The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-04-12
The 8elford Gazette.
REFORMATION OF WILLIAM WRIT.
ATrue Incident in His History.

The distinguished William Writ,
within six or eight months after his
first marriage, became addicted to in
Temperance, the effect of which opera
ted strongly on the mind and health of
his wife, and in a few months more
she was numbered with the dead Her
death led him to leave the country
where he resided, and he moved to
Richmond, where he soon rose to dis
tinction.-But his habits hung about
him and occasionally he was found
with jolly and frolicsOme spirits and
bacchanalian revelry.-His true friends
expostulated with him toconvince him
of the injury he was doing himself.
But. he persisted. His practice began
to fall off and many looked on him as
on the sure road to ruin. He was adj
vised to get married. With view of
correcting his habits. This hecOnsent-
ed to do if the right person offered. He
accordingly paid his addresses to Miss
Gamble After some month'sattention
he asked her hand in marriage, she re-
plied-Mr. Writ, | have been well
aware of your attentions for some time
back, and should have given you to
understand that your visits and atten-
tions were not acceptable, had l not re-
ciprocated the affection which you
evinced for me. But | cannot yield
my assent until you make a pledge
never to taste, touch or handle any in
toxicating drinks. This reply to Writ
was as unexpected as it was novel;
His reply was that he considered the
proposition as bar to all further con-
sideration on the subject, and he left
her. Her course towards him was the
same as ever-his resentment and neg
lect. In the course of a few weeks he
went again and solicited her hand.
But her reply was, her mind was made
up. He became indignant, and re-
garded the terms she proposed as in
sulting to his honor; and vowed it
should be the last meeting they
should ever have. He took to drin-
king worse and worse, and seemed to
run headlong to ruin.
One day, while lying in the outskirts
of the city, near a little grocery, or
grog-shop dead drunk, a young lady,
whom it is not necessary to name, was
passing that way to her home, not far
off, and beheld him with his face up
turned to the rays of the scorching
sun. She took her handkerchief with
her own name marked upon it, and
placed it over his face. After he had
remained in that way some hours, he
awakened, and his thirst being so great,
he went into the grog-shop to get a
drink, when he discovered the hand
kerchief, at which he looked, and the
name was on it. After pausing few
minutes, he eXclaimed-'Great God
who left this with me! Who placed
this on my face?' No one knew. He
dropped the glass exclaiming-"e
nough! enough !" He retired instant
ly from the store forgetting his thirst,
but not his debauch, the handkerchief,
or the lady, vowing, if God gave him
strength, never to touch, taste or han
die intoxicating drinks.
To meet Miss c., was the hardest eff
fort of his life. If he met her in her
carriage, or on foot, he popped round
the nearest corner. She at last address
ed him a note under her own hand in
viting him to her house, which he fl
naIly gathered courage to accept. He
told her if she still bore affection for
him, he would agree to her own terms.
Her reply was: "My conditions are
now what they ever have been."
"Then," said Writ, 81 accept them"
They were soon married, and from
that day he kept his word, and his af-
fairs frightened, while honOrsa and glory
gathered thick upon his brow. His
name has been enrolled high in the
temple of fame, while his deeds, his
patriotism and renown live after him
with imperishable lustre. How many
noble minds might the young ladies
save, if they would follow the example
of Miss G., the friend of humanity, OF
her country, and the relation of Lafay-
cite.