Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-04-08
An Overwhelming speech by q
widow.

The Hon. George N. Briggs, ex-Gov-
ernor Of Massachusetts, delivered tenn
perance address some time since, in the
course Of which he related the following
anecdo,e with thrilling effect:
Mr.. Briggs said this question Ct the
introduction Of intoxicating drinks assum.
ed somewhat of a practical form las.
Spring in thriving borough in Pennsyl-
vania. The inhabitants had assembled.
as was their usual custom, TO decide what
number, if any, of licenses the town
should petition from the County Court,
from whence they we're issued. There
was full attendance. One Of the most
respectable magistrates of the borough
presided, aud upon the platform were
seated, among others, the clergyman OF
the village, one of his deacons, and the
physician.
After the meeting had been called TO
order, one of the most respectable citi-
zens of the borough rose, and after a
short speech, moved that the meeting Pc
titon for the usual number of licenses.
They had better license good men and
let them sell. The proposition seemed 10
meet with almost universal favor. Ii was
an excellent way to get along quietly,
and one and then another in their turn
expressed their hope that such course
would be adopted. ... ..
The President was about TO put the
question TO the meeting, when on object
rose IN distant part of the building, and
all eyes were instantly turned in that di-
rection. 1t was an old woman, poorly
clad, and whose careworn countenance
was the painful index of no light uffer-
ing. And yet there was something in
the flash of the brigh, eye that told she
had once been what she was not. She
addressed the President, and said, with
his perlnissi IN, she wished to say few
words to the meeting. She had come be.
cause she had heard that they were to
decide the license question.
"You," said she "all know who / am.
! You once knew me the mistress of one
of the best estates in the borough once
had husband and five sens; and woman
never had kinder husband---mother
never had five better or more afiectionate
sons. Blu! where are they nows Doc.
tor, ask where are they nowl In yon-
der 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 I
You would come and drink with them,
and you tod told them that temperate
drinking would do them good. And you
TOO, Sir, addressing the Clergyman, wo'd
come and drink with my husband; and
my sons tho't they might drink with safe
ty, because they saw you drink. Deacon,
you sold them rum which made them
drunkards. You have 60, my farm and
all my properly, and you gcs it by ruin.
And now" she said, III have done my er-
rand. ! 60 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, thro' your means and influence,
fill the drunkard graves"
The old woman sat down. Perfect ST.
lence prevailed, until broken by the Presi-
dent, who rose 10 put the question 10 the
meeting-shall we petition the court to
issue licenses to this borough the ensuing
year and then one unbroken MOI
which made the very walls re-echo with
the sound, told the result Of the old wo'
mans appeal