The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-03-24
gelsrf Story.
A THRILLING STORY.

bell at Backley, but its industry was en-
tirely unnecessary, for the single church
at Backley was already full from the
altar to the doors, and the window-sills
and altar steps were crowded with chill
dren. The Backleyites had been before
to the regular yearly temperance meet
ings, and knew well the relative merits
of sitting and standing to wait until
called by the bell. OF course no one
could afford to be absent, for entertain
ments were decidedly frequent at Back
ley; the populace was too small to sup
port a course of lectures; and too moral
to give any encouragement to circusas
or minstrel troupes, but temperance
meeting was both moral and chaste, and
the children might all be taken in with
out extra cost.
For months all the Young men and
maidens at Backley had been practicing
the choruses of the songs which the
Temperance Glee Club of neighboring
town was to sing at the meeting. For
weeks large posters, printed in the red
dest of ink, announced to the surround
ing country that the parent society
would send to Backley, for this especial
occasion, one of its most brilliant ora
tors, and although the pastor made the
statement Gn the smallest possible type)
that at the close of the entertainment
collection would be taken to defray the
expense of the lecturer, the sorrowing
ones took comfort in the fact that GER
tain fractional currency represented but
a small amount of money.
The bell ceased ringing, and the crowd
at the door attempted to squeeze into
the aisles; the Backley Cornet Quar-
tette played a stirring air; Squire Breet
called the meeting to order. and was
himself elected permanent Chairman;
the Reverend Mr.. Genial prayed earn
estly that intemperance might cease to
reign; the Glee Club sang several songs
with rousing choruses; pretended
drunkard and cold water advocate
(both pupils of the Backley High SCHOOL,
delivered a dialogue in which the pre-
tended drunkard was handled severely;
a tableau of ''The Drunkard's Home"
was given, and then the parent society's
brilliant orator took the platform.
The orator was certainly very well in
formed, logical and convincing, besides
being quite witty. He proved to the
satisfaction of all present that alchohol
was not nutritious: that it awakened
general and unhealthy physical excite
ment, and that it hardened the tissues
of the brain. He proved, by reports of
analysis, that adulteration, and with
harmful materials, was largely practiced.
He quoted from reports of police, prison
statement that alchohol made most of
our criminals. He unrolled formida-
BILE array of stati.tis., and showed how
many loayes of bread could be bought
with the money expended in the United
States for intoxicating liquors; how
many comfortable houses the same mon
ey would build; how many schools it
would support; and how soon it would
pay the National debt.
Then he drew a moving picture of the
sorrow of the drunkardts family and the
awfulness of the drunsard's death and
sat down amidst "a perfect thunder of
applause.
The faithful beamed upon each other
with glowing and expressive eounte-
nances, the Cornst Quartette played
.Don't you go, Tommy" the smallest
young lady sang Father, dear father,
come Home with Inc now;n and then
Squire Breet. the Chairman, said that
the meeting was open tor remarks.
A derisive laugh from some of the half
grown boys, ami litter from some of
the misses, attracted the attention of the
audience, and looking round there was
Joe Diggs standing up in pew near the
door.
"Put him out.n ''It's a shame ~
'Disgraceful" were some of the cries
which were heard in the room.
'Mr. Diggs is a citizen of Backley, +"
and the Chairman, rapping vigorously
to call the audience to order, "and tho
not a member of the Association, he is
entitled to hearing"
Thank you, Mr.. Chairman, said Joe
Diggs, when quiet was restored. ''Your
words are the first respectful ones I've
ever heard in Backley, an 1 do assure
you appreciate 'em. But want the
audience to understand amt drunk
1 amt had cent for two days an
81 believe every word the gentleman
has said continued the drunkard,
'sand''-here he paused long enough to
let an excitable member exclaim "Bless
the Lordn and burst into tears-''and
he could have put it all good deal
stronger without stretching the truth. -
An the sorrer of drunkard's home can
be talked about till the dictionary runs
dry, 'an then ye don't know nothin'
about it. But hain't none of ye ever
laughed bout qockin' the stable door
| after the ,hoss is stolen? That's just
what this temperance meetin' an all the
others comes to"
A general and rather indignant muir
mer of dissent ran through the audience.
''You don't believe it, " said Joe Digs
but I've been drunkard an I'm one
yet, an ye all got sense enough to un