Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-02-24
Is Temperate Drinking SAT-

Alta certain town meeting In Penusyl-
vauia. the question came up whether any
person should be licensed TO sell rum.
The Clergyman. the deacon, the ply sician.
strange a. It may appear, all tavosed II.
One man only spoke against 1t. because OF
the mischief il did The question was
about to be put. when there arose from
one corner of the room miserable woman.
She was thinly clad, and her appearance
Indicated the utmost wretchedncss, aud
that her moral career was almost closed.
After moments silence, aud all eyes be-
ing fixed upon her. she stretched her atten-
uated body 10 IT, utmost height. aud then
her long arms TO their grca,esvlensth and
aising her voice to shrill pitch. she
called 10 all to look upon her.
Yes She said, look upon me, aud
then hear me. All that the last speaker
has said relative to temperate drinking, ~
being the father of drunkenness, j. true,
All practice, all experience. declares IT,
truth. All drinking of alcoholic poison.
as a beverage in health. i err,Ss Look
upon me You all know me. or once did.
You all know | was once the mistress Of
the best farm in the town; you all know,
too, | had one of the bcst--thr most drvu-
ted OF husbands. You all Know | had duc.
noble-hearted, industrious boys. Where
arr INV INV IJLItpI. Nnfft are lfifN
now? You all know. You all know they
lie in row, side By side. IN yondcr church.
yard; all--cyery one Of them filling the
drunkard's grave. They were all taught
Ia believe that temperate drinking was
safe-ihat exces, alone ought To be avoid
ed and they never acknowledged excess.
They quoted you. and you. and YOU. point
Ing with her shred of finger To the minis
ter, deacon and doctor a. authority
lucy thought themselves safe under such
teachers. But | saw the IRA iual change
coming over my family aud it, prospects.
9TH dismay and horror. | felt We were
all to be overwhelmed IN one common
ruin. tried 10 ward oil the blow tried
- brcaN the spell. The dcIu,ivc spell, ia
which the idea ~ the benefits ~ temperate
drinking had involved my husband and
sons. begged, | prayed: hnt the odds
were against me.
The minister said the poison that was
destroying my husband and boys was a
good creature OF god: the deacon who sits
under the pulpit there. and took our farm
10 pay his rum bills. sold them the poison :;
the doctor said little was good. and the
excess only ought To be avoided. Ny poor
husband and nv dear boys tell into the
snare, and they could not escape aud. one
after another. were conveyed to the sor
rowful grave of the drunkard. Now look
AZ me again. You probably see me for the
last time. Nv sands have almost run.
have dragged my exhausted frafve from
my present home-your poor housc-to
warn you all to warn you, deacon to warn
you, false teacher of Gods word" And
with her arms flung high. and her tall form
stretched Ia its utmost, and her voice raised
70 an unearthlv pitch, She exclaimed. II
shall soon stand before the judgment seat
OF God. shall meet YOU there. YOU false
guides. and be witnes, against you an =
The miserable woman vanished 4 dead
silence prevailed the assembly; the minis
ter, Tie deacon and physician hung their
heads; and when the president OF the meet
ia. put up the question, "Shall any IL
censes be granted for the sale Of sprltuou~
liquors.: the unanimous response wa-
NO!'-VsH.Di' II Geo. v. Briggs. tate r.
GOrerHOr Of Mass.