Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-02-29

S~AA ~ - AAANSAS' - A@S"
star has arisen and there is hope in the
dark night that hangs like pail of
gloom over our country"
With a thrilling depth of voice, the
speaker continued F.: "Oh, God, Thou
who lookest with compassion upon the
most erring of earth's frail children, l
thank Thee that brazen serpent has
been lifted. upon which a drunkard
may look and be healed. That beacon
has burst out upon the darkness that
surrounded him, which shall guide him
back to honor and heaven-the bruised
and weary wanderer.
1t is strange what power there is in
some voices. The speakers voice was
low and measured, but tear trembled
in every tone, and before knew why,
a tear dropped on my hand followed by
others like rain drops. The old man
brushed one from his eye and con-
tinued:
"Men and Christians you have just
heard that | am fanatic. 1 am not.
AS God knows my own heart, I came
here just to do good Hear me and be
just.
81 am an old man, standing alone at
the end of life's journey. There is a
deep sorrow in my heart and tears in
my eyes. I have journeyed over dark,
beaconless ocean, and all life's brightest
hopes have been wrecked, am without
friends, kindred or home 1t was not
so once.'
No eye could withstand the touching
pathos of the old man l noticed a
tear on the lid of my fathers, and no
longer felt ashamed of my own.
mo, my friends, it was not once so.
Away over the dark waves which have
wrecked my hopes there is blessed
light of happiness and home. l reach
again convulsively for the shrines of
household idols that once were mine,
but mine no more"
The old man seemed looking away
through vacancy upon some bright
vision, his lips apart, and his finger ex-
tended. I involuntarily turned in the
direction where it pointed, dreading to
see some shadow invoked by its magic
moving.
81 once had mother. With her old
heart crushed with sorrow she went
down to the grave. I once had wife
"a fair, angel, hearted creature as ever
smiled in an earthly home. Her eyes
we're as mild as a Summers sky, and
her heart as faithful and true as ever
guarded and cherished husbands
love. Her blue eye grew dim as the
foods of sorrow washed away its bright
ness, and the living heart wrung till
every fibre was broken. l once had
noble, bright and beautiful boy, but
he was driven out from the ruins of his
home, and my old heart yearns to know
if he is yet living. l once had babe,
a sweet, tender blossom; but these
hands destroyed it, and it lives with
One who loveth children.
Do not be startled, friends-I am
not murderer in the common accept
ance of the term. Yet there is light
in my evening sky. A spirit mother
rejoices over the return of her prodigal
son. The wife smiles on him who turns
back to virtue and honor. The angel
child visits me at nightfall, and 1 feel
the hallowed touch of tiny palm upon
my cheek. My brave boy, if he yet
lives, would forgive the sorrowing old
man for the treatment which sent him
out into the world, and the blow which
manned him for life. God forgive me
the ruin which l brought upon me and
mine."
He again wiped tear from his eye.
My father watched him with a strange
intensity. and countenance unusually
pale, and excited by some strange
emotion.
81 was once a fanatic, and madIy
followed the malign light which led me
to ruin. 1 was a fanatic when 1 sac
ri6ced my wife, children, happiness and
home, to the accursed demon of the
bowl. 1 once adored the gentle being
whom wronged so deeply.
I was drunkard. From respecta-
bility and influence l plunged into deg
radiation and poverty. l dragged my
family down with me. For years 1 saw
her cheek grow pale and her step weary.
| left her alone amid the wreck of Ler
home idols, and rioted at the tavern.
She never complained yet she and the
children often went hungry.
One New Years night I returned
late to the hut where charity had given
US roof. She Was still up, shivering
over the Goals, 1 demanded food, but
she burst into tears and told me there
was none. l fercely ordered her to go
and get some. She turned her eyes
upon me, the tears fast rolling down
her pale face.
At this moment the child in the era
die awoke and set up a famished wall,
startling the despairing mother like a
serpent's sting.
ave have no food, James-I have
had none for Two days. I have nothing
for the babe. Ny once kind husband,
must we starve ?"
That sad pleading face, and those
streaming eyes, and the feeble wall of
the child maddened me, and I-yes, |
struck her fierce blow in the face, and
she fell forward upon the hearth. The
furies of hell boiled in my bosom, and
with deep intensity, as l felt had CON-
mitted wrong. l had never struck
Mary before, but now some terrible i'm