M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-01-26
THE POWER OF MUSIC.
A TEMPERANCE STORY
BYT. s. ARTHUR.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

| Oer6Q fourteen years, lhlu uer nanu
upon the arm of her parent. r,
But Mr.. Edwards shook her off i'm
patiently, muttering as he did So
Cant | go where | please 2"
"Oh, yes, father" urged Mary,
drawing up TO him again, notwith-
standing her repulse. - But there is
going to be storm, and | wouldn't go
out"
Storm Nonsense! That's only
your pretence. But III be home soon
long before the rain, if it comes at
ALL"
And saying this, Mr.. Edwards
turned from hls daughter, and lett the
house. AS soon as she was alone,
Mary sat down and commenced weep
ling. There had been sad changes
since she was ten years old. In that
time her father had fallen into habits
Of intemperance, and not only wasted
his substance, but abused his family /;
aud sadder still, her mother had died
broken.hearted, leaving her alone in
the world with drunken father.
The young girls trials, under these
painful circumstances, were great
Night after night her father would
come home intoxicated, aud it was 80
rare thing to get kind word from
him, that tone Of affection from his
! lips would move her instantly to tears
Daily the work Of declension went on.
Drunkenness led to idleness, and grad
uaIly MIR. Edwards and his child sunk
lower and lower in the scale of COM
fort. The pleasant home where they
had lived for years was given up, and
in small, poorly furnished rooms they
hid themselves from observation. AT.
ter this change Mr.. Edwards moved
along his downward way more rapidly;
earning less, and drinking more.
Mary grew old fast. Under severe
trials and Affections, her mind rapidly
matured and her affections for her
father grew stronger and stronger, as
she realized more and more fully the
dreadful nature and ultimate tendency
OF the intatuation by which lie was
led.
At last, in the anguish Of her con-
Germ, she ventured upon remonStrance.
This brought only angry repulse, ad-
ding bitterness to her cup Of sorrow.
The appearance to which we have al
luded, gave Mary an excuse for urg-
ing her la,her not to 60 out. How
her remOnstramcU was received. has
been seen. While the poor girl sat
weeping, the distant rolling OF thuu-
der indicated the approach ofthe storm
to which she had referred. But she
cared little for 1t now. ller father had
gone out She had spoken Of it only
VITA the hope that he might have been
induced to remain with her. Now
that he was away. the agitation with
in was too great to have any concern
for the turbulent elements without.
On leaving his home, Mr.. Edwards,
who had not taken any liquor for three
or four hours, and whose appetite was
sharpeped for the accustomed stimu'
lus, walked quickly in the direction oi
a drinking house where he usually
spent his evenings On entering he
found that there was little commo
:iOn in the bar room. A certain indi'
vidual not over friendly to landlords
had introduced himself; and his char
acter being known, the inmates were
disposed to have little sport with
him.
Come now, fellow!" said one, just
as Edwards came in. /" Mount this
table and make first rate temperance
speech"
Do, and III treat YOU to the stiff
est glass Of whiskey toddy the land
lord cab Mix" added another. "Ol
perhaps you would like mint tjulup ol
gin cocktail betler9 Anything yor
please. Make a speech, and call fol
the liquor. III stand the treat"
What dye say landlord! Shel
ne make the speech e. said another
who was eager for sport.
Please yourselves" replied the
landlord, land you'll please me-"
Very well. Now for the speech
old fellow! Here, mount this table.
And two or three of the most forward
took hold of his arms.
"Pm not in the humor for making q
speech" said the temperance man
but, if it will please you as well, III
sing you song"
"Give us a song, then. Anything
to accommodate. But come, let's Ii
quor first ="
:" No." said the other firmly, 81 mus,
sing the song first, ii / sing it al
all. :" ua i'
Don't you think your pipes will
be clearer for little to drink OF some
kind or other9" a si" t'f
I" Perhaps they would" was replied.
$50; provided you have no objection,
III take glass of cold water-lf such
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