The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-04-03


interest I had never before seen him
exhibit. can but brifly remember
the substance OF what the old man
said, though the scene was as vivid
before me as ever ! witnessed.
"My friends, I am stranger in
your village, and 1 trust I may call
you my friends. A new star has
arisen. and there is hope in the dark
night that hangs like pail OF gloom
over our country"
With thrilling depth Of voice, the
speaker continued:
20 God, thou who looked with COM
passion upon the most erring OF
!. earth's frail children, 1 thank thee that
brazen serpent has been lifted up,
upon which a drunkard may look and
be healed; that beacon has burst
out upon the darkness that surrounds
him, which shall give him back TO
, honor and heaven the bruised and
weary wanderer.
1t is strange what power there Ia in
J some voices. The speakers voice
was low and measured; but a tear
trembled in every tone. and before l
knew why, tear dropped on my
hand. followed by others like rain
drops. The old man brushed one
} from his eyes. and continued:
Men and Christiansl you have
just heard that 1 am fanatic. 1 am
not. As God knows my own heart
and tears in my eyes. 1 am without
friends, kindred, or homel l was not
so once"
No one could withstand the touch
) log pathos Of the old man. noticed
tear on the lid OF my fathers eye,
and no longer felt ashamed OF my
: own.
mo, my friends, 1t was not once so.
Away over the dark waves which
have wrecked my hopes there is a
blessed light OF happiness and love.
; l reach again convulsively for the
shrines OF the household idols that
once were mine, now mine no more. y
The old man seemed to look away
through vaca cy upon some bright
vision, his lips apart, and his finger
extended. 1 iIvoluntarily turned in
the direction where it pointed. dread
ing TO see some shadow invoked by
its magic moving.
Il once had q mother. With her
old heart crushed with sorrow he
went down TO the grave. 1 once had
wife. A fair, angel hearted crea-
ture as ever smiled in an earthly
home. Her eyes were as mild as a
summers sky, and her heart as faith.
full aud true rs ever guarded and
cherished q husbands love. HeI
; blue eye grew dim as the floods oi
sorrow washed away its brightness
and the loving heart was wrung ill
every fiber was broken. | once had
. a noble, beautiful boy; but he was
driven out from the ruins OF his home
and my old heart yearns TO know II
he Is yet living. once had babe. O
sweet, tender blossom; but these
hands destroyed it, and IL liveth with
One who loveth children.
do not be startled, friends. an
not a murderer, in the common ac-
ceptance OF the term. Yet there IL
light in my evening sky. A spirit
mother rejoices over the return ol
her prodigal son. The wife smiles or
him who turns back to virtue ant
/. honor. The angel child visits me a
nightfall, and / feel the hallowet
touch Of a tiny palm upon my cheek
. My boy, IL he yet lives, would forgive
, the sorrowing old man for the treat
ment which sent him out into tn,
world and the blow which maimeC
for life. God forgive me the ruiz
which brought on me and mine.'
He again wiped tear from his eyes
My father watched him with strang'
: intensity and a countenance unusual
ly pale and excited by some strang
emotion.
II was once a lunatic, and madl.
followed the mallgn light which le'
. me to ruin. I was a fanatic when
:, sacrificed my wife. children, happi
ness, and home, TO the accursed de
mon OF the bowl. / once adored tn
!. gentle being whom 1 wronged s
deeply.
IL was adrunkard. From respecta
bility and influence plunged into de
. graduation anil poverty. | dragge
a my family down with me. For year
!, / saw her cheek grow pale and be
step weary. 1 left her alone amid tn
"A wrecks OF her home idols, and riote
!, at the tavern. She never complain
- ed; yet she and her childr en- wer
!; often hungry.
. "One New Years night returne
- late to the hut where charity ha
:. given us roof. She was still uI
- shivering over the Goals. 1 demand
. ed food: but she burst into tears an
- told me there was none. / fiercel
ordered her TO get some. She turne
her eyes upon me, the tears fast roll
"a ing down her pale face.
ar AT this moment the child in ih
oroJta o,v.,La and cot mn a fapoi q N a