The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-11-28
THE SECRET.
CHAPTER l.

~ n IS, we were invited to address
the fri nds of Temperance in the
village of Western--. A Division
of the Sons of Temperance had just been
instituted, and had redeemed some of
the most abandoned drnDkards in the
place. Legions of devils had been cast
out, and noble men given back to their
families.
The gentleman presiding over the
meeting in the church, was noble spec
linen of a man tall, finely built, pol
ished in manner, and with an eye and
voice in which the light aud tone of .
full, great heart were Enthusiastically blon-
ded, He was dignifed and command
ing; yet gentle and unaffected as child.
loved the man before he had placed his
hand in mine.
Others were impressed with the bear
ing of the president Of the day-why 50
so | could not understand, he
being q citizen with whom they were
familar-but feeling fquiet, bealnng
Joy seemed to pervade the vast audience
in attendance. There were three ladies
in the audience who more especially
seemed to labor under some deep and I'M
comfortable emotion. They wcIt like
children, but their tears hardly seemed
those of sorrow. | noticed that the
chairman at times, could hardly suppress
lis own feeling, for the lip was pale and
quivoring, and his voice was tremulous
with the flooding of tears beneath. |
saw here and there tears dropping upon
other checks. 1t was mvste y, for the
exercises had not commenced, and | had
seen nothing t.. accom-, for the tears
And yet | was deeply affected myself be
fore | was aware of it.
At the close Of my address, | appeal
ed to the people in behalf Of the Division,
and asked them if it had not wrought
great good in their midst Had it not
redeemed some citizen who was once the
soul Of honor? Had it not restored som"
erring son to 4 widowed mother: Had
it not made some happy, and filed some
aching heart with bliss too deep for ut
tcrance.
at has. and tie WILLOWS blessing be
upon it, and the blessing Of tho God Of
the widow and the fotherIcss.'
AS if one heart pulsed i'll that audi
enco, deep and thrilling amen burst
from every lip, the eldest ofthe ladies' be
fore noticed, standing upon her feet and
weeping in the fulIness Of JOY. The
chairman hid his face in lis hands, and
his broad chest heaved as only that of q
strong man can do, in such an hour.
In the evening the Division met, and
I was pleased to find the chairman Of the
day, the Worthy Patriarch filing the
position with that rare tact which few can
boast. Twenty-thrce were initiated by
by special dispensation, and the glorious
old altar glowed with the kindling of n
moro glorious light. Hand silently clasp
cd hand; tears answered tears; and
through all, the CAIN smile of great
JOY shone out and warmed every heart
The business of the evening was com
rleted the Chaplain asked that the Divis-
ion reopen under the head of the good
of the order, and the doors were thrown
open to the people who were thronging
the streets before the building. This is
not so much for the people," said he,
,'as for parties Immediately blessed by
our efforts here, and to bring together
again in the hottest Of earthly ties. those
whom rum has put asunder. Angels in
bliss are drawing aside the curtain this
! hour to witness n scene at this altar
which will cause JOY on earth aud in
| Heaven"
The doors were thrown open, and like
q pent-up flood, tho people swept in and
filled all the vac mt space save that which
had been reserved in front of the ALTAR
I First in that crowd, were the three ladies
I l had noticed in the church. Silence Sc
cured, the chaplain advanced into the
open space and said:
"lhisis one of the happiest moments
Of my life, for am about to perform a
duty which an angel ight well be proud
to perform.
sNowhere in life, is the effect so cruel
and desolating as Mt home. These spots
which a God designed should be Edens
arc transformed into bells where hopes
are chrushed out, lives turned to gall
and the hottest lies which ever linked
human hearts, broken in agony and
tears. The husband forgets the gentle
heart which gave its priceless trust whet
be was worthy of il, and trcads it unde
foot by the broken shrine.