The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1868-04-29
A RESTORATION.

a;E i. A. RESTORATION. @"' sue.
A great !" experience seetins"'' spns
years ago. who. was 10 be held one evening"
IN - church, where the SPEAKERS were,
as usual, 10 be reformed drunkards. An
es,imsble woman, whom we will cali Alice.
was induced 10 attend. When the meet
Ing was some hst advanced. = Lave menber
Of Congress arsse Tish .PPsrest sadnss.
and Hesitation. ,.srte a. xas III 80
Though had consented. At yosr rr-
gent solicitation, 10 address this assembly
10. night" he said. a. yet lhaye fsll 80 great
a reluctance 10 doing 10. that il has been
with the utmost dficulty that ! could drag
myself forward. As 10 relating my e.
perience. that | do act think l Can venture
upon. The past dare not recall. ! could
wish that the nemsry Of tcn years oil my
life were blottsd out" He paused. q mo-
alent, much affected, aud then added IN
final voice, +" Somsihlng must be said Of
my own case or | fail 10 make The impress.
SION ON your minds that | wish 10 produce.
"yout speaker once stood anVng the
respected members Of the bar. Nay.
more th&n that, he occu, led . seat ID
Congress for Two congressional periods.
+" Aud more than that. he continued. his
voice ,i,k,ng into tspe expressive 81 deep
emotion. "he once had 4 tendetly loved
wife and two sweet children. But all these
honors, sIl these blessings have departed
them his constituents threw him oil. be-
caaase be had debased himself and disgrace
ed them. And more thap all. she who bad
loved him desotedly. the Rsiher Of his Two
babes, was forced 10 abandon him, aud seek
an asy lun in her fathers house. And ~hys
Could | become so changed in ies short
yesrss What power was there 10 90 de.
base me that my fellow beings spsrned. and
even the vile Of my bosom turned asay.
heart.s,ricken. IRON mel Alas. my friends.
II ~ssa mad indulgence intoxicating drinks.
But for this l was an honorable aud useful
representative ID the halle Of legislatios,
aud blessed with home and vile and chill
dren.
/" But | have not told you all. After ny
wife was separated from me. sank rapidly.
A state 81 sobriety brought too many terri.
BILE thoughts; | drask more deeply. add
vas rarely, II ever, free irom The esr'lder.
lng effects Of partial iatoxicaiI"n Al last
.beesme So abandoned. that. M vile, ur.
sed by her friends, 20 doubt, filed On sp..
plicatiOn Tor 4 divorce. and a. cause could
be. readily shown whyit should be granted,
. separation vas legally declared and 10
coDpIets ry disgrace. at the congressional
con,ss, MAS left oa the ticket, ~ nnnt 70
represent the district. .a.n-. e v.nFtzss91
When heard of this new movement.
the great temperance eausr. at 6rst snrer-
ed, then wondered. listened at last, and at
last threw myself on the great wave thai
was rolling onward. 10 hope fbsing carri.
ed Ear out ai the reach of danger. did
not hops with vain hope. II did for me
al aud more than could have desired.
Il set me once more on nv feet. ence rnnre
made man Of me. A year Of sobrie.y.
earnest devotion TO nv profession. aud Ter.
ssat prayer TO Him whs alone gives
strength inlevery good resolution. restored
me 20 much that have lost bat not ell. not
tie richesttreasure that have proved myself
unworthy 10 retain, --not my wife ADD chill
dren. Between myself and these. the lsw
has lain its stern impossible interdiciions.
Ihass no longer ~ifs--no longer children,
though my heart goes towards the lived
ones with the tendsrest yssrnings. Pic
lures Of our early days Of welded love, are
ever lingering 10 ny iussination. 1 drssm
Of the sweet 6resids circle see ever be.
fore me the placid lace Of ny Alice, as her
eyes looked into mine with Intelligent con.
hdeucs 70 the music Other vuiee 10 ever
sanding in mr. cars