that If was to put my nan
z down there why, the old woman would be U
and about her business in two weeks."
"As she is sick" said /, "then you will q
IT," .....
eyes, I guess will DO it,"
: And he at once opened closet, took o,
ID pen and ink, and i spread out the pledg
g, aud he wrote his name.
The children had been listening with eye
ears aud mouth wide open, while We wei
talking sbout Temperance. They kns~ sh