The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-09
The ola Mans Lecture.

! the temperance reform. was a child at the
| time, about ten years of age. Our home had
every comfort, and my parents idolizei me.
Wine was often on the table, and both my
| father and my mother frequently gave it to
me in the bottom of the glass. One Sunday,
at church, there was a startling announce
| ment made TO our people. knew nothing
| Of its import, but there was much whisper.
ing among the men. The pastor said that on
the next evening there would he a temper
ance meeting, and an address upon tho evils
of intemperance in the use OF alcoholic
drinks He expressed himself ignorant of
| the meeting, and could not say what course
| would he best to pursue. The subject of the
| meeting came up at the table after the SER
! vice, and | questioned my father about it
with all the curious eagerness of n child.
| The whisper and words which had been
dropped in my hearing clothed the whole
affair in great mystery tu me, and ! was all
| eagerness to learn of this same strange thing.
| My father said it was some scheme to unite
| Church and State.
The night came, and troops of people
| gathered on the tavern steps, and | heard
| the est and laugh, and saw drunken men
! reelng out of the barroom. urged my
father to let Ine go, but be refused. Finally
| thinking il would be an innocent gratifca-
ton of my curiosity, he put on his ha, and
| passed across the green to the church. | re-
| member well how all the people appeared as
| they came in seeming to wonder what kind
| of an exhibition was to come off. In the
| him number of friends. For an hour the
| people of the place continued coming in, un-
| al there was house full All were curiously
watching the door wondering what would
| next appear. The pastor stole in and took
his seat behind pillar under the gallery, as
If doubtful of the propriety of being there at
| all. Two men finally came in and took their
seats near the altar All eyes were fixed
upon them, and great stiffness prevaded the
| mouse.
The men were unlike in appearance, one
| being short and thick in build, the other tall
and well formed. The younger had the man.
| ner and dress of q clergyman, a full round
| face, and quiet, good natured look, as he
eisurely looked around the audience. But
my childish interest was all in the old man.
| with his broad, deep chest and unusual
| height; looking giant-like, as he strobe up
| the aisle. his hair was white, his brow
deeply scanned with burrows, and around his
handsome mouth Lines of calm and touching
sadness His eye was black and restless, and
lindled as the tavern keeper uttered a low
est aloud. His ps were compressed, and
rimson flush came and went over his pale
| cheek. (lne arm was OIL above the elbow,
and there was wild scar over his right eye
| the younger arose and stated the OBJ iect of
the meeting, and asked if there was a clergy
man present to open with prayer.
Our pastor kept his seat, and the speaker
himself made short prayer, and then made
a short address, at the conclusion calling
upon any one present to make remarks.
| The pastor arose under the gallery and
attacked the position of the speaker, using
the argument have often heard since, and
concluded by denouncing those engaged in
! the new movement as medd esome fanatics.
who wished to bar up the tine-honored
usages Of good society, and injure the bust
ness of respectable men. AT the conclusion
of his remarks, the tavern-keeper and his
friends got up cheer, and the current of
feeling was evidently against the strangers
and their plan.
While the pastor was speaking the old man
had fixed his dark eyes upon him. and
leaned forward as X tO catch every word.
As the pastor took his seat. the old man
arose, his tall form towering in its symmetry,
and his chest swelling as he inhaled his
breath through his thin, dilated nostri!s
To me at the time there was something awe
inspiring and grand in the appearance of the
old man, as he stood with his full gaze upon
the audience, his teeth shut hard, ami
silence like that of death throughout the
church. He bent his eye upon the tavern
keeper, and that peculiar eye fingered and
kindled for half a moment. The scar grew
red upon his forehead, and beneath the
heavy eyebrows his eyes glittered and
glowed like those of a serpent The tavern
keeper quailed before the searching glance,
and felt relief when the old man with
drew his gaze For a moment he seemed
J lost in thought, and then in a low and
tremulous tone commenced. There was
depth in that voice. thrilling pathoS and
sweetness, which riveted every heart in the
house before the first period had been
sounded. My fathers attention had ecome
fixed on the speaker with an interest which
had never before seen him exhibit
| can but briefly remember the substance
of what the old man said though the scene
was vivid before me as any that ever wit
messed.
MY friends, am stranger in your viii
lage, and trust | may call you friends A
new star has arisen, and there Is hope in the
dark night which hangs like pail of gloom
over our country With thrilling depth OF
voice the speaker continued:
80 God, Thou who lookest with compass
sion upon the most erring of earths children,
l thank Thee that a brazen serpent has been
lifted, upon which the drunken c; n look and
be helped; that a beacon has burst out upon
the darkness that surrounds him, which shall
guide back to honor and heaven the bruised
and weary wanderer."
II is strange what power there is in some
voices The speaker was slow and unInoved
ut a tear trembed in every eye, and before
knew why, tear drOppel upon my hand,
'lllowed by others like raindrops. The ol /
nan brushed one from his own eyes AMI Goa
tinued:
Men and Christians, YOU have inst heard
hat am vagrant and fanatic | am not.
| As God knows my own sad heart, came here
do good Herr me and Toe JUST am an
old man, standing alone tn end of hie's
urney; there is deep sorrow in my hear
md tears in my ewes. have ourneYed owe
4 dark and heacnnless ocean. and all Ii g..
hopes have been wrecked. / am without
home. friends or kindred upon earth. and
ook with longing to the rt st OF the nj ht OF
death, without friends kindred or home! II
was not so once,n
No one could Withstand the touching
pathos of the o'd man. ] noticed a tear
trembling on the lid Of my fathers eye
and was no more ashamed Of my own.
mo my friends, it was not so oncel Away
over the dark waves which have wrecked
my hopes there is blessed light of happi-
ness and home; | reach again convulsively
or the shrines Of the household idols, that
once were-nOw mine no more"
| The old man seemed looking through
ancy upon some bright vision, his lips apart
and finger extended. invountarily turned
the rection where il pointed, dreading
o see some shado3 invoked by its move
mants
Il once had a mother. With her heart
rushed with sorrow she went down to the
rave. ! once had a wile-as fair woman
ever smiled in on arthly home, her eyes
IS mild as a summer sky, and her heart a
aithful and true as ever guarded ant
'herished a husbands love. Her eyes grew
linn the foods OF sorrow washe
, way their brightness, and the loving
neart was broken, / once had a noble
brave and beautiful boy, but he was driver
out from the ruins of his home, an my
heart yearns 10 know If he yet lives. / olcs
had babe-a sweet, smiling babe, hut my
hand destroyed il, and it lives with the One
, who loves children. Do not be startled
friends / am not a murderer in the com
mon acceptation Of the term. Yet there is a
IL H.. Il A 81 L..