The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-05-21

loved him devotedly, she who had
borne him two babes-was forced to
abandon him, and seek an asylum at
her fathers house
"And why should l be so changed
in few short years? What power
was there to abase me so that my fel-
low beings spurned, and even the
wife Of my bosom turned away heart
stricken from me? alas, my friends, it
was mad indulgence in mockery! A
very demon, curse changing us into
the beasts But for this, l were an
honorable and useful representative in
Congress, pursuing after my country's
good, and blessed in the home circle
with my wife and children. But /
have not told you all /; after my wife
separated from me, sank rapidly. A
state of perfect sobriety brought me
too many sober thoughts. l therefore
drank more freely, and was rarely, if
ever, free from the bewitching effects
of intoxication. I remained in the
same village several years, but never
once saw her. For two years of the
time 1 abandoned myself to the fearful
impulse of the appetite / had acquired.
/ had not a week of sobriety during
that time-nor caught glimpse of
my children. At last / became so
abandoned in my habits that my wife,
urged on by her friends, filed an appli-
cation for divorce. And as cause
could easily be shown why it should
be granted, separation was legally de-
clared. To complete my disgrace, at
the next Congressional canvass / was
left off the ticket as unfit to represent
my district. / left the county and
State where had lived from my boy.
hood up.
"Then heard of this movement, the
great temperance cause. At first /
sneered, then wondered, hesitated and,
and finally threw myself upon the great
wave that was swelling onward, in the
hope of being carried by it far out of
the reach of danger, and did not
hope with vain hope. Itgave me all,
and certainly more than | could have
dreamed of. 1t set me once more upon
my feet-once more made a man of me.
"Three years have passed since then.
Earnest devotion to my profession, and
fervent prayer to Him who alone gives
aid to every good resolution, have re-
stored to me much that had been lost !;
but not all-not the richest treasure
that l proved myself unworthy to re-
tain; not my wife and my children.
All between myself and these, the
law has laid its stern, impossible inter
diction. / have no longer a wife, no
longer my children, though my heart
ones with the tenderest yearuings.
Pictures of our early days of welded
love are ever in my Imagination. /
dream of the sweet fire-circle / ever
see before me the once placid face of
my Alice, as her eye looked into my
own with intelligent confidence. feel
her arms twine around my neck-the
music of her voice is ever sounding in
my ear"
Here the speakers emotion overcame
him.. His utterance choked him, and
he stood silent with bowed head and
trembling limbs. The dense stiffness
was broken here and there by half
stifled sobs. At this moment there was
movement in the crowd. A single
female figure, before whom every one
appeared to instinctively give way, was
passing up the aisle. This was not OBJ
served by Delaney until she had come
nearly in front OF the platform on which
he stood. The movement caught his
ears and lifting his eyes they fell on
Alice; for it was she that was passing
forward-he bent towards her with sud-
den uplifted hands, and eager eyes, and
stood like statute until she had gained
the stand and advanced quietly to his
side. For moment they stood thus
the whole audience, thrilled with the
scene, were upon their feet and bend
ing forward. Then Delaney opened
his arms, and Alice threw herself upon
his bosom with quick and wild ges-
ture. Thus for the space of minute
they stood-every one by singular in
tuition understanding the scene. One
of the ministers came forward and
gently separated them.
"No, no." said Delaney, you must
not--you cannot take her away from
mel"
Hoovon forbid that I should do