The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-05-11
@o0S Ttmplars Column.
[Selected.l
STORY OF THE BOTTLE.


unto Caesar the things that are Caesars
give me my bottle" Instantly hand
ing him his bottle, l replied suppose
l must render unto Caesar that which is
Caesars, but | beg you to break that bot
tie, that you may "render unto God the
things that are Gods.
The appropriateness Of his quotation
from scripture, the righteousness of its APP
plication, added to his wretched appear
ance, called forth sudden burst of laugh
Ter. When | quoted the remainder of the
passage, accompanied with the appeal, the
change in the emotions of the audience
was painfully sudden. In an instant ST.
lencc reigned, the very throbbings Of the
heart could almost be heard. continu-
cd tho appeal to the wreck Of man be-
fore me, hoping that some cord had par
tally escaped the consuming fire which
might be made to vibrate. His own hap
piness, his relations TO his friends, his
country and his God wero all presented.
His half drowned memory was invoked
TO call up the recollection of happier
years, and the cheering hopes and bright
prospects which were his in better days.
What had blasted those hopes, what had
cast a shadow over those prospects ?
What was bowling that manly form, tear
ing his heart and burning his brain ?
What had rendered him an alien and an
outcast? Was it not the demon, person
flied in the bottle he held in his tremb-
ling hand? Was he not charmed by a
serpent whose sting was death, and whose
poison was ranking in his veins, and con-
suming his very vitals9
He listened, and gave evidence that
waning reason though weak, was strug-
Cling with giant appetite, and who should
get the victory was becoming momen-
tous question: question of life and
death. bid him resolve, rendered him
the right hand of fellowship, and the
sympathies of the good and virtuous; as
sured him that others had broken the ty-
rants chain-that he was a man and
brother, and had only fallen in the way
We had in weakness trod"-that his hor-
lion now enveloped in darkness might
again be bright and joyous, and instead
of wandering up and down in the earth.
seeking rest and finding none, the heav.
ems above him as brass, and the earth be-
meath his feet as iron, he might find a
happy home, and thrice happy friends
For him again the blazing hearth may burn,
And busy housewife ply her evening care,
The children run to lisp their sire's return
anu CllHD MS kHecs lut Onflcu MISE W eHaiN'
/ showed him the path Of life, happi-
ness and salvation. While | thus adj
dressed him, the whole audience looked
on with breathless anxiety, TO witness the
result Of the conflict. AT length his fin
gers seemed one by one, to be fastening
as with tho grasp of death upon his bot
tie, and with force almost superhuman,
he dashed it to atoms upon the floor and
was freel
The audience breathed again, and Their
feelings so long pent up, and accumula-
ting strength at every succeeding moment,
broke forth like an avalanche. Shout
ings and tears were mingled-for "thc
lost was found" the dead was alive
again." This triumph of resolution over
appetite, and the whole chain of circum.
stances leading to this happy result, crea-
ated feelings that could not be restrained
and all were deeply moved.
About four years subsequent to this
occurrence, it was my fortune to visit Tho
Same city, and again address the people
on the same fruitful theme. After talk
ing 10 the multitude some two hours they
were dismissed. l had descended from
the pulpit, and was waiting for the Grove
to disperse, when a middle aged lady
neatly but plainly clad, came down thu
aisle and graspcd one of my hands will
both of hers, her whole frame was con
vulscd by tho strength of her emotions
but she was spcechless. The tears chas
cd each other down tho burrows of he
check, made the deeper by misfortune
her lips quiyereJ, at length she STAN
mered out, "God bless you brother Cary
God bless youl!-God bless you. Tha
man who broke the bottle when yol