ney and counselor at
law, in Worcester, now dead; but to the last of his life my true and
faithful friend. It would be impossible to describe how this little
act of kindness cheered me. With the exception of Mr. Stratton, who
was a waiter at a temperance hotel, no one had accosted me for months
in a manner which would lead me to think any one cared for me, or what
might be my fate. Now I was not altogether alone in the world; there
was a hope of my being rescued from the "slough of despond," where I
had been so long floundering. I felt that the fountain of human
kindness was not utterly sealed up, and again a green spot, an oasis,
small, indeed, but cheering, appeared in the desert of my life. I had
something to live for; a new desire for life seemed suddenly to spring
up; the universal boundary of human sympathy included even my wretched
self in its cheering circle. All these sensations were generated by a
few kind words at the right time. Yes, now I can fight; and I did
fight--six days and six nights--encouraged and helped by a few words of
sympathy. He said, "Come in and see me." I will. He said he would be
pleased to make my acquaintance. He shall. He said, "Keep up a brave
heart!" By God's help I will. And so encouraged I fought on with not
one hour of healthy sleep, not one particle of food passing my lips,
for six days and six nights.

On the evening of the day following that on which I signed the pledge I
went straight home from my workshop, with a dreadful feeling of some
impending calamity haunting me. In spite of the encouragement I had
received, the presentiment of coming evil was so strong that it bowed
me almost to the dust with apprehension. The slakeless thirst still
clung to me; and water, instead of allaying it, seemed only to increase
its intensity.

I was fated to encounter one struggle more with my enemy before I
became free. Fearful was that struggle. God in his mercy forbid that
any young man should endure but a tenth part of the torture which
racked my frame and agonized my heart.

As in the former attack, horrible faces glared upon me from the
walls--faces ever changing, and displaying new and still more horrible
features; black bloated insects crawled over my face, and myriads of
burning, concentric rings were revolving incessantly. At one moment
the chamber appeared as red as blood, and in a twinkling it was dark as
the charnel house. I seemed to have a knife with hundre