The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-01-11

found from the publican that it was not
the first time had bills to pay, and it
was not the last l used to take drink
myself, not to be drunk, but this stopped
me. l never tasted it again please God,
l never will.
From. that on it grew worse-money
bought little or nothing, it seemed 1
had no heart to work, no heart to come
home, no heart to look at the children
but / earned and tried hard with Bessie.
| got a minister to come, got her promise
against it, got her clothes, to go out, but
it was no use; if she was doing better a
while, one of these drinking times, when
every body seemed to 90 that way, would
come, and things would be as bad as
ever.
"Then thoughtif I left the place and
came to America it would be better, and
she promised me it would I saved the
money / sold my watch, and we came.
1t was useless. 1t seemed as if she had
become another woman. Her natural
affection left her. She would take the
children's clothes and sell them for drink.
1t made her mad and it killed her. We
had little boy our baby and she was
found Dead when l was at work, with
the child-we called him Thomas for nv
father-sitting on the floor by her, try
ing to waken her"
He took longer to tell this than I have
done, for he could not keep back the
tears.
I expressed my sympathy with him.
Thank you, sir" he said, that's
years ago, but I can't forget it yet. Only
there's one thing, 1 never said hard
word to Bessie thank God, never did,
said he, and 1 could we'll believe it, as I
looked at the honest face. But oh
when 1 think of her going before her
Maker in that way p he added with flow
ing tears.
"Well I hope" I said, "the children
will be comfort to you.
There was long pause before he spoke,
and then it was with so much evident
pain that I regretted my words.
Gone" said he, the second, is she
is good child. The oldest is not steady
I can do nothing with her, and my boy,
the little boy l told you about, cant be
kept from drink. That's my trouble
now. I gave up the place had in Jer-
sey, and 1 am going out to Ohio, to a
L
had, to try and save him. 1t breaks my
heart second time, and can't altogeth-
er blame him, for at the time took some,
and his mother took too much, and it
looks as if it was put into his very nature,
that he couldn't help it. Oh, sir" said
he, turning to me directly, and becoming
eloquent in his vehement feeling, ia
theirs and mothers ought to be told that
when they are drinking they are putting
the feeling into their children that will
ruin them they will be scourged with the
whip they made themselves"
We parted with some words of hope to
him, some entreaty that he would not
even yet lose heart, but believe in the
Saviour from sin, direct his children to
Him, and get strength from Him. If he
sees this page he will know that I am
trying to act on his honest, true words.
Oh that they could be put into the ear
and heart Of men and women in Ireland,
in Scotland, where Glasgow Fair is
national disgrace, in England, in Amer
lea Who would not wish for abstinence
societies, tracts, and books, ministers
sermons, young peoples pledges, humane
laws-one almost cries out for unWhinQ
that would stop this slow, cruel murder
of home-love, Of men, of women, of little
children, of hope, of peace, of immortal
souls One little bit Of the misery is "a
thing to cry over" but what pity and
indignation should move us as we look at
the whole field of horrors, the outraged,
the mangled, the dying, and the dis6on-
ored dead.-EPlScoPal Recorder.