The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-04-13

Free whisky and Betsy's Father:
When opened country store in a vii
lage in western Missouri, gave notice that
my customers should have whisky free
Having found that all the merchants sold it
at cxhorbitant prices, and that it cost mere
trifle in st. Louis, l hit upon that plan to
draw customers, succeeded to my heart
content. In those days had no compunc-
ton of conscience on this subject; and the
objections and opposition of other traders
only pleased and encouraged me- The old
topers declared was noble fellow, and
soon began to make new ones. What my
reflections have been, since my views and
practice on the subject have undergone an
entire change, shall not attempt now to
say; and shall particularize only one of
the cases of men and families who were
deeply injured by the reckless course which
|, for time, pursued, for the narrow and
selfish object Of making gain.
Among my customers was an old man,
who lived a few miles distant, with his wife
and grown-up son and daughter. He had
been, for years, respected as one of the
most pious and intelligent Methodist pr, a H.
crs in that region. l early formed an ac-
quaintancc with his family and this kind OF
intercourse continued for many months. l
had, on several occasions, observed symp-
toms Of change in the appearance of the old
man, which indicated habit of drinking
creeping upon him; but such things were
so common as not to make much impress
ion upon me. An appointed day fora fish.
ing party found me once more at his house.
and at his table, when scene occurred which
l shall never forget.
The cd man began to ask blessing on
the food, wh.n he proved to be so intoxica
ted that he could not speak intellisibly, OF
finish his short petition but, after stammcr
ing something, he gradually leaned forward
and remained mOtiOnlcss with his head or
the table. managed to get through tn,
meal with all the apparent indifference poss
iblc, and hurried off in the wagon to thu
brook, whence | returned in the Afternoon
to the house. There everything appeared t
me inhospitable and chilling. The daugh
ter indeed, made arrangements for my &C
commodation, but avoided me, and spok,
not word. She had always been cheer
full and smiling, and took the first oppor
tunity to ask an explanation Of tn,
| change.
BETSY" said /, tive have long beer
fiiends-have offended you? observe
change in your manners, which can no
account for" She suddenly turned, stoot
erect before me, looked in my face with
melancholy, but penetrating glance, which
could scarcely endure, and said:
II once thought you q friend, but wha
can think nowy We were happy fam
lily, and, though poor, We're respected by al
around us. My father, the most bcnevolcn
and useful man in the country around, wa
our stay and support. What is he now!
have long seen it coming on, and tried ever,
way to stop it, or at least keep it secret
You know now what it is, and who has don
it. Do you ask me to explain my manner
toward you? Weare disgraccd and ruined
and you are the cause"
What l said and did before leaving Betsy
l know not. l was soon in my wagon, go
ing home faster than my old horse eve
went before; and the first thing did o.
reaching my store was to run for the AK, an
the next to the whisky barrels, beginning
with the open one in the yard. The wa
the hoops and slaves came of, and the head
went in, was wonder! The ground wa
soaked with the last whisky ever meddlc
with. l hate the taste, the smell, the yer
name of it ever since. My customers won
dercd at my proceeding, and talked then
selves dry about the extraordinary revolt
ton in my store. My agents in st. Loui
protested against such sudden way Of d.
ing business, and thought ought, at leas
to retire gradually and gently from tn
"liquor-t But there was no half wa
in me. Betsy and her father were befor
me, day and night, till had gone through
and even till | received the joyful news tn;
he had been saved from utter ruin, and r,
stored to sobriety, respectability and usefu
ness, through the pcrscvcring efforts, loy
and prayers Of his daughter.