Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-07-07
THE WIDOWS TEMPERANCE SPEECH.

The Hon. Geo. N. Briggs, ex-governor of
Massachusetts,, delivered temperance address
some time since, in the course of which he re-
lated the following anecdote with thrilling effect:
Mr.. Briggs said this question of the intro
duction of Intoxicating drinks assumed some
what of practical form last spring in thriving
borough in Pennsylvania. The inhabitants had
assembled, as was their usual custom, to decide
what number, II any, of licenses the town
! should petition from the county court, from
whence they were issued. There was full at
tendance One Of the most respectable magis-
trates of the borough presided, and upon the
platform were seated, among others, the clergy
man Of the village, one Of his deacons, and the
physician.
After the meeting had been called to order,
one of the most respectable citizens Of the
borough rose, and after a short speech moved
that the meeting petition for the usual number
of licenses. They had better license good men
and let them cell it. The proposition seemed
to meet with almost universal favor. 1t was an
excellent way to get along quietly, and one and
that such course would be adopted.
The president was about to put the question
to the meeting, when an object rose in distant
turned in that direction. 1t was an old woman,
poorly clad, and whose careworn countenance
was the painful index of no light suffering; and
bright eye that told she had once been what
she was not. She addressed the president, and
said, with his permission, she wished to say q
few words to the meeting. She had come be-
cause she had heard they were to decide the
license question.
"You," ;" said she, dali know who am. You
once knew me the mistress of one of the best
estates in the borough. once had husband
and five sons and woman never had kinder
husband mother never had five better or more
affectionate sons. But where are they now ?
Doctor, ask where are they now? In yonder
burying ground there are six graves filled by
that husband and those five sons, and oh they
are all drunkards' graves Doctor, how came
they to be drunkards? You would come and
drink with them, and you told them that tenn
perate drinking would do them good. And
you too, sir" addressing the clergyman, "would
come and drink with my husband, and my sons
thought they might drink with safety, because
they saw you drink. Deacon, You sold them
rum which made thom drunkards. You have
now got my farm and all my property, and you
got it all by rum. And now," she said, 81
have done my errand. so back to the poor
house, for that is my home. You, reverend sir,
you, doctor, and you, deacon, shall never meet
again until meet you at the bar of God, where
you, too, will meet my ruined and lost husband
and those five sons who through your means
and influence fill the drunkards' graves"
The old woman sat down. Perfect silence
prevailed until broken by the president, who
rose to put the question to the neeting-shall
we petition the court to issue license to this
borough the ensuing year? anu then one un-
broken, "No!" which made the very walls re-
echo with the sound, told the result Of the old
woman'S appeal.