J.B. GOUGH.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3114, 10 February 1879, Page 1

J.B. GOUGH.

I The respectable moderate drinker who' bocomos a total abstainer ia a wonderful power for the reformation of the drunkard. A kind word from him goes a long way. A smile from him, a nod of recognition m the streets from him will stir up the pride of a man's nature, and more him to do ( what without that perhaps he would scarcely be able to do. Will you allow me to give you one incident in my own experience? 1 signed the Temperanoe pledge on the 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 hare can form no idea of the terrible nature of this terrible struggle—broken, broken, morally, physically, intellectually, spiritually broken, twenty-five years of age, and not a friend on the face of the earth that loved me; and suffering—oh! the horrible, horrible shivering, as if there were ice in 'the marrow, followed instantly by flushing of heat, as if every pore of the body werestinging 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 r do yoiiP "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 I was a bookbinder-rrl had in my hand the iron pen with which they screwed up the hand press. That began to move! It frightened me.! f I gripped- a it J Still it would move ;l I gripped it with both hands! I could feel it (earing the palms out of my hand, and I dropped it, and there it lay before me all writhing and curling, a slituy snake! I could hear the paper shavings rustle, as the horrible thing twisted before me I If that had been a snake, I should not have been afraid of it, What did "X •care for a snake, I would have stood and looked at that No, I knew it was a straight bar of cold iron, and, .there were the green eyes, and the darting forked tongue, as it writhed before me in all its slimy loathesomeness; and the horror seemed to fill me; my very hair seemed to stand eu end! " I oannot fight this battle f I cannot fight this battle, I must give it up. I have got too heavy a ia&d'on me. ' I may as well die in one way *.« the other. If I drink I must die; if 1 £gk$ } I must die. I'll. gWe it up." Just k> itij© very moment of despair a gentleman walked into the shop. : " Good morning, Mr Gojigh," "Good morning, Mr Goodrich." *ITou know me P" " Ye» -, Mr Goodrich, the Jawye?." "I saw you »#» *h© pledge !«•' nigbi;." "Did you? Well, I did it/'"l.wa» very glad to see yon do it. Nobody is glad aji anything I do." " Well," he said, Vdi4 you see the young men follow your example." "-No, I did not see any. I don'tr feel wall. I don't feel right." " Well, Mr Gojyjh, I have hut a minute :6r''two*''ld''B'pare7r^t^-:thi6tighl'r*'woald come and say keep up a brave heart. God bless you. My office ji* in the Exr icb&nge. Come in and see me. I would be T«ry happy to make your acquaintaooe. J" He shook hands with me and said, "God bless you. Come in and see me wiiea you can., Keep up a brave heart. Good-bye." f'He says, 'Come and see me.' Well, I will J He says, •HI be glad to make jour a.cc|Uftin.tance '—a pretty acquaintance for any deceot man Jp make ? He stall make it if he w»n|ts it He says,' Keep up a brave heart.' Well, I will—l will." And I fought it six days ..and six nights, suffering torments tonu t^erable ; fought it with horrible Ahjpsy creep^S o>er me, fought it ie %f darlr, fought ; it! along without one particle' -°f food, passip^; my lips—l fought it w.'thout oue wink of heajtby sleep—^RUtrit until I stood in the sunlight, so weak iiiPd so weary, so exhausted, but so exultant 1 the victory—the victory over the danmtng influence of drink. Ah, geiitiemea and ladies, there is where you can ■ work. > You cau work, by your influence, bufcit must be by your example as well; «b tbat you can e»y to those men, " Com* with 1 me," not "£0 as I direct," but " Come with me ;" there is a mighty power in that word " Come/'--S. A; Teni- • periance Herald!