Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-08-13

kins arose and addressed them:
"My Men and Friends: Some OF you
have been present ON former occasions not
unlike this. A few of you are here for the
first time. need not say you are AL hearth
ly welcome.
II might address you upon the relation
which employers and their workmen sustain
to each other, but upon this [ will not speak
tonight. You all know that I am stauncE
teetotaler do not know, however, that
have ever told you why l became SO. Per
haps we can not better spend few moments
than for me to tell you how this calue to
pass. As many as would like to hear will
please raise the hand.'
Every hand was raised.
II served my time in v, as some OF
you know. Ny boss was a man who use d
liquor Three times day we were called
to grog as regularly as to our meals: got
so by the time I was twenty-one to like liq-
uor, and SO did every hand in the shop. Soon
after I became journeyman, was married
to this lady by my side. had nothing but
my two hands We had many hard stfug-
gle / spent considerable money for liquor.
Once in while I wonld get over the bay,
and come home drunk. The habit continued
to grow upon me, till at length / became SO
unsteady that no one wished to employ me.
1 was good workman when I was sober; |
could point to work which had dome which
was equal to that Of any other man ia the
place. My wife had to take in washing to
keep the family in bread, while ! was loa6ng
and doing nothing"
Bridget" said Robert, s'did ye ever
hear the likes of that? Such gintle lady as
Mistress jenkins doing washingp'
This interruption caused all to turn their
eyes toward Robert and Bridget, and Rob-
ert said II beg your pardon, sir"
Mr.. jenkins resumed. They were about
to build the State House in s., and a
reward of several hundred dollars was offer
ed for the best plan of a building suitable
for the purpose for which it was designed.
At the time this advertisement appeared |
was sober, not because | had ceased to love
liquor, but because was too poor to get it.
My wife knew that I was good architect,
and she encouraged me to try for the reward.
She said she knew I could get the reward if
Z would only keep sober. She said: ely
man," (she used to call me by my Christian
name then, eff you will only keep sober
a week, you can get that reward as well as
not "Well," said I, ''to please you will
try" I.knew I must have clear head to
make my plans, and steady hand to make
my draughts; aud SO shut myself up in a
room with my instruments and paper, and in
a few days had it all arranged and sent to
the committee.
Several others had tried, but the commit
tee vas unanimous in pronouncing my plans
superior to all the rest. [ ought to have
said that had also made estimates Of the
cost Of the building, from the foundation to
the top stone. None of my neighbors knew
what [ was doing, for my wife and myself
determined to say nothing to any one.
Among others who tried for the reward,
was son of my old boss, who was then
carrying on business at V. He and [
never had agreed very well. He was known
quite we'll through all the region, and he
confidently expected to obtain the reward
But, as have said, the committee awarded
it to me. One Of them was acquainted With
tie son of my boss, and was passing through
the place on his way home. My competitor
was of course anxious to know who was the
successful man. The gentleman replied:
IA man by the name Of Lyman jenkins,
who lives here in "" "What!" said
he, "has that poor miserable cuss got the re-
ward? He is drunk every day Of his life.'
LAS to that" he replied, Il know nothing.
Drunk or sober, he has surpassed all the
others. I am now going to see him and find
out whether be will take the job of building
it,"
II knew nothing about this then. l was
at home, splitting wood in the back yard,
and my wife stood over the wash-tub. One
Of my little girls was on the back door step,
her Sunday lesson. She was COM
hitting to memory the verse, II can do all
things through Christ who strengthened
me- All at once it came into my head,
Christ has strengthened me to abstain ever
since [ commenced drawing the plan. He
can do it still I will trust him and drink
no more. Before this, I had thought that
if obtained the reward, 1 would have
good spree, and make up for the days | had
been without liquor.
Full Of this new idea, went into the
house, and took my pen, and wrote on the
fy-leaf Of the Bible, Through Christ who
Strengthened me, 1 will never drink any
more liquor Amen!' and signed my name
to it. I held it up for my wife to read
She burst into tears. I put away the Bible,
and went into the backyard and worked at
my wood.
had worked but few moments when
the member Of the committee raped at the
door. He inquired if Lyman Jenkins lived
there, and was shown in. My wife came
and told me. When I entered, he said, is
your name Jenkins?' | told him it was
Did you draw up these plans? He handed
me the papers I had prepared. I told him
[ did, He then told me the result He
added: your plans exhibit good deal of
genius. I was instructed by the committee
to engage you to superintend the construc
ton of the building Since came to the
place, however, [ have learned that you are
and unreliable, and this leads
me to question whether I ought to engage
you."' f.45s -aa g -,
CRY him" said my wife, he isn't going
to drink any more 1 could say nothing.
She got the Bible and opened it to where |
had written my pledge. He read it and
said: "Mr. jenkins, do you mean that?"
replied that did. Well, then,' said he,
we will try you. Here are five hundred
dollars for the plan. Your salary will be
two thousand dollars per year. You will go
and engage stone, and timber, and men and
we shall have the foundation laid this fall
But remember that if you break that pledge.
you will lose your job
He went away. This is how l became a
Lcetotaler. That was more than twenty years