The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-02
OUR TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
REPORTS OF PROGRESS OF THE
BATTLE AGAINST RUM.
Pathetic Tale of the Downfall of a
Good. Natured Canadian Farmer
What a Shame That the Causes
of Wrecks Should Be Licensed!

What a Shame That the Causes
of Wrecks Should Be Licensed!
Years g l became acquainted
with a strong, hearty, w~ell-developed
and good-natured young fellow, who
was living with his father and mother
on a very good farm in a pleasant
part of Canada. The old folk had
lived on the farm for many years,
and had done very well on it, always
maintaining a high character for in.
dustry, honesty, sobriety and integ-
risy.
The son being their only child liv-
ing las far as I am alvarez was, per-
haps, allowed a little more of his
own way than was best for him. He
early got in the way Of going out at
night and frequenting the taverns,
two of which were not very far from
the old homestead. The parents were
getting old and infrm, and the work.
ing of the place naturally devolved
upon the young man, but a. he was
young and ~able-bodied he stood in
need of nobody's sympathy.
He got acquainted with a superior
young woman, living about ten miles
from his home, and, to the surprise
and regret of all who knew them
both, in course of time they were en-
gagged to be married. Judicious
friends who wished them both well,
and suspected that she was not aware
of his habits, warned her in the kind
Hest way; and I believe that the
whole community hoped that their
marriage would never take place.
But she stuck to him, and although
the wedding day was repeatedly put
off, in the end they got married.
He Strengthened up somewhat for
q time, and every one hoped that, now
when he had got settled down, and
got, as every one admitted, such an
excellent partner, he would turn over
a new leaf, and yet make a mar of
himself. She was well aware of his
weaknesses, and may have fattered
herself with the idea that she would
have influence ove him, wholly to
reform him. Many a woman deceives
herself there to her cost.
He gradually got more and more
~slovenly in his personal appearance
more and more ~inattentive to the
farm-more and more disrespectful
ITO his wife, and to his parents, who
were still living with him on the
farm. His evenings were, as a rule,
spent either at the tavern CT at a
neighboring farmhouse, where liquor
was always kept, and where two sons,
lately left fatherless and motherless,
were going down to destruction with
a tremendous velocity.
Anything like self-respect he was
now fast losing, and in it's pace came
pride in his achievements; for I well
remember hearing him at a township
show declare with a loud voice, Il
can drink more whisky than any
other man In this township" and
have little doubt that his boast was
only too true.
Stock on the farm began quietly
to be sold, and everything was grad
ually going to wreck and ruin, till
about three years after he was mar
ried all that was left was brought to
the hammer.
I happened to be in the neighbor-
hood on the day of the sale, and was
asked by a friend to go with him,
and went, and have always been a
sort Of sorry since that I was there.
First the horses, cattle and imple-
ments were sold outside, and then
the furniture was to be sold inside.
After most of that was disposed of
the auctioneer invited those presen;
to come into a bedroom, as there
were a few things to be sold there.
I had no intention of going in, as
was buying nothing, neither outside
nor inside, Lut an old gentleman,
who knew what was awaiting, beck
oned me to come with him into the
room, and I took a step or two and
stood in the open door.
What was there to be seen? The
old farmer in bed and unable to help
himself, while the bed and other
things were sold under him. The
old gentleman who went in ahead OF
me, and who knew the circum-
stances, babe one dollar; and all that
was in the room was knocked down
to him for that. He Immediately
paid over the dollar, and then turn
ms; to the poor old sick nan (who
was in tears) told him that all that
was in that room was his own. l
could not help thinking kindly of
that man ever since, but a more hui
initiating sight than I saw that day
never witnessed. What became of
the family ultimately I do not know.
| think the young wife returned home
to her fathers house; and for the
others that could any one expect?
Shame on the country that in the
face of so many such cases, so many
broken hearts and ruined homes, still
goes on licensing the sale Of that
which always works ruin.-The Rev.
J. M. Cameron, in the Scottish Amer
lean.