Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-02-11
A TRUE STORY.

A TRUE STOKi.
Tn the evening Of the day OH which
Alice arrived at s., a great tenn
perance meeting was to bc held In
one Of the churches. Her friend, who
had become enthusiastic i'm the cause,
urged her tO go to the meeting, which
Alice did, although with reluctance.
The house was crowded above and
below. The preliminaries usually
appertaining to such meeting hav-
ing been arranged, brief opening
address was made 10y one of the min
listers. a reformed man then related
his experience with great effect. Az
ter he had finished there was pause
of nearly minute.
At length q 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 half expressed exclamation es-
capped Alice, rs her eyes caught the
well known features of her husband,
while quick thrill ran through her.
Then her frame trembled I'm accord
ance with her fluttering heart. The
face of Mr.. Delaney had greatly
changed since she had last looked
upon it. Its calm, dignitied eleva-
tion had been restored, but what II
difference.
"Mr. Presidcnt,' he began in brok-
en- voice, although had CONSENT
ed Mt your urgent solicitation to adj
dress this large assembly Tonight,
yet / felt so strong a reluctance 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 just ten years of my
life were blOtted out.
The speaker here paused moment,
already much affected. Then resum-
ing in u firmer voice, he said:
"But something must he said of
my own case, or ! shall fail to make
that impression on your mind which
wish to produce.
Pictures of real lifi touch the heart
with power, willie abstract presenta-
tions of truth glitter coldly in the
intellectual regions of the mind, aud
then fade from the perception like
figures i'm diorama.
Your speaker once stood among the
first members of the bar in a neigh
boring State. Nay, more than that
- he represented his county for three
years in the Assembly of the Com
monwealtn, and more than that
still occupied u seat in Congress two
congressional periods"
At this point the stiffness of death
pervaded the crowded assembly
"And yet, more than that" he con-
tinued, his voice sinking i'm low thrill
ling tone, she had tenderly loved
wife and two sweet children. But
all those honors-all those blessings
have departed from him." he cont.n-
ned, his voice growing louder and
deeper in efforts to control himself.
"He was unworthy to retain them ~
"His constituents threw him off
because he had debased himself anu
disgraced them-she who had loved
him devotedly, who had borne him
two dear babes, was forced to abandon
him and seek an asylum in her faith
er's house.
"And why? Could I become so
changed in II few years? What pow
cr was there to abasc me that my
fellow beings spurned aud even the
wife of my bosom turned heart-strick-
en from me: Alas! my friends, it
was II demon \ Circc, changing
the human into the bestinl. But for
this, We're an honorable, useful rep
rcsentative in Congress, pursuing af-
ter my country's good, and blest in
the home circle with wife aud child
rcn. But | have not told you all.
"Aiter my wife separated from me
| sank rapidly. y state of sobriety
brought too many terrible thoughts;
therefore drank more freely, and
was rarely IL ever from under the be-
wiidering effects of intoXication. |
remained in the same village for
several years, but never once saw her
during that time-nOr even a glimpse
of my children. At last became so
abandOncd in my life that my wife,
urged on hy her friends, filed an APP
pliCation for divorce, and as cause
could he easily shown why it should
he granted, II sep ration was legally
declared.
70 complete my disgrace, at the
next Congressional canvass | was
left of the ticket, rs unfit to repre-
sent the district. | left the county
and State where had lived from my
boyhood up.
Three years have passed since then.
For two years OF the period | ahan-
doned myself to the fearful appetite |
had acquired. Then | heard of the
Temperance movement. At first /
sncercd, then wondered, hcsitatcd,
aud finally threw myself upon the
great wave which was sweeping on
ward, in the hope of being carried 10y
IL far out of the reach of danger, and
/ did not hope With vain hope. 1t
did for me all and more than | have
deemed possible. 1t set me at once
upon my ket-once more made II man
of me.
a year of sohriety, earnest devo-
tinn Ia my profession, and fervent
prayer Ia Him who alone gives us
strength in every good resolution, has
restored To me much that had been
lost; hut not all-not the richest
treasure that | proved myself UNI
worthy To retain; not my wife and
children. All! between myself and
these the law has laid its stern, inn
pnssahle interdlction. | have no
longer II wife, no children, though
my heart goes out, towards those
dearly beloved ones With the tender