The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-03-21
TIE OLD MANS STORY.

TIE OLD MANS STORY.
shall never forget the commencement o
the temperance reform. | WAS child at The
time of some ten years of age. Our home
had every comfort, and my parents idolized
me, their child. Wine was often upon our
table, and both my father and mother fire..
auently gave 1t TO me III the bottom of the
glass. One Sunday at church, "A startling an
nouncement was made to our people.
knew nothing OF its import, but there was
much whispering among men. The pastor
said that on the next evening there would be
meeting, and an address upon the evils OF
intemperance in the use Of alcoholic drinks.
lie expressed 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 the services, and questioned my
father about i, with all the curious eagerness
Of child. The whisper and words which
had been dropped in my hearing clothed the
whole affair in Il great mystery to me, and
was all eagcrness to learn what ii meant My
father sad 1t was some scheme 10 unite the
church and state.
The night came, and troops of people gath
cred on the tavern steps, and heard the jest
and laugh, and saw drunken men Keeling out
of the barroom. | urged my father 20 let me
90, but he refused. Finally, thinking it
would be an innocent qualification of my Gu
riosity, he put on his hat and we passed
across the field to the church. | remember
well how the people appeared as they came
in, seeming 10 wonder what kind of an eXhi-
bitlon was to come Off In the corner was
the tavcrn-kecper, and around him number
of friends. For an hour the people OF the
place continued to come ill., until there was a
fair house full. All were curiously watching
the door, wondering what would next appear.
The pastor stole in and took a seat behind Il
pillar under the gallery as If doubtful of the
propriety of being there at all. Two men fin
ally appeared and went to the altar, and took
seats. All eyes were fixed upon them, and a
stiffness pcrTadcd the room. The men were
unlike in appearance, one being short and
thick set in build, the other tall and well
formed. The younger had the manner and
dress OF Il clergyman II full round face, and
quiet good naturcd look, as he cisurcly look.
ed around the audience. But my childish
interest was all in the old man. His broad
deep chest and unusual height looking giant
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 and touching sadness. His eye was
black and restless and kindlcd as the tavern
were compressed, and Il crimson flush went
and came over his pale cheek. One arm was
off above the elbow, and there was II wide
scar over The right eye.
The younger finally arose and asked i'll
there WAS clergyman present to open with Il
prayer Our pastor kept his seat, and the
speaker himself made Il short prayer, and
then delivered a brief address, at the conclu
sion calling upon any one present to make
remarks. The pastor arose under the gal
lery and attacked the position of the speaker
using the argument which have often heard
since, and concluded by denouncing those
engaged III the new movement as meddlcsOmc
fanatics, who wished to break up the time.
honOrcd usagcs Of good society, and injure
the business Of respectable men. AT the con. .
clusion of his remarks, the tavern. keeper and .
his friends got up cheer, and the current of
feeling was evidently against the strangers
and their plan.
While the pastor was speaking, the old
man had fixed his dark eye upon him, and
leaning forward as if to catch every word
As the pastor took his seat, the old man
arose, MS tall torn towering in its symme
Try, and his chest swelling as he inhaled his
oredlh through his thin dllated nostrils. To
me, at that timc there was something awe
inspiring and grand in the appearance of the
OLD man, as he stood with his full eye upon
the audience, his teeth shut hard, ard 81.
renee IKE that Of death throughout the
CHuICh' ne utnt his gaze upon She tavern
keeper anu mat peculiar eye fingered and
klnuIeu Tor half moment The sea. grew
red upon his forehead and beneath the heavy
eyebrows his eyes glittcrcd and gowcd like
those OF "a serpent
inc laVern-Hecpcr qualled before the
archihs s!anc', anu ielt relief when the
4 Ia l.
he seemed lost in thought, and then in in,,
and Tcmuluus tone commenced ~"
There was depth in that voice "A tLrillf,,
pathos and sweetness, which riyited rvnry
heart IN the house, before The first period had
been rounded. Ny fathers attention had mr.,
come liked on thl speaker with an interrs,
which mad never seen him exhibit. | can
but Driehy remember the substance Of VIVA,
the Oh man SAID though the scene is vivid
as any that ever witnessed
my friends am n STRANGER !, ,,o,,r ~,
lage, and trust may call Won friends 4
new star has arisen, and there is hone in the
dark night which hangs like pail of gloom
over our country"
With thrilling depth Of voice the sneaker
continued:
20 God, thou who lookest with c,,nr,ssio,
on the most crriug OF earth's children I
4 thank thee that . braZen serpent ha, hoon
] lifted, upon which the drunken can lool al
be helped thar beacon has burst out upoD
the darkness tIat surroundshim. which sioii
guide back TO honor and heaven the brn;Sod
and weary wanderer."
/, Is strange what power there = in some
voices The speaker was slow and unmoyed
but tear trembled in every eye and beforc
L knew why, a tear dropped upon my hand
followed By others like rain drops. The Did
man brushed one from mis- own eyes, and con.
tInued:
HMen and Chrisiians-You have just heard
that am vdgrant and a fanatic. ] am
not As God knows my own sad heart, |