The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-03-03
ANExcITING stFNr..


speakers sere - usaal, % BE- reform
"a drunkafds "A cssimable sonan
whom We wil call Alice AZ induced
- attend When the meeting wac
somenhat advanced, late member
u Congress srese aith apparent sad-
Bcsf ard hesitation.
Though had consented, Al your
urgent solicitation "a address this a.
femhly Tonight, be said. yet have
fell - great . reluctance III doing s.
that Il has been with the utmost dif-
fcul,y that could drag myself for
ward. A.. 70 relating ny experience
that douot think / can venture upon.
The past I sill not recall | could
wish tha, the ulomory II ten years Of
ms life we're bloiied out lie paus-
Cd moment, much affected, and
then added IN final voice something
must he said II my own case, Or !
isil 10 make the impression on yonr
minds that wish to produce.
Your speaker once stood among
the respected members Of the bar
Nsy. more than that, he occupied a
seat IN Congress for two COMPRESSION
al periods And more than that, he
continued, bis voice sinking into a
tone expressive Of deep emotion, she
once bad a tenderly loved wife and
two sweet children Bot all these
honors, al these blessings have de-
parted from him. lie was unworthy
10 retain them: his constituents threw
him off because he had debased him-
self and disgraced them. And moro
than all, she who had loved him de-
votedly, the mother Of his two babes,
was forced 10 abandon him and seek
AN asylum in her fathers house. And
whyY Could / become so changed
in so few short years What power
was there TO 80 debase me that my
fellow beings spurned, and even tle
wife II my bosom turned away heart
stricken from meg Alas, my friends
il Was mad indulgence in intoxica-
ting drinks. But for this, | were an
honorable and useful representative
in the halls Of legislation, and bless
cd with home and wife and children.
But | have not told you all. AZ
ter my wife was separated from me,
| sank rapidly. A state Of sobriety
brought too many dreadful thoughts,
] drank more deeply, and was rarely
il ever free from the bewildering eff
fects Of partial intoxication. At last
/ 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 be granted, a separation was le-
gally declared; and to complete my
disgrace, at the congressional can
vase | was left off the ticket as unfit
10 represent the district.
"When | heard this new move
mont, the great temperance cause, at
first sneered, then wondered, listen
cd at last, and at last threw myself
on the great wave that was rolling
onward. in hope Of being carried far
ont Of the reach Of danger. ! did not
hope with vain hope. 1t did for
me all and more than | could have
desired. 1t set me once more on my
feet, once more made man Of me.
4 year Of sobriety, earnest devotion
to my profession, and ieryent prayer
to Him, who alone gives strength in
good resolution. restored me to much
that | have lost but not all, not the
richest treasure that ! have proved
myself unworthy to retain my
wife and children. Between myself
aud these the law has laid it's stern
impossible iuterdictions. ! have no
longer wife, no longer children
though my heart goes toward these
loved ones with the tenderest yearn-
ings. Pictures Of our early days Of
our welded love are ever lingering
in my imagination. | dream Of the
sweet iireside circle, see ever before
me the placid face Of my Alice, as her
ewes looked into mine with inteli-
gent confidence; the music Of her
voice Is ever sounding in my ears"
Here the speakers emotions over
came him: his utterance became
ehokcd and he stood silent, with
bowed head and trembling limbs
The dense mass Of people were rush
cd into an oppressive stiffness, that
was broken here aud there by half
siiiied sobs.
At this moment there was move
ment in the crowd. 4 single female
figure. before whom every one APP
peared instiuctiyely 20 give way, was
seen passing mp the aisle. This was
not obscred by the speaker until she
had come in front Of the platform on
which he stood. Then the move
meut caught his ear, lis ewes
instantly fen on Alice, who by the
kindness II those near her was CON
Quoted 10 his side. The whole audi
.s,,,... fkrittaa NTH tka sre,ee trara mn