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FROM WEALTH TO POVERTY;
OR,
THE TRICKS OF THE TRAFFIC.
A Story of the Drink Curse
BY THE REV. AUSTIN POTTER.
"I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard.
Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all.
To be now a sensible man, by-and-bye a fool, and presently a beast"
--Othello, Act II.
TO THE FRIENDS OF PROHIBITION THE WORLD OVER THIS BOOK IS
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
BY THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE
My reasons for writing this story were principally two. The first
was my undying hatred of the rum traffic, which, in the days of
the long ago, caused me and those dear to me to endure intense
hardship and suffering; and the second was my desire to expose the
unprincipled measures which were employed by the liquor party in
order to render the Dunkin Act non-effective, and thus bring it
into disrepute.
What I have written has been taken from personal experience and
observation; and as I have resided in three counties where the Act
was in force, and have since visited several others, the data,
which served as a foundation for what follows, was not gleaned
from any particular locality.
The picture I herein present of the plottings of the liquor party,
and the cruel treachery to which they resorted in order to bring
their conspiracy to defeat the law to a successful issue, is not
overdrawn; and, let me ask, can there be any doubt but there are
in existence at the present time plots similar to the one laid
bare in this book, which have for their object the obstruction of
the Scott Act in the counties where it has been or may be carried,
thus if possible to bring it into such contempt among the
unthoughtful, who will not examine back of the effect for the
cause, as to finally secure its repeal. Of one thing we may be
certain, if an unscrupulous use of money and the resorting to
"ways that are dark" will accomplish their purpose, these
conspirators will not fail of success.
It has been my aim in this book to help educate public sentiment,
so that if the same tactics are resorted to as were in the places
where the Dunkin Act was in force, my readers will not aid the
violators of the law by joining in the senseless cry, "the Scott
Act is a failure," but that they will, to the extent of their
ability, assist those who are determined that it, like every law
which has been placed on our statute books for the protection of
the subject, must and shall be respected, and that the violators
of its enactments shall be brought to summary and condign
punishment: for except it is backed by public sentiment it, though
much superior to the Dunkin Act, will fail just as signally.
In regard to the principal characters who appear in these pages,
they are not mere creations of my imagination; for Richard and
Ruth Ashton were real personages, with whom I was well acquainted,
as were all the prominent individuals of this story.
The descriptions given of the murders and suicides, also of Morris
throwing the tumbler at his son, and of the scene when Allie
Ashton was insulted by Joe Porter and the latter was knocked down
by Frank Congdon, are all taken from events which really occurred.
For what I have written I offer no apology, but will simply state
that I have only been animated with a sincere desire to do my
little all to sweep the drink curse from our country and the
world.
A. P.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. A Departure.
CHAPTER II. Richard and Ruth Ashton.
CHAPTER III. On the down grade.
CHAPTER IV. Sail for America and meet a kindly welcome.
CHAPTER V. Good resolution--A tempter and a fall.
CHAPTER VI. Arrival in Canada--A friendly host--Applies for a
situation.
CHAPTER VII. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney.
CHAPTER VIII. Ashton meets with friends and secures a situation.
CHAPTER IX. Ruth's misgivings and mental agony.
CHAPTER X. All in Canada.
CHAPTER XI. Aunt Debie and her friends.
CHAPTER XII. A worthy Sheriff and Judge--Dr. Dalton.
CHAPTER XIII. Ruth Ashton's introduction to Aunt Debie--Ruth's
dilemma.
CHAPTER XIV. A happy home.
CHAPTER XV. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney's satisfaction with Ashton--
Mutual congratulations.
CHAPTER XVI. Ashton revisits old scenes.
CHAPTER XVII. Mr. Howe gives his views in regard to Canada.
CHAPTER XVIII. The banquet, and what followed.
CHAPTER XIX. A startling newspaper item to Mr. and Mrs. Reid.
CHAPTER XX. A base plot, and what it led to.
CHAPTER XXI. Utterly broken--Blasted hopes.
CHAPTER XXII. The Dunkin Act--A discussion in which strong
language is used.
CHAPTER XXIII. The conspirators formulating their scheme.
CHAPTER XXIV. Alderman Toper's flattering opinion of the "Dodger".
CHAPTER XXV. The friends of temperance rejoicing over their
victory.
CHAPTER XXVI. In which the reader listens to a _tete-a-tete_
between mother and daughter.
CHAPTER XXVII. Barton's despair, and what it led to.
CHAPTER XXVIII. The conspirators perfecting the details of their
conspiracy.
CHAPTER XXIX. Mr. Brown's opinion of the trial, and the presiding
magistrates.
CHAPTER XXX. The insult to Allie Ashton--Her gallant defender.
CHAPTER XXXI. Richard Ashton and little Mamie--Mamie's dream.
CHAPTER XXXII. A bar-room settlement of a misunderstanding.
CHAPTER XXXIII. The home and family of Morris--He nearly kills
little Harry.
CHAPTER XXXIV. Tom Flatt's hut--A description of the scene in
which he murders his wife.
CHAPTER XXXV. John, jun.'s wedding--Barton's murder--Luella
Sealy's suicide and Ginsling's tragical death.
CHAPTER XXXVI. Some of the characters who helped the repeal--
A hoodlum's victory.
CHAPTER XXXVII. Death of little Mamie--A promise.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Richard Ashton murderously attacked--His death.
CHAPTER XXXIX. Mr. Gurney speaks his mind--Death of Dr. Dalton
And Aunt Debie.
CHAPTER XL. Conclusion.
CHAPTER I.
A DEPARTURE.
"Richard, you will keep from drink, will you not, dear?" and the
speaker, in order to make her pleading irresistible, kissed the
one to whom these words were addressed again and again; and, as
with a hand upon each shoulder, she looked lovingly into his eyes,
there was an added pathos which, to a man of Richard Ashton's
sympathetic and sensitive nature, was all powerful.
"Well, Ruth, dear, God helping me, I will again be a man, and when
I am tempted I will think of my dear little wife and my darling
children at home; and remembering how they love me, though I have
been such an indifferent husband and father to them, I will not
touch nor taste the cursed stuff."
The tears gleamed in his eyes as he thus spoke, but feeling his
manhood was being compromised he endeavored to suppress them, the
effort, however, was in vain, for the deepest depths of a noble,
sensitive nature had been wrought upon by the loving appeal of his
wife and the pent-up feeling, gathering force by the very effort
which he had made to suppress it, manifested itself in a series of
short, choking sobs. He returned the kisses of his wife, clasped
her convulsively to him, and, as he looked down into the upturned
face, his eyes manifested an affection which found no expression
in speech. He stooped down and fondly kissed his children and then
opening the door, with satchel in hand, he darted out, only
looking back when his wife called to him, as she stood with her
three little ones on the threshold--
"Remember, Richard, your wife and children will pray for you, that
our Father in heaven may preserve you from danger, give you
strength to resist temptation, and bring you back in safety to
those who love you better than their own lives."
He stood looking back for a moment, and as he saw his wife and
children still gazing intently after him, he murmured, "God bless
you, my darlings;" and turning again, walked rapidly on until he
was lost to view.