Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-22
AN EXCITING SCENE.

| eSn PoAo ohSo "ooth'B ooiho Shl
ago was to be held one evening in
church, whore tho speakers wcro, af
usual, to be reformed drunkards. An
cstimable woman, whom wo. will cal
Alice, was induced to attend. Whom
the meeting was somewhat advanced
a late member of Congress arose,
with apparent sadness and hesitation
"Though had consented, at your
urgent solicitation, to address this as
sembly tonight" he said, "yct have
felt so great q reluctance in doing 80,
that it has been with tho utmost diff.
Guilty that 1 could drag myself for
ward. AS to relating my experience,
that | do not think | can vonturc ur.
on. The past do not recall l could
wish that the memory of ten years Of
my life were blotLed out" IIe raus-
Cd moment, much affected, and then
added in u fina! voice, "somcllinss
must be said Of my own case, or fill
to make the impression on your minds
that wish to produce"
"4our speaker onco stood among
tho respected members of the bar.
Nay, moro than that, hc occupied a
seat in Congress for two congressional
periods. "Aud moro than that he
continued, his voice sinking into Il
tone expressive Of deep emotion, "he
once had a tcnderly loved wife and
two sweet chi!dron. But all these
honors, all these blessings have de-
parted from him. lie was unworthy
TO retain them his constituents throw
him of because he lad dcbased him
self and disgraccd thom. And more
than al, she who had loved him de-
votcdly, tho mother of his two babes,
was forced to abandon him ard seek
an asylum in her fathers house.
And why? Could become so chang
cd in 80 few short years? What pow
er was there to so debase mo that my
fellow-beings spurncd, and even tho
wife of my bosom turned away heart
stricken from me? Alas, my friends,
it was mad indulgence in intoxicu-
ting drinks. But for this, 1 were an
honorable and useful representative
in tho halls Of legislation, and blessed
with homo and wife and children.
"But 1 have not told you all. Af-
ter my wife was separated from mo
[ sank rapidly. A state of sobricty
brought too many dreadful thoughts.
L drank moro deeply, and was rarely,
if ever, FREQ from the bewiIdering cf-
tects Of partial intoxication. At last
l became so abandoned that my wife,
urged by her friends, no doubt, filed
an application for divorce, and as
cause could be readily shown why it
should bo granted, q separation was
legally declared ; and to complete my
disgrace, at the congressional canvass
1 was left off tho ticket, as unfit to
represent the district.
"When heard of this new move
mont, the great temperance cause, at
first l sneercd, then wondered, lis
tened at last, and at last threw myself
on the great wavo that was rolling
onward, in hope Of bsing carried far
out of the reach of danger. l did not
hope With vain hope. 1t did for me
all, and more Than 1 could have dc
sired. It set mo onco moro on my
feet-once more mado a man of mc.
A'ycar of sobrioty, earnest devotion
TO my profession, and fcrvcnt prayer
to Him who alono gives strength in
every good resolution, restored me to
much that l have lost but not all
mot the richest treasure, that 1 have
proved myself unworthy to retain
not my wife and children. Bot wcen
myself and these tho Law had laid its
stern, impassable interdictions.
have no longer q wife, no longer chill.
dren, though my heart goes toward
these loved ones with the tsnderss,
yearnings. Pictures Of our early days
of welded love are ever lingering in
my imagination. l dream of the
sweet freside circle. 15soe ever be-
fore mo the placid face of. my Alice
as her eyes looked into mine with in.
telligentl confidence; hesmueio ,of hel
voice is ever sounding in my ears
Here The Speakers ometion, over
came him; his uttcranco became
choked, and he stood silent, with
bowed hoad and trembling limbs
The donse mass of people were hush
cd into an oppressive stiffness, thai
was broken here and there by half
| stiflcd sobs.
At this moment there was a move
ment in the crowd. A single f.mal,
figure, before whom every one appear
{ cd instipctiyely to give way, was seer
passing up the aisle. This. was no
observed by the speaker until she hae
come neerIy ig front of tho .piaiforn
on' which sfe stood. Then the move.
imeht Caught bis car, his eyes that in
stant fell on Alice, who, by the kind
ness of those nesr her, lyasieoaducte,
/