The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-03-06
4 Lesson from IiCe.


notf
II was not always thus. Once was
bright and gay as any one Of you, who,
Tonight, look out on life, ss one broad
field of pleasure and happiness.
Nv childhood was a happy one--my
girlhood none the less so. The only
child Of loving parents, was their joy
and pride. Knowing none Of the cares
Of life-shieldcd tenderly from every
wind Of sorrow, is il strange that ]
should imagine that adversity could new
er cross my path, that thorns could new
wound my feet, but flowers must ever
bloom around me that love and affection
n,sst srer eni;.ld me'
NV father wa, ever kind to me, usual.
ly a loving husband to my mother lie
was man Of high standing in the
church and the community, looked up to
and respected BY all. lie would have
resented Indignantly the imputation of
even approaching the bounds Of intem.
perauce, yet would have thought it a bit
ter fate that should deprive him of his
annual stock Of cider.
| used sometimes to wonder at his
growing fits of depression his occasional
bursts Of impsiience; but never con
nected these facts with frequent aud
large potaiions of his favorite beverage
think my gentle mother thought of
these thing; for | remember two or
three attempts Of hers TO substitute some
pleasant end harmless drink for the usu-
al mug Of cider which my father deem.
ed necessary to cool his 5, stem, burning
with the heats of the hsying season; but
the vexation and almost anger he dis
played at this interference. discouraged
her from further attempts Of this kind.
At the age Of iiity-six, my father was
an old managed a. many at seventy /;
and when he died after days Of fearful
delirium, the physicians pronounced his
disease INFLAMMATION OF the BRAIN AMER
these many years OF bitter experience, l
question the CORRECTNESS Of their dccls-
ion.
a year subsequent to his docease, |
was married to a young mechanic of my
native village. He was as kind and low
ing husband as any girl could desire ;
with good morals and industrious habits.
he was pronounced by all 10 I've most
worthy young man. and very fortun,ie
was considered by my friends, in hav-
ing secured so eligible PaIti. The first
three years Of my married life We were
very hsppy-my only sorrow being the
death Of my mother. she lived long
enough to bless my baby boy, and then
passed to her home above where trust
she is watching over her daughter, TO-
night IN love and sympathy.
My husband was not of that easy dis.
position which rendered it almost impos-
sible for him to say mol If any scheme
Of pleasure or enjoyment was to be start
ed, Edward Hayden must he the first
! consulted, a. his concurrence cV' = -
I..A : ~: fond - s'T'e'. "e entered
with. MS "hoie energy "'o 'he many
plans for amusement our people engaged
IN. The hrst Two years aitcr our mar
riage he either spent his eveninsS at
home with me- or went together to the
scenes of innocent enjoyment our village
afforded but gradually the persua,ions
of-his former associates, who thought 1t
derogatory to mans dignity to he SO
devoted to his wife, drew him to take
more pleasure IN their society, and often
the evening hours were passed amid the
gay company gathered together in the
village b1r-room-the fivorite resort of
young and old.
Al ihis 'iiAe lhe great l'ilpcF"hce IT,
form was asitatins the country to its
lowest depths but as yet little ot II had
been felt in our quiet little hamlet. But
some worthy ladies of our place return
ing from visit to oneof our great cities,
their hearts fired with zeal in the Ten
perance cause, commenced their work by
eudeavoring To establish a Lodge of
Good Templars in our midst and, Ia
their praise be itspoken, they succeeded
At first much opposition was enc'unt-
cred the chains of long habit were not
easily broken but God was with those
earnest workers, and when was his power
ever overthrow!
was early sought 10 throw my iniiu-