The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-08-21

| ~ 10 hOI ueCecSdfy' l. CuI HOId} DSdCOb
is as good as you bond. But will you hur-
ry after the sheriff, and tell him that ali
further process is to be stopped!" The
Deacon never went on gladder errand,ard
Parson Blake fastened to tell Mrs.. Hartley
of the happy results in the matters of law.
"I was just writing to Edward" said
Mrs. Hartley,so happy thatshe could scarce
y keep secret. Edward was the eldest
child, eighteen years of age, who could not
bear his fathers treatment, nor the taunts
that he was drunkard's son. Seeing that
his father was likely to squander all the
property, he had gone from home, with her
consent, to earn something for bis mother
and her children, against the day of adver-
sity. Right manfully had he struggled on,
often writing to her to be brave and full of
hope, for she had a son on earth and a
Father in Heaven to provide for the evil
day.
"And he will come home now," said she
''when | tell him the good news" l WAS
saying that his father had gone to the mill
this morning before breakfast, broke every
jug and demijohn, and advised every man
who works for him to sign the pledge
They all did it. when he asked hem to do
it, for his sake, lest their example might
prove to him fearful temptation. Ed
ward never liked Mr.. Edison, but his heart
will change when he learns the mercy of
the law"
"And the mercy of God," added the
pastors as he stood in the beautiful home,
and thought how nearly the fires of intem-
perance had consumed it. 1t was saved to
the family by the VOW at the bars
Edwards welcome few days after was
like the meeting of the prodigal son and
his father. except that the father was now
the penitent prodigal, and the son the re-
joicing Christian. Was not the father also
christian? He had begun a new life, at
the right point-that of his own heart
and with new power-=that Of God.
Over the door or the mill was new sign
"John Hartley and son." In the mill was
a new order of things, ro more tipplers
loungng there no more drunkards stagger-
ing forth at night no more thieving and
wasting. And the worknen who boarded
at the house of their employers, found it
house of prayer. Edward led in worship
in the morning, and his father in the even
ing. The fences were repaired, the shrub
berry trimmed, the walks put in order and
the garden made to blossom as the rose"
"Edward,I have this TO say to you," said
Mr.. Hartley one evening. when the son was
about starting to social entertainment
"My first glass was given me at wedding
in the house of a member of the church.
We were at the table, where the blessing
of God was implored by the minister. The
mother of the bride urged me to take one
glass of wine, just for her sake, as she had
made the wine. The bride protested with
her entreating eyes and shake of the head
but | drank the wine. That bride was
your mother. ] never took another glass
in her presence. But was easily tempted
to take my second glass at public dinner
given to the newly elected governor. After
that dav l needed no temptation; my only
difficulty was to find an excuse. The ar
gument which made ne drunkard was
learned from the lips of man in the pull
pit. 1t was this, "It is not sin in itself to
drink wine." Grant the statement, yet
it made me a sinner in drinking of death.
l bless God that our pulpit now rings with
more certain sound.
"My Iastglass was taken in the bar-roon
of disreputable tavern. There was no
wealth, nor elegance, nor fashion, nor puri
! ty around me- as at first. There was no
man of God, there to engage our respect
and reverence. A curse was uttered over
the decanter by the landlord. The air reeked
with the vilest utterances. And we talked
Of our liberty! We drank it away. We
staggered forth the slave of the destroyer.
"At the wedding l saw intemperanc in
his Infancy. He was the gleeful child of
of the social circle. [ took him to my heart.
He won me by his apparent innocence. l
pressed his lips to mine,and smiled at your
mothers jealousy.
"But in the tavern | saw intemperance
as giant in his strength, repulsive to the
sight, disgusting in his habits yet tyrant
over me. Fashionable society spurned him
from its doors, where he found his slaves
crouching for his smile. He gave it, and
then cast them into the ditch. What mur-
ders he commits What hearts he breaks !
What graves he digs! What souls he sends
to hell Widows have walled over his cru
elites to them; orphans bear his disgrace
full mark upon their brows: know bis
tyranny. Your mother knows the horrors
Of his countenauce" .-
| Father he has beeh driven from u.s.
Mother sees him no more. The Good mas
ter has come to our house, and she will
entertain him like Mary and Martha Of old. y
"And he will remain our guest! But il