Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-17
John B. Coughs Story,
As TOLD AT THE LATE NATIONAL rRMrERAsoE coSvSS-
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The only ability have is to tell story.
From the night signed the pledge began
TO tell the story. IL was a story of privation
and suffering, of struggle and victory-a
story of gloom and sunshine, one which |
felt in the deepest depths Of my own soul
story of Gods infinite mercy. 1t is a
simple story, and have been telling it ever
since. | know | have not education and
logic, but | thank God | know that there
are some men who, by hearing my story,
have been able 10 make their life better,
nobler and truer. The first words ! ever
uttered in a temperance meeting were
"What are you laughing at over there ?" for
when the chairman of the meeting gave me
permission TO say few words young man
who knew me began to laugh. | held up
my hand | said: "Look there are you
laughing at that2 | can not hold my hand
steady. 1t is drink that has done it, Now
| am going to sign the temperance pledge"
did it, and although the signature is like
Stephen Hopkins on the Declaration of
Independence, it was written, and although
it is a long time ago, that act is as fresh in
my remembrance as anything that occurred
a week ago. | want TO say word or two
in reference to the Incorporate. What shall
we do for them? The great aim ought to
be to put temptation out of the way--to
crush out the liquor traffic. and save them
from the temptations to which they are ex-
posed at every corner. You can see very
readily why we should do that; but while
we are doing that do not let us forget these
unfortunate drunkards who are going TO per-
dition. While we are working for prohibit
ton let us labor for the restoration OF the
drunkard, not by wishing him success, but
by doing something practical to help him.
There is not a temperance man or woman
who is not glad when men sign the pledge;
but how do many of them manifest their
| gadness and encouragement A friend of
mine stood by the pledge-table in Exeter
Hall, London, when poor drunken, igno.
rant sot, broken down prize fighter,
champion of the light-weights, thirty-two
years old, signed the pledge. My friend was
a builder, and he employed seven or eight
hundred men, and he wished to help this
poor drunkard. Did he say; 81 hope you
will stick to it; it will be a good thing for
"Where are you going to sleep tonight? ?"
"Where l did last night" "Where was
that p "In the street." "No, you don't;
you signed the pledge, you joined our So
ciety, you belong to US you are going home
with me-" He told me that his wife had to
burn the bed-clothes the next morning;
| but what is set of bed-clothes compared
| with the restoration and salvation of a man
He did not mind the burning of the bed
| clothes so long as that man recovered suffl-
GENTLY from the effects of drink to go to
work. He was very Ignorant, and he went
to Sunday-school, where he learned his let
ters and how to put them together. Two
years afterwards he stood up in that Sunday
school and thanked G I'd that he ever went
there, and to-day that man is one of the
most effective city missionaries in White
chapel. That is the way to save men.
These poor fellows need help. Suppose one
Of these poor fellows sign the pledge; there
are a great many out and out temperance
men and women who do not understand aud
do not know what that man has to go
through. 1t is an easy thing to sign the
pledge. A poor fellow said al would sign
that pledge in minute if anybody would
take the next six weeks from me-" How
does he feel the next morning? Why when
the man rises his mouth is dry and feverish
and one hand shakes; he has no power over
his nerves. He knew this would come to
him, but it seems to be worse than ever
There is glass of liquor, and he knows
that it will steady his nerves if he drinks it.
He is shaking in every limb, and every
nerve is twitching and singing but the
liquor will relieve him at once, and there is
an awful temptation to take it, and nine out
of ten men can not resist without human
help. When the man feels a horrible stag
nation in the stomach and when the blood
won't flow, and he knows that glass of
whiskey will start the blood, there is a
strong temptation. That man needs human
help then and there. | do not ask you to
take him to your house, but keep an eye
upon him Just after he signs the pledge, for
D men who break their pledges do so before
the first struggle is over. These men know
DOT what they need. In Edinburgh they
; have club-room where temperance men in
, vite men to come who are trying to reform.
A man went in there one night very drunk.
Mr.. Cranston said D. you know what
place this is p Yes, it is a teetotal club
loom." DWELL, but you are drunk" al
know | am; | never denied ! was drunk
did 7" "What business have You here
/ then ?" 81 am a teetotaler | know ! am
drunk. Did you never see drunk teetotaler
before because if you did not here is one. ,
;, They thought he was feigning drunkenness
and said You had better go out" Don't
put me out, gentlemen" he said; l." am a
teetotaler; here is my PLEDGE | signed il
down the street about half an hour ago, and
80 help me God, haven't touched droI
since, and don't mean to. have come here
for safety" That is what he wanted, and
that's what every poor struggling man needs