The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-02-02
A True Story.

"A II " 'OOA
! In the evening OF the day On
which Alice arrived at S--a great
temperance meeting was to be held
in oneof hechurches lHerfriend
Who had become enthusiastic ia
the cause, urged her to GO to the
meeting, which Alice did, although
with reluctance. The house was
crowded above. and below The
prelimipsfies usually app taining
to such a meeting having been ar
ranged, a briefopening address was
made by one Of the minisssrs. A
reformed man then related his ex-
perience with great effect After
he bad finished there vas q pause
ofnearly minute. ~
At length man who had been
seated far back, with his face partly
turned from the audience, arose
and moved to the front of the stage.
A hSIf expressed exclamation es-
capped Alice, as her eyes caught the
well known features of her husband,
while a QUICK thrill ran through her.
Then her frame trembled ia accord
ance with her futtering heart The
face of Mr.. Delaney had greatly
changed since she had last looked
upon it. It's calm, dignified eleva-
tion had been restored, but what a
difference.
"Mr. President" he began in q
broken voice, although I had con
sented at your urgent solicitation
to address tins large assembly to-
night, yet I felt so strong a reluc-
tance to do so that It has been with
the utmost difficulty that 1 could
drag myself forward. But I had
passed my word and could not vio-
late it.
AS to relating my .experience;-
that I do not think l can venture
upou. The past / dare not recall
Would to Heaven that just ten years
of my life were blotted out"
The speaker here paused a mo-
ment, aiFeadymuch affected. Then
resuming in a firmer voice, he said !:
"But something must be said of
my own case, or I shall fail to make
that impression on your mind which
wish to produce.
lf'Fietdres Of real lie teach the
heart With power. While abstract
prsseatatiohs Of truth glitter coldIy
in the intellectual regions of the
mind. and then fade from the per-
ception Ike figures in diorams.
eYour speaker once stood among
the first ms4hers Of the bar il 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 occupied . seat in Congress
two congressional periods" tl3 sl
At this point the stiffness of death
pervaded the crowded assembly,
'And yet, more than that % he con
tinued, his voice sinking, in a low
thrilling tone, she bad "a tenaerly
loved 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 efforts to con-
troll himself. "He was unworthy to
retain themlR d.
sHis constituents threw him o3
because he had debased himself
and disgraced them-and worse
than alI-she who had loved him
devotealy. who had borne him tvs
dear babes, was forced to abandon
him and seek an asylum in her ia
ther's house.
FAhd why2 Could 7 become s.
changed ia q few years? Whai
| power was there to abase me thal
my fellow beings spurned and ever
the wife of my bosom turned heart
stricken from me? Alas my friends
itWas a demonD A. Gree, chang
ing the human into the bestial. Ba
for this, / were an honorable, use
ful representative in Congress, pur
suing after my countrys good, anC
-blest in the home circle with wifi
and children. But I have not told
yon nll. na Hpn
AFTER my wife separated iron
me sank rapidly. A state of so
briefly brought too many terrible
thoughts; / therefore drank NOR
freely, and was rarely if ever from
under the beWildering effects Of ia
toxication. / remained in the sam
village for several years, but neve
once saw her during that time-no
even a glimpse Of my children. A
last 1 became so abandoned in ~.
life that NV wife, urged on by he
friends, hled an Application FOR
divorce, and as cause could be easi
ly shown why it should be granted
a separation was legally declared.
sTo complete my disgrace, at th
next Congressional canvass I va
left of the ticket, as unfit to repre-
=. " Ia A., o~.,,,4 .