The Russellville Democrat., 1880-09-16

Heofge went on drinking, and by an, by he tell to misusing her and the littl ones sadly. A great many good peopl strove with George-they were aTway at It, Tn fact-but he calmly took sucl efforts as his due and their duty, and dit not mend his ways. He added a vic, presently-that of secret gambling. H, got deeply in debt, he borrowed monel on the firms credit as quietly as h, could, and carried this system so far anS SD successfully that one morning tn, sheriff took possession of the establish ment, and the two cousins found them selves penniless.
 Times were hard now, and they grew worse. Edward moved his family into a garret, and walked the streets day anc night, seeking work. He begged for it but 1t was really not to be had. He wa: astonished to see how soon his face be came unwelcome; he was astonished and hurt to see how quickly the ancient in terest which people had had in him faded out and disappeared. St Il, he must get work; so he swallowed his chargin and toiled on in search of it At last he got a job of carrying bricks up ladder in a hod, and was a grateful man in consequence, but after that no body knew him or cared anything about him. He was not able to keep up his dues in the various moral organizations to which he belonged. and had to en- dure the sharp pain of seeing himself brought under the disgrace of suspen- 1 sion.
 But the faster Edward died out of public knowledge and interest, the faster | George rose in them He was found ragged and drunk, in the gutter, one morning. A member of the Ladies' Temperance Refuge fished him out, took him in hand, got up subscription for him, kept him sober a whole week, then got a situation for him. An account of it was published.
 | General attention was thus drawn to the poor fellow, and great many peo- pie came forward and helped him to- ward reform with their countenance and encouragement. He did not drink a drop for two months, and meantime was the pet of the good. Then he fell-in the gutter, and there was general sorrow and lamentation. But the noble sister hood rescued him again. They cleaned him up, they fed him, they listened to the mournful music of his repentances, they got him his situation again. An
 
 the town was drowned in happy tears over the restoration of the poor beset and struggling victim of the fatal bowl A grand temperance revival was got up, and after some rousing speeches had been made the Chairman said, impress sively:
 We are now about to call for signers, and 1 think there is spectacle in store for you which not many in this house will be able to view with dry eyes"
 There was an eloquent pause, and then George Benton, epcorted by red sashed detachment of the Ladies of the Refuge. stepped forward upon the plat form and signed the pledge. The air was rent with applause, and everybody cried for joy. Everybody wrung the hand of the new convert when the meeting was over, his salary was en- larged next day, he was the talk of the town and it's hero. An account of it was published.
 George Benton fell, regularly, every three months, but was faithfully rescued and wrought with every time, and good situations found for hIm. Finally, he was taken around the country featuring as reformed drunkard, and had great houses and did an immense amount of 
 good.
 He was so popular at home and so trusted-during his sober intervals-that he was enablSd to use the name of a principal citizen and get large sum of money at the bank. A mighty pressure was brought to bear to save him from the consequences of his forgery, and it was partially successful-he was sent up" for only two years. When, at the end of year the tired efforts of the be- nevolent were crowned with success, and he emerged from the penltentiary with pardon in hls pocket, the Prison CTS Friend Society met him at the door with situation and comfortable salary and all the other benevolent people came forward and gave him advice, en- couragement and help.
 | Edward Mills had once applled to the Prisoners Friend Society for situation, when in dire need, but the question, Have you been a prisoner?" made brief work of his case.
 While all these things were going on, Edward Mills had been quietly making head against diversity. He was still poor, but was in receipt of steady and sufficient salary, as the respected and trusted cashier of bank.
 | George Benton never came near him, and was never heard to inquire about him. George got to indulging in long absences from town, there were ill re- ports about him, but nothing definite.
 One winters night some masked burg | lars forced their way into the bank, and | found Edward Mills there alone. Tdey commanded him to reveal the ''combina- tion," so that they could get into the safe. He refused. They threatened his | life. He said his employers trusted him, and he could not be traitor to that trust. He could die, if he must but while he lived he would be faithful, ne would not yield up the "combinatlon.' | The burglars killed him.
 The detectives hunted down the crim inals, the chief one proved to be George Benton. A wIde sympathy was felt for the widow and orphans of the dead man and all the newspapers in the land beg eed that all the banks in the land would testify their appreciation of the fidelity and h.roism of the murdered cashier by coming forward with generous contri button of money in aid of his family now bereft of support. The result wal mass of solid cash amounting to up ward of five hundred dollars-an aver age of nearly three-eighths of a cent fol each bank in the Union. The cashiers own bank testified its gratitude by en deavoring to show (but huniliatlngiy failed in it) that the peerless servanti accounts were not square. and that h' himself had knocked his brains ou with bludgeon to escape detection an'