The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-02
The Old Mans Lecture.


And be DOOR as tippling Sandy"
The Old Mans Lecture.
I shall never forget the commencement or
the temperance reform. was child at the
time, about ten years Of age. Our home had
every comfort. and my parents ldolzed me.
Wine was often OH the table, and both my
father and my mother frequently gave IL 10
me in the bottom Of the glass. One Sunday,
at church. there was 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 be temper
ance meeting, and an address upon the evils
of intemperance in the use Of alcohollc
drinks He expressed himself Ignorant OF
the meeting, and could not say what course
would be 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 child.
The whisper and words which had been
dropped in my hearing clothed the whole
affair in great mystery to me, and was all
eagerness to learn Of this same strange thing.
NV father said it was some scheme to unite
Church and State.
The night came, and troops Of people
gathered on the tavern steps, and l heard
the Jest and laugh, and saw drunken men
reelng out Of the bar-room. l urged my
father to let Ice go, but Re refused Finally
thinking it would be an innocent gratlhca.
ton of my curiosity, he put on his hat and
passed across the green to the church. re-
member we'll how all the people appeared as
they came in, seeming to wonder what kind
of an exhibition was to come off. In the
corner was the tavern-keeper, and around
him q number Of friends For an hour the
people of the place continued coming in, un-
til 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 i'll and took their
seats near the altar. All eyes were fixed
upon them, and great stiffness prevaded the
house.
Themen 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 clergyman. q full round
face, and quiet, good natured look, as he
leislirely 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
kindled as the tavern keeper uttered low
lest aloud. His lips were compressed, and q
crimson flush came and went over his pale
cheek. One arm was off above the elbow,
and there was wild scar over his right eye.
The Younger arose and stated the object OF
the meeting, and asked if there was clergy
man present to open with prayer.
Our pastor kept his seat, and the speaker
himself made a short prayer, and then made
q 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 meddiesome fanatics.
who wished to bar up the time. .honored
usages Of good society. and lnlure the busi-
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 bis dark eyes upon him, and
leaned forward as if to catch every word.
As the pastor took his seat. tho old man
arose, his tall form towering i'll it's symmetry,
and his chest swelling as he inhaled his
breath through his thin, dilated nostrils.
To me at tho 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, anu q
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 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 ouailed before the searching glance,
and l felt relief when the old man with
drew his gaze. For q moment he seemed
lost in thought, and then in 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. Ny fathers attention had ecome
fixed on the speaker with an interest which l
had never before seen him exhibit
l can but briefly remember the substance
of what the old man said though the scene
was vivid before me as any that 1 ever wit
messed.
''My friends, am stranger in your vii
lage, and trust l may call you friends. A
dark night which hangs like pail of gloom
over our country" With thrilling depth Of
voice the speaker continued:
20 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 cfn look and
be helped; that beacon has burst out upon
the darkness GnaC SURROUNDS "HlCD
guide back to honor and heaven the Bruised
and weary wanderer."
It is strange what power there is in some
voices. The speaker was slow and unrnoyed,
but O tear trembled in every eye, and before
l knew why, q tear dropped upon my hand,
followed by others. like raindropS. The old
man brushed ono from his own eyes, and coh-
tinued
Men and Christians, you have just heard
that am vagrant and fanatic. an not.
As God knows my own sad henrt, came here
to do good. Henr me and be just: l am FAN
old man, standing alone ut til" end of life's
Journey; there is deep sorrow i'll my heart
and tears in my eyes. 1have journeyed over
q dark and beaconlesS ocean, and all HES
hopes have been wrecked. 1 am without
home. friends or kindred upon earth. and
look with longing to tie rest of the night OF
death, without friends, kindred or home! 1t
was not so once"
No ore could Withstand the touching
pathos of the old man. noticed tear
trembling on the lid of my fathers eye
and was no more ashamed of my own.
"No my,frends, it was not so once! Away
over the dark waves which have wrecked
my hopes, there is blessed light of happl'
ness and home; I reach again convulsively
for the shrines of the household idols. thai
onco were-now mine no more"
The old man seemed looking through
fancy upon some bright vision, his lips apart
and finger extended. Iinvoluntarily turned
in the direction where it pointed, dreadins
tn see some shadow invoked by its move
mentS.
81 once had n mother. With her heart
crushed with sorrow she went down to the
grave. | once had n wile-as fair woman
as ever smiled in an earthly home, her eyes
as mild as summer sky. and her heart as
faithful and true as ever guarded and
cherished husbands love. Her eyes grew
dim as the floods of sorrow washer
awey their brightness, and the loving
heart was broken l once had noble. "
brave and beautiful boy, but he was driven