Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-08-31
A TRUE STORY.

nc, which Alice did, although with |
The house was crow
led above and below. The prelim- |
naries usually appertaining 10 such |
4 meeting having been arranged, |
brief opening address was made by |
one of the ministers. A reformed |
man then related his experience
with great effect. After he had i'm
ished there was a pause OF nearly a
At length 3 man who had been I
seated far back, with his face part |
ly turned from the audience, arose !
and moved TO the front of the stage.
A half expressed exclamation es-
caped Alice, as her eyes caught the /
well known features of her hus-
band, while a quick thrill ran thro'
her. Then her frame trembled in
with her huttering heart.
The face of Mr.. Delaney had great
lv changed since she had last looked
upon il. It's calm, dignified eleva-
tion had been restored but what n
difference.
aMr. President" he began in
broken voice, although L had con-
sented at your urgent solicitation 10
this large assembly tonight,
vet felt so strong reluctance to !
do so that il has been with the ut
most difficulty that could drag my
self forward. But had passed my
word and could not violate IL. --
AS TO relating my experience; that
do not think / can venture upon.
The past / dare not recall. Would
10 Heaven that just ten years of my
life were blotted out -- t
The speaker here paused q mo-
ment, already much affected. Then
resuming in firmer voice, he said;
"But something must be said OF
my own case, or L shall fail 10 make
that impression on your mind which
/ wish to produce.
Pictures of real lie touch the
heart with power, while abstract
presentations of truth glitter coldly
in the intellectual regions OF the
mind, and then fade from the per-
ception like figures in diOrama. Oh
Your speaker once stood among
the first members of the bar in q
neighbOring State. Nay, more than
thaf-he represented his county for
three years in the Assembly Of the
Common wealth, and more than that
still-occupied a seat in Congress
two congressional periods"
At this point the stiffness OF death
pervaded the crowded assembly,
aAnd vet. more than that" he con-
tinued, his voice sinking in low
thrilling tones, che had tenderly
loved wife and two sweet children.
But all those honors-all those bless
ings have departed from him." he
continued, his voice growing loud
er and deeper in efforts 10 control
himself. "He was unworthy 10 re-
tain theml"
| FsHIs constituents threw him OF
because he had debased himself and
! disgraced them-she who had loved
him deyotedly, who had borne him
two dear babes, was forced to aban-
don him and seek an asylum in her
| fathers house
"And why2 Could become SC
changed IN few yearsl What pow
er W IS there to abase me that my
fellow beings spurned aud even the
| wife of my bosom turned heart.
stricken from me? Alasl my friends
II was a demoni A Circe, changing
the human into the bestial. But fol
| this, [ were an honorable, useful
representative in Congress, pursu
ing after my cOuntry's good, ane
blest in the home circle with wifi
and children. But l have not tolC
you all.
"After my wife separated from
me | sank rapidly. A state OF so
briefly brought too many terribli
thoughts; therefore drank mor'
freely.and was rarely IL ever from
under the bewildering effects of in
toxieation. l 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 / became so abandoned in m
life that my wife, urged on by he
friends, filed al application for
divorce, and as cause could be easl
ly shown why it should be granted
a separation was legally declared.
To complete my disgrace, at tn
! next Congressional canvass l we
left of the ticket, as unfit to repre-
, sent the district. l left the count
/, and State where / had lived froI
my boyhood up.
Three years have passed sine
then. For two years OF the period
abandoned myself to the fearful al
petite l had acquired. Then l hear
of the Temperance movement. A
I first | sneered, then wondered, hes
( tated, and finally threw myself ul
: on the great wave which was sWeel
: ing onward, in the hope of bein
: carried by it far out of the reach {
4 danger, and did not hope with Vai
hope. Ii did for me all and mo-
r than l have deemed possible. 1t s
= me at once upon my feet-oni
more made man of me.
!, A year of sobriety, earnest dew
tion TO my profession, and fervel
J, prayer to Him who alone gives |
e Strength in every good resolutio
: has restored TO me much that hI
e been lost; but not all-nOt the ric
1 est treasure that IprOved myself u
e worthy TO retain; not my wife al
d children. Ah! between myself al
= these the law has laid its stern, II
. passable Introduction. l have j
e longer a wife, no children, thoul
:. nv heart goes out towards tho
e dearly beloved ones with the te
, AtIESL CdA mug ANNaANo - v
.e early days of welded life come fiOs
IS ing back on memory's pinions, Ii
is gering in my imagination and !
l. Ininding me of the JOY that was.
Q dream of the dear fre-side circle
d see ever before me the once plaC
1t face of my Alice as her eye look
le into my own with confidence.
feel her arms twine around my nee
the music of her voice is soundi
ever in my ear"
Here the speakers emotions ov,
is / came him. His utterance becal
a choked and he stood silent wi
ne bowed head and trembling limbs
ne The dense mass of people We
u hushed into an impressive stillne
Ie that was broken here and there
b. half stified sObs.
le At this moment there was mo
d. ment in the crowd. a single
ed male figure, before whom every {
I'd appeared instinctively to give W
b. was seen passing the aisle. L
Te was not observed by Delaney VI
ms she had come nearly in front of
ce platform on which he stood !
he movement caught his ear, and /
Id ing his eyes, they instantly fell
e. Alice; for it was she who was prt
IL ing forWard-he bent toward
ut with uplifted hands and eager ey
in and stood like a statue until she
gained the stand and advanced {