Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-03
temperance.
4 True Story.

friend, who had become enthusiastic in the
cause, urged her to 60 to the meeting, which
Alice did although with reluctance The |
house was crowded above and below The |
prelimnaries usually appertaining to such |
meetings, having been arranged, brief open
ing address was made by one Of the ministers |
\ reformed man thea related his experience
with great effect After he had finished there
was pause Of nearly minute
At length a man who had been seated far
back with his face partly turned from the au.
diencc, arose slowly and moved to the front
Of the stage
\ half suppressed exclamation escaped
Alice as her eyes caught the well-known fea-
lures Of her husband, while quick thrill ran
through her Then her frame trembled in
accordance with her futtering heart The
face Of Mr. Delaney had greatly changed
since she had last looked upon it.. Its calm,
dignfed elevation had been restored-but
what difference
" Mr.. President he began in broken
voice, " although had consented at your ur.
gent solicitation 10 address this large assem-
bly, tonight yet have felt so strange a re.
luctancc to do so, that it has been with the
utmost difficulty that could drag myself
forward But had passed my word and
could not violate it,
As to relating my experience, that | do
not think ] can venture upon The past
dare not recall Would to heaven that lust
ten years of my life were bIotted OUT
The speaker here paused moment already
much affected. Then resuming in a frmcr
voice. he said
But something must be said Of my own
case, or shall fail to make that impression
on your minds which | wish to produce
Pictures Of real life touch the heart
with power, while abstract presentations of
truth glitter coldly in the intellectual regions
Of the mind aud then fade from the percep.
ton like figures in a diorama
Your speaker once stood among the first
members of the bar, in a neighboring State
Nay, more than that--he represented his
county for three years in the Assembly Of the
| Commonwealth, and more than that still oc-
cuped a seat in Congress for two congressional
periods"
At this point the stiffness of death per.
vaded the assembly. And yet more than
that, he continued, hs voice sinking in a
low, thrilling tone, he had tenderly loved "A
wife and two sweet children But all those
honors-all those blessings have departed
from him, he continued, his voice growing
louder and deeper in his efforts to control
himself "H He was unworthy to retain them
His constituents threw him off because he
had debased himself and dsgraced them
and worse than all--she who had loved him
dly-who hal borne him two dear habes,
was forced to abandon him and seek an asylum
in her fathers house.
" And why ? Could become so changed
in few years What power was there to
abase me that my fellow beings spurned, and
even the wife Of my bosom turned away
, heart-stricken from me Alas my friends
it was demon-a Crce, changing the hu.
man into the bestial. But for this, were
an honorable and useful representative ii
Congress, pursuing after my country's good
and blest in the home circle with wife anC
children. But have not told you all.
" After my wife separated from me, | sank
rapidly A state Of sobriety brought toe
many terrible thoughts | therefore drank
more freely, and was rarely if ever from un,
der the bewldering effects of intoxication.
remained in the same village for some years
but never once saw her during that time, moi
> even glimpse of my children. At last
became so abandoned in my life, that my
wife, urged on by her friends, filed an appli
cation for a divorce, and as a cause could be
easily shown why it should be granted, a sep
aration was legally declared.
To complete my disgrace, at the mex
Congressional canvass | was left off the tick
ct, as unfit to represent the district. | lef
the county and State where | had liveC
! from my boyhood up.
" Three years have passed since then. Fo
two years Of the period, abandoned mysel
to the fearful appetite l had acquired. The
heard of the Temperance movement. \
first sneered, then wondered, hesitated, an
/. finally threw myself upon the great way
that was sweeping onward, in the hope q
being carried by it far out Of the reach G
| danger aud did not hope with vain hope
1t did for me all and more than | could hay
deemed possible 1t set me at once upon m
u feet, once more made man of me-
"A year Of sobriety, earnest devotion
Il my profession, and fervent prayer to llir
= who alone gives strength in every good resC
y luton, has restored me to much that had bee
,, lost but not al-not the richest treasur
that | proved myself unworthy to retain
= not my wife and children All betwee
myself and these, the law has laid its sterr
'' impossible interdiction. have no longer
, wife; no longer children, though my heal
" goes out towards those dearly beloved one
with the tenderest warnings. Pictures
o our early days ofwedded love are ever inge
u -, t,r,,o,;pa4fnr Of tho doc
freside circle | see ever before me the OF
y placid face Of my Alice, as her eye looked il
= to my own with confidence. feel her arm
l' wine about my neck, the music of her yoi'
% ever sounding in my ear"
, ere the speakers emotion oyercame hin
u His terance became choked, he stood siel
$ with bowed head and trembling limbs. III
e dense mass of people were hushed into an o.
II pressive stiffness, that was broken here az
there by half stiAed sobs.
u, At this moment there was a movement
1t the crowd. A single female figure, beiol
nS whom every one appeared instinctyely
u give way, was seen passing up the aisle Th
V was not observed by Delaney until she ha
come nearly in front Of the platform on whi'
he stood. The movement caught his ear, al
llltlng MS eyes they Instantly loll OH Ailo'
for it was she who was pressing forwar
on He bent toward her with sudden upliit'
le hands and eager eyes, and stood like a statl
I'd until she had gained the stand and advance
quietly by his side. For a moment thu
Id stood thus the whole audience, thrilled wi
IN the scene, were upon their feet aud bendir
vt forward, Then DELANEY opened his arms, al
he Alice threw herself upon his bosom with
o. quick and wild gesture. Thus for the spa
ut Of a minute they stood every one, by a 81
e. gular intuition, understanding the scene Oh
Ill Of the ministers then came forward al
he gently separated them.
ne No, no." said Delaney, "you must not
he you cannot take her away from me-"
yn " Heaven forbid that should do that r
in piled the minister. "By your confession d
ry is not your wife"