Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-03-03
Gfapf aatf,
Cn the Highway
A TEMPERANCE SKETCH.

SbOp!
1 never, from a boy, liked to yield to
coercion. l was whipped cruelty at
school, once, because the master wanted
to make me kiss girl for punishment,
before all the school, because l slipped
little boys love letter into her hand,
and | wouldn't obey him.
But when, just on the out skirts of the
city, harsh voic5 uttered the word
which heads this story, and in the cold
wintry starlight | saw something very
much like pistol raised on 4 dead level
with my breast, very brief reflection
echoed the words within me and [ stop
ped!
''I don't want your life, but must have
money, ;" said man, unshaven, and un-
shorn, hair and beard matted, and lit
orally in rags, with fierce glaring eyes
looking wildly on NE.
Sir" said |, 'if you had only been a
little sooner, you could have had some
money. 1 have only 4 car fare left now,
to get down to Lovejoy's, FOR nearly ali
L had in my pockets [ gave TO poor
family that was brought TO my notice" :"
"You wear gold on your breast Give
me that. Come, sir, no triling."
"These are emblems of Temperance
orders to which belong. 1 dislike to
part with them. for they are gifts l val
ue.r =.-,
Temperance: Areyoua Temperance
man?"
''I am 'H A1-
"What will temperance do for me?
VIII it keep me from starving? Will it
keep me out Of jail?''
Eyes if you viii try. You don't seem
all bad, or you would have used your
pistol instead of tongue. Now come
down town with me, and let me see if [
can't help you"
"Yes-you'lrgi give me up to the first
policeman you meet ~
ION my honor az man-;1O i! will
give you food, reason with you and see
if you can't.fnd some better life yet
If you will let mel viii be your
! friend"
''Friend! Oh, Heaven? a friend I who
have ruined myself, brought my family
to starvation-and atlast taken to the
highway. l have a friend ?'' and he
laughed like maniac.
"Yes," said /, "there is no one with
| life yet il him that has nog q friend i'll
Him who died for us all. And should
we erring mortals be less tnan He in
readiness to befriend the needy? Come
you are safe. have tried to do one
good act to-night-let me try to add an
other to the list ?"
Take that"
He hand me his pistol, and I saw
tears in his eyes.
'sTake that. I would not have used
it at any rate. This is nay first attempt
at such work. After three weeks spree
[ went there and looked in It was
wlen darkness was just shutting down
on daylight, and saw they were starv-
/ ing. [ rushed away, went where had
spent my last cent for drink, took this
pistol from behind the bar, and made ur
my mind to rob!"
i He pointed as he spoke to a hovel on q
vacant lot little way OF.
"What," / cried "is your name Ebert
Moncton ?''*
"Yes"
"Then it is from your family that
! came. There is food and fuel at YOU
home now, and tomorrow kind people
will visit your wife and little ones with
more substantial relief. Come back
with me and see them, for they know
nothing of this and shall not"
+ "Merciful Heavens And I was about
to rob you! Oh, do not let my poor wife
know how low l have fallen-what
was about to do ~
81 will not"
We went back. and the drunkard-the
almost madman-entered the hovel
house to which his family had been
brought from affluence by his own
folly and strong drink. His wife and
children, gaunt and pale with long suf-
fering, were eating by the light OF blaz
ing fire.
"Husband-father?"
These glad words came even from
those he had neglected, abused.
He rushed forward weeping like q
child, and embraced them.
1t was a scene l cannot picture. [ will
not try. 1 stood and cried, tool was Sc
happy.
That man has not tasted strong drink
since. His name is at the bottom of q
pledge never to do so. He works daily
with returning strength in his arms anC
hope in his heart. The principle of Faith
Hope and Charity have been eXemplifi.
ed in his case and lone more unfortu.
nate" lifts up his voice in thankfulnes;
to God that he is saved from drunk,
ards death.
Reader-thousandsa are on the verge
reach out your hand to save and Hea
ven will bless and help you! There i:
work all around you! Do lido it!
*of course the name isfctitious, and for Oh
vious reason the real one must remain unknown