The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-08-22
A ROmaCe of the WOmen's
Crusade.

Cleveland (Ohio) papers relate an in
teresting incident growing out of the
women's temperance crusade in that
city. They say that one day, about
three months ago. Mr.. John Coon's
band was accosted bya prematurely old
man, who gave his name as Westbrooke,
and whose appearance showed that he
had long been victim of intemperance.
The prayers and persuasions of the
praying women touched in his heart the
memory of that old time, and at last he
placed his name upon the pledge-book,
and gave his word of honor to hence
forth remain a temperate man. There
was something about the man that i'm
pressed the Temperance workers with an
idea that he was of better stuff than
most associates, and friends were
enlisted in his behalf ready to do any
thing for him. He was taken to the
house Of Mr.. W. L. Preston, in East
Cleveland, and kept there about three
weeks, until he was strong enough to
face temptation without falling.
The history of the man then came
out. He proved to be Colonel William
II. Westbrooke, who at one time during
the Rebellion served under General
Beauregard. After the war he was unit
ed to young lady, the daughter of an
extensive tobacco manufacturer of Rich
mond, Virginia, and allied to some of
the best families in that State. They
settled and lived happily together in
Philadelphia. Eight years ago, when
the power of drink had got possession
completely of his faculties, he deserted
his family, 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 printing
office, at others doing odd ends of local
or editorial work, and, at other times
living in that makeshift manner in
which SO many homeless wretches 90
through the world, earning little and
begging little here and there. After
he was kept at Mr.. Preston's for few
weeks, he turned his feet toward the home
of his father, at Newark. His father,
with years among the nineties, welcom-
ed 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 Co.,
West Va. A letter was directed to her,
telling her of her fathers discovery.
AS the daugher was away from home
when the letter arrived, it was forward
ed to the mother in Washington, who
then, for the first time in eight long
years, found clue to the whereabouts
of her husband. Those eight wears had
been years ofsearch with her. High and
low had she sought for him, for she
knew that if the demon of drink would
but once let 60 its hold her old love
would awake and his manhood re,assert
itself. But the long quest was vain,
and at last she gave him up as one dead
and she was henceforth widow in
heart, hoping thatrepentance had reach.
ed him ahead of death. But here at last
was the clue she had sought in vain. A
letter was written by her in exchange,
and after a short correspondence be.
tween the friends of the reformed man
and his wife, it was arranged that they
should meet here, and the reconciliation
should be complete. The noble friends
of the struggling man still planned for
his happiness, and at last the day of
meeting came. Over such a meeting
the golden seal of silence must be pl ac.
ed, for all the sins and neglects for eight
years, were buried in one moment by
the love and forgiveness of the wronged
but noble woman.