Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-06-05
AN EXCITING SCENE.

A temperance meeting some years
ago was to be held one evening in
church, where the speakers were,
as usual, to be reformed drunkards.-
An estimable woman, whom we will
call Alice, was induced to attend.-
When the meeting was somewhat
advanced late member of Congress
arose with apparent sadness and hes
itation.
"Though had consented, at your
urgent solicitation, to address this as
sembly tonight" he said, "yet 1
have felt so great reluctance In do
ing so, that 1t has been with the ut
most difficulty that / could drag my
self forward. AS to relating my ex-
perience-that do not think / could
venture upon. The past / cannot re-
call. Ic ould wish that the memory
of ten years of my life We're blotted
out.n He paused a moment much
affected, and then added in a final
vice, something must be said of my
down case, or fail to make the i'm
preston on your minds that wish to
produce.
"Your speaker once stood among
the respected members of the bar
Nay, more than that, he occupied a
seat in Congress for two Congression-
al periods. And more than that" he
continued, his voice sinking into a
tone expressive Of deep emotion, che
: once had tenderly loved wife and
: two sweet children. But all these
blessings, have departed from him.
He was unworthy to retain them; his
constituents threw him off because he
had debased himself and disgraced
! them. And more than all, she who
had loved him devotedly, the mother
Of his two babes, was forced to
abandon him and seek an asylum in
in her fathers house. And why ?
: Could become so changed in so few
short years? What power was there
to so debase me that my fellow-b beings
! spurned, and even the wife of my
bosom turned away, heart-stricken
from me? Alas, my friends, it was a
, mad indulgence in intoxicating
drinks. But for this, were an hon.
!, orable and useful representative in the
hall of legislation, and blessed with
home and wife and children.
"But have not told you all. After
my wife was separated from me,
. ] sank rapidly. A state of sobriety
brought too many dreadful thoughts;
l drank more deeply, and was rarely,
If ever, free from the bewildering eff
, fects of partial intoXication. AT last
/ became so abandoned that my wife,
z urged by her friends, no doubt, filed
an application for divorce, and as
/, cause could be readily shown why il
$ should he granted, separation was
legally declared; and to complete my
, disgrace, at the Congressional canvass
} was left off the ticket, as unfit to
!, represent the district.
"When / heard of this new move.
ment, the great temperance cause
$ at first / sneered, then wondered
: listened at last, and finally threw
r myself on the great wave that wa;
: rolling onward in hope of being car
: ried far out of the reach of danger
l did not hope with vain hope. Il
: did for me all, and more than coult
: have desired. 1t set me once more
: on my feet--once more made mar
q of me. A year of sobriety, earnes
= devotion to my profession, and fer
vent prayer to Him who alone give
: strength in every good resolution
I restored me to much that | hav,
S lost; but not all-not the riches
treasure-that have proved mysel
!, unworthy to retain-not my wife anC
!, children. Between myself and thes,
4 the law had laid its stern, i'm
: passible interdictions. l have nC
T longer a wife, no longer children
Y though my heart goes towards thest
I loved ones with the tenderest yearn
: ings. Pictures of early days of wed
: ded love are ever lingering i'm my i'm
r agination. dream of the sweet fire
$ side circle, / see ever before me the
: placid face of my Alice, as her eyes
: looked into mine with intelligent con
fidence; the music of her voice is evel
n sounding in my ears"
e Here the speakers emotion over.
r came him; his utterance became
4 choked, and he stood silent, with
e bowed head and trembling limbs
u The dense mass of people were
: hushed into an oppressive stiffness
: that was broken here and there by
: half-stifled sobs.
T At this moment there was move
: ment in the crowd. A single female
e figure, before whom every one ap.
Y peared instinctively TO give way, was
seen passing up the aisle. This was
not observed by the speaker until she
!, had come nearly in front of the plat.
4 form on which he stood. Then the
: movement caught his ear, his eyes
5 that instant fell on Alice, who, by the
Z kindness of those near her, was con.
u Quoted to his side. The whole audi
: ence, thrilled with the scene, were
upon their feet bending forward
8 when the speaker extended his arms
d and Alice threw herselfupon his bos
1 ON.
An aged minister then came for
ward and gently separated them
"No, no,n said the reformed Congress
man, "you cannot take her away from
!, me-"
: "Heaven forbid that should, saiC
the minister; "but by your own con
r fession she is not your wife,
"No she isnot, returned the speak
er, mournfully.
"But Is ready 10 take her VOW
n again." modestly said Alice, in low
n tone, smiling through her tears.
3 Before that large assembly, al
@ standing, and with few dry eyes, The
. marriage ceremony was again per
formed, that gave the speaker ano
Alice to each other. As the minister
an aged man, with thin, white locks
completed the marriage rite, he haC
!, Joined in the holy bonds and lift.ns
n up his streaming eyes, said in solemn
I voice, "What God hath joined TO
o gether, let not rum put asunder."
"Amen ~ was cried by the whole
y assembly, as swith single voice OiC
: Oaken Rucket.
COLLECTOR SMYTHE, of New York
3 tclegraphed to Senator Fowler, a.
: c.Il,,rs.