Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-02-26

y In thy yorgire-ness we as saints can die,
Since for us, and our tresspdssss SO high,
i, Thy Son our Savior, died on Calvary.
in THE OLD MANS STORY
A Tale of the Temperance Re
form.
AI l shall meyer forget the commence
} ment Of the temperance reform. wa
a child at the time, of some ten years o
age. Our home had every comfort, ant
my parents idolized me, their child
Wine was often on the table, and boti
$ my father and mother frequently gav'
it to me in the bottom of glass.
One Sunday at church, startling an
> nouncement was made to our people.
knew nothing of its import, but ther.
was much whispering among the men
The pastor said that on the next even
ling there would be meeting and an
address upon the evils of intemperance
in the use of alcoholic drinks. He ex-
pressed himself ignorant of the object
of the meeting, and could not say what
course it would be best to pursue in the
matter.
The subject of the meeting came up
at our table after service, and ques-
toned my father about it with the eager
ness of child. The whispered words
which had been dropped in my hearing
clothed the whole affair in mystery to
me, and was all eagerness to the same
strange thing.
My father said it was some scheme to
unite church and State.
The night came, and the troops Of
people gathered ON the tavern steps,
and heard the jest and laugh, and saw
drunken men reeling out of the bar
room. urged my father to let me go,
but he refused. Finally, thinking it
would be an innocent qualification of
my curiosity, he put on his hat and we
passed across the green to the church.
remember well how the people ap-
peared as they came in, seeming 10
wonder what kind of an exhibition was
to como off. /
In the corner was the tavern-keeper,
and around him was number of his
friends.
For an hour the people of the place
continued to come in, until there was
fair house full. All were curiously
watching the door, wondering what
would next appear. The pastor stole in
and took seat behind pillar under
the gallery, as if doubtful of the pro-
priety of being there at all.
Two men finally came in, and went
to the altar, and took their seats. All
eyes were fixed upon them, and gen.
eral stiffness pervaded the house.
The men were unlike in appearance
one being short and thick set in build,
the other tall and we'll formed. The
younger had the manner and dress of a
clergyman full round face and quiet,
good-Batured look, as he leisurely look
cd round the audience.
But my childish interest was all in
the old man. His broad, deep chest,
and unusual height; looking gaunt-
like as he strobe up the aisle. His hair
was white, his brow deeply scanned with
burrows, and around his handsome
mouth, lines of calm, touching sadness.
His eye was black and restless, and
kindled as the tavern keeper uttered a
low jest aloud. His lips were COM
pressed, and crimson flush went and
came over his pale cheek. One arm was
off above the elbow, and there was a
wide, deep scar over his right eye.
The younger finally arose and stated
the object of their meeting, and asked |
if there was clergyman present to
open with prayer.
Our pastor kept his seat, and the
speaker himself made a short prayer,
and then made a short address, at the
conclusion calling upon any one pres
ent to make remarks.
The pastor rose under the gallery,
and attacked the position of the speak
er, using the argument which have
often heard since, and concluded by de-
nouncing those engaged. in the new
movement rs meddlesome fanatics, who /
wished to break up 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 cheer,
and the current of feeling was evident
ly against the strangers and their plans.
While the pastor was speaking, the
old man had fixed his eye upon him
and leaned forward as if to catch every
word.
AS the pastor took his seat, the old |
man rose, his tall form towering in its
symmetry, and his chest swelling as he
inhaled his breath through his thin di-
lated nostrils. To me, at that time there |
was something awe-inspiring and grand
in the appearance of the old man, as he
stood with his full eye upon the audi
ence, his teeth shut hard and silence
like that OF death throughout the
church.
He bent his gaze upon the tavern
keeper, and that peculiar eye fingered
and kindled for half moment.
The scar grew red upon his forehead
and beneath his heavy eyebrows his
eye glittered and glowed like those of
serpent. The tavern-keeper quailed be-
fore the searching glance, and l felt
relief when the old man withdrew his
gaze. For moment he seemed lost in
thought, and then in a low and tremu-
lous tone he commenced. There was a
depth in that voice, thrilling pathos
and sweetness, which riveted every
heart in the house, before the first pc
riod had been rounded. My fathers at
tention had become fixed on the speak