Wilfred Hedley: or, How teetotalism came to Ellensmere

Front matter

" The smith's shop was the gossip place of that particular part of the town." — Page 8. WILFRED HEDLEY: OK, HOW TEETOTALISM CAME TO ELLENSMERE. BY S. J. FITZGERALD, AUTHOK OF "THE LANCASTERS AND THEIR FRIENDS," " COALS AND COLLIERS," "MASTER AND MAN," "EQUALLY YOKED," ETC. " Say not thou — that the former days were better than these." King Solomon. LONDON: T. .YOOLMER, 2, CASTLE ST., CITY ROAD, E.C., and 66, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1884. j_ affantgrie -J^tetfg BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON TO ALL WHO, IN THE NAME AND FOR THE HONOUR OF GOD, SOW THE SEEDS OF TEMPERANCE, IS THIS LITTLE VOLUME BeMcatefc; WITH THE PRAYER THAT THE SEED SOWN MAT FALL INTO GOOD GROUND, AND BRING FORTH A NEW AND JOYFUL CROP, THAT SHALL GLADDEN THE HEART OF THE SOWER, AND MEET THE APPROVAL OF THE LORD OE THE HARVEST.

Lancaster, August, 1S83. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. "BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW" . 7 II, "AND OTHER FELL ON GOOD GROUND, AND SPRANG UP, AND BARE FRUIT" ... 16 III MR. HEDLEY BELIEVES THE WORLD IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN 29 IV. BETTER BE A TEETOTALLER THAN THAT . . 39 V. RICHARD RECEIVES TWO LETTERS WHICH ASTO NISH HIM GREATLY 48 VI. RICHARD CHOOSES HIS OWN PATH ... 63 VII WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THE SICK-ROOM OF MRS. HEDLEY 7S VIII. THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD ... 86 IX. MORDAUNT MILLS 96 X. I OUGHT TO SIGN FIRST, AND WILL . . . 1 08 XI. MR. HEDLEY'S TESTIMONY CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE XII. GODLESS TOM AND THE TEMPERANCE PROCESSION 1 28 XIII. ON THE COMMON 1 39 XIV. SEE WHAT GOD HATH WROUGHT . . . . 150 XV. DECEIVED AND DECEIVING 1 57 XVI. THE WAGES OF SIN . . , . . . 16S XVII. "THEM THAT HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR" . 1S1 XVIII. AFTERWARD 1S8 OR, 1bov. teetotalism Came to Ellensmere.

Chapter I

"BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO. SOW. " 'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, And ask them what report they bore to heaven." — Young. HE time of which I write is retrospective, UtM\ 'TiTs when Teetotalism was like an infant l_i__s of days, struggling for existence — so far back, indeed, that few, and they no longer young, are left to tell the story of the battle, or rejoice in the victory it has won. The majority of those who bore the burden aud heat of the day rest from their labour, having at the command of the Master laid down the sword, taken up the crown, and joined those who, before the fuller light of TOTAL abstinence came to be received by men, had striven hard to crush the power of intemperance by example and precept, out of whose system issued the now matured and widely embraced principle of teetotalism ; the many that are gone, as well as the few who remain, being held in loving remembrance as the heroes of a well-fought field.

Amongst the survivors, none is better known than good Joseph Livesey, who has on this day, the 5th of March, 1883, entered into his ninetieth year^" a grand old man." One bright evening in July, a year after the time when they who yet bear the distinctive title of "The Seven Men of Preston" had, like "the solitary monk who shook the world," startled their friends and neighbours into a new and novel train of thought ; two men were seen to take possession of a grassy knoll known as the Lady's Seat, not many yards distant from a blacksmith's shop, situate in the township of Ellensmere, where, all the day through, sparks flew from the anvil, under the vigorous blows of the hammers wielded by two sturdy sons of Vulcan known as " Will and Bob." This smith's shop was the gossip place of that particular part of the town ; and now that the working day was nearly over, a number of men and boys drew near to the place; some sat on the ground, some on the bars of iron under the windows, others under the shelter where the horses were shod, or leaned idly about the walls discussing the crops and the harvest prospects generally; while one of their number, evidently a man of some note amongst them, took a three weeks old newspaper from his jacket pocket and prepared to give his companions what he called " a bit 0' Parliament news."

The etiquette of the locality demanded that the clang of the forge should cease, and time be given "_ SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW." 9 to the smiths to wash the grime from their faces and hands ; which they did in a stone trough on the opposite side of the way, placed there for the purpose of receiving the overflow from a clear spring that bubbled aud sparkled in a green field a few yards further away, before the reading commenced. The owner of the paper had " found the place," set his spectacles astride his nose, given his preliminary cough, and was " ready to begin." Bob was polishing his honest brown face with the rough jack-towel just passed to him by his fellow-workman, when one of the expectant group caught sight of the men who had just taken possession of the Lady's Seat. " Hillo ! what does that mean ?

" said he, as the lesser of the strange men unfurled a small blue silken flag, with the words " temperance banner " printed thereon in letters of gold. " What can it mean ? " said several at once. The politician folded up his paper, took his spec tacles from his nose, and placed both back in his pocket, for he found that he was alone. Those who but a minute before had been anxious to hear the paper read, attracted by the glittering flag, had hastened to the foot of the grassy eminence from which it floated. The people of Ellensmere, like the people of ancient Athens, spent a good deal of their time in hearing or telling anything new. It was therefore no marvel that the reader followed his intended audience to learn " what was up." A mile from the Lady's Seat was a large brewery. The owner, whose name was Swindells, supplied most of the public-houses in and around the town with the beer they required for sale.

In the opposite direction, but on the same river bank, stood the Mordaunt Mills, owned and worked by Mr. Hargrave, corn merchant and miller. Both these establish ments employed a large number of workmen and clerks. The homes of many of them were in Ellens mere itself. To reach these homes the men must pass the Lady's Seat. I have said it was the time when labour ceased, and the toilers were turning homeward, when, like the loungers about the smith's shop, several were attracted by the blue flag. Various were the conjectures of the inhabitants of this quiet spot as to what these men wanted coming to Ellensmere. What could they want ? " I hope they are conjurors," said a big lad of sixteen. " I dare say they have got their things in that black bag. I wish they would begin their tricks, I do."

" I think they are quack doctors," quoth another. " So do I," cried a friend. " They can't be cheap Jacks, 'cause they have no cart of goods." " They are nothing of that sort," remarked an older man. " Conjurors and cheap Jacks don't sing and pray like that man shapes. Why," he added, " he can pray bke a bishop ; but he isn't one, not even a passon, or else he would have a big white henkecher on his neck like our vicar." " Why, they are Methodises, that's what they are," said the politician, "and very good sort of people they are. They do like this ; pray for people, and preach to 'em ; but I never saw 'em carry a flag before, though I have heard 'em sing beautiful in other places. 0, bless you, there's lots of 'em about." "A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW." 1 1 So discoursing, some passed on, others remained to listen to the prayer being fervently offered by one of the strangers, as well as to the song in praise of cold water that was given by tbe other when the prayer was over.

The singer had a sweet voice and pleasant manner that held the attention of several, in particular that of a thoughtful-looking, handsome man of about twenty-four, named Wilfred Hedley. This gentleman was the confidential clerk of Mr. Swindells, the great brewer; he was also one of the best singers in the choir at the parish church. It was a pretty light air, not new, though the words were, to which Wilfred Hedley now listened with a pleased face as he wished they had that capital tenor in the choir; but that laudable desire was forgotten for the time at least as he bstened to what followed. When the song was ended, the singer remarked : " I think we ought to tell you who we are, and why we are here." " That is just what I have been thinking," cried the stout smith named Bob. "So tell us, will you?"

" With pleasure," returned the singer good humouredly. "I am a working-man like yourself, a mechanic, as my hands declare. My name is John Davis. My good friend here " — touching the arm of his companion, who still held the blue flag — " is also a working-man ; bis name is Peter Vicars, and we are both Manchester men. We were drunkards ; God has mercifully shown us the sin, and saved us from the drunkard's fate. We are better in health, position, and pocket than ever we were duriug such time as we were slaves to drink. Knowing this, we feel it to be our duty to advise all with whom we meet to do as we have been led to do — give up at once and for ever all intoxicating drink. We are out for a holiday, and are taking it in trying to do as I have told you. We intend to leave this place in the morning; the next town or vdlage we reach we shall invite the people, as we now invite you, to become total abstainers."

" You are going from town to town to see what you can get," cried a coarse-looking, red-faced man, in a white apron. " That is a mistake, friend," said the other. " We do not want a draught of milk without paying for it." " Nothing can be fairer than that," cried the stalwart Bob. " Speak out ; let us hear what you have to say." " Ay, that's only right. Hear him," from several voices. " I know what he wants beforehand," said the same coarse-looking man. " I have heard of such chaps before to-day. There are lots of 'em going about the country, trying to take the bread out of honest men's mouths, and crying out against a man's mug of ale; as if men bke me wanted to poison 'em. I should like to know what is to become of all the public-houses that we pay to have licensed, if such fellows as you, Sir " — casting a scornful glance at John Davis — " were to have all your own way.

Will you tell me that ? " " That is easily told, my friend," he returned pleasantly. " I would close every public-house in England, if I could ; every public-house, every gin shop, brewery, and distillery in the world, if I had "A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW." 13 the power to do so. I would do it before I slept this night, if I could." " There ! " cried the red-faced man ; " I told j'ou what he was. I should like to ask you again, what would you do with all the malt that is made ? " " I would not have any made ; I would make the grain that God gives us do better service ; I would make it into food, not drink that takes away a man's common sense. I know it would be better for them, better for their bodies, better for their souls." At this moment several stones and tufts of grass were thrown at the speaker by some of the younger men, the red-faced man urging them to continue their rude behaviour, and " hit 'em hard."

There woidd, doubtless, have been an assault made on the Temperance advocates that might have resulted seriously, had not Bob left the crowd now assembled, entered into the smith's shop, and in a moment returned, bearing upon his shoulder the great hammer with which he beat the hot iron into such shape as was desired. Elbowing his way to the green hillock, the sturdy fellow placed him self in front of the two strangers ; and set the hammer down at his own feet. This done, in a voice loud enough to reach them all, he said : " Now, look here ; there has been nothing said but well ; and the first that throws anything else this way shall feel the weight of this," touching the formidable weapon. There was silence. " I mean it ! " he cried. It appeared the people thought he did, for no more stones were thrown, and the red-faced man went muttering away.

Mr. Davis thanked his stalwart protector for his timely aid, and resumed his address to the people. In fervid language he described the misery caused by drink. " How many men," he said, " have set out in life with all that was bright and hopeful ; a fair and prosperous way open to them, a path that led to affluence, to usefulness, to honour ; meaning to do right, fully determined to avoid the snare that so many had fallen into ! But in an evil hour the tempter laid that snare so wardy that the unguarded man fell a prey, a victim, to strong drink ; and it slew him, took from him the power to resist evil, made a wretched slave of a free man, brought him to the level of a brute." A vivid picture was then drawn of the home of such a fallen man, the bare walls, the broken windows, the empty shelves, the useless purse, the complete desolation and ruin of tbe man and his entire surroundings.

" I entreat you," he continued, " to think upon these things. Think, pray, and sight, untd you over come the enemy that you have tampered with to your hurt in temporal things, and that has nearly destroyed many of your never-dying souls. As you value present and future happiness, renounce the demon at once, and for evermore." In no mea sured terms he further condemned those who placed the tempter in the hands of their fellow-creatures. Those who made it, those who sold it, he declared to be guilty, in the sight of God, of placing such temptation before them as might, in many instances would, lead to everlasting condemnation ! In con clusion the speaker said, "Dear friends, I think "_ SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW." ■5 it probable that we shall never meet again on earth, but we would like to meet you all in heaven.

With this hope we say good-bye, and pray that the day may be near when tbere shall be neither drunkard, nor drinker, in this place." Another teetotal song, some tracts given away ; the blue flag was rolled up, and the two strangers left Ellensmere in the same unobtrusive way in which they had entered it, and were seen there no more, after having cast their bread upon the waters ; bread that was found after many days, for of the seed sown amongst the wayside hearers some fell into " an honest and good heart," which " heard the word, kept it, and brought forth fruit with patience." Let those who labour for God take courage, for He has said, " My word shall not return unto Me void, it shall accomplish — the thing whereto I sent it." So, " In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be abke good."

" Those who make it ! those who sell it ! guilty in the sight of God ! Then what am I ? " Such thoughts revolved in the heart of Mr. Swindells' confidential clerk, and wrung from it a yearning cry — " Lord, help me ! "

Chapter II

"AND OTHER FELL ON GOOD GROUND, AND SPRANG UP, AND BARE FRUIT." " A time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith, and ready hands, Tall, sun-crowned men, who live above the fog, In public duty, and in private thinking." i^TJIysii ITTLE things, circumstances not very much fe |y/r;j noticed, often usher in great events. iig-J^i^ It was not a remarkable thing for Wilfred Hedley to turn aside to listen to two men who, uninvited, had taken upon them selves to introduce the subject of total abstinence to the Ellensmere people. Many persons, as we have seen, listened as well as he, who went away as they came. To Wilfred himself, however, the words of the wayside speakers were heaven-sent, and became to him the power of God unto salvation. It was the turning-point in the young man's life.

With thoughtful face and lingering steps he turned home ward ; as he went, he mused on the pictures Mr. Davis had placed before his audience. " It is a fearful thing," he thought, " to be engaged, directly or indirectly, iu a trade that is the cause of so much misery in the world and such sin before God. I never liked it, never ; to-night it seems worse than ever, as if a curse must rest on those who have any thing to do with it. I wish with all my soul I never had, and have a good mind to give it up and take all risk. I think I ought." Clasping his hands tightly together, he almost groaned : " Lord, help me, help me to do right." Mr. Hedley, the father of Wilfred, was the descend ant of a family that once held a high position. In their time they were called fine old Englishmen, for they were fox-hunting men, who kept their own hounds, hunters, and racers ; improvident men, for the most part, who thought only of to-day, leaving the business of the morrow to take care of itself.

As time went on, the timber on the estate began to be cut down, the lands first mortgaged, then lost ; until, with the exception of the many-gabled place, known as the " Cedars," on which Mr. Hedley lived, all the old family estates had passed into the hands of strangers, and the family itself, like many another before and since, fallen into decay. Thus it became necessary for Mr. Hedley to put his sons to such businesses as he believed would insure to them, at least, a good position in the professional or commer cial world. His eldest son, Richard, had been articled to a well-established firm of solicitors known as " West and Watkins." Wilfred, as we have seen, was with the great brewer, Mr. Swindells ; Harry, the youngest son, was not as yet engaged in any pursuit. These young men, with their pretty young sister, Alice, and the heads of the house, Mr. aud Mrs. Hedley, composed the fanifly then existing.

As Wilfred entered one of the oak parlours, he found B that the supper, common to most people years ago, had already been commenced. " How late you are, Wilfred ! " his mother com plained, " your father was tired of waiting, so we began." " I am glad you did not wait, father," the young man answered ; " but the reason I am so late is, that I stopped to listen to some men who were speaking in the road close to the blacksmith's. One in particular has astonished me with what he said about what he called the drinking customs of the country. I am in amazement and horror." " You should not have stayed to listen to that sort of nonsense," Mrs. Hedley remarked ; " you are quite tired out. Take your beer, it will sharpen you up a bit, and raise your spirits ; fill Wilfred's glass, Alice," she added.

" No, thank you, mother, I will take no beer, I will have a glass of water, please ; I would rather." " No beer, Wilfred ? " Mrs. Hedley exclaimed " are you not well, dear ? What is the matter with you ? " " Not have any beer with your supper ? You will have it later on, I suppose," said his sister ; " unless, indeed, as mother says, you are not well. Does your head ache ? " " Thank you, no ; I am very well indeed, but feel rather perplexed," the young man answered. Looking in the face of his father, he went on to say, " I don't think I will ever take any more ale as long as I live." " What nonsense you get into your head, you silly lad ! " said Mr. Hedley kindly. " Why are you not going to take your ale ? " " Perhaps," laughed Eichard, the eldest son, " you are going to have a spell at porter.

Is that the move ? " " No, Dick ; I am going to be a water-drinker for the future." " I shall begin to think you are going crazy. Fancy a Hedley not drinking his ale ! " Richard said contemptuously. " No fear of Wilfred losing his wits, Dick," said Mr. Hedley ; " he is too steady for that ; yet the idea of not taking his beer is absurd." " Most ridiculous," added Mrs. Hedley ; " if that kind of thing became general, Mr. Swindells would require no clerk or partner at the brewery, and then what would happen ? " " The very best thing that could happen. The whole affair would be closed, mother. I wish it were closed for ever." " Ha, ha, ha, good ! " laughed Richard ; " the best joke I ever heard. Close the concern ? Why, what would become of the fortune I am to have with my Bessie, if that be done ?

No, no, we must keep the steam up at the brewery. Why, do you know the amount of money Swindells turned over last year ? Have you forgotten ? " " No, Dick ; I know the clear gain to Mr. Swindells was several thousand pounds. I thought when we balanced it was a very doubtful way of acquiring wealth, but to-night it seems worse than ever ; and I honestly confess I don't like it, and wish I had been anything but a brewer's clerk." " Don't be absurd, Wilfred," said Mr. Hedley ; "it is not like you to say silly things. Seeing what there is in it, mind your opportunity. Why," he added, with more energy than was usual with him, " it is like coining money, any one can see that." " True enough, Sir ; but whom is it coined out of?" " That is nothing to you ; you don't make the ale, you don't even sell it.

You are the bookkeeper." " I bave lived by it for the last few years, I am sorry to say." " Don't speak in that way, Wilfred ; put your silly notions aside. Why should you be sorry ? You will make a good thing out of it yet." " I really do not think I can try to do so, father. I believe it is a dangerous trade to be engaged in ; danger in it to oneself, guilt in giving it to others. These thoughts seem strange to you, but I have not seen it so clearly before as I do now. I am most glad that at length I do see it, though late." " You are losing your wits surely, Wilfred." " No, father, I am not. Indeed I think I am just beginning to find them. I wish I could blot out the memory of the time I have spent at the brewery. I don't like the recollection, and would rather not have anything further to do with it.

Most certainly I will never touch, taste, or handle drink in any form again as long as I live." Mr. Hedley rose from the table with an impatient remark. " Don't look so angry, father," said Wilfred, also rising ; " you have always said a man should think for himself; and when he makes a resolve, abide by it." " I hope you don't consider throwing away your chance of being made a partner in the concern, a thing to abide by. If you have made up your mind to such an insane thing as that, I strongly advise you to alter it." "You think I am wrong, Sir ; and I am so convinced of the wrong there is in drink, that I wish I could induce some one else to think with me," looking at his brother Richard, who with a cold sneer said : " I imagined that your very charitable wish ex tended itself to me. ' " I should be very glad to see you take less drink, Dick.

I have, as you wdl remember, frequently asked you not to take so many glasses of beer with your dinner and supper. Now, I wish you would never take another as long as you live." "A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel. O wise young judge ! " cried Richard, with a coarse laugh, that brought a rebuke from both parents. This, however, he ignored, and, turning to Wilfred, said : " I think you are taking a good deal upon your self, and are impertinent beside. What can it matter to you, how many glasses of beer I drink in a day, whether I take six or sixty, so long as the dad does not complain ? Here is Harry, who takes but one, does that meet your views ? Here is Alice too, who would not take any at all, if mother didn't insist." "Mother has no need to insist now," laughed Alice, hoping to bring good humour back to her brother.

" I used to have a little cup of beer with my dinner. Now, however, I take a full tumbler like the rest. I have got into the habit, and seem to look for it quite as regular as I look for my dinner." " That exactly bears out what I have heard to night," Wilfred remarked, " that there were many persons who at one period of their life could not bear even the smell of beer, ale, or anything of the kind ; but that if they commenced to take it, a want was created that recurred again and again ; the palate began to crave, and would not be denied, until a habit of taking stimulants was formed that grew stronger day by day, obtaining such a power over them that, unless through God's help and a strong effort of will, such persons would surely be come drunkards. I believe the gentleman was right." " Well," said Mr. Hedley, " I don't go in for aU that.

Yet," he said slowly, " I call to mind the days of our early married life, when very little wine or beer was used at our table. The quantity certainly increased year by year; and we consume a good deal of beer somehow. We use more than ever now you boys have become men; I don't think I take much." Richard laughed aloud. " I will thank you not to be scornful," said Mr. Hedley ; " no one can say that I am not a sober man." Without noticing the remark of Richard, or his father's displeasure, Wilfred said : " What you have said also confirms the statement I heard to-night, as to the taste for drink growing on a man." Mr. Hedley coughed dubiously, then addressing his son said : " What a fuss about nothing ! Look here, Wil fred, I have said I am not a drunkard. I am not. Neither am I going to ruin through drink, and you may be sure neither you nor any one else will ever persuade me to do without my customary mug of ale when I think I want it.

Here, Alice," be added, " fill my pipe, draw me a fresh mug, and give me the paper." " In a moment, father," said the girl, setting down her own empty glass. She took the cup, and presently returned with it full and foaming ; as she set it down by his side she said, " Mother, do you remember whipping me because I would not drink some hot ale ? " " No, that I do not, and don't think I ever did." " You forget, mother ; but it was one day when I was sick and could not eat any breakfast. After the table was cleared, you warmed the ale and put some sugar and ginger in it ; something else too, but I forget what. As soon as it wras ready you put the cup in my hand and told me to drink it up and go back to bed. I did not like it, the hot steam got in my eyes and nose ; so I began to cry and said, ' I can't take it, mother.' I suppose this must have vexed you after you had taken the trouble to prepare it for me, so you gave me a good shake, and slapped my arms.