The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-02-07
REoLAIMrNG A DRUNKARD.

circle of his acquaintance; he had new
er uttered word in public in his life
he was hard working man, struggling
against poverty-quiet, unObtrusive,
self-sacrificing in every good work. He
would fix his eye upon some victim of
this curse, and say:
Now, to this man will bend all my
energies; will work over him and lay
by him till he dies or die"
BY this means he saved more than a
score. He was perfect stranger to me
was dressed decently, came up and
laid his hand on my shoulder, saying !:
"Mr. Cough, bel:ivc ?"
"That is my name, /" said.
you've been drinking to-day, have
you not 2" lac inquired.
That was enough to make me turn
right round in a. fury, and ask him
what his business was with me. Mrs.
Stowe says, in Uncle Toms Cabin, that
when Jesus would do good to the poor,
he laid his hand upon them; and if you
expect to do good to your brother, stand
not off and point, but just lay your hand
on him. Don't be afraid of soiling your
fingers with the miro of the kennel !;
plunge your arm in up to the elbow to
drag him out. Never mind if you put
both arms right under him and bring
your father down to the fetid pool in
which he lies in his degradation, if there
by you can bring him up. That is the
way to move in this or any other good
work.
AS the young man said what was of
fensive to me, he put his arm in mine
and walked with me. was shabby, he
was not, and as looked at him from
head to foot, said to myself.
eff you have no objections to walk
with me, don't see that should have
any to walk with YOU"
Walking along he said: 81 want you
to sign the pledge"
az never will do it; never as long as
live, nobody in the world cares for me
: if 1 died in the ditch there wouldn't be
tear shed, and I'll drink as long as !
live"
"Well, but you haven't always felt
as you now feel"
d mo, nave not
GLOW should you like to feel as
feel-as you did before you began to
drink"
, First rate; but never shall see
those good days again as long as live
i, -never!
Il "Put your name to the pledge, anG
you will see better days; don't know
S,, Rhn fov Int will in.
trOduce you to the few L know. Put
your name to the temperance pledge, and
we will make man of you yet"
5, "No, will not"
eyes, you will"
"No," eyes" "No."
/, "You will see better days than yo,
> ever saw before"
=" Well, then will do IT."
"When win you do it?" is.s,..
Id twill not do it tonight. You ar
going to have a temperance meeting to
u morrow night, and I'll come there an
do it." s.. .. af-}
If he had said don't believe you viii
= you had better do it at once, believe
should have said:
y
mind your business, and I'll min
mine;" but he gave me his hand an
ds said: "That's right; will come ar
see you do it."
$50 you SHALL" said, and I'll com
if die for tiff they have to carry II
g there I'll do it !" and 1 gripped his han
with all my might.
.er drunk that night and the next morn
RS, ing. In the evening went to the NEE
" ing and saw my friend there.
"You sec am here" 1 said.
EYES," he replied, 81 knew yo
would come when you said So"
"Did you, thought"
eyes, did,
In the course of the meeting 1 aske
if might say few words.
ayes, sir" said the president.
= / know he said "siri"-I rcmemb
that. 1 then went forward and face
f, the audience for the first time in my lit
Some young men began to laugh, al
air my old spirit came into me.
nv "What are you laughing at 2" sal
nts 1 am as good as you, anyhow. ha'
. seen the time when could get i'll bett
company than any of you, and pay for
better suit of clothes than your tail
and ever trusted YOU for" Then sense
ops degradation came over me, and / co
e of tinued: 1T is the accursed drink tn
, ,@s made me bankrupt in fortune and re
e of utation, but am going to put my naI
~ to the pledge"
And when 1 signed it went aw
chuckling to myself, saying:
Mt 1--WE done it," and like the boy
r, the church-yard whistling to keep 1
spirits up, 1--WE done it! I've do
LEitlr
went homo and then began the fig
1t was terrible! and no man that ne,
and experienced it can know anythi
and about it. For one year never saw
also waking hour day or night, but with
and the power had in my system want
1t al drink. 1t was one continued fight ,
- til 1 felt it must last as long as liy
Thank God, 1 am free tonight. Y
may ask, & have you no appetite ? !"
don't know, and God being my helr
Lyon on Twill die in blissful ignorance of
fact
RIA. That young man met me before
CONS the United States, and asked: i.5.a
- "Well, John, how do you do?n