The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1888-04-13
TaE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.

Governor Briggs, OF Massachusetts. in
sPeeel at Albany, ~. y, many years ago,
related the following thrilling incident !:
At certain town meeting In Pennsyl-
vanla, the question came up whether any
persons should be licensed TO sell rum.
The clergyman, the deacon, and physi-
clan, strange as II may now appear, all
favored It. One man only spoke against
IL, because Of the mischief II did. The
question was about TO DC put, when all at
once there arose from one corner OF the
rosm miserable female. She was thiniy
clad, aad her appearance indicated the 1T.
most wretehedness. and that her mortal
career was almost closed. After moment
OF silence, aud all eyes being fixed upon
her, she stretched her atlenua.ed body to
is utmost height, and then her long arms
to their greatest length, and raising her
voice to a shrill pitch, she called 10 all to
lock upon her.
"Yes r she said, "leok upon me, and
then hear me. All that the last speaker
has said relative to temperate drinking, a
being the father Of drunkenness, Is true
All practice, all experience, declare III
truth. All drinking of alcoholic poison
as beverage In health, Is excess. Look
upon me. You all know me, or once did
You all know was once the mistress oi
the best farm In the town. You all know
tee, had one of the best-the most dc
voted OF Husbands. You all know hae
fine, nsble-hcarted, industrious boys.
Where are they now Doctor, where are
they now You all know. You al
know they lie In row, side by side In
yonder church yard all-every one o.
them filling the drunkard's grave They
were all taught to believe that temperate
drinking was safe--excess aloae ought &c
be avoided and they never acknowledg
ed excess. They quoted you, and you
and you" pointing with her shred of :
finger to the Priest, Deacon, and Doctor
as authority. "They thought themselves
safe under such teachers. But | saw the
gradual change coming over my family
and prospects with dismay and horror ;
| felt we were all to be overwhelmed in one
common ruin--I tried to ward off the
blow. tried to break the spell, the de
lnsive spelI--in which the idea of the bene
fits OF temperate drinking had involved
my husband and sons. ] begged, ] pray
ed ; but the odds were against me. The
Minister said the poison that was destroy.
ing my husband and boys was a gooe
creature of God the Deacon (who sits
under the pulpit there, and took our farm
to pay his rum bills sold them the poison
The Doctor said that little was COCO, and
excess ought to be avoided. My poor
husband and my dear boys fell into the
snare, and they could not escape, and one
after another was conveyed to the sorrow.
full grave Of the drunkard. Now lock al
rae again. Yeu probably see me for the
last time; my sand has almost run ); have
dragged my exhausted frame from my
hOme-your poor-heuse--to warn you all
Ito warn you, Deacon--to warn you, false
teacher of Gods Word p and with her
arms high flung, and her tall form stretch
ed to It's utmost, and her voice raised to
an unearthly pitch-she exclaimed ~
shall soon stand before the judgment seat
of God. shall meet you there, you false
guides, and be a witness against you all p
The miserable female vanished dead
silence pervaded the assembly-the Priest
Deacon and Physician hung their heads
and when the President of the meeting
put the question, sShall any licenses be
granted for the sale. of spirituous liquor p
the response was unanimous --s'No "-
Selected.