HOW A DRUNKARD WAS RECLAIMED.
By JAS. SAWYER
In conversation with several women not long since, the subject of the course a woman should pursue who had a drunkard for a husband was the topic of conversation. It would be a hard fate to suffer the penalty which each passed upon the drunkard, provided he had been the husband of either of them. One said she would not live with a drunkard; another spoke of the plan of giving a flogging; while most of them would not consent to live the life of a drunkard's wife. One lady told the following anecdote, which is certainly a good plan, when our confidence in God is strong. There lived in the town of S—e a very patient woman. Her husband was a drunkard. He, too, was often very exacting, and came home at times in a state of intoxication. Sometimes he would put her to much trouble to get such food as would gratify his taste. With all his requests she readily complied, and put forth her best efforts to meet his demands when it was possible for her to do so. She would often get up at night to prepare a warm supper for him. She murmured not at any of his exactions. One night, after he had spent the evening in revelry with his companions, and was about to go home, he told his comrades that his wife was a remarkable woman. Says he, If you, my comrades, were to go home with me this night, and I should tell her to get up and dress some chickens, at midnight, she would do it without a murmur. His company would not believe him; so, to prove the thing, they went home with him, and got there about midnight. He called his wife up, and says, Wife, I want you to cook some chickens for us. She immediately arose from her bed, went out and caught a chicken, dressed, and cooked, and made ready a well-spread board for his company. The guests were astonished. Turning to her they wanted to know why she was so ready to do such unreasonable bidding. She replied, All the enjoyment my husband will have must be taken in the present life, and I am willing and shall try to have him get all that he can. This is the reason I do this. In the future life he will have no enjoyment. This was too much for the man to bear. His feet were turned that moment from the path of evil. The dart was thrust from the hand of the tormentor, and he became a reformed man. Kindness is sometimes powerful. How many Christian men and women might have reclaimed their husbands and wives from sin on the same principle, had they not taken the rod of correction into their own hands, instead of leaving the chastisement in the hands of a merciful God. JAS. SAWYER.