Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-03-26
R.fsrm.,,on Of w. NJ. w,r.

SIX or seven months after his 6rst marriage
became addicted to intemperance. ID,
effect Of which operated on he mind anc
health OF his wife, and in few months
more she was numbered with the dead
Her death lei him to leave the counir,
where he resided, and he removed to Rich
mond, where he soon rose to distinction
But his habit hing about him. aud occa
SionaIy he was fonnd with jolly, frolIicsomC
spirits of bacchanalinn revely His tru,
friends expos ulated with him TO conyincC
him Of the injury be was doing bmsef =
But he still PERSISTED His practice began
to fall of, and many looked on him as on
the sure road 10 ruin. lie was advised
TO get married with view Of correcting
his habit. This he consented 20 do if the
right person offered. He accordingly paid
his addresses to Miss Gamble After
months attention, be asked her hand in
marriage - she rpplied:
Mr.. Witt, / have been well aware oI
yonr intentions fer some time back sud
should have given you to understand
that yonr visits and attentions were not
acceptable. had l not reciprocated the af
lection which you evinced toward me-
But | cannot yield my assent until ,yon
make me n pledge never to taste, touch or
handle any intoxicating drinks.
This reply to Writ was as unexpected as
It was Dovel. His reply was that be re
garded that proposition as a bar 10 all
further consideration of The subject, and he
lett her. Her course toward him was the
same as ever-his, resentment and neg
lect-
Ia the course of few weeks, he wen,
again and solicited her hand. But her
reply was that her mind was made up
He became indignant. and regarded the
terms she proposed ss insulting to his hon
or, and vowed it should be the last NEE
ting they should ever have. He took to
drinking worse aud worse, and seemed TO
run headlong to ruin.
One day while lying 10 the outskirts Of
the city. near little grocery grog shop.
drunk, young lady, whom it is not neces.
sary TO name. was passing by that way to
her home not far off, and beheld him with
his face upward to the rays of the scorch-
ing sun She took her handkerchief, with
her own name marked upon it. and placed
it over hi, face. After be had remained
in that way for some hours be was ava
kened, aud his thirst being so great, he
went into the little grocery and giog
shop to get drink, when he discovered
the handkerchief, at which he looked for
the name that was on it. After pausiDg,
be exclaimed:
Great Uodl who left this With mel
XVh~ r,,,1
No Que knew. He dropped the glass,
excamiug:
Enough! Enoughl
He retired instantly, from The store, for.
getting his thirst bnt not his dehauch, the
handkerchief. or the lady. vowing that If
God gave him strength, never to touch,
taste or handle any intoxicating drinks
To meet Miss Gamble was the hardest
effort OF his life. If he met her in her
carriage or on foot, be popped round the
nearest corner. 1aas
She at last addressed him a note under
her own hand, inviting him to her house,
which he fuaIly gathered courage to accept
He told her If she still bore affection for
him he would agree TO her own terms. Her
reply was: a
My conditions are noS what they ever
have been.
Then, said he, accept them.
They soon married; and from that day
he kept his word, and his affairs frightened.
while honors and glory gathered thick upon
his b. ow.
A story has reached us OF another refor,
matiun--nearer home, in which our rea ders
would take the deepest interest. could we
mention the name Of the party, for most OF
them know and revere him At gu early
day of the settlement Of Ashtabnla, the
hero of our story married an amiable and
most worthy young lady. whose only hope
for future happiness lay in he thought OF
the reformation of her loving but besotted
husband. Business called him much from
home, and in tho absence Of bridges, he
crossed the creek upon fallen tree. The
faithful wife would conduct him safely over
when his situation seemed to render it ne
cessary. Time aud again has she met him
at the crossing on his return, and after
seeing him safely over, recross and bring
his companion--the jug This occurred one
Saturday afternoon. Having landed him
safely on the hithcr side. she as usual. pro.
posed to go and bring the jug. But to
her surprise he advised to go home with.
ont it. Little surprise was expressed how
ever much was felt. He proposed to re-
turn in the morning for it himself, if he
should want il. He did so, and when he
came into the log house. he seated himself
before he large open fire, and calling his
wife's attention and began the experiment
Of throwing. little by little, into the
glowing embers, the contents OF the
jog. testing their quality by the col
or Of The flame. He so continued ap-
parently to amuse himself until the jug was
exhausted, when be arose. and in some
what indifferent mood, told bis gentle COM
psniou, that be should probably never use
the article again. The pledge ho gave
has been kept sacredy even to ad'
vanced life, and that dear companion now
uNA .tak