Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-10-30
A Temperance Story.

ONCE heard DR.. Day relate the occur
renee which produced in his mind the
conviction that drunkards could be res
cued from the domination of their morbid
appetite. One evening, when he came
home from his work, he heard that GER
tain Jack Watts, the sot of the neighbor-
hood, was starving with his wife and three
children. After tea he went to see him.
In treating his first patient, Albert Day
hit upon the very method he has ever
since pursued, and so / beg the reader will
note the manner in which he proceeded.
On entering his cottage he was as polite
to him, as considerate of his dignity as
head of the household, as he could have
been to the first man of the village. "Mr.
Watts" said he, after the usual saluta-
tions, al hear you are In straitened cir
cumstances." The man, who was then
quite sober, replied "I am my two
youngest children went to bed crying for
food, and had none to give them.
spent my last three weeks over there"
pointing to grog shop opposite, "and the
bar-keeper said to me as he took the mo-
ney, says he, Jack Watts, you're fool
and so / am" Here was a chance for
fine moral lecture. Albert Day indulEsd
in nothing Of the kind. He said, "Mr.
Watts, excuse me for few minutes !" and
he went out, returning soon with a basket
containing some flour, pork, and other
cook something and wake your children
mp, and give them something to eat, I'll
call again early in the morning. Good
night" .s,.
Perfect civility-no reproaches-n lee
ture-practical help of the kind needed
and at the time needed Observe, too,
that the man was in the condition of mind
in which patients usually are when thew
make the confession implied in entering
an asylum. He was at the end of his
tether. He was-to use the language of
the bar-room-" dead beat" ft
When Mr.. Day called the next morning,
the family had had their breakfast and
Jack Watts smiled benediction on the
man whom he had been accustomed te
regard as his enemy, because he was the
declared enemy Of Jack Watts' enemy.
Now the time had come for a little talk.
Jack Watts explained his circumstances;
he had been out of work for long time,
and he had consumed all his substance In
drink. Mr.. Day listened with respectful
attention, spoke to him of various plans
for the future, and said for that day he
could give him dollars worth of wood
chopping to do. Then they got upon the
liquor question. In the soffened, receptive
mind of Jack Watts, Albert Day, de.
posted the substance of a rational tern,
perance lecture. He spoke TO him kindly,
respectfully, hopefully, strongly; Jack
Watts mind was convinced he said he
had done with drink forever. He meant
it. too; and thus he was brought TO th>>
second stage on the road TO deliVerance.
In this particular case, resting from
labor was out of the question and unneces-
sary, for the man had been resting too
long already, and must needs go to work.
The wood was chopped. The dollar to be
paid for the work at the close Of the cav
was fearful ordeal for poor Jack, living
tifteen yards from a bar-room. Mr.. DaV
called round In the evening, paid him the
dollar without remark, fell into ordinary
conversation with the family, and took
leave. John stood the test not q cent az
the money found its way into the til ol
the bar-keeper, Next morning Mr.. Day
was there again, and, seeing that ne
patient was going on well, spoke 10 him
about the future. and glided again into ~
main topic, dwelling much upon the ahSo.
lutte necessity Of total and eternal ahetb.
nence. He got the man place. visited
him, held him up, fortified his mind. AND
so helped him to complete and lastine
recovery. Jack Watts never drank again
He died year or two ago la Maine al 1
good age, having brought up his family
respectfully Parton, IN Aaantic MeEt,'s-si'