The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-11-18

/ n SAC0b S PNORAC obtOft
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 wee, presently-that of Sc
{ cret gambling. He got deeply in
!, debt; he borrowed money on the
firms credit, as quietly as he could,
and carried this system so far aud
so successfully that one morning
/, the sheriff took possession of the
establishment, and the twp cousins
found themselves penniless
Times were hard now, and they
,, grew worse. Edward moved his
family Into a garnet, and wilked tt
streets day and night, seeking
work. He begged for it, bat 1t was
really not to be had. He was as
tonished to see how soon his face
became unwelcome; he ws aston
ished and hurt to see how quickly
the ancient interest which people
had had in him faded outand disap
peared Still he must get work; so
be swallowed his chagrin, and toiled
on in search of it. At last he got
job of carrying bricks up a ladder
in a bod, and was grateful man in
consequence; but, after that, no
body knew him or cared anything
about him. He was not shle to
keep up his dues in the various
moral organizations to which he
belonged, and had to endure til e
sharp pain of seeing himself
brought under the disgrace of sus.
pc nsion.
But the faster Edward died out
of public knowledge and interest,
the faster Geor rye rose in them. He
was found ragged and dru nE, in the
gutter, one morning. A member
OF the Ladies' Temperance Refuge |
fished him out, took him il hand,
got up subscription for hin, kept |
him sober whole week, then got a
kzsituation for him. An account of
it was published.
General attention was thus drawn
to the poor fellow, and great nj anv
people came forward and elped him
toward reform with their counLe
nance AID encouragement. 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 rescued him again. They
cleaned him up, they fed HIM, they
listened to the mournful music of
his repentance, 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 be-
set 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, impressively,
'.We are now about to call tor sign
ers; and l think there is a 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, es-
corted by detachment of the ladie,
OF the Refuge, stepped forward up
on the platform and signed the
pledge. The air was rent with APP
plause, and everybody cried for joy
Everybody wrung the hand of the
new convert when the meeting was
over; his salary was enlarged next
day; he was the talk of the town,
and its hero. An account of it was
published.
George Benton Tell regularly ev
cry 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 lecturing,
as reformed drunkard, and he had
great houses and did an immense
amount of good.
He was so popular at home, and
so trusted-during his sober inter
vals-that he was enabled to use the
name of principal citizen and get
large sum of money at the bank.
A mighty pressure was brought to
bear to save him from the conse
quences of his forgery, and it was
partially successfui-he was 'sent
up" for only two years. When, at
the end OF a year, the tireless efforts
of the benevolent were crowned
with success, aud he emerged from
the penitentiary with pardon in
his pocket, the Prisoners Friend
Society met him at the door with a
situation and comfortable salary,
and all the other benevolent people
came forward and gave him advice.
encouragement and help. Edward
Mills had once applied to the Pris-
oner's Friend Society for situa
ton, when in dire need, but the
question, "Have you been pris-
onerT' made brief work of his case.
While all these things were going
on Edward Mills had been quietly
making head against adversely. 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
INDUCING in long absences from the |
town; there were ill reports about |
him, but nothing definite.
One winters night some masked |
burglars forced their way into the |
bank and found Edward Mills there |
alone. They commanded him to-
reveal the coordination" 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 q traitor to that
trust. He could die if he must, but
while he lived he would be faithful;
be would not yield up the "combi
nation" The burglars killed him.
The detectives hunted down the
criminals; the chief one proved to
be George Benton. A wide sympa
thy was felt for the widow and or
( phans of the dead man, and all the
newspapers in the land begged that
all the banks in the land would
testify their appreciation of the
fidelity and heroism of the murder
III aashfar hv canning forward with