The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-02
The story of Rodgers.

prom the N. Y. TTibuuo)
One Of our family papers breaches a
strong temperance sermon, by simply
telling the story OF woman who, alter
struggling with the preterpatural strength
Of a loving wife and mother for years
against the demon OF drink that possessed
her husband, conquered Il, and made him
once again q freeman. In his1ast illness
brandy was prescribed, which he was
strong enough 10 use only as medicines
but alter his death she turned tot In her
grief, and died, not many months later, q
hopeless, helpless drunkard." ~
Let uB tell a companion story, as trueas
this, but oil as different complexion -as
daylight TO night. A few years ago, on
any sunny morning, a heap Of filthy rags
might be seen stretched on some Of the
bales OF o paper warehouse in aneighbor.
Ing city, Withia strong smell OF stale To-
bscco and whisky about It. Turning II
over which you could do as II It were
log, any time after ten o'clock In The
morpiuGl, you would find the swollen
purple face Of what had once been q
handsome young man, but there was lit
tie hope that tue blealed eyes or thick
tongue would give an intelligent anawer
The portera passing by would push him
aside, but not roughly. Tho time had
been when he had been q jolly, generous
young fellow, and la lGvorite IN the office
Young Rodgere:n some one would give
you his history In five minutes: Taken
10 rum-no .Chance-pOor devil." "Stokea
The proprietor) could not turn him out Ia
stArYe, so still gave him nominal salary
aud suffered him TO hang about the
house, lest no should take 10 worse
courses than drinking" There were
hints, too, Of q widowed mother, away
oil In the country, who had been depend
ent on him, and a sweetheart, pretty
Cllnging little girl, both Of whom long
ago be had abandoned. But there Wa
nothing 70 DO done. The end, through
the usual horrors Of dellrlum tremens, wai
apparently not tar Of.
One day, as Rodgers was creeping u
the nearest bar for his morning bitters,
mau, whom he barley knew BY sight
took him by the elbow and walked with
him into quieter street. "They tell me
you are Richard Rodgers' SOD" he said
"DiCk Rodgers was the only friend had
Tor years, and for his sahG I'd like to save
his boy, Are you willing for me TO tryt
"Oh, you can Try" muttered the lad with
40 imbecile laugh. This nRmeless friend
nothing daunted, took him to a chamber
10 his own house and put him to bed
There he aud his Sons kept watch and
guarded this poor wretch for months, like
ApriSoner, keeping liquor from him, and
Trying TO supply II by medical treatment
A physician no employed, but he was MOI
able 70 pay for o nurse. Any one who
has had 10 deal with q victim OF mania.a
polu can guess how difficult and loath-
eome q taSkhe had ethimseli. migrate
iul enough Il was at flrst, for Rodger
struggled against his totmentOrs with lht
Iefocity ot-iust what he waS-a starving
animal. As reason began 10 return ant
hn unnatural strength 10 vanish, he woulI
peg them In his intervals Of reason not Y
l3il him, but 70 work out tho Gxperimen
ellher 10 success or death, ut 70 my las
chance" he would cry "Ior Gods sake b
patient" This friend, with his sonS
DID work Il out through all u
ioql Uncomfortable details and th
end was not death, bat success. "Hov
soon" asked q friend Of Rodgers aitei
wards, were you trusted aloneP "No
Tor two years" he answered laughing. "
WAS out Of Jail, but in jail bounds. D
you remember that lauE, muscular yOun
fellow who had desk beside me In u
oticeS He took Il with the eondiuo
that hO could leave Il to dog me night an
day TO my. meals, and to my bedS Tht
WAR the son Of the man who saved nj