Connecticut western news., 1880-07-28

and left their little property to George because he "needed it." whereas, lowing to bountiful Providence" The property was left to George condi- tionally he must buy out Edwards s partner with it, else it must go to be- nevolent organization called the Pr1son- CTS Friend Society. The old people left a letter, in which they begged their dear son Edward to take their place and watch over George, and help and shield him as they had done.
 Edward dutifully acquiesced, and George became his partner in the busi- ness. He was not valuable partner i; he had been meddling with drink be- | fore; he soon developed into constant tippler, now, and his flesh and eyes showed the fact unpleasantly. Edward had been courting sweet and kindly spirited girl for some time They loved each other dearly, and -. But about this period George began to haunt her tearfully and imploringly, and at last she went crying to Edward, and said her high and holy duty was plain before her she must not let her-she must not let her own selfish desires interfere with it !; she must marry "poor George" and "reform him." It would break her own heart, she knew it would, and so on j; but duty was duty. So she married | George, and Edwards heart came very near breaking, as we'll as her own. However, Edward recovered, and mar ried another girl-a very excellent one | she was, too. . ,.s .-l ..--..-.9t -.- Children came to both families. Mary did her honest best to reform her hus- band, but the contract was too large. George went on drinking and by and by he fell to mis1sing her and the little ones sadly. A great many good people strove with George-they were always at it, in fact-but he calmly took such efforts as his due and their duty. and did not mend his ways. He added a vice, present. ly-that of secret gambling. He got deeply in debt; he borrowed money on the firms credit, as quietly as he could, and carried this system so far and So successfully that one morning the sheriff took possession of the estab- ishment, and the two cousins found themselves penniless.
 Times were hard, now, and they grew worse. Edward moved his family into garret, and walked the streets day and night, seeking work. He begged for it, but it was really not to be had. He was astonished to see how soon his face became unwelcome; he was astonished and hurt to see how quickly the ancient interest which people had had in him faded out and disappeared. Still, he must get work; so he swallowed his chagrin, and toiled on in search of it. At last he got job of carrying bricks up a ladder in ahod, and was grateful man. in consequence; but after that nobody 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 endure the sharp pain of seeing himself brought under the disgrace of suspens1on.
 But the faster Edward died out of public knowledge and interest, the faster George rose in them. He was found lying, ragged and drunk, in the gutter, one morning. A member of the Ladies' Temperance Refuge fshed him out, took him in hand, got up @ subscription for him, kept him sober whole week, then got situation for him. An ac- count of it was published. EE<E 2. General attention was thus drawn to the poor fellow, and great many people came forward and helped him towards reform with their countenance and en- couragement. He did not drink 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 rescied 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 account of this, also, was published, and 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 think there is 8 spectacle in store for you which not many in this house will not be able to view with dry eyes" There was an eloquent pause, and then George Benton, escorted by a re-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 meet ing was over; his salary was enlarged next day; he was the talk of the town, and its hero. An account of 1t was pub lished.
 | George Benton fell, regularly, every three months, but was faithfully rescued and wrought with every time, and good situations were found for him. Finally, he was taken around the country lectur. ing, as reformed drunkard, and he had great houses and did an immense amount of good. .-...
 He was so popular at home, and SC trusted d- during his sober intervals that he was enabled to use the name o1 a principal citizen, and get large sun of money at the bank. A mighty pres. sure was brought to bear to save him from the consequences of his forgery and 1t was partially successful-be was "sent up" for only two years. When