Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-12-07
"a SOUL WITHOUT A HopEn

ANHS " AiO1S
touching than the following sketch under
the above caption, which we copy from a
recent number of the Colorado Farmer:
The saddest story that has reached us of
late Is that connected with the late j. j.
Talbot, Il T. G. W. 9. Templar, of Indiana.
We met him at the Bloomington session of
the K. w. G. Lodge in 1876, and found him
an active, earnest, aggressive temperance
worker. At the Louisville session Of the
present year, he brought himself into more
than usual prominence by the course he
adopted, no doubt conscientiously, in tax
ing part with the British secession from the
Il. W. G. l.. jurisdiction. Doubtless the
personal notoriety resulting from his action
mad Its due effect upon a naturally nervous
temperament; but the sad truth remains
upon record that shortly after his return to
ms native State, Brother Talbot fell from
grace, and his feet wandered from the paths
OF rectltude. Nay, more; the demon that
entered into the clean and garnished cham
Der brought with it other demons, and his
last state was worse than his first, until the
merciful hand of death was laid upon him
and he passed away, leaving behind him a
story as sad, as suggestive, as any ever told.
Below we give his own description of his
struggles against the demon of drink, writ
ten during some lucid moments. Brothers.
read it over carefully and ponder over it Sc
riously. Take the lesson it teaches to heart,
especially such of you as have come up to
the fraternal trinity from. the ranks of the
enemy. Hold fast to that which is good.
Renew your VOWS daily. Remember your
obligations.
But now the struggle is over, / can sur
vey the field and measure the losses. [ had
position, high and holy. This demon tore
from around me the robes of m Y sacred Of
flee and sent me forth churchless and god
less, a very Kissing and a by-word among
men. Afterward [ had business large and
lucrative, and my voice in all large courts
was heard pleading for justice, mercy and
right. But the dust gathered on my un-
opened books, and no foot fall crossed the
threshold of the drunkard's office. [ had
moneys ample for all necessities, but they
took wings and went to feed the Golfers OF
the devils which possessed me. | had a
home adorned with all that wealth and the
most exquisite taste could suggest. This
devil crossed its treshold and the light faded
from it's chambers the fire went out on the
hottest of affairs. and leading me through its
portals, despair walked forth with her, and
sorrow and anguish fingered within. / hat
children, beautiful, to me at least, as 6
dream of the morning, and they had SO en-.
tWined themselves around their fathers
heart that no matter where [ might wander
ever it came back to them on the wings of
fathers undying love. His destroyer tool
their hands in his and led them away. [ had
a wife whose charms of mind and person
were such that to see her was to remember,
and to know her was TO love. X \ >
For thirteen years we walked the rugged
path of lite together, rejoicing in its sun
shine and sorroWing in its shade. This in
fernal monster couldn't spare me even this
[ had a mother, who, for long years had no
left her chair, a victim of suffering and dis
ease, and her choicest delight was in the re
Election that the lesson which she had taught
at her knee had taken root in the heart O
her youngest born, and that he was usefu
to his fellows and an honor to her who bore
him. But the thunderbolt reached ever
there, and there it did it's most cruel work
Other days may cure all but this. All me
never a word of reproach from her lips; on
ly a shadow of a great and u%nspoken grie
gathering over the dear old Ease; only
trembling hand laid more lovingly on ny