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STORY OF ANOTHER PIONEER BY C. B. STEBBINS
June 7, 1882.
So they went to writing votes for "uncle Aaron, " and, though the Whigs had a majority of thirty in the town, whisky beat me. But better so than to be overcome by drinking it, as they were who came howling around my house at midnight in celebrating their "glorious victory. "
I will not say I was not somewhat mortified; indeed, I rather think I was a little mad; but I had no regrets for the warfare I had. waged against intemperance, and I said: enjoy your triumph, but I shall live to dance over your graves yet. And I might have done it literally ere this, for many of them are sleeping in drunkard's graves.
I declared that I would never accept an office in that town though I lived a hundred years. The next spring, however, they elected me school inspector though I declared I would not qualify. But the town board notified me that if I did not take the oath of office they would have me fined, and I was obliged to submit. And such is life. When I wanted an office I failed to get it, and when I did not, I had to take it. I never obtained an office by scheming for it.
Uncle Aaron never tried a case; and the next winter he was voted out of office by the Legislature by a law making a tavern-keeper ineligible. But he had all he could do in selling and drinking his liquor. It was not long before he became a confirmed drunkard. He had an amiable wife and a daughter a young lady of rare loveliness. In a short time the daughter died of a broken heart from grief and shame. The doctors who attended her said she had no physical disease. And not long after, the mother followed her to the grave in a similar manner. While she lay in her coffin the miserable man was raving with delirium tremens, and fearfully cursing her because she did not get up and go to work. When he came to himself, he tried to stop drinking; but it was too late. He soon relapsed, and followed his victims, and the three sleep side by side on the bank of the river Raisin.
Michigan
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