The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-11-29

uileu all tne vacant space save tnaC Wnlcn
had been reserved in front Cf the altar
First in that crowd, were the three ladies
[ had noticed in the church. Silence Sc
cured, the chaplain advanced into tie
open space and said
This is one of the happiest moments
of my life, for | am about to perform
duty which an angel might well be proud
to perform.
"No where in life, is the effect of rum
SO cruel and desolating, as at the home.
These spots which good God designed
should be Edens, are transformed into
hells, where hopes are crushed out, lives
turned to gall, and the holiest ties which
ever linked human hearts, broken in az,
ony and tears. The husband forgets the
gentle heart which gave its priceless
trust when he was worthy of it, and
treads it under foot by the broken shrine.
"But here is pool where the angel
comes to trouble the waters, and however
long the years of infrmity, the stricken
ones can be healed. Here is bread
enough and to spare, and many hunger
ing prodigals have returned. We have
seen them afar off, and there has been
singing and rejoicing here, for the lost
has been found, and the dead made alive
again.
1--WE have witnessed these things in
our midst. We have seen two, whom
we all loved, join hands at the marriage
altar in the light of glorious life promise
and the fend of the wine-cup rend the
sacred tie, and drive the wife out to weep,
and the erring husband far down the bea.
confess way of drunkenness. We have
seen one who loved as only woman can
love, compelled to obtain that separation
which is a thousand times worse than
death. But, bless our Father in Heav-
en-, the wine-cup has been dashed down,
aud the exile returns and knocks at the
Eden from which he has been banished
10y the flaming sword of appetite. Let
those whose love, through the lcng dark
night Of the last five years, has clung
with changeless strength around the early
vow, stand forth, and once more join
hands at our fraternal altar, before these
brothers and neighbors here, and God
and his good angles in Heaven"
Pale, and reeling with terrible emotion
the Worthy Patriarch stepped down and
stood moment, as if crushed with fear
that he would not be met by one whom |
now understood as a divorced WIFE The
intensity of feeling manifested by those
present, can never be depicted on paper
it was painful. The suspense, howev-
er, was but for moment. With sharp
quick, cry Of JOY, the lady in black tossed
her veil back from her face and sprang
forward aud grasped the extended hand
in her own, and kissed it, over and over
again.
"Mine" she sobbed in delicious joy,
"Jiine NINE AGAIN! o God how can
I thank thee for this. Mine at last, and
you will love me again, as of yore HUI
bert, and we shall be so happy"
Her face, the picture of innocence and
trust, and Of exceeding beauty, glisten-
ing with tear-drops, wearing smile of
indescribable sweetness and JOY, was up
turned to his. With Simultaneous cry
the long severed hearts sprang together,
and locked in each others embrace, they
were one again. While thus united, the
chaplain repeated the marriage ceremony
"And what God and our reform has this
hour united, let not man or rum put
asunder, Brothers, salute your brother
and you sister"
Before the rough hand, however, had
dared disturb the clingiug clutch of those
long parted, two others had joined the
weeping group.
"My own loved first born -
Brother brother. my own noble
brother !"
The mother and sister fell upon the
bowed neck of the Worthy Patriarch of
and never did the emblem
of the Red, White and Blue receive a
holier baptism of joyous tears. Never
wa sthere a scene on earth more touching
and sublime.
CHAPTER II.
As we passed from the Division room,
the mother laid her hand upon my arm,
and invited me to spend the night with
her. We were glad to accept the invi-
tation, for we wanted 10 learn more of
what we had that night Witnessed
Taking her arm we walked silently home
ward, for each heart was too full for ut
terauce.
The widow was quiet, but happy, and
for long tine sat by the fire dreamily,
now and then wiping away the tears that
would fod their way over the withered
cheek. We communed with our own
aud loved our cause better for
working such changes in the desolate
nlaces-