Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-01-15
AN EXCITING SCENE.

A great experience meeting was TO
be held one evening in church,
where the speakers were as usual, to be
reformed drunkards. An estimabIe wo-
man, whom | will call Alice, was induced
to attend. VIXEN the meeting was some
what advanced, late member of Congress
arose, with apparent sadness and hesitation
and said .'- u ..
"Though Thad consented, at your ur-
gent solicitation, to address this assembly
to night; vet have felt so great relue-
tance to doing so, that it has been with the
utmost difficulty that | could drag myself
forward. As to relating my experience,
that 10 not think | can venture upon
The past dare not recall could wish
that the memory of ten years of my life
were blotted out" He paused moment
much affected, and then added in firmer
voice. Something must be said of my
own case, or | shall fail to make the i'm
preston on your minds that | wish to pro
duce. ..
"'Your speaker once stood among tile
respected members of the bar. Nay, more
than that, he occupied seat In Congress
for two Congressional periods. And more
than that" he continued, his voice sinking
into tone expressive Of deep feeling, he
once had a tenderly loved wife and two
sweet children. But all these honors, all
these blessings have departed from him
He was unworthy to retain them; !; his con
stitueuts threw Lin off because he had de-
based himself and disgraced them. And
more than all, she who had loved him de-
votedly, the mother Of his two babes, was
forced to abapdon him, and seek an asylum
in her fathers house. And rhy? Could
1 become so changed in few short years =?
What power was there so to debase me
that my fellow beings spurned me, and
even the wife of my bosom turned, away,
heart stricken from me2 Alas, my friends,
it mas-.a NAL Indulgence in intoxicating
drinks but fol this, | were an honorable
and dsefnl representative in the -haFls of
legislation, and blessed with home and
wife and children. 7..r... .....t
"But / have not told you all. After
my wife separated from me, sank rapidly.
A State Of sobrieiy brought too many terri
bic thoughts | drank more deeply, and
was rarely, if ever free from the bev ilder-
ing effects of partial intoxication. At last
| became so abandoned that my wife urged
by her friends no doubt, filed an appljca-
ton for divorce, and as cause could be
readily shown why it should be granted,
separation was legally declared and to
complete my disgrace, at the congressional
canvass ! was left off the ticket as unfit to
represent the district. ...-
when l heard of this new movement,
the great temperance cause, at first
sneered, then pondered, listened at last and
finally threw myself upon the great wave
that was rolling onward in hope of being
carried by it far ont of the reach of danger
did not hope with a vain hope. 1t did for
me all and more than | could have desired.
1t set me once more upon my feet, once
more made man of me. A year of So
briefly, earnest devotion to my profession,
and trust in the great Redeemer and the
power of the Holy spirit, in whom alone a
poor sinner can find strength to fulfil any
good resolution, has restored me much that
| had lost; but not all, not the richest
earthly treasure that | have proved myself
unworthy to retain-not my wife and chill
dren, Between myself and these the law
has land its stern impossible interdictions.
l have no longer wife, no longer chill
dren, though my heart goes toward these
dearly beloved ones with the tenderest
yearnings. Pictures of our early days of
welded love are ever lingering in nay i'm
agihation. / dream of the sweet fireside
circle; see ever before me the placid face
of my Alice, as her eyes looked into my
own with intelligent confidence the music
of her voice is ever sounding in my ears"
Here the speakers emotion overcame
him; his utterance became choked, and
he stood silent, with bowed head and
trembling limbs. 1.-The dense mass of peo-
pie were crushed into an oppressive ST.
lence. that was broken here and there by
half stified sobs,
At this moment there was movement
in the crowd. A female figure, before
whom every one appeared instinctively to
give way, was seen passing up the aisle
This was not observed by the speaker un-
til she had come nearly in front of the
platform on which he stood. Then the
movement caught his ear, and his eye that