The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-04-18
TEMPERANCE.
A SAD CAREER.

drink is more forcibly illustrated in the
following account Of the wreck of
talented young man, than we have
ever seen it illustrated before.
]. J. Talbot, of Indianapolis, died
at South Bend, Ind, on the 2d ult.,
aged 80. In early life he studied for
the ministry and became a Methodist
clergyman. subsequently, after his
marriage at Louisville, he joined the
Episcopal Church and had charge of a
wealthy pastorate, and during the re-
bellion acted as chaplain for a Ken
lucky regiment. lie left the ministry
and became a lawyer. He was at one
time member of Congress from Ken
lucky. lie finally yielded to an in
herited appetite for strong drink, and
fell to a very low level, but was
reclaimed, and became a very eff
fective advocate of temperance. lie
was the head of the Order of Good
Templars in Indiana and seeded with
the British delegation.
Hon. Schuyler Colfax, in a recent
letter referring TO his death, says of
Mr.. Talbot: "He has made hundreds
of eloquent and touching appeals for
temperance all over our state within
the past two years, but told me that
the appetite would sometimes become
insatiate as to almost defy control,
though.he prayed on Bonded knee for
strength to resist it. / remember the
terrible picture of his own experience
copied in the enclosed article. He
delivered it here, to a crowded audi
ence, hundreds of whom, like myself,
were in tears, and he uttered it in de-
spending tones that seemed almost
like the wall of the lost, and as if he
felt his impending doom was inevita-
be-"
We quote the following extract re-
ferred to by Mr.. Colfax:
but now that the struggle is over,
| can survey the field and measure the
losses. | had position high and holy.
This demon tore from around me the
robes Of my sacred office, and sent me
forth churchless and goddess, a very
kissing and by-word among men. At
forward | had business, large and lu-
cratiye, and my voice in all large courts
was heard pleading for justice, mercy
and right. But the dust gathered on
my unopened books, and no football
crossed the threshold Of the drunk
ards office. | had money ample for
all necessities, but it 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 It's threshold and
the light faded from its 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.
had children, beautiful, to me at
least as dream Of the morning, and
they had 50 cntwined themselves
around their fathers heart that, no
matter where it might wander, ever it
came back to them on the bright wings
of fathers undying love. This de-
stroyer took their hands in his and led
them away. Ihad a wife whose charms
Of mind and person were such that too
see her was to remember, and to know
her was to love. For thirteen years
we walked the rugged path Of life to-
gether, rejoicing in its sunshine and
sorrowing in its shade. This internal
monster couldn't spare me even this.
| had mother who for long, long
years had not left her chair, n victim
of suffering and disease, and her
choicest delight was in rejecting that
the lessons which she had taught at
her knee had taken root in the heart
of her youngest born, and that he was
useful to his fellows and an honor to
her who bore him. But the thunder
bolt reached even there, and there it
did its most cruel work. All! me;
never word of reproach from her
lips-only tender caress; only
shadow Of great and unspoken grief
gathering over the dear old face only
a trembling hand laid more lovingly
on my head, only closer clinging to
the cross; only more piteous appeal,
to Heaven if her cup at last were not
full. And while her boy raved in his
wild delirium two thousand miles away,
the plying angels pushed the golden
gates ajar, and the mother of the
drunkard entered into rest.
"And thus | stand: a clergyman