The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-29
THE OLD MANS STORY.

THE OLD MANS STORY.
/ shall never forget the commence
ment of the temperance reformation.
was a child at the time, some ten
years ago. Our home had every
comfort, and my kind parents idol
lied me, their only child. Wine was
often on the table. and both my faith
er and mother gave it to me in the
bottom of their morning glasses.
One Sunday at church startling
announcement was made to our peo-
pie ! knew nothing of its purport,
but there was much whispering by
the men. The pastor said on the
next evening there would be a meet
ing and address upon the evils of in
temperance in the use OF all alcohol
ic liquors. lie expressed himself
ignorant of the meeting, and could
not say Whist course to pursue in the
matter.
The subject of the meeting came
up aG our table after the service, and
questioned my father about it with
all the curious earnestness ofa child
The whispers and words which had
been dropped in my hearing, clothed
the whole affair with great mystery
to me, and was all earnestness to
learn the strange thing. My father
merely said 1t was a scheme to unite
the church With the State.
The night came and groups of
people gathered ON the tavern steps,
and / heard them jest and laugh, and
saw the drunken men come reeling
out OF the bar room.
l urged my father to let me 60,
but at first he refused. Finally,
thinking it would be harmless graf
ification of my curiosity, he put on
his hat, and we passed across the
green to the church. well remem-
ber how the people appeared as they
came in, seeming to wonder what
kind of an exhibition was to come
off.
In the corner was the tavern keep
er, and around him a number of
friends. Fo- an hour the people of
the place continued to come in till
there was fair household. All were
curiously watching the door, and
apparently wondering what would
come next. The parson stole in and
took his seat behind a pillar in the
gallery, as if doubtful OF the proprie-
ty of being in the church at all.
Two men finally came in and went
forward to the altar and took their
seats. ALI eyes were fixed upon
them, and a general stiffness pervad-
ed throughout the church.
The men were unlike in appear
ance, one being short, thick set in his
build, and the other tall and well
formed. The younger had the man.
ner and dress of clergyman, full
round face, and quiet good-natured
look as he leisurely looked around
his audience.
But my childish interest was all in
the old man. His broad, deep chest,
and unusual height looked giant-like,
as he strobe up the aisle. His hair
was white, his brow deeply SCARED
with burrows, and around his hand
some mouth were lines of calm and
touching sadness, HIS eyes were
black and restless, and kindled as
the tavern keeper uttered low jest.
His lips were compressed, and q
crimson flush went and came over
his pale cheek. One arm was off
near the elbow. and there was wide
scar just above his right eye.
The younger finally arose and stat
ed the object of the meeting, and
asked if there was clergymas pres
ent to say prayer. Our pastor kept
his seat, and the speaker himself
made short address; at the con-
clusion calling upon any one to make
remarks. The pastor rose under the
gallery, and attacked the position of
the speaker, urging the arguments
I have often heard since, and con-
cluded by denouncing those engaged
in the movement as meddlesome ia
natics, who wished to break the
time-honored usages of good society,
snd ipjure the business of respecta-
BILE men. At the conclusion of his
remarks the tavern keeper and his
friends got up cheer, and the cur
rent of feeling was evident against
the strangers and their plan
While the pastor was speaking
the old man leaned forward end fix
ed his dark eyes upon him, as if to
catch every word.
As the pastor took his seat the old
man rose. his tall form in its symme-
try, and his chest heaving as he in
hailed the breath through his thin,
dilated nostrils. To me, at the time,
there was something awe-inspiring
in the appearance of the old man as
he stood, his full, dark eye upon the
audience, his teeth shut hard, and a
silence like that of death throughout
the church.
He bent his gaze upon the tavern
keeper, and that peculiar eve fingered
and kindled for moment. The scar
grew red upon his forehead, and be
meath his heavy brow, his eyes glitter
ed and glowed like a serpent's. The
tavern keeper quailed before that
searching glance, and felt a relief
when the old man withdrew his gaze.
For a moment more he seemed lost in /
thought. and then in low tremulous
tone commenced. There was depth
in that voice, a thrilling sweetnes
and pathos, which riveted every heart
in the church before the first period 4
had been rounded. My fathers at
tention had become fixed upon the
eye of the speaker with an interest 1
had never before seen him exhibit. Ils
IAN but briefly remember the sub
,tance of what the old man said, (
,hough the scene is as vivid before me c
IS any / ever witnessed. "My friends e