Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-02-04
Sfleft Story.

= Sfleft Story. 7sT
THE OLD MANS STORY.
shall never forget the commencement of the
temperance reformation. was child at the
time. some ten years of age. Our home had
every comfort, and my kind parents fndolized
me. their only child. Wine was often on tine
table. and both my father and mother gave it to
me in the bottom of their mor-ing glasses.
One Sunday at church startling announce
nent was made to our people. knew nothing
of its purport, but there was much whispering
by the men. The pastor said that on the next
evening there W ,uld be a meeting and address
upon the evils OF fintemperance in the use OF all
alcoholic liquors. He expressed himself ignor-
ant of the meeting and could not say what
course TO pursue in the matter. ~
The subject of the meeting came up at our
table after the service, and questioned my
father about it with all the curious earnestness
of 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. Ny
father merely said il wasa 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 ofthe bar-room- zsav
urged nv father 10 let me go, but at first he
refused. Finally, thinking it would be harm
less qualification of my curiosity. he put on his
hat. and we passed across the green 20 the
sss,,,;n., 20 sender vpba,
tina ofan exbihition WAS to come off
AN ~ - -. t,,a ,o,,,er, taansr and
80 ,s,s. r,,,,,,hor of fr;e,ds For an bour
% 80, 70 Gonna In ti,l
.Ae p9er - sas- e,,s.,,,,ld m urara cnrionsIv
o,,I ,,,,oro,,t,v- wondering
"a'.Ae - ha,orso,, sto,. q, and
re.s,-s ,,;,Iar =, ,bo CELERY .s II
.oo. -, 80 ,ha cbrrch
uoov1 - VIZ = =
.. -. - -. s,,,,ror,, 70
-e'I 1,'iaiiy a., 80 80
sa'e erx,..
-, ~ = ah,,r,r ~. .
u1u .a,.. la y, -o,,oa one ta,,g q
ne .su ,.,,S 80 ths o.t,ar IN
Snoi y TSa - to5 ,ha r,ar,,or
anu wei io. e,a., | es,I, rnn,d Sacs ond
ano oreSs eie.
qu.'.
@iou.i1 'Ne - -, l., A., IL,
nu' my o,.iu
HELL LIS o.o - =, - U;
ioeAe" = -, ,,,,t,
mar was ni'e' Hi' -,
Iurro".' anu ai ios.e Ats r,.- a.-.s
lines OF CAIN anu Ioucnins eeunss' tas - -.
were piacK ana reseiess anu % site
erh Keeper u''eieo a - ~" -. -. - r.
coinpfesse,' Anu u .-"'-.
over nis psie e.eeN 80 - 80. 49,
elpo"' anu '"eie +" "' !" "--' ''''- 'N''
Eisn' eye
OF the mee'ine' anu asAeu n 'ne,e was . ei..ss ,,
man present 70 Say d prayer oui paS'oi ~
MS sea-. ana tne sPe.sAer niinseii iiaue slioi'
address at Ine conclusion Gaining upon any W. ",
TO make renhtAs' ine paS.of iose unuei 'i.e
gallery, anu ~, u ,i
urging Inc a. .'A, a,
ana coneinoeo Dy uenoenoins 'iioso ensaseu -
Ine moVemen. 90 ineuoesoue .'.-e'ss' - ~
= WINES " " N - 80 - : = - - -,
socie'y, anu I,,o ~,
men. Az tne conciufon =. iii' no '
tayern Keeper ana ms irienoS eo' up cnoei
ana tne current ieeing was e'ioen'is 'ssi"s
the strangers ana their piah-
~hiie tne pastor was Speaking 'ne oiu MAI
leaned forward and nAed his eyes upon hiin' a.
nto catch every word
Asthe pastor TOOK MS seat the OLD man rose
his tai form IN lts symmetry, ana ms cnes
thin. dilated nostrlIs. 10 me, at the time' tner
was something awe-lnsplrng In the appearance
ofthe old man as ne STOOD, MS iuii Ozark eye upoi
the audience, his teeth shut hard, ana a silence
like that OF death throughout the ehurch-
He bent his gaze upon netaVern Keeper, an'
that peculiar eye fingered anu kindieo ior
moment The scar grew red upon his forehead
and beneath his heavy brows his eyes giitteret
and glowed like serpents. The tavern keepe
quailed before that searching glance, and fei
relief when the old man withdrew MS gaze
Fora moment more he seemed lost in thought
and tnen In 10" .rehiuious tole'
There was depth IN that voice, thrlihns
sweetness and pathos, which riveted ever!
heart in the church before the. rrst period ha'
been rounded. Ny fathers attention had be
come fixed upon the yeot the speaker with al
interest had never before seen him exhibit.
can put priehy reihenioer ti'e su"s'a'ceoi "iia
the old man said. though the scene is as vivi'
before me AS any lever witnessed. " Ny friend
am stranger in your village, and trust
may call You my friends. "A new star has arisen
and there is hope In the dark night that hang
like paifcrfg ,r gloom over our country