COUGH, THE TEMPERANCE ORATOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 69, 27 January 1879, Page 2

COUGH, THE TEMPERANCE ORATOR.

. $ I signed the Temperance pledge on Monday night, and on Tuesday morning I commenced the battle with my enemy. Those who have experienced that fight know something about it. Those who never have can form no idea of the terrible nature of this terrible strugglebroken,—broken morally, physically, intellectually, spiritually broken, twentyfive years of Age, and not a friend on. the face of the earth that loved me; and suffering —oh ! the terrible, horrible shivering, as if there were ice in the marrow, followod instantly by flushing of heat, as if every pore of the body were stinging with the puncture of a red-hot needle : and then whisperings of your name, " John John!" You knew there was nothing there, I remember very well I went to the man I worked for, and I said to him, "I signed the pledge last night." "I know you did." " I mean to keep it." " They all say that." '' You don't believe I will, do you I" " No," It.discouraged me; I went to my bench disheartened and discouraged. He was not a total abstainer, and therefore had not any sympathy at all with the movement. I remember very well—l was a bookbinder—l had in my hand the iron pin with which that screwed up the handpress. That began to move. It frightened me. I gripped it. Still it would move. I gripped it with both hands, I could feel it tearing the palms out of my hand, and I dropped it, and there it lay before mo writhing and curling, a slimy snake. I could hear the paper shavings' rustle as the horrible'tiling twisted before me, If tliai.haS'heen a. snake I should not, have .been afraid o(itji: What did the snaJce.jjA£MtfAfflfttHH|

eyes and darting forked, tongue lis' it''. ■• : ; 9 writhed before me in all slimy loathe- -•''.'.; H 'some'ness.'; and the horror seemed- to fill ■'. fl me; my very hair seemed to stand: on ,B end, '' I cannot light this hattlo; I can- ' ■ not fight this battle. I must give it up. ; : H 1 have got too heavy a load on me. I may- .: H as well die one way as tho other. If I . H drink I muat dio; if light I must die. A - m I'll give it up." Just'in the very moment' H of despair a gentleman walked into tho , H shop. "Good morning,. Mr' Gough." . .' fl "Good morning. Mr Goodrich." . fl know me 1 ". "Yes, Mr Goodrich, tho M lawyer." "T saw you sign the pledge Inst K night," "Did you. Well, I did it." "I. i was very glad to see you do. it," f You H say you were very glad to sco.me Nobody is glad at anything LJflHntafi "Well," he said, " did. vou young men follow your exa'.sfSei " " I did not sec any. I don't feel woll. I ■ don't feel right."" " Well, Mr Gough, I' ; ;■"'.. ■ ' have hut a minute or two to spare, but I - '■ ■' thought I would come and 1 say keep up a brave heart, .God .bless you. My office Y • is in the Exchange.: 'i Come in and see me. I would be very happy to make your acquaintance."' He shook hands with mo and said " God bless you. Come in and. sec mo when you can.', Keep up a brave heart. Good-bye," "Hosays, 'Come and see me.' Well, I will, ,Ho says ' I'll be glad to make your acquaintance,'—a pretty acquaintance for any decent man '- to make! He shall make it if ho wants it, 'He says keep up a: brave heart.' Well, I will, I will." And I fought it six nights, suffering torments unmutterablc; fought it with horrible things creeping over me; fought in the dark ; fought it alone, without ono particle of food passing my lra-I fought it without one wink of healthy sleep-fought it until I stood in v •the sunlight, so weak, and so weary, so exhausted, but so exultant in tho victory —the victory over the damning influence of drink. Ah, gentleman and ladies, there is where you can work. You can work by your influence, but it must be example a3 well, so that ypu can' ■ " say\to those men " Come ffij '' Go its I direct," but!-' Conic with me;" MB and therais a.mighty power in that word " HB|