Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-07-19
MISCELLANEOUS,
TIE OLD HAMS STORY.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

A THRILLING SKETCH.
shall never forget the commencement
of the temperance reformation. [ was
child al the time, Of some ten years of age.
Our home had every comfort, and my kind
parents idolized me, their only child.
Wine was often on the table, and both nv
father and mother gave it to me in the
bottom OF the morning glass.
On Sunday at church a startling an
nouncemont was made to our people. |
knew nothing of its purport, but there was
much whispering among the men. The
pastor said that on the next evening there
would be a meeting, and an address upon
the evils of iHtemperance in the use of al
coholic liquors. He expressed himself ig-
norant Of the object of the meeting, and
could not say what course it would be best
to pursue in the matter
The subject Of the meeting came UP at
our table after the service, and I question
ed my father about it with all the curious
eagerness Of a child The whispers and
words which had been dropped in my hear
ing, clothed the whole affair with great
mystery to me, and was all eagerness to
learn the strange thing. My father mere
y said it was u scheme to unite the Church
and state.
The night came. and groups of people
gathered on the tavern steps, and heard
the jest and laugh, and saw drunken men
come reeling out Of the bar-room.
urged my father to let me 60 but be
at first refused. Finally, thinking it would
be an innocent qualification Of lay curiosi-
ty, he put on his hat, and We passed across
the green to the church. | we'll reuIem-
ber how the people appeared is they came
in, seeming to wonder what kind Of al ex-
hib!tion was coming eff.
in the corner was the tavern keeper, and
around him number Of his friends For
an hour the people Of the place continued
to come in, till there was q fair house full.
All were curiously watching the door, and
apparently wondering what would appear
next. The parson stole in and took his
seat behind the pillar under the gallery, as
if doubtful Of the propriety Of being in
church 1t all
Two men finally came in and went for
ward to the altar and took their seats. All
eyes were fixed upon them, and a general
stiffness prevailed throughout the house.
The men were unlike in appearance, one
being short, thic!, set in his build, and the
other tall and we'll formed The Younger
had the manner and dress of clergyman,
full, round face, and quiet, good natur-
ed lock as he leisurely looked around over
the audience.
But my childish interest was all il the
old man. His broad, deep chest and uuu-
sual height looked giant-like as he strobe
slowly up the aisle. His hair was white,
his brow deeply scanned with furrows, and
around his handsome mouth, lines of calm
and touching sadness. His eye was black
and restless, and kindled as the tavern
keeper uttered low jest aloud His lips
were compressed and crimson flush went
and came over his pale cheek One arm
was off above the elbow, and there was a
wide scar over his right eye.
The younger finally arose and stated the
object of the meeting, and asked if there
was clergyman presert to open it with
prayer. Our pastor kept his seat, and the
speaker himself made a short address at
the conclusion calling upon any one to
make remarks. The pastor arose under
the gallery, and attacked the position of
the speaker, used the arguments which [
have often heard since, and concluded by
denouncing those engaged in the movement,
as meddlesome fanatics, who wished to
break up the time honored usages Of good
society, and injure the business of respec-
table men. At the conclusion of his re-
marks, the tavern keeper and his friends
got up a cheer, and the current feeling was
evidently against the strangers and their
plan.
While the pastor was speaking, the old
man had leaned forward and fixed his dark
eyes upon him, as if to catch every word
As the pastor took his seat, the old man
arose, his tall form towering to its symme-
try, and his chest swelling as he inhaled
the breath through his thin dilated nostrils
To me, at that time, there was something
awe inspiring and grand in the appearance
of the old man as he stood, his full eye
upon the audience, his teeth shut hard and
silence 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 the heavy
brows his eyes glittered and glowed like a