The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1884-08-16
THE STUBBS LETTERS-NO. Ill.
THORNBUSH, ILL.

lHOKNBC SH, Lille
My DEAR PETER Il was more pleased
.,at can tell you, to read in your last let
ter that you'd been to temperance meetin'
and heard lady lecture. My advice is to
~ every time you have a chance. Such
Iii as YOU wrote about is somethin' to
hear. That same lady will lecture for US
,sxt week Thornbush is SIGH little bit
oi an out. of-the-way place we hadn't any
If rs thought Of about one of them grand
hind of women stoppin' to talk to us. The
,,eetin' will be in our church and your
father and mother expects to drive in be-
fore supper and stay till next mornin SO as
70 attend. We're all full of it.
But oh Peter l heard temperance talk
last night shall never forget as long as
live.
Twas told me in the evenin' late that
old Mrs. Thompson's son had dropped dead
at the supper table. left my tea thingsin
the dish pan and hurried over. And sure
enough, there was the poor fellow lay'n
on the lounge, dead. And his tall old
white-faced mother, that always looks that
she might be one of the saints come down
from heaven. with the holy light shinin'
| in her face-well there she was, dear old
woman, wringin her hands and walkln'
the floor, and talkin'-yes ta|kin'-sayln
SIGH words as went to my very soul. Shed
pause a moment and look at her boy; him,
she said as used to be the hope of her heart,
her comfort, and her joy-him as was the
hest and likclicst young lad in all the coun-
trv round--hey boy-"O" says she, scan
shis he nv William: is this poor wreck my
bow, this man that's jest dropped dead at
his mothers fcet-jest died a drunkardS
deo,b, for it was drink that killed him
can this be my darlin' boy? and where is
h. now: Ana then she screamed out, 80
where is his unforgiven soul? Must /
never see him any more-rny fair, bright,
curlv.headed Willie--my boy, my boy, my
HOY !" And she dropped on her knees and
Kissed him, and kissed him; and the big
tears fairly rained on his cold purple face.
Tben she raised her streamin' eyes to the
ceilin' and claspin' her thin hands together,
still kneelin by the lounge, she prayed SIGH
curses of God on the liquor traffic and on
NJ them that's engaged in it. and on all
hem as tempted her boy-sich curses as
~ in, /
est stood in the door. way alookin' at the
Lcene. couldn't speak nor move, except
shake and tremble. Yes tremble;
rembled for them who was the subjects OF
them bitter curses. And the dear old
woman looked saintlier than ever; tho
must say she was the very last person
should have guessed knew how, or felt ill.,
clined, to pray SIGH awful words. When
her prayer was ended she turned and threw
her arms about her dead son and sent up
such cry to Heaven, as rings in my ears
even vet. She kissed the bloated swellsd
face and called her boys name, and laid
her cheek bv his, and then sprung to her
feet, and walked, and talked, and went over
tall again. At last the minister come; he
walked right in, and seem how things was,
he lest held her hand in his, and said in a
thoked sort of whisper, "Let us pray"
Sch prayer for help l never heard till
hen.
But this letter is too long already; III
ell YOU all about it when l see you.
Write soon to your loving
AUNT JANE.