Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-12-07

IaOleu 10 reSlSJ inc taSclnatlonS OF the cup
but William went on and on, even unto
death. After ten months career at the
IgamiDg table-that inseparable adjunct of
strong drink--he was stabbed by comrade
in drunken brawl.
To the deadened faculties Of the father
and mother, this circumstance was not an
affliction-they scarcely looked upon it as
anything for which they should grieve; and
when standing together over the silent cof-
fin of that dead body, the cup was there to
comfor them. They went to that bever.
age which has not been inaptly termed the
drink Of hell for the comfort which is
heavenborn, and that comoth from God.
Their handsome property was long since
squandered; their elegant house and furni-
ture passed under the hammer of the auc-
tioneer; and lowly hovel received the
drunken couple and their wretched SON.
Oh, the revolving scenes of horror which the
eyes of that son were forced TO witness! A
father-his manhood prostituted to a vile
appetite; his intellect ruined his soul wan
dering in the shades of infdelity; cast out
from the virtuous--condemned to the com
pany of sinuersl A mother-her gentle
love turned to Indifference; her nature
wrought upon and transformed to the foul
viper she had taken to her bosom; her
whole life but series of alterations with
him, whom at Gods altar, she had sworn to
love and honor; her child nolonger regard.
ed with that most hallowed of earthly SEN
timents-a mothers love-his heart no
longer gaddened with her smiles-his feet
no more taught by the light of her counsel
to turn into the ways of right and truth
Worse than orphaned The offspring of
shame and scorn? Form if you can an idea
of his life! Men may cry out against the
use of strong language in speaking of this
demon which yearly lays its thousands in
the grave; but think you that the child of
those miserable parents would call any ex-
preston, applied to the vice of intemper-
ance too stroDg9 No thousand times
no! Language is weak, impotent and in
adequate to convey to you the loathing, the
hatred, the utter destestation which Arthur
Wood bore in his soul for intoxicating
drink Oh, would that every man, woman,
and child, throughoutthe longt and breadth
of Gods universe, felt the same!
But to return. Five years passed away,
during which gaunt poverty established
himself at the freside of John Wood
Starvation often paused at the door, and
want was an everyday guest. Brols and
domestic STRIFE began at sunrise, and ceased
not at the going down of day Oh, It's a
black, black memory tc Arthur Wood At
last, in a fit of drunken frenzy, the furious
husband struck down his wife with the
fragment of chair which had previously
! fallen sacrifice to his rage. Sobered by
the sight, John Wood stopped over the body
of her who was once dearcr to him than
the whole world, and sought by the long
neglected endearment of their early love to
call her back from Inconsistencies. Invain
she lay there before him, still and white,
dark stream of blood gushing from her tenn
pie, and clotting the long dark hair which
fell in a neglected mass over her shoulders.
She aCas dead, murdered By her own hus-
band!
Stung by remorse and fear, as he saw the
cold pallor of death freezing her features
into everlasting silence, the wretched man
seized razor, and drawing it across his
throat he fell bleeding by the side of his
victim! There was only a brief struggle
a little calling out for mercy-and John
Wood had gone to his account! And over
the dead bodies of hisparents Arthur Wood
took q solemn oath-Never so long as the
spark Of life burned IN his breast to Sgal-
lOtO one drop Of Intoxicating liquor!
Judge Halliston paused, but the SPELL
bound company disturbed not the silence.
He went on
"Hary Gordon, have loved you as my
own son-you are soon to stand in that
near relation to me, and now wish to warn
you against an enemy that walks the land
alike at midnight and at MONDAY, an enc
my which is found in the homes Of the rich
as well as tho poor. Will you be admon-
ished9 viii you heed my counsel? Shun
more--nay million times more than you
would death-the qCine cup! He'll itself
turks in its depths, and eternal torments
burn in its crystal brightness. Harry Cor
don, bewarep
There was a brief pause, during which
the face of young Gordon alternately paled
and flushed. There was a strong influence
at work in his soul. Judge Halliston saw
the impression he had made, and turning
toward the company, said
off anything more is needed, knolO, then,
John Wood mas my father, and the aOte
s0hona he murdered, aOhile under the mfu-
encs Of ardent spirits, aO0s the mother 0ho
bore mel l, Arthur Wood Haliston, am
that son, who beside the lifeless forms of
my parents, took the oath of abstinence,
which, by Gods grace, has never been bro
KEN"
Harry Gordon stepped forward and took
the hand of the Judge in both of his own.
at is enough" he said, while the light
of new purpose irradiated his brow; 81
solemnly declare, in the presence of my
Creator and these witnesses, that hence
forth will shun everything that can intox-
icate, as | would Satan himself! And may
God so deal with me as I keep my vow.p
"May Heaven sanctify your promise,
Harry, and your life bear witness of its
truth" said the Judge.
And it was even So Wine was ban
ished from the home of Harry Gordon, and
water, pure beautiful water, rich from the
sweet fountains of the earth was his daily
drink The fair face of vOnno, Ellan Hai