The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-03-03
RESCUED FROM DRINK
Struggle OF a Young Man Against The
Whisky Curse.

WHISKY Suise.
cannot remember the time
when Roger and | were not the
closest friends and freee,t conidents
So in later years it seemed but nat
lural that he should at once tell me
when Lillian Astervelt promised T.
be his wife. remember how glad
| was, because | saw how happy
the knowledge made the boy, al
though this gay, laughing girl was
not Just the one might have chos
en- for my intellectual, kingly friend
For his sake loved her from the
first. Later, when | learned TO
know her better and when her
character had been deepened and
enobled through sorrows cha-ten-
ing touch, ] loved her for her own
dear sake.
| must hasten, and yet my pen
almost refuses TO perform It's task.
III would fain linger over those
bright, Joyous scenes Of earlier days
and tell of Rogers success at the
bar-the eloquence Of his pleading,
the m .gnetisln Of his presence, and
the host of friends who delighted 10
do him honor. Yet in the midst of
all storm clouds were gathering, for
Roger now freely quaifed the liba
tons that were offered in his honor.
lOh. the agony of those days to me
Full well knew what a portion OF
Rogers inheritance was taste for
strong drink. His father, though
an upright Presbyterian elder, had
been lifelong though moderate in
dulger in alcoholic drink.
The end came at last Eleven
years had passed since Rogers mar
riage. God had bless their home
with three beautiful children. But
alas, Rogers step had gr,wn un-
steady, his breath constantly pol
luted with the poisonous fumes OF
alcohol and nicotine, and his prac-
tice but such in name. Our efforts
at last prevailed upon him TO con-
quer his enemy. He soon became
quite himself y so we all said, and
none too soon, for sorrow and shame
had wrought their deadly work up
on Lillian's delicate frame. De-
spite all that tender care and loving
Isolicitude could do. she dropped
and faded. Rogers reclamation
had come too late to her whom, but
for the liquor, he would have loved
better than his life.
One bright June day Lillian, with
her hand in her husbands, went
home. And Roger, in his heart
broken agony of remor-eful grief,
saw naught. knew naught, save that
the grim and mighty visitant had
claimed his hearts idol, and full
we'll he realized why.
Were this not true story would
not now need to tell you the sad
dest part of most sad tale. Dur
ing Lillian's illness her physician
had ordered brandy a a stlmulant
when she was overcome by an ex-
cessive weakness to which she was
subject. Lillian had bravely pro-
tested, but her physician was mex
orable. Roger, too, had gently in
sisted, and Lillian, too physically
weak to battle, had at last succunb-
ed. Rogers hand had repeatedly
prepared the mixture for her. We
never knew Just how it happened,
whether Roger had allowed himself
10 taste it then or whether the mad
dening fumes had tantalized and
followed him, but dear Lillian
frail casket had scarcely been LAID
under cemetery sod before Roger
was transformed into veritable de-
mon through drink. For one whole
week he was under its satanic in
tluence. His relatives entreated me
TO 90 and expostulate with him, but
the words would have said froze
on my lips, for Roger, my friend
Roger. met me with volley OF caths
and imprecations that chilled the
very blood in my veins.
From that day poor Roger rush
ei with tobagganlike velocity down
the steep incline whose terminus i
eternal death. But day and night
the throne was besieged in his be-
half. And God heard and answer
ed. Through an awful attack of de-
Ilirum tremens he was brought down
to deaths borderland. He again
resolved to break from his slavish
chains, and hope again revived and
blossomed afresh, for this time he
was anchored to the rock, Christ
Jesus. That was just four years