National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-04-17

A great temperance meeting"
some years ago was to be held one
evening in--church Wnere the
speakers were, as usual, to be reform. |
ed drunkards. An estimable WON.
an whom we will call Alice, was
induced to attend. When the meet. |
ing was somewhat advanced, late
member of Congress arose with ap.
parent sadness and hesitation.
"Though had consented, at your
urgent solicitation, to address this
assembly tonight" he said, "yet /
have felt so great reluctance in do
ing SO, that it has Keen with the ut
most difficulty that 9 q .sa.l. could drag my
iSerlence, that l do not think l can
venture upon. The past l do not
recall. l could wish that the mem
ory of ten years of my life were blot
ted out.r He paused moment,
much affected, and then added in a
final voice, ''something must be
said of my own case, W l fail to
make the impression on your minds
that l wish.tO produce. o
Your speaker once stood among
the respected members of the bar.
Nay, more than that, he occupied a
seat in Congress for two congress
iOnal periods. And more than that
he continued, his voice sinking into
a tone expressive of deep emotion,
she once had tenderly loved wife
and two sweet children. But all
these hOnOrs, all these blessings have
departed from him. He was un-
worthy to retain them /; his cOnstitu-
ents threw him off because he had
debased himself and disgraced them.
And more than all, she who loved
him devotedly, the mother Of his
two babes, was forced to abandon
him and seek an asylum in her faith.
ers house. And whyf Gould l
become so changed in SO few short
years I What power was there to
so debase me that my fellow beings
spurned, and even the wife of my
bosom turned away heart stricken
from met Alas, my friends, it was
a mad indulgence i'll Intoxicating
drinks. But for this, l were all
honorable and useful representative
in the halls of legislation, and bless
, ed with home and children.
But l have not told you all. AT
: ter my wife was separated from me
, | sank rapidly. A state of sobriety
brought too many thoughts; Idranl
, more deeply, and was rarely if evel
! free from bew ildering effects of par
tial intoxicatiOn. AT last became
= so abandoned, that my wife urget
:, by her friends no doubt, filed an ap
= plicatiOn for divorce, and as catfst
could be redily shown why it should
be granted, a separation was legally
declared; and to complete my dis
> grace, at the congressional canvas.
| was left off the ticket as unfit II
!, represent the district.
When heard this new movement
h the great temperance cause, at frs
| sneered, then wondered, listene'
!, at last, and at last threw myself o.
;f the great wave that was rolling or
; ward, in hope Of being carried ia
!, out of reach of danger. ! did nc
y hope with a vain hope. 1t did fo
- me all and more than l could hav
desired. 1t set me once more Oh IN
feet, it once more made a man Ofm'
u A year of sObriety, earnest devOt.o 20
., to my profession, and tervent praye
III to Him, who alone gives strengt
G. in every good resolution, restore
,h me much that have lost; but M
th all, not the richest treasure that
70 have proved myself unworthy to r
Ut tain-not my wife and children.-
le- Between myself and these the Ia
Is has laid its stern impossible inte
e dictions. have no longer wifi
'n' no longer children, though my hea
ue goes toward these loved ones wi,
eh the tenderest yearnings. Picture
Of our early days of welded lO'
lt' are ever lingering in my imaginatio
l dream of the sweet iireside circl
l see ever before me the placid ia
raj of my Alice, as her eyes looked in
mine with intelligent confidenc
ere the music of her voice is ever soun
III" ing in my ears"
Here the speakers emotion ov'
lei came him; his utterance becal
'st' checked, and he stood silent, wi
I'VE bowed head and trembling linn
Ing The dense mass ofpeople were hu
!. ed into an oppressive stiffness, u
III was broken here and there by b
Ter stitied sObs.
the At this moment therewas mo
ing ment in the crowd. A single fem
figure, before whom every one
cry peared instinctively to give "
Z 10 was seen passing up the aisle. 1
was not observed by the spea
the until she had come nearly in Fl
IN q of the platform on which he ste
on Then the movement caught his {
on his eyes that instant fell ON Al
the who by the kindness of those Il
III. her was &C nducted to his side.
ined whole audience thrilled with
'ned scene, were upon their feet,
forward, when the speaker extt
cd his arms, and Alice threw he'
nsas upon his bosom.
reg. An aged minister then came
the ward and gently separated ther
nv 1No. no., said the reformed
No, gressman, "yOu cannot take
am away from me-"
rite. "iieaven forbid that / shot
sent SAID the minister; "but by your
~. on,,c ,c...;ou she In not YOUR wifi