Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-07-20
GALES 5 Shste1ss.
THE JUDGES STORY.

Judge M, at a fashionable party where
wine flowed in abundance /; "young man,
put down that glass There is death in
Il"
Henry Graham dropped the cut-glass
goblet upon the table, startled by the abb
rupt exclamation of the judge, and the
wine flowed in ruby stream over the car.
pet.
"Sir, what mean you ?" he asked, his
face flushed, and his eyes brilliant with ex-
citement.
81 mean," said the judge, impressively,
ITO discountcnance always, in every place,
at every time and in every available man.
ner, the use of Intoxicating drinks. My
young friend, you were about to place TO
your lips an internal poison You were
doing it gayly, thoughtlessly, recklessly.
Would you dare, if you stood within the
gate of deaths domain, in the face of God
and the angels, would you dare to quaff
the draught which but a few moments ago
filled yonder shattered glass When you
remember the Divine edict that no drunk
ard shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven,
would you run the risk of falling under the
terrible banp''
The young man grew pale he shrank a
little before the penetrating gaze of his in
teilocutor, and his voice was slightly un-
IL do not think quite understand you,
sir.n
''Sit down, my friends" said the judge,
for the gay company had been smilten to
stiffness by the unusual earnestness with
which he had spoken, and many of them
had risen to their feet, land / will relate
to you little story which will, perhaps,
have double interest when l tell you that
the incidents are strictly true. And to
you, Henry Graham, as one in whom l
feel deep degree of interest, l wish par
ticularly to address myself"
Young Graham took seat near the
judge and gave him his attention.
"Thirty-tive years ago." said the judge,
''therc resided in the township Of Milan n
happy family. 1t consisted of father, n
mother and three children-two boys and
a girl. The father, whom will call John
Deane, was lawyer of high repute, man
of brilliant intellect and solid education.
His wife was beautiful woman, richly
gifted by nature, and she had received all
the cultivation that wealth can give to his
daughters. | said they were a happy nmi-
ly. think have never known a happier
Peace sat all day with folded wings by
their hearthstone, and contentmeut had
there constant biding place.
John Dean stood very high in the opin-
ion of his townsmen, as well as with the
people of the whole district, ana his name
was mentioned in connection with the
nomination for Congress from the Milan
district. He made no effort to obtain this
nomination, but it was given him, and at
the final election he received the hearty
support of his party, and was the success
ful candidate. 1t would have been strange
if he had been otherwise than pleased with
this testimonial of esteem, and his hitherto
quiet house was thrown open for the re-
ceptiou of political friends. 1t was fash
iOnable then, as it is in some circles at the
present day, to set forth wine for the
entertainment of company, and IL would
have required great deal Of moral courage
on the part of Mr.. Deane to make the first
innovation, and refuse to treat the friends
who had raised him to a position of SO
much honor. He was what is called
temperance man : that is, he never drank
himself, he had n horror of drunkenness
and could make very eloquent speech at
the monthly meeting of the Cold Water
Society. At first he had struggle with
his conscience in regard to placing wine on
his table, but confidential friends ridiculed
his scruples, and at last he grew to think
that dinner was very inspid which lacked
the crowning charm of wine.
Thine passed on, and having discharged
his duty at Washington to the satisfaction
of his party, he was elected for the second
term. His talents well fitted him for the
highest rank in society, and at the busy,
intriguing capitol no party was deemed
complete without the presence of the witty
and accomplished representative from the
Milan district. At these convivial parties
he drank the high-navored liquors set be-
fore him because it would not do to seem
odd, so he excused himself to his con-
science but after while he did not make
any excuse-he drank from pure love of so
doing.
'Wine became almost necessary to his
decentralization living had vitiated
his tastes and enervated both mind aud
body, and to prevent reaction and conse-
quent remorse, he endeavored to cure the
disease with the very poison that had en-
gendered it. Thus many others have done
the same, until the intellect given of God
has been quenched in worse than idiocy,
and the star of hope has set forever in the
black shadow of the drunkard's grave
John Deane, at the expiration of his
second term in office, came home to his
family n confirmed inebriate. Promise
after promise he made to reform, but ap-
petite always triumphed. Friends entreat-
ed him; temperance votaries did all in
their power to save him, but they all pro-
duced, at best, but momentary feeling of
self-reproach in the breast of the unfortu-
nate man.
"Once in his course he was stayed for
brief space by a terrible discovery-a dis
covery which made even his besotted soul
shrink with horror. His wife-his beauti-
tul and accomplished Annie-had yielded
10 the fascination Of the wine cup, and, fol-
lowing the example of her husband, she
drank daily, and was fast becoming that
thing of which all men speak with loathing
a female drunkdrd.
For time John Deane retreated in af-
fright from the yawning abyss which in
temperance had opened at his feet; he
Stunned the bar-room Of the hotel where
he was wont to meet his wine-loving friends;
he abstained from the daily glasses at
home, and for little while it seemed as if
his feet were turning from the slippery
places and taking hold upon the path OF
Truth-but alas, it was only for a little
while His wife might have influenced
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