Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-12-15
An Affecting Scene.
a great "cYperiencc meeting" was

a great "e1perience meeting" was
to be held one evening in -
church, where the speakers were, as
usual, to be reformed drunkards. An
estlmable woman, whom | will call
Alice, was induced to attend. When
the meeting was somewhat advanced,
late member of Congress arose,
and with apparent sadness and hesi-
tatlon remarked:
"Though I had consented, at your
urgent solicitation, to address this
assembly tonight, yet l have felt so
great n reluctance to doing so, that
it has been with the utmost difficult
ty | could drag myself forward. As
to relating my experience, that do
not think | can venture upon. The
past | dare not recall. | could wish
that the memory of ten years of my
life were blotted out" He paused a
moment, much affected, and then ad.
ded in a firmer voice, something
must be said of my case, or l shall
fail to make the impression on your
minds that wish to produce. Your
speaker onoe stood among the re-
spected members of the bar. Nay,
more than that, he occupied seat in
Congress for two congressional peri
DDS. And more than that" he con-
tinued, his voice sinking into a tone
expressive of deep emotion, che once
had a tenderly loved wife and two
sweet children. But all these honors,
all these blessings have departed
from him. He was unworthy to re-
tam them; his constituents threw
him off because he had debased
himself and disgraced them. And
more than all, she who had loved
him devotedly, the mother of his
two babes, was forced to abandon
him, and seek an asylum in her faith
er's house. And why? Could be-
come so changed in few years?-
What power was there so to debase
me that my fellow beings spurned,
and even the wife Of my bosom turn
ed away heart-stricken from me?-
Alas, my friends, it was q mad in
diligence in intoxicating drinks. But
for this, | was an honorable and use
full rcprcsen .ative in the halls of leg
islation, and blessed with home,
and with JOY and children. But l
have not told you all. After my
wife separated from me, sank rap
idly. a state of sobriety brought
too many terrible thoughts; | drank
more deeply, and was rarely, if ever,
free from the bewildering effects of
intoxication. At last | became so
abandoned that my wife, urged by
her friends no doubt, filed an appli-
cation for divorce, and as cause
could be readily shown why it should
be granted, a separation was legally
declared; and to complete my dis
grace, at the Congressional canvass,
| was left off the ticket as unfit to
represent the district.
When | heard of this movement
in the great temperance cause, at
first | snecred, wondered, listened at
last, and finally threw myself upon
the great wave that was rolling on
ward, in hope Of being carried by it
far out of the reach of danger. I
did not hope with vain hope. 1t
did for me all and more than l could
have desired. 1t set me once more
upon my feet, once more made a
man Of me. A year of sobriety, ear
nest devotion to my profession, and
fervcnt prayer to Him who alone
gives strength in every resolution,
has restored to me much that l have
lost; but not all, not the richest
treasure that have proved myself
unworthy to retain-not my wife and
children. Between myself and these
the law has laid stern, impossible in
terdictions. l have no longer a wife,
no longer children, though my heart
goes towards these dearly loved
ones with the fondest yearnings.-
Pictures of our early days of we'd
dcd love are ever lingering in my
imagination. l dream of the sweet
fresidc circle; see ever before me
the placid face of my Alice, as her
eyes looked into my own with intel
ligent confidence; the music of her
voice is ever sounding in my ears"
Here the speakers emotion over
came him; his uttcrancc became
choked, and he stood silent, with
bowed head and trembling limbs
The dense mass ofpeople were hush
ed into an oppressive stiffness, that
was broken here and there by half
stuffed sobs.
At this moment there was n move
ment in the crowd. a single female
figure, before whom every one ap-
pearcd instinctively to give way,was
seen passing up the aisle. This was
not observed by the speaker until
she had come nearly in front of the
platform on which he stood. Then
the movement caught his ear, and
his eyes that instant fell on Alice,
who, by the kindness of those near
her, was conducted to his side. The
whole audience, thrilled with the
scene, arose to their feet, and bent
forward, when the speaker extended
his arms, and Alice threw herself up
/ on his bosom.
An aged minister came forward
and gently separated them. "No,