National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-03-05
A Restoration.

IOTIUtu oTuUkdTuS. All cStluldDlc
young woman, whom we call Alice
was induced to attend. When the
meeting was somewhat advanced, a
late member of Congress arose with
apparent sadness and hesitation.
although / had consented, at
Your solicitation, to address this as
sembly tonight, yet | felt so gre t
a reluctance in doing so, that it has
been with the utmost difficulty that
| could drag myself fol ward. AS to
relating my experience, that / do not
think | car venture upon. The past
dare not recall. I could wish
that the memory of ten years of my
life were blotted OUT He paused
moment, much affected, and then
added in a final voice. Something
must be said of my own case, or |
shall fail to make the impression on
Your minds that | wish to produce.
Your speaker once stood among
| the member; of the bar. Nay. more
. than that. hc occupied Il seat IN
. Congressional periods. And more
then that. he occupied a scat IN
Congress for two con cressiunal pc
riols. And more than that he con
tinued, his voice sinking into a tone
expressive of deep emotion n,'he once
had tendcrly loved wife ard two
sv eet children. But all these hon
! orS, all these blessings have depart
ed from him. He was unworthy 10
retain them; his constituents threw
lin off. because he had deba>ed
himself and disgraced them. And
more than all. she who had loved
him dcvOtedly. the mother OF his
two babes. was forced TO abandon
him. and seek an asylum i'll her
fathers house. And why : Could
| become so changed in few short
years! What power was there to
SO degrade me that my fellow be-
ingS spurncd, and even the wife OF
my bosom turned away, stricken
hearted from me Alas, my friends.
it was mad indulgence III intoXi-
eating drinks. But for this, were
an honorable and useful representa-
tive in the halls of legislation, and
blessed with home and wife and
children.
But have not told You all. After
my wife wa separated from me,
sank rapidly. a state of SohrlctN
brought ZOO many terrible thoughts ;
drank more deeply, and was rare
". if ever, free from the bewildcr-
inc effects of iutoXication. At las
[ became so abandoned, that my
wife, urged by her friends, no doubt
filed an application tor nlvorce
and aS cause could be readily shoWl
why it should be granted, Separa
ton was legally declared, and t.
complete my disgrace, at the con
rrcSsional canvass. was lett OH tn
ticket. rs unfit to represent the di>
tTiCt.
d W acn | heard of this new move
mcnt the great temperance cause, Il
first snecrcd. then wondered, lis
tened. and at last threw myself ol
the great wave that was rolling on
ward. in hope of being carried Ia
o. ont of the reach of danger. dl
not hope with a vain hope. 1t di
for me all and more than | couI
II have desired. 1t set me o &c MOI
on nv feet, once molc made ma
of me. \ wear of >ohrlctN, carnc'
Y devotion to my profession. ana lei
IN vent PRAYER to Him wi III e giv'
,t,eng,h in every good resolution
restored me to much that l ha'
lost: but not all, not the rIche'
treasure that | have proved myS,
unworthy to rctain-uot my WI
- and children. Between myself IL
these. the law had laid its stern II
. passahle interdictions. | have
longer wife no children though n
ms heart goes toward these loved on
n@ ,m with the tendcrcst ycarningS. +
rst lures of our early days OF wedd
love. are ever lingering in my ii
w. anination. dream of the sw'
- Gre-sidc circle; | see ever beit
me the placid face OF my Alice,
her ewes looked into mine with
= telligent confidence; the music
her voice is ever sounding III
ears
Here the speakers emotion ov
came him; his utterance beca'
chokcd and he stood silent, W
bowed head and trembling lin
The dense mass ofpeople were hll
ed into an oppressive stiffness, u
was broken here and there by ha
the stiiled sobs.
At this moment there was a mo
mcut in the crowd. A single fem
figure, before whom every one
peared instinctively to give "
|, was seen passing up the aisle. I
was not observed by the speal
- until she had nearly come in fir
of the platform on which he ste
Then the movement caught his
and his eyes that instant fell
Alice, who, by the kindness OF I'll
,So. near her was mducted to his s
ond The whole audience thrilled
the scene, were upon their !
bending forward, when the spea
extended his arms, and Allcc ti'
herself upon his bosom.
W. An aged minister then came
ward, and gently separated u
.---- No, no, said tho reformed cOngl