Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-06-30

break up the time honored usages of
good society, and injure the business
of respectable people. At the conclu-
sion Of his remarks, 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 eve upon
him, and leaned forward as if to catch
every word.
AS the pastor took his seat, the old
man arose, his tall form towering in its
symmetry, and his chest swelling as he
inhaled his breath through his thin di-
lated nostrils. To me at that time,
there was something awe-inspiring and
grand in the appearance of the old man
as he stood with his full eve upon the
audience, his teeth shut hard, and ST
lence like that Of death, throughout the
church.
He bent his gaze upon the tavern
keeper, and that peculiar eye fingered
and kindled for half a moment. The
scar grew red upon his forehead, and
beneath his heavy brows his eyes gilt
tered and glowed like serpent's. The
tavern keeper quailed before the search
ing glance, and [ felt relief when the
old man withdrew his gaze. For mo-
ment more he seemed lost in thought,
and then in a low and tre'nulo'-s tone
commenced. There was q depth in
that voice, o thrilling sweetness and
pathos which riveted every heart in
the church before the first period had
been rounded. Ny fathers attention
had been fixed upon the eye of the
speaker with an interest which [ never
before had seen him exhibit. I can
but briefly remember the substance of
what the old man said, though the scene
is as vivid before nae, as any that ev-
er witnessed.
"My friends! I am stranger in your
village, and trust rmay call you friends
y new star has arisen, and there is hope
in the dark night which hangs like pail
Of gloom over our country" With a
thrilling depth Of voice, the speaker
locked his hands together and contin-
ued-"Oh! God, thou who lookest with
compassion upon the most erring of
earth's frail children, [ thank thee that
a brazen serpent has been lifted up, on
which the drunkard can look and be
healed. That a beacon has burst out
upon the darkness which surrounds him,
which shall guide back to honor and
heaven, the bruised and weary wander
er."
It is strange what power there is in
some voices. The speaker voice was
low and measured, but tear trembled
in every tone, and before | knew why,
a tear dropped upon my hand, follow
ed by others like rain drops. The old
man brushed one from his own eve, and
continued:
CHEN and Christians! You have just
heard that I am q vagrant and fanat-
ic. [ am not AS God knows my own
sad heart, | came here to do good
Hear me and be just.
am an old man, standing alone at
the end of life's journey. There is deep
sorrow in my heart and tears iii my
eyes. I have journeyed over q dark
and beaconless ocean, and all life's
bright hopes have been wrecked. [
am without friends, home or kindred
on earth, and look with longing to
the rest of the night of death. With
out friends, home or kindred! | was
not once so!'
No one could withstand the touching
pathos of that old man. | noticed q
tear trembling on the lid ofmy faith er's
eye, and | no more felt ashamed ofmy
own.
''No my friends, it was not so once.
Away over the dark waves which have
wrecked my hopes, there is the blessed
light of happiness and home, [ reach
again convulsively for the shrine Of the
household idols that once were mine,
now mine no more"
The old man seemed looking away
through vacancy upon some bright Wis
ion, his lips apart, and his fingers eN-
tended. [ involuntarily turned in the
direction where it was pointed, dread
ing to see some shadow invoked by
its magic moving
II once had a mother. With her old
heart crushed with sorrows she went
down to her grave. I once had wife,
a fair, angel-hearted creature as ever
smiled on an earthly home. Her eye
was as mild as summer sky, and her
heart as faithful and true as ever guard
ed and cherished husbands love. Her
blue eye grew dim as the floods OF sor
row washed away It's brightness, and
the living heart l wrung until every fl
bre was broken. [ once had a noble,
brave and beautiful boy, but he was
driven out from the ruins Of his home,
and my old heart yearns to know if he
vet lives. I once had a babe, a sweet,
tender blossom, but these hands des-
troyed it, and it lives with one who low
eth children.
Do. not be startled, friends-I am
not a murderer i'll the common accept
ance of the term. Yet there is light
in my evening sky. A spirit mother
reioices over the return Of her prodigal
SON The wife smiles upon him who
again turns back to virtue and honor.
The child-angel visits me at nightfal,
and I feel the hallowing touch of tiny