Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-06-04
A Drunken Mans Arguments,


eyes, I believe it as the Apostle Paul states
it,"
"Wcll then, you can 90 this far you will
admit that God knows just what will happen,
and that therefore, thoro is no uncertainty
about it 2"
eyes, I can go chat far"
"Thcn, what is the use of your talking to
me about drinking run, since it is certain
that shall drink every dram that God knows
that I will drink Z"
The speaker was a we'll formed and fine
looking man, who had on the clothes of a me-
chanio. The above specimen of his meta
physics must suffice. He was one of the best
mechanics in the country, and, whilst sober,
had laid up property. In an evil hour he
had yielded to the temptations of an old habit
of drinking rum. He descended from one
stage of degradation to another with great
rapidity, and his best friends despaircd of his
reformation.
One day I met him in tho office of a law
yer. Although in the forenoon, he was quite
tlpscy. lilo was such q bright man, so supc-
rior in many respects, that I was panied to
sec him going to ruin. My feelings were
indicated in my countcnancc, and per-
haps anticipating an adnonition, he said, "I
see you want to speak to me about my hab.
its"
I admitted it.
81 thought So" sud he; land now, as I
want you to confinc yourself to things ncc, let
me tell you some things which you need not
say, for | know them already a great deal bet
ter than you can tell ME!
"You were just thinking what a terrible
shame it is for a man whose mechanical skill
is sought after at a high price, and who could
make himself Independent in a short time,
should sacrifice all this to his drunken appc-
titc, and reduce himself to pauperism."
l said he had hit the nail on the head.
I'll thought So" said he. "Now you need
not say anything on this point, for I am al
ready convinced 1 know what a fool T am
in this respect.
"Then you were thinking Of my trembling
nerves." he continued, "and were amazed
that | dare pour this distilled damnation'
down into my stomach, when l am on tho
verge of delirium trcmcns all the timo. Con.
fess now, if you were not thinking Of this 2"
J. was not disposed to deny it.
"Just So" said he, "Now, sir, I know
about this matter better than you do. Ihayc
felt all that Mr.. Cough or DR.. Jewett has
described. I have seen tho devils which
haunt tho victim, and l know that ho who
has this disease, for the time, is in perdition.
You can't tell me anything on that point SO
when you speak, omit this /"
I could not suppress a smile at the mans
ingenuity and frankness.
"But," said he, there is another view of
my case which you arc disposed to urge
You want to remind me how, ten years ago, I
courtcd my wife (and no man had a better
wife than mino), and how she refused to mar
ry mo until she was assured that I had left
off drinking. I loved her then, and I love
her now. [ promised to treat her as a man
should treat n wife. You want to remind
mc that l have by my drunkenness, converted
my home into q place Of torment. and that I
have actually laid violent hands on my
wife !"
"And horo arc my Children. You want to
remind mo of the dangers and sorrows I am
exposing them to; but you, sir, cannot tell
mo anything pertaining to my family. I
know all about it. curse myself as a wretch
and a fool. I have no mercy in my self. con
demnings. Yes, sir, / know all about this
by an experience which may tho Lord deliver
you from. So you need say nothing to nc
on this point.
[ could not but admit that he had drawn
tho case with a bolder hand than I would
have dared to attempt.
"But thcrc is ono ohicf argument which
you meant to try on me. You wanted to draw
q motive for reformation from tho future rot.
ribution which God will visit on tho drunk.
ard. 1t is q terrible motive, and I believe it
to DO a true one. l believe there is heli;
nay, | know there is, for 1 have sometimes
fclt its fires, and have seen its tormonts. I
sometimes am overwhelmed with agony at tho
bare anticipation of mcoting God in judy
mont. | admit shat I am hurrying very fast
in that direction, and present appearances in.
dioato that I shall DO turned into hell as n