Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-01-18
The Old Mans Story,
A THRILLING SKETCH.

| shall never forget the commencement
of the Temperance reformation. was 4
child at the time, some ten years of aye
! Our home had every comfort, and my
kind parents idolized me, their only child
Wine was then often on the table, and
both my father and mother gave it to
me in the bottom OF their morning glass
One Sunday at church startling an
uouncemeDt was made to our people. /
knew nothing of its purport, but there
was much whispering among the men,
The pastor said that on the next evening
there would be Il meeting, and an address
upon the evils of intemFerance i'll the use
Of all aldoholic liquors. He expressed
himself ignorant of the meeting, and
could not say what course i. would be
best to pursue in the matter
The subject of the meeting came up
at our table after the service, and | qucs-
toned my father about it with all the GU
riGus eagcrness Of a child. The whis-
pers and words which had been dropped
in my hearing, clothed the whole affair
with great mystery to me, and | was all
earnestness to learn the strange thing
My father merely said it was Il scheme
to unite the church and state
The night came and groups Of people
gathered on the tavern steps, and | heard
the Jest and laugh, and saw drunken mcG
come reelng out of the bar-room.
/ urged my father to let me go, but he
It first refused. Finally, thinking it
would be an innocent qualification of my
curiosity, he put on his hat, and we pass
ed across the green to the church. well
remember how the people appeared as
hey came i'll, seeming to wonder what
kind of an exhibition was to come off.
In the corner WAS the tavern keeper
and around him number of friends
For an hour the people of the place con-
tinued to come i'll till there was 4 fair
houseful. All were curiously watching
the door, and apparently wondering what
would appear next. The parson stole i'll
and took his seat behind pillar in the
gallery, as if doubtful of the prolriety
of being in the church at all.
Two MEL finally came III and went for
ward to tie altar and took their seats-
All eyes were fixed upon them, and gen
eral stiffness prevailed throughout the
church.
The men were unlike in appearance,
one being short, thick-set i'll his build, and
the other tall and well formed. The
younger had the manner and dress of
clergyman, full round face, and quiet,
good Eatured look as he leisurcly looked
around his audience.
But my childish interest was Iall in the
old ln1n His broad, deep chest, and
unusual height looked giant-like, as he
strobe up the aisle. His hair was white,
his brow deeply SCARED with furrows,
and around his handsome mouth were
lines OF calm and touching sadness. His
eyes were black and restless, and kindled
as the tavern keeper uttered low jest.
His lips were compressed and a crimson
flush went and came over his pale cheek.
One arm was off near the elbow, and
there was a wide scar just above his right
eye.
The younger finally arose and stated
the object of the meeting, and asked if
there was a clergyman present to say
prayer. Our pastor kept his scat, and
the speaker himself made short address
at the conclusion calling upon any one
to make remarks. The pastor arose I'M
der the gallery, and attacked the position
of the speaker, using the arguments
often have heard since, and concluded by
denouncing those engaged in the move
ment rs meddlesome fanatics, who wish
ed to break up the time honored usagcs
of good society, and iDjure the business
of respectable men. At the conclusion
of his remarks the tavern keeper and his
friends got up cheer, and the current of
feeling was evidently against the stran-
gers and their plan.
While the pastor was speaking, the
old man bad leaned forward and fixed
his dark eyes ubon him, as if to catch
every word.
As the pastor took his seat, the old
man arose, his tall form towering in its
symmetry, and his chest heaving as he
inhaled the breath through his thin dilat-
ed nostrils. To me at the time there
was something awe-inspiring in the ap-
pearance of the old man as he stood, his
full, dark eye upon the audience, his teeth
shut hard and silence like that of death
throughout the church.
lie bent his gaze upon the tavern keep
er, and that peculiar eye fingered and
kindled for a moment The scar grew
red upon his terhead, and beneath his
heavy brows his eyes glittered and glow
ed like serpsnt's. The tavern keeper
quailed before the searching glauce, and
| felt O. relief when the old man with
drew his gaze. For moment more he
seemed lost IN thought, and then in a
low, tremulous tone he commenced
There was depth in that voice a thrill
ing sweetness and pathos riyeted every
heart in the church, before the first pc
1 l. Ii EnAL ct