Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-08-01
REUNITED AT LAST.
A Faithful Wife and a New-Style Gold
en- Wedding-The Singular Expe-
rience Of a WhilhOm Nash
vile Printer.

vile Printer.
The following, clipped from Cleve-
land, Ohio, paper, will prove interest
ing to our city readers, from the fact
that the hero" of the story was form
erly foreman in the Office of the Nash
vile Gazette:
In saloon on River street, one day
about three months ago, Mrs. John
Coon band was accosted by an old
man whose white hair was an emblem
of the time that had passed over him,
and whose form and appearance show
ed that he had been long under the in
fiuence of intemperance. He gave
his name as Westbrook, and his Ian
guage and manner was conclusive proof
that he had been, in early days. man
far above the place and the condition
in which he was found.
The prayers and persuasions Of the
praying women touched in his heart
memory of that old time, and at last
he placed his name upon the pledge
book, and gave his word of honor to
henceforth remain q temperate man.
There was something about the man
that impressed the temperance work
ers with an idea that he was of better
stuff than most his associates. A very
earnest yearning to save him grew up
in their minds, and friends were enlist
ed in his behalf, ready to do anything
for him. He was taken to the house
of Mr.. w. 4. Preston, in East Cleve-
land, and kept there about three weeks,
until he was strong enough to face
temptation without failing.
The history of the man then came
out. Eight years ago, when the power
of drink had possession of all his fac
ulties, he deserted his family in Phila-
delphia, and from that day up to the
time ON which he told the story he had
never heard from them. For years he
had drifted from place to place, at one
time working at the case in a printing
Office, at others doing oddend of local
or editorial work, and at other times
living in that make-shift manner in
which so many homeless wretches 60
through the world, earning little and
begging little here and there.
After he was kept at Preston's for a
few weeks, he turned his feet toward
the home of his father at Newark.
His father, with years among the nine
ties, welcomed him as one brought
back from the dead.
But all this time no trace was heard
of his wife or daughter. At last it
was discovered that his daughter was
at Dispatch Station in New Kent
county, West Virginia. A letter was
directed to her, telling of her fathers
discovery. As the daughter was away
from home when the letter arrived it
was forwarded to the mother in Wash
ingtOn, who then, for the first time in
eight long years, found a clue to the
whereabouts of her husband. Those
eight years had been years of search
with her High and low had she sought
him, for she knew that if the demon of
drink would but once let 60 its hold,
her old love would awake and his man
hood reassert itself. But the long
quest was vain. and at last she gave
him up as one dead. But here at last
was the clue she had sought in vain
A letter was written by her in eX-
change, and after short correspond
ence between the friends of the re-
formed man and his wife, it was ar
ranged that they should meet here and
the reconciliation should be COM
plete.
At last the day of meeting came.
Over such a meeting the golden seal of
silence must be placed, for all the sins
and neglects of eightyears were buried
in one moment by the love and for
givness of the wronged but noble
woman. 1t was the thought of the
friends that no better way could be
made Of celebrating the reunion of the
two than by a repetition of the we'd
ding ceremony, and accordingly it was
so performed last evening at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Preston. The ceremony
was not strictly in accordance with any
marriage ritual, but was heightened
somewhat by prayers and songs by
members of the praying band.
Mrs. John Coon opened the services
by reading Scriptual lesson, after
which hymns were sung and prayers
offered by Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. Seaman
and Miss Edwards.
The Rev. j. Z. Twitchell, of the
Euclid Avenue Congregational Church,
then made few remarks relating how
Mr.. and Mrs Westbrook had been
separated for eight long years, that a
most pleasing as well as satisfactory
reconciliation had been effected, and
that it had been deemed fit the occa-
sion of their coming together again be
celebrated in public manner. This
was the more proper on account of the
peculiar circumstances attending the
reunion. At the close of his remarks
Rev. Mr.. Twitchell performed the
marriage ceremony, the ring used being
the same one used in 1855, when the
first service was solemnized at Spring
field, Ohio.
Mr.. and Mrs. Westbrook leave
Monday morning for Richmond, Va,
to visit their daughter and friends
there.