Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-04-13
An Overwhelming Speech by Widow

The Hon. George y. Briggs, ex-gov-
ernor OF Massachusetts, delivered tenn
perance address, in the course OF which
he related the following anecdote with
thrilling effect.
Mr.. Brigs said this question Of the in
PRODUCTION Of intoxicating drinks assumed
somewhat Of pTactcai form las. Sprin G
in thriving borough IN Pennsylvania
their custom, 10 decide what number, If
any, Of licences the town should petition
to The county court, from whence they
were issued. There was q full attend
ance. One Of the most respectable mag
essrates Of the borough presided, aud up
on the platform were seated, among 9TH
ers, the clergyman Of the village, one OF
his deacons, and the physician.
After the meeting had been called 10
order, one OF the most respectable citi-
zens of the borough rose, and after a
short speech moved that the meeting Pc
iluoE for the usual number Of licences
Thee had better lIcence good men and
let them sell. The proposition seemed
TO meet with almost universal favor T.
was an excellent way to geta,ong quietly,
and one and then another IN their turn
expressed their hope that such e course
would be adopted
The President was about 1, lut the
question TO The meeting, when an object
rose in distant part Of the building, and
all eyes were Instantly turned Iii that d.
rection. 1t was an old woman, poorly
clad, and whose Care-worn counteuance
was the painful Index of no light suffer
ing. And yet there was something III the
fash of the bright eye that told that she
had once been something that she was
not. She addressed the Presidents and
said, with his permission, she wished 10
say a few words to the meeting. She
had come because size had heard they
were 10 decide the lIcence question.
: on, said she, :. all know who I am.
GU 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 adectionate
sons. But where are they now? Doe
tor, ask where are they now? In Won
der burying ground there are six graves,
filled by that hust and and FIVE sons, and
oh! they are all drunkards graves. Doe
tor, how came they drunkard.? You
would come and drink with them, ana
you told them that temperate drinking
would do them good. And you, sir, ad-
dressing the clergyman, l. would come
and drink with my husband; and nv sons
thought they might drink with safety Je-
cause they saw you drink. Deacon, YOU
sold them rum which made them drunk
ards. You have now got my farm and
all my property, and you got il all BY rum
And now" she said, 4 have done nv
errand. l go back to the poor house, fol
that is my home. You, reverend sir, vou
doctor, and you, deacon, | shall never
meet again, until meet you at the bar o.
God, where you, too, will meet my ruiuet
and lost husband and those five sons, who
through your means and influence, fl
the drunllard's grave" The old woman
sat down. Perfect silence prevailed. IN
til broken by the President. who rose L
put the question TO the nceung-shall W
petition the court to issue licences to Thu
borough the ensuing year? And ther
one uubrolsea . No" which made III,
very walls re-echo with The sound tod
the result of the Old wonau's appeal.