Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-05-29
AN EXCITING SCENE.


AN EXCITING SCENE.
4 temperance meeting some years ago was
to be held one evening in - church, where
the speakers were, ~ usual reformed drunk
ards. An estimable woman, whom We will
call Alice, was induced to attend. When the
meeting vas somewhat advanced, . late mem
Der Of Congress arose, with apparent sadness
and hesitation.
'Though had consented, at your urgent
solicitation, 10 address this assemblage to-
night" be said, "yet have felt 50 great
reluctance in doing 50, that it has been with
the utmost difficulty that could drag myself
| forward. As to relating my experience-thst
do not think that could venture upon
| The past cannot recall. could wish that
the memory Of ten years Of my life could be
blotted OUT He paused moment much af-
fected and then added in . final voice, II
must say something Of my own case, or fail
to make an impression on your minds that /
| wish to produce.
| "Iour speaker once stood among the respect
able Of the bar. Nay more than that, he occu.
pied q seat in Congress for two Congressional
periods: And more than that he continued,
his voice sinking into . tone expressive Of
deep emotion, che once had tenierly loved
wife and two sweet children. But all these
honors, all these blessings, have departed from
him. He was unworthy to retain them; his
constituents threw him. off because he had de-
based himself and disgraced them. And more
than all, she had loved him devotedly, the
mother of his two habes, was forced to aban,
don him and seek an asylum in her fathers
house. And why? Could become so chan
ged in 80 few short years? What power was
to so debase me that my fellow beings spurn-
ed, and even the wife Of my bosom turned
away heart stricken from me? Alas, my
friends, it was mad indulgence in intoxica>
ting drinks. But for this, were An honor
able and useful representative in the halls Of
legislation, and blessed with home wife and
children.
"You I have not told you sill. After she sep.
arated from me, sank rapidly; . state Of So
briefly brought too many thoughts. drank
more deeply, and was rarely if ever, free from
the bewildering effects Of partial intoxication.
At last became % abandoned that my wife,
urged by her friends, no doubt fled au appii-
cation for divorce, and cause could be read
lily shown why it should be granted, sepa.
ton was legally declared; and to complete
my disgrace, at the Congressional CANVASS
was left of the ticketas unit to represent the
district.
"When heard Of this new movement, the
great temperance cause, at first sneered,
then wondered, listened at last, and finally
threw myself on the great wave that Was rol>
ling onward in hope Of being carried out CT
the reach Of danger.
I did not see hope with . vain hope. Il
did for me all that could hope or have desi-
red. 1t set me once more on my fset-it once
more made man Of me. A year Of sobriety
earnest devotion to my profession, and fer
vent prayer to Him who alone gives strength
in every good resolution, restored me to much
that have lost; but not all-not the richest
treasurs-that have proved unworthy to re-
tain-my wife and children. Between myself
rnd these the law had laid its stern, impasss.
bic interdIctioa. have no longer wife, NO
longer children, though my heart goes out to
these loved ones with the tenderest yearning.
Pictures Of our early days Of welded love are
ever lingering in my immagination, dream
Of the sweet firsside circle; zee ever before
me the sweet face Of my wife, ~ her eyes
looked into mine with intelligent confidence;
the music Of her voice is ever sounding in ny
ears"
Here the speakers emotion overcame him;
his utterance became choked; he stood silent
with bowed head and trembling limbs. The
dense mass Of people were hushed into an op-
pressive stiffness, that was broken here and
there by half stlied sobs.
At this moment there was . movement in
the crowd. single female figure before
vhom every one appeared instinctivelv to
give way, was seen passing up the aisle. This
was not observed by the speaker until she
had come nearly in front Of the platform on
which he stood. Then the move caught his
ear, his eyes fell on Alice, who Was by the
kindness Of those near her Was conducted TO
his side. The whole audience thrilled with
delight at the scene, were upon their feet
bending forward, when the speaker extended
his arms, and Alice threw herself upou his
bosom.
An aged minister came forward and gem
tly separated them. "No, NO, said the reforms
ed Congressman, "you cannot take her away
from me-"
"Heaven forbid that should" said the
minister "but by your confession she is not
your wife,
"No she is not returned the speaker, in
. sad tone.
"Butis ready to. take her VOWS again."-
Said Alice, In . low tone smiling through her
tears.
Before that large assembly, oil standing,
md with few dry eyes, the marriage cersmo-
ny was again performed, that gave the speak
er and Alice to each other. As the minister,
IN aged man, with thin white locks, complst.
ID the marriage rite, he laid his hands upon
the heads Of the two, be had joined in the
holy bands Of Matrimony end lining up his
eyes; said in solemn voices
"what God has joined together, let nct aun
c,,x a.muS>,