Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-01-04
Mr. james ". west.--the Reformer.

he.oIm. before leaving our county he was /
known as Jim West "a harum-scarum,
dissipaiing young man. reckless but never Vi
cious lie hal meaere educational al vantages
and in a very limited degree availeI himself
of them for Intellectual or moral culture
Nor, be is teetotaler, an earnest, euthusas-
tic advocate of Temperance aud Religion, and
is doing grand work Being at home on
visit, The Good remplars, having heard Of bis
zeal in behalf Of Temperance, very naturally
jumped at the opportunity presented by his
presence in the county TO get an address by
him. On Monday night. and again on We'd
nesday night Of this week, Charles Wash
inston Hall " was filed to its utmost capacity
10y ladies and gentlemen Of town and country
eager 10 hear him. lie is n vigorous, fluent,
eloquent speaker, with good voice, impressive
manner, aud edifying and entertaining. Hero
lated incidents in his own career portrayed
graphically his SAD experiences in delrium
tremens and appalled, his al'litors by the hor-
rors OF his condition. lie INDUCED briefly, but
pertiuently, in statistics; iuterspersed his re-
marks with apt, amusing, almirably-tolJ an
ecdoies illustrative of the points he would
make aud desired to enforce and impress :;
touched humorously, not coarsely but deproca-
linsly, upon the practice Of some allopathic
physicians who prescribe calomel AM brandy
for a cut finger, and homeopathists who trust
to pellet aud glass of Caiawba for a cold in
the head and some very el Quent aud consci-
eutious preachers who tone or brace up with a
tonic; and aIyerted somewhat sharply to a
class Of persons who hold aloof from Temper
ance organic atoms for fear their responsibility
would be compromised lie thought there
were some people too respectable for useful
ness and many Of them would die Of dry rot
and their selfestoened respec;aLiliiy. He
met at the threshold the numerous excuses
which so many self-rgLteous aud others with
one accord make wien urged to pledge them
selves to a life Of abstenence from strong drink
aud 10y their influence help others to be strong
10 resisting the seductive wies Of the temp,er
lie spoke OF the AFFECT slavery to which all
men are exposed by the use Of strong drink
the high and the low, the rich and poor, the
learned and the ignorant are victims to the
accurSed acknowledgements. The speak
ers sincerity was manifest throughout his re-
marks and carried conviction 20 his bearers
His audience was touched by the pathos Of bis
recitation Of " The Old Oaken Bucket "-ly
Samuel Woodwork
How dear to this heart are the scenes Of my child
hood,
When fond recollection presents them to view !
The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wild
wood,
And every loved spot which my infancy knew 8
The wild-spreadlag pond, aad tie mill which stood
by IL,
The 0ridg,, and tn, rock where the cataract
fell;
The cot oi my father, the dairy house night it.
And cen the rude bucket which hung Ia the well.
The Old oaken bacSet, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket which hung in the we'll
That moss-coyered vessel hail rs a treasure;
For ten, at noon, when returned from the field,
| found it the source OF an exquisite pleasure,
the purest and sweetest that nIture can yield
AAtN t4cut otlAtl ~ Win uAAuS LudN NeIt ElNM
AID quick to the white-pcbbled bottom it fell ;
Then soon, with ths emblem OF truth overflow ing,
Aud dripping with c)Olaess, it rose from the
well;
The old oakcn bucket, the iron bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket, arose from the we'll.
How sweet from the green messy brim to receive it,
As, poised on the curb, il inclined TO my lips
Nut full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave
M.
Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips
And now, far removed from the loved situation,
The tear OF regret viii tntrusively swell,
= fancy reyerts - nv fathers plantation,
Aud signs Tor the bucket which hangs in the
wells
The old oa6en bucket. the iron bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket which hangs IN the well.
lie is one Of the most effective Temperance
orators We have heard, aud the Good Tempars
of Illinois recognized his power and appointed
him Deputy State Lecturer We doubt if
Cough OF GI!ly surpassed him at his years as
public speaker. Truly be is a diamond, tho
a stranger to Amsterdam.
Seventy persons signed his pledge on Mon
day ui ght and fifty on Wednesday night He
viii speak again in Charles Washington Hail.
GA Monday evening next, at o'clock To
procure seats yen must 90 before that hour
Tue Hall viii be lilel-lhe people crowd in
FROM town aud country.
On "Wednesday evening the Good Templars,
in rosala, marshaied by Capt. d. II. C,ckrll
aud preceded bp the Silver Baud, marched to
thesIlall aud took seats reserved for them-,he
officers in rich regala occupying the platform.
On these occasions the Bands add greatly to
the iutercs, by their best performances.
IL. W. W. - 1870 h.. in.l dn,,.rol