Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-10-07
Mechancsown Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday Oct l. 1885,
The I1appiest Woman.

Bob Marshall lived in a rough town
in Pennsylvania, and WAS the hardest
drinker of the many hard drinkers of
the place. Not that he ever lay in the
gutter, or ever neglected his business
No, he was very industrious man,
had good house, good, quiet wife,
and family of bright, wellcared-for
children. He belonged to that class of
men who can drink heavily with little
perceptible effect.
He kept jug beside him as he work.
ed and every hour or half-hour, as in
c1lnation prompted, he would help
himself to a glass. But the liquor did
not brighten his nose or his name
neither died it seem to becloud either
A fifth of the whisky which he took
daily would have sent one of his neigh.
bors into drivelling imbecility, and an.
other into delirium tremens.
During the last temperance move
ment, Jealous worker in the cause, a
little, pale faced woman, went to t
(this was Bob MarshalFs homc) for she
had heard it said that If any people on
earth needed to be warned against
drinking, it was these. Many persons
had advised against her going to this
rough town. She would be derided
and insuted, they said.
When she applied for the use of the
town hall it was denied.
I'VE know all You can say, said the
man applied to. You cant tell the
drinking man half as much about the
evils Of intcmperance as he can tell you
Almost every man in this town drinks
and folks amt going to turn out to hear
themselves abused by woman who
ought to be at home minding her hons'
and children. You'll be insuIted, and
perhaps assaulted, and the law will
have to interfere for your protection
The pastor of one Of the two churche;
Of L WIS absent. In the Other
there were nightly meetings of prayer
! for n revival. So the little woman
could get neither church.
But that May evening, at half-pas
/ six, about the time When people wert
leaving their tea tables, the town-be
began to cla"g in quick way, whlcl
startled and alarmed everybody.
Some one said he guessed there wa
fire, and some one else, half hearln9
this. reportcd that there was fire, air
soon the word was running from moutl
to mouth, and men and boys and wo-
men were hurrying towards the tow
hall from every one of the CROOKED
streets.
When goodly crowd Was assembled
in the yard, and everybody was asking
everybody elpe where the fire was, an'
why tie bell was ringing, and wha
was the matter, ETC., etc , the pale ut
tie woman appeared first on the hal
steps. and then on a dry-goods bo,
near. aud began to speak.
MY frlends,' she said.
There was a lull in the talk all about
! her. for her voice was clear as Il bell
and surprisingly full for such q ittl'
, body.
MY friends, she repeated, and th
time the words penetrated farther; an'
those who had not heard her, saw he
standing up there.
The people massed about her, an'
became silent.
'Iou ask what is the cause of thi;
alarm. | will TIL you. There i
growing in this town tree agalns
whicl, must warn you. listen. Wher
I tell YOU of the balefnl influence it j.
exhaing, and when point it out tc
you will YOU promist me to lay tn
axe TO the root, and hew it down ant
cast it into the fire.
wish | could reproduce that speecl
entire for you. But could no NOR
do it than | could paint the movemen
and the music OF river.
That assembly Of men in their artl
zan clothes, or women in their kitchel
aprons, of children in the school.
dresses, caught there in the lengthen.
ing shadows, seemed turned into stat
ues by the earnest, eloquent appeal o
Il small woman.
The address was short, and at it
close Mrs. p said:
Il would like to speak to you agail
tomorrow evening. Will you come t.
hear n,e?'
yes. yes! ycs! was the respons
from all parts of the crowd.