Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-09-26
SELECTED STORY
ATRUE STORY,

In the evening Of the day on which
Alice arrived at s., great temper
ance meeting was to be held in one OF the
churches. Her friend who had become
enthusiastic in tue canse urged her to go
to the meeting, WHICH Alice die, although
with reluctance. 4be preliminaries usu-
ally appertaining to such meeting hav-
ing been arranged, brief opening ad-
dress was delivered By one of the minis
ters. A reformed man then related his
experience with great effect. After be
had finished there was pause of nearly
a minute.
Atlength 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 escaped
Alice, as she caught the we'll known feat
ures of her husband while quick thrill
ran through her. Then her frame ,reln-
bl,d in accordance with her futtering
heart. The face Of Mr.. Delaney had
greatly changed since she had last looked
upon it, It's calm, digniGed elevation
had been restored, hut what difference.
'sD1r. President. he began, although
had consented at your urgent solicita-
tion to address this large assemblage here
tonight, yet fel, so strong reluctance
10 DO so that it has been with the utmost
difficulty that could drag myself for
ward. But l bad passed my word and
could not violate it..
As to relating my experience; that |
do no. think can venture upon. The
past dare not recall. Would to Heaven
that ten years of my lie were slotted out.
The speaker here paused moment,
already much effected. Then resumiDg in
frmer voice, lie said:
but something must be said Of my
own case, or I shall fail to make that inn
preston Oh your mind which wish to
produce. 49,.
Pictures of real life touch the heart
with power. while abstract presentations
Of truth glitter colby in the intellectual
reg ions Of the mind, and then fade from
the perception like figures iu the diora-
ma.
Your speaker once stood among the
first members Of the bar in neighboring
State. Nay more than that, he repre-
septed bis county for three years in the
Assembly Of the Commonwealth, and
more that still-occupied seat in Con-
gress two congressional periods"
At this hoint the stiffness of death
p,rvaded the crowded assembly. "And
vet more than that" he continued. bis
voice sinking in loW thrilling tones, che
had tenderly lorsd wife and two sweet
children. But all those horrsr,-all those
blessings have departed from him." be
continued, 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 and disgraced
them-she who had loved him deyotedly,
who had borne him two dear babes, was
forced 10 abandon him aud seek an asy-
lum in her fathers house.
"And why Could l become so chang
ed in few years What power was
there TO chase me that my fellow beings
spurned and even the wife OF my bosom,
turned heart-stricken from me? Alas
MY friends it was demon A Gree
changing the human into the besiia!.
But for this. | we've an honorable, useful
representative in Congress, pursuing af-
ter my coun,ry's good, and blest in the
home circle with wife and children. But
| have not told you all.
AFTER my wife separated from me |,
sink rapidly. A state Of sobrie.y brougl I
90 mahy terrible thoughts l Therefore
drank more freely and was seldom, il ev
er from under the bewildering effects OF
IN oxicatior. 7 remained ip the same
village TO- several years. but never once
saw her during that time--nor even q
glimpse of my children. At last I be
came SO abandoned 10 my life that my
W fe u, ged on by her friends filed an ap,
picasion for divorce, and as cause could
be eSsily shown Why it should be granted