South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-11-11

finished games of billiards were laid by, the
cards thrown aside, the unem piled glass re-
NAMED upon the counter, aud all pressed
near, some with curiosity, some with sad
ness, and some with pity beamiGg from their
eyes, entranced with the musical voice aud
beauty of child, who seemed better at TO
be with the angles above than in such a
place.
AT the close of the song many were
weeping-men who bad not shed a tear for
years, now wept like child One young
man who bad resisted with scorn the plead
ings of a loving mother and dear friends 10
lead better life, to desist from a course
that was wasting his fortune, aud running
his health, now approached the child. aud
taking her baud while tears streamed down
his pale cheek, exclaimed with deep emo
ton:
God bless you, my little angel, you have
saved me from ruin and disgrace FROM pow
erty and n drunkard's grave. If there
were ever angels on earth you are one God
bless you and placing bill in the hand of
the mother, said, please accept this ,rife
as token of my regards and esteem, for
your little girl has done me a kindness no
wealth can ever repay. Aud remember
whenever you are in want you will ever
find me a true friend, at the same time
giving her his name and address. Taking
her child by the hand she turned to 90, but
pausing at the door, said:
God bless you, gentlemen, and please
accept the heartfelt thanks of a poor and
friendless woman for the kindness aud court.
esy you have shown her. and before any
one could reply, she was gone.
A silence of several minutes ensued.
which was at last broken by the proprietor
exclaiming:
Gentlemen, that lady is right, and I
have sold my last glass of whiskey, and if
any of you want any more you will have to
60 elsewhere
'Aud have drank my last glass of whis-
key, said young man who had long been
given up as utterly beyond the reach of
those who had a deep interest in his welfare
that he bad sunk too low To ever reform.
There Is temperance organization in
this city called the Temple of Honor, and
at their next meeting | shall send up my
name to be admitted. Who will 20 with
me p
Il! Il" Il = and II several exclaimed
in chorus, aud fifteen names were added
to his.
True to his word, the owner of the saloon
where this strange scene was enacted dis
posed of his entire stock the next day, and
is now engaged in an honorable business.
Would to Heaven that lady could have gone
into every hamlet, and town, and city
throughout our country, and met with the
same cheering result.
Yes, it is the mothers and wives, and sis
ters Of the drunkard that can tell what
whiskeY has done and is doing. You need
not follow him to the sumptuous and bril-
liant palace erected by KIug Alcohol and
his con federate to lure him from the paths
Of virtue aud usefulness, to that of ruin and
disgrace You need not follow him when
his money is gone aud be is thrust from
the more fashionable resorts to those less
respectable. You need not follow him to
the lowest dens of crime aud iniquity as
be daily reels home or lies in the gutter in
condition lower than the brutes Of the
field. No but follow him to the place he
calls home, and the hollow cheeks, the dim
med eyes, the tear that rolls down the pa
tient, care-worn face Of the forsakeu wife,
aud the cries Of the starving children, tell
their own story in language unexprossi-
BILE in words.