Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-08-01
THE OLD MANS STORY.

culatl0n both IN this country and IN
5 England, describes a thrilling scene
in the commencement of the temper
anee reformation.
1t is written by one who, when a
boy, was accustomed to seeing liquors
upon his fathers table, and to taste
the sugar from the bottom Of his
morning glass.
A strange notice had come to the
village, of meeting that was to be
held on certain evening, in the
church. Public curiosity was aroused.
At the appointed time, this father and
and his son, the pastor of the church,
the nelghboring tavern keeper, and
many others came together, to hear
what might be said. Two strangers
came in and took their places at
the altar, and the younger, who had
the manner and dress of a clergyman,
stated the object of the meeting, and
offered prayer After which, he made
short address and asked any one
present who wished, to make remarks.
The pastor rose under the gallery,
and attacked the positions of the
| speaker-using the arguments which |
have often heard since, and eonclud-
ing by denouncing those engaged in the
new movement, as medlesome fanatics,
who wanted to break the time -honored
usages of good society, and injure the
business OF respectable men. At the
conclusion of his remarks, the tavern
keeper and his friends got up a cheer,
and the current of feeling was evil
IDENTIFY against the strangers and the
new plan.
As the pastor took his seat the old
man arose, his tall form towering in
| its symmetry, and his chest swelling as
he inhaled his breath through his
thin, dialted nostrils. To me, at
this time, there was something ave.
inspiring and grand in the appearance
of the old man, as he stood with his
eye upon the audience, his teeth shut
hard and silence like death reigned
| throughout the church.
be bent his gaze upon the tavern
keeper, and that peculiar eye fingered,
and kindled for moment.
For a moment he seemed lost in
thought, and in a low and tremulous
tone commenced. There was depth
in that voice, a thrilling pathos and
sweetness, which rlveted every heart in
the house before the first period had
been rounded. MY friends, (" he said.
II am stranger in your midst, but |
trust | may call you friends. A new
star has risen, and there is hope in
the dark night which has spread pail
of gloom over our country 2! With a
thrilling depth of voice, the speaker
locked his hands together and contin-
ued 10 God thou who looked with
compassion ON the most erring of
earth's children, | thank thee that
brazen serpent has been lifted, upon
which the drunkard can look and be
healed "a beacon has burst out upon
the darkness that surrounded him,
which shall guide back to honor and
heaven, the bruised and weary wander
er."
1t is strange what power there is in
some voices. The speakers voice was
low and measured, but tear trembled
in every tone: and before | knew why,
tear dropped upon my hand. followed
by others like rain-drops. The old
man brushed one or two from his own
eyes and continued:
Men and Christians you have Just
heard that L am vagrant and fanatic. |
| am not. As my God knows my own
sad heart, | came here to do good. |
Hear me, and be just
L am an old man, standing at the |
end of life's journey. There is deep
sorrow in my heart, and tears in my
eyes. | journeyed over a dark and |
beaconless ocean, and all life's hopes |
have been wrecked. | am without
friends, home or kindred on earth, and
look with longing to the rest of the
night of death. Without friends, kin
dred or home 1t was not once so ~
No one could Withstand the touch
ing pathos of the old man. / noticed
tear trembling on the lid of my faith
er's eye and | no more felt asham-
ed of my own.
The old man seemed looking away |
through fancy, or some bright vision,
his lips apart, and his fingers extended. |
| invOluntarily turned in the direction |
where it was pointed, dreading to see
some spirit invoked by its magic move
ments.
II once had a mother; who, with |
her old heart crushed with sorrow,
went to the grave. | once had a wife-a
fair, angel creature, as ever smiled in an |
earthly home! Her eyes as mild as a
summer sky, and her heart as faithful !
and true as ever guarded and cherished |
a husbands love. Her blue eyes grew
dim, as the floods of sorrow washed /
away their brightness, and her living
heart | wrung until every fibre was
broken | once had a noble, brave,
and beautiful boy; but he was driven
out from the ruins of his home, and |
my old heart yearns to know if he yet |
lives. / once had a babe-a sweet,
tender blossom; but these hands des-
troyed it, and it lives with One who
loveth children.
DO not be startled, friends-I am
not murderer in the common accep.
tation of the term.
"Yet there is light in my evening |
sky A spirit mother rejoices over the |
return of her prodigal son. The wife |
smiles upon him who again turns back |
to virtue and honor. The child-angel |
visits me at night-fall, and feel the
hallowing touch of tiny palm upon
my feverish cheek. My brave boy, if |
he yet lives, would forgive the SORROW
ing old man for life, and the treatment |
that drove him into the world God !
forgive me for the ruin that | have |
brought on me and minel
Il was once fanatic" and madly |
followed the malign light which led |
me to ruin. was a fanatic when /
sacrificed my wife, children, happiness
and home, to the accursed demon of
the bowl. | once adored the gentle
being whom l injured so deeply.
Il once was a drunkard. From re-
spectability and affiuence, / plunged
into degration and poverty. For years
| saw her cheek pale, and her step
grow weary. | left her alone amid
the wreck of her home idols, and riot
/ ed at the tavern. She never COM
planned, yet she and the children went
| hungry for bread.
"0ne New Years Night, L went late
| to the hut where charity had given us
roof. She was yet up, and shiveriDg
over the Goals. | demanded food but
she burst into tears, and said there
was none. / fiereely ordered her to
get some. She turned her eyes sadly
upon me, the tears fell fast over her
/ pale cheek. At this moment the child
in the cradle awoke, and set up a fam
ished wall, startling the despairing
mother like serpent's sting
1--WE have DO food, James-have
IL uo,o cor sayoral J,va \ kava