Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-04-09

Nerving myself mp to a desperate pitch
of resolution, rushed back 20 the shop
where had last purchased the liquor.
"Seo here I" cried "Im crazy for 8
drink broke that bottle Give me
glass, for Gods sake-only one glass "
Something in my face seemed TO excite
the mans COMMUNICATION. He poured out
glass for me in silence. s-g. asr
With trembling esgerness reached out
my hand to seize il. With trembling
hand raised 1t toward my lips. The
grateful fumes already entered my nostrils.
My lips already touched the edge of the
glass
Suddenly my throat was seized with a
tremendous grasp. |,I0
It was as though the Power which wGs
tormenting me had become enraged by my
repeated acts of opposition, and wished
now by this final act to reduce me to sub
lection forever.
1t was as If this Power was using with
me the means of coercion which one uses
with dog, viz: beat him for each offense,
and each time harder till he is cured.
This time the grasp was terrible, 1t was
fiercer than ever, quick, impetuous.
In that dread grasp my breath ceased, /,
struggled. My senses reeled raised
my III NY uCoDdAs lOAN 0Rbl bhS
bony fingers. moved my hands along
bony arms.
In my madness struggled. 1 struck
out my fists wildly. They struck against
what seemed like bony ribs.
The time during which thus struggled
seemed endless. The horror that was on
me cannot be told.
AT last all sense left me.
When l revived / found myself lying
on rude bench in the bar. 1t was early
dawn. No one was near. All my bones
ached. rose up confusedly, not know.
ing at first where | was, but soon the ter.
rife event which had overpo wered me
came to my memory.
rose to my feet, and tried to get out
The noise that made awaked some one
inside. He called out to me.
Halo there Are you Off"
EYES," / said.
"Wait, I'll let you out"
He appeared in short time.
"You had bad turn" said he not un.
kindly. "Youd better take care of your
self, and not be out at nights"
l thanked him and left.
When l reached the house my wife
walked up and looked half fearfully at me
Amazement came over her face as she
saw that l was sober. l kissed her anC
sat down in silence.
She looked at me in wonder. Teart
fell from her eyes. She said nothing, but
saw that she was praying.
AS soon as the shops were opened
went out and managed to procure some
food which brought TO the room. l ther
left to go to my employment. Through
the day felt an incessant craving, but my
! horror was so great that would far rather
have cut my throat than risked having
that hand there again.
AS the days passed the horror remained
undIminished. 1t was simply impossible
for me to seek for intoxicating drink.
dared not.
My wife said nothing. saw, however
by her soft eyes, the gentle joy of hel
face, and the sweet, loving smile will
which she welcomed me home, how deep
ly this change in me had affected her.
Weeks passed and gradually the craving
lessened. Yet so vivid was the remem
brance of that dread experience of mint
that my horror remained fresh and una
bated. To relapse was impossible.
dared not.
Thus forced to be sober, my circum
stances improved rapidly. There was NJ
longer any danger of want. Comfor
came, and peace, and hope, and pure do
mestic joy. e,
Remorse for the sufferings which hst
caused to my sweet wife made me NOR
eager to make amends for the past, tina
| so l might efface bitter memories from
her mind. The revulsion of feeling wa
so great for her that she forgot that / haC
ever been other than kind. ! made NJ
parade of reform. made no promises
and no VOW. Nor did she ever allude Il
the change. She showed her Joy in hel
face and manner. She accepted tht
change when it came and rejoiced in it.
still felt an anxious desire to get t.
the bottom of this mystery, and once
told the whole story to my medical man.
He was not at all surprised.
Doctors never are. Nor are doctor
ever at loss to account for any thing.
"Pooh," said he, indiferently. "That'
common enough. 1t was mGr,iG a potu
The brain, you know, becomes congested
and you see and feel devils and skeletons
Gases like yours are common enough"
To me, however, my case seemed yer,
uncommon, but, whether it be so or not
my case has resulted in my salvation. AM
never will cease, even amidst my horror
to be grateful to that Power which cam
down clothed in terror to snatch me iron
ruin with that Skeleton Hand