The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-02-08
An Overwhelming Speech by a
Widow.

Hon. George N. Briggs, ex- Governor Of
Massachusetts, delivered n temperance ad.
dress some time since, in the course Of
which he related the following anecdote
with thrilling effect:
Mr.. Briggs said this question of the in
PRODUCTION of intoxicating drinks assumed
a somewhat practical form, not many
years since, in thriving borough OF
Pennsylvania. The inhabitants had as
sembled, as was their usual custom, to de-
eide what number, if any, of licences the
town should petition for from the County
Court from whence they were issued
There was full attendance.
One of the most respectable magistrates
of the borough presided, and upon the
platform were seated, among Others, the
clergyman of the village, one of his dea-
cons, and the physician.
After the meeting had been called to
order, one of the most respectable citizens
Of the borough rose, and after n short
speech, moved that the borough petition
for the usual number Of licences.
They had better license good men and
let them sell. The proposition seemed
TO meet with almost universal favor. 1t
was an excellent way to get along quiet
ly; and one and then another, in their
turn, expressed hope that such course
would be adopted.
The President was about to put the
question TO the meeting, when an object
rose in distant part of the building, and
all eyes were turned in that direction.-
1t was an old woman, poorly clad; and
whose careworn countenance was the pain
full index of no light suffering.
And yet there was something in the
flash of that bright eye, that told she had
been what she was not now. She ad-
dressed the President, and said, with his
permission, she wished 10 say few words
to the meeting She had come, because
she had heard they were to decide the IL
cense question.
You, said she, all know who [ am
You once knew me the mistress of one of
the bcst estates in the borough. | once
had husband and five sons; and wo-
man never had q kinder husband-moth-
or never had five better or more affection
ate sons. But where are they now p
Doctor, l ask where are they now? In
yonder graveyard are six graves filled by
that husband and those five sons, and
oh they are all drunkard's graves. Doc
svr, how cstIne JIvy - IL l....L~-sls2
You would come and drink with them,
and you told them that temperate drink
ing would do them good.
And you, too, sir, addressing the clergy
man, would come and drink with my hus-
band, and my sons thought that they
might drink with safety, because they
saw you drink. Deacon, you sold them
rum which made them drunkards. You
have now got my farm and all my prop
erty, and you have got it by rum. And
now, she said, have done my errand, l
90 back to the poor house for that is my
home. You, reverend sir, you doctor, and
you deacon, | shall never meet you again,
until | meet you at the bar of God, where
you, too, will meet my ruined and lost
husband, and those five sons, who thro'
your means and influence, fill the
drunkards grave. The old woman sat
down--perfect silence prevailed, until
broken by the President, who rose TO put
the question to the meeting-shall we
petition the Court to issue license TO this
borough the ensuing year9 and then one
unbroken "Now which made the very
walls re-echo with the sound, told the re-
suit Of the old woman's appeal.