Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-08-20
HOW MRS. CHANT BECAME A TEETOTLER.

HOW MRS. CHANT BECAME TEETOTLER.
This lady, as our readers will probably
know, is an English woman now in this
country, and she tells the story of her
coming into the total abstinence ranks in
most beautiful way, in a recent address
in Fremont Temple, Boston. Want of
space forbids giving it entirely in her
own words, but she said that though
not born and brought up to habits of
total abstinence she married man who
never INDUCED even in a glass OF wine.
Shortly after marriage he was called from
home during bitter storm and while
waiting his return she heard the boom
ing of guns telling of ships in distress,
and went to the shore among the women
who were waiting for news of friends out
at sea. Upon her return home she
thought of the many women in the
United Kingdom who in their miserable
homes awaited with dread the coming of
their husbands maddened by drink
Then conscience spoke, and she resolved
to give up the use Of wine. So the next
morning she went to her rector and told
him that she wanted to join temperance
society. She was not very strong, as yet,
and said she did not join the real blue
ribboners, but lazy division of the
Church of England Temperance society.
But her rector was wise enough to set
her to work. He asked her to write a
story to read in place where q woman's
voice had never been heard in public.
She complied and read in mission hall
to an audience of yelled women and a
few men who were ready to run if they
could not bear the dreadful immodesty
of the thing. But they managed to stay,
and soon she was invited to read another
story Now we will finish in her own
words: Down in front there sat poor,
weather-beaten fellow; and they said: If
you can only get that man! He is the
worst drunkard in the place. So into
that story l put a great deal that was
especially for his good. I did not talk at
him, but l read at him. After the meet
ing was over, went down to try and
coax him to come to the pledge-table. |
brought him to the table, and I smoothed
out the book. This was my first convert.
How delightful it was! Just as he was
going to sign his name, he turned round
and asked one very simple but awkward
question: I guess you have done it
yourself, Misss?' he said. I gave very
awkward answer, Pity my bad taste.
! told him, with little shrug of my
shoulders, that it was not necessary fol
me to sign 1.-THE total abstinence pledge
but that it was the only thing that
would save him, He slammed the pen
down and went down the hall, saying
What is sauce for the goose is sauce fol
the gander; and what is good for you il
good for me reckon Then | had ar
inward fight to fght-one of those bat
ties that no one knows but God ant
YOURSELF but you are ten years olde
when you have fought it, whether Yo,
lose or conquer. l was quite ten year.
older when went down the hall and lait
my hand on his arm, and said: EPerhap
it is you that are to save me. will taxi
the pledge first, and you shall take i
after me- And so the happy, affection
ate woman, who had never been drunl
in her life, and the hard, weather-beatel
man, who had been drunk nearly ever,
day, stood there together, and there tn
baptismal service was performed by tina
|drunkard for the sober woman rathe
than by the sober woman for the drunk
ard. And the lesson learned that nigh
was this: that whatever you want other
to do you must do yourself before yo1
ask them to do it," .
A few weeks ago this column contained
an article from an eastern paper giyin,
some idea of the magnitude of the liquo
| l. ~ A E.so \ I.