The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25
A TOUGH EXPERIENCE.

Orville Gardner appears to be doing well as
superintendent of coffee saloon, established
to reform low neighborhood in New York
Gardner gave the following account of his
former life at a meeting in Newark, N. j.:
"My life has been an eventful one. j have
passed through many scenes when my brain has
been on fire through the use of strong drink.
We go in saloon and sit down, and, paying
our shilling, take the liquor dealt out to US, and
then wait for some one to come in and treat.
Some one does come in, and we drink again
and again, until we find our way in the gutter.
/ have been incareerated in prison-oh, how
many times / can't tell | own the corn.
have been locked up all over the country.
have been locked up here, in New York, Albany,
and all through Canada, and away down South,
always for getting drunk or getting in fight
while under the influence of the maddening
cup. There is no use of talking; / have been
through the mill. But a merciful God has
spared me, and stayed my steps ere yet it was too
late. / have dissipated in all the Injuries the
devil has ever been able to cook up. lfhe ever
got up new dish, / was chief imp 10 setting
it forward. Now, on Sunday, with my wife on
nay arm, go to church. NY God what a
changed What a mercy that He sent His Son
down to earth to save sinners may wander
away from the path of righteousness but |
trust not. l can never forget the day on which
IJesus converted my heart, and washed my sins
away. was unspeakably happy. knew then
what constituted true happiness. would advise
all to get religion. What is more noble than
to see a young man espouse the cause Of tenn
perance? and what looks worse than to see an
old man staggering toward a drunkard's grave?
1t is very warm here tonight, but I've been in
much warmer places, from which only escaped
hxyf ho of Gnd L ha1 hard 10 loo va
off drinking rum. Gin and sugar in the morn
ing seemed necessary to my existence. / was
a perfect slave to rum. Rum led me in all
sorts of trouble, and never yet got me out OF
single scrape. Rum is a very large two-edged
sword, and with it the devil cuts off scores Of
human beings. 1t nearly took my head OFF, i
did not sign the pledge. My conscience kept
troubling me every time took a drink OF rum,
and went to Boston, to see if spree with
boon companions there would not destroy Its
pangs. The first move made there, was locked
up. Some friends got me out Of Jail, and got
drunk, and kept drunk for some time. / had
a little touch of the tremens, and raised fourth
story window to jump out and kill myself, but
the Lord saved me- had to walk the street
all night, for fear / would jump from the win
dow. 1 returned, bringing my guilty conscience
with me. Finally, l got bottle of old Jamaica,
and went down on Long Island, and there,
alone, struggled with the appetite within me.
prayed to God to aid, and he did. rose up
and said, God, will quit resolved never
to touch another drop of liquor, and buried
the bottle. God has aided me, and may it
please Him, the bottle will never have resur-
rection. Man can accomplish great and won
derful things, if he only puts himself in exer
else
A juryman having applied to the Recorder
to be excused from serving, on account of deaf
ness, the latter asked "Could you not hear