The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-07-08
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miscellaneous.
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Az EXCITING SCENE.

| ~ SiH-tV S-\ p''i 'SHIS iiiHS''b =
some years ago was TO he held
one evening in church,
where the speakers were all to b,
reformed drunkards. An eStimabl
woman whom We will call Alice
was induced to attend. When til
meeting was somewhat advanced
a late member Of Congress aro>
with apparent sadness and hcsita
ton.
"Though I have consented, at
your urgent solicitation, to address
this assembly to night" he said,
"yet | felt so great reluctance in
doing so, that it has been with the
utmost difficulty that I could drag
myself forward. AS to relating
my experience, that | do not think
can venture upon. The past !
dare not recall. | could wish that
ten years Of my life were blotted
out"
He paused 4 moment much af:
ftctcd, and then atded in y final
Understanding must bc said
Of my own case, or | fail to make
the impression on your own minds
that | wish 20 produce.
"Yourspcakcr once stood among
The respected mem bers Of the bar.
Nay, more than that, he occupied
Il seat in Congress for two con-
gressional periods. And m ore
than that" he continued, his
voice sinking into 4 tone express
sivc Of deep emotion: she once had
atcndcrIy loved wife and two sweet
children. But ali these honors, all
these blessings have departed from
him. lie was unworthy to retain
them. His constituents let him
drop because he had dcbased him
self and diSgraccd them. And
more thar all she who had loved
him dcvotcdly, the mother Of his
two babes, was forced TO abandon
him and seek an asylum in her
fathers house. And why? Could
| become so changed in a few
short years? What power was
there TO so debase me that my
fcIlow-b beings spurned land even
the wife Of my bosom turned away
heart broken from me? Alas, my
friends, it was mad Indulgence
in intoxicating drinks. But for
this | were useful and honorable
representative in the hall Of legis-
lation, and blessed with home, and
wife, and children.
"But I have not told you all.
After my wife was separated from
me, l sank rapidly. A state ofso-
briefly was too terrible for my
thoughts. | drank more deeply,
and was rarely, if ever: free from
the bewiIdering effects of partial
intoxication. At last I became SO
abandoned that my wife urged by
her friends no doubt filed an appli-
cation for a divorce, and as cause
could be readily shown why it
should be granted, a separation
was legally declared and to COM
plete my disgrace, at the congress
sional canvass | was left off my |
ticket as unfit to represent the
district.
"When / heard of the Sons of
Temperance. / sneered at first, then
wondered, listened at lase, and
then | threw myself on the great
brotherhood that was marching |
on in triumph, in the hope Of be-
ing carried off by them out Of the
reach Of danger. Nor did | hope
with q vain hope. The Order
did for me all, and more than all |
could have desired. 1t set me
once more on my feet, onco more
made a man Of me.
"a year Of sobricty, earnest de-
votion to my profession and fer
vent prayer to Him who alone
gives strength in every good res
olution, restored me to much that
I had lost: but not all, not the !
richest treasure that | had proved |
myself unworthy to retain-not
my wife and children. Between
myself and these law has laid its
stern, impossible intcrdictions.-
have nc longer a wife. no longer
children, though my heart goes
towards these loved ones with the |
,endcrcst ycarning. Pictures of
our earlier days Of welded love are
ever lingering in my imagination.
[ dream of the sweet fre-side cir
Gle, l see ever before me the placid |
face of my Alice, as her eyes look
ed into mine with intelligent con-
fdence the music Of her voice is
ever sounding in my ears"
Here the speakers emotion
overcame him; his utterance be-
canned choked, and he stood silent,
with bowed head and trembling
limbs. The dense mass Of people |
were hushed into oppressive STILL