South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-05-30
A SAD Story.


Looking over tie daily nspcrs nor
iong since. tbs heading appeared a.
mong the local items, "A Sad Story.'
u was short. coucise story. printed
IN ten lines OF tho column devoted 40
items OF local nature Frank Tath,t
a man 20 years old. died in the isii
last night of consump.i-n. ffe S.a
oeen committed FOR drunkenness tha
week before. When te was toLf \.
could not live lone. A.,
gave his story to the physician. IL
had oean living in the city under an
assn hed name for year, because no
ana not wish To disgrace his frioois
Ills family did lot know wbere hs
was. although they bad alwavs he.n
KIND 10 BIN. aud tried to ITO All ,h.y
could TO save him. But Iiou.r hal
made a complete slate OF him, a..
had good position in bis matt.
town, but lost il. because L;s Nj
was no. kept level enough 10 an ,ha
resp, usi' iiitiss. II. wou a h.vs ~
spreer. Being naturally OF a ,3si.
'cate consti nt,on. the exposures in.
csdent to vsgrant drunk%rd's Iifc
nso TOD Upon him. His friend.
we're notified Of his iliness. hut Lo
had passed away before their arrivo
al A'"
A sad. sad story Indeed Tn. a..
boy who hesrd it re,a. sa,a sus
needn't have been drpnLs,,
might nave behaved hiaselt.'
ies' yes. ho might have been Soma
ooay or whom lis friends vould
nave bten proud, but instead of tb,,
he was source OF sorrow to then,
lnat young man had good Parents
an1 5000 Christian teachings, but IL
qucr was his master Once no was
tempetate happy boy. but some ,ima
he TOOK first hi TX aud that was tbr,,
heglnning Of all his ruin and shame
You boys may not have as vet been
tempted by this form Of evil. but IN,
temptation is sure 10 como 10 Won ns
" has to others Many bow n.
bright, as we'll beloved, az well
Drought up aad cared for as you have
oeen, has become diunkatd. Oider
temp'ers have argued with him th.t
man who cannot drink as much 40
lie thInks good for him. and no NOR,
Is DOT very strong character. But
let me Tell you, my boys tho only
saiety from being overcome ~ etropp
dIlnk Is To let 1t entirely alone. No
arguments Tor or against will bc nec.
essay then. The posoer Of tho hab,t
OF liquor drinking once formed ~
something very hard to be oyercome
In the police reports OF a dailv mn.
per few weeks since the arrest ~
middle-aged man for a serious crJma
was mentioned. HE crime and two
thirds Of all tic crimes commi,tea
were due to the same cause-sttonr
drink. Foil wing the notice was ihiw
statement made by the prisoner:
Drlhk was The cause OF my ruin.
NOBODY knows ihe power Of sucI, an
appetite but the man who has sulTa,.
ell from 1t. Years ago 1 took NV
dying mothers hand and promiseI
her would never drink another
drop. / meant just what 1 said. +
tried hard to keep my promise. bpt
tue terrible thirst for liquor overcan a
me, and in few weeks [ was dfint.
ing as hard as ever. Two years eeo
my little girl died. She beeged ne
On her death-bcl to stop drinking
ana promised her would. I call.
cd upon God to witness the nromiso
l wanted to keer it. but after nv lit
Tie gifi had gone, the terrible tliirst
Tor liquor came again. fought a.
gainst 1t, but IL overpowered me.
Dribk had destroyed my will power :,
loved my child, but chains were
forged about me that I could nor
break
Soyou see, boys, how very hard /.
Is TO reform, after one hiss formed
the habit or drinking. The problem
OF rescuing the country from this ter
'ibIe curse is agiiating the wisest
heads. They feel that it must no
driven out but what is the best vav
to do itS That is the question Yoys
ooyh can solve the problem, as far az
you are individually concerned. bv
being determined that you will never
take even one drink III every bo.
would make that resolution, and keen
1t, old King Acohol's head would
soon tumble fl aud roll into the bot.
tomless abyss.
his is vefy serious matte. and
IN view OF the ruined lives-thous.
ends OF them-the broken hearted
moiheIs, the sorrOWing fricnds, and
tue unlimited amount Of human mia
cry caused by this power for evil, I
beg that you will consider the momen.
tous suhjec', and pledge yourselves TO
10 all you can. in the name and with
the help OF the Lord. 10 exierninaie
The Serpent Of the StilL.'- Sue1n
IesH Perry. IL ne Eyonyeiisk