Litchfield enquirer., 1829-10-08

Farmer DObbins, who was polng 70 An.
plebury the other day, Fairfield eo,,ntv.
with load Of hay, came nm with shrs.s'
honest neighbors, having iron crows mon
their shoulders, with which thew had hsen
at work In planting post-and-rail fence
They asked him for ride; and Farmer
Dobbins, ever willing to tain an honest
penny. told them they might climb on, IL
they would jest lay down and kiCer then,-
selves up. No sooner said than done. Tho
three worthless mounted the load, and Law
down under loose covering of hay, "as
snug as bug in rug" "Gee up, there.
Buck and GOlding," said Farmer Dob
bins to his oxen, and on they went for a
mile or two, until they came 10 the hay
scales in Applebury, round the corner Of
the blacksmith's shop, just beyond the old
whipping post, north Of the meeting house.
Buck and Golding drew the load safely
upon the scales, where the hay. the men,
aud the crow-bars all were weigised 10 the
no small satisfaction Of the owner. Good
farmer Dobbins, upright soul, now consid.
cred himself, well !. paid for ~ ridinr'' hia
neighbors, aud, by selling their weight for
hays proving that " all fleshis grass" But
the best devised plans will sometimes mis-
carry. as farmer Dobbins soon found 10
his deep chagrin. Al the moment he was
leaving the hay scales, dog rushed upon
Golding the team in starting gee'd sud.
denly off; crash went one Of Tho uprights
ofthe scales and over went the precious
load of hay. "Plague ont" said honest
farmer Dobbins, who would not, for the
world, have sworn a more bitter oath. But
Int this moment, faint groan from what
was now the bottom Of the load, caused
the weigh master to prick up his ears;
another and another followed and pre-.
sently out crept the three worthy troglo.
dytes, the claret ttickling from the smeller
Of one another famed in tho pins and
the third with loss of part Of his ivory,
and broken wrist.-N. Y. Com. Adv.
THE TESTIMONY OF AN OLD MAN.
The Rev. Mr.. Vail, Of Hadlyme Society,
now In the 79th year Of his age, In his address
before the Middlesex Temperance Society,
has declared his opinion In favor Of the entire
abstinence Of the aged from the use Of ardent
spirits. His opinion, the result Of long expert.
ence and observation, may be seen In the fol-
lowing extract from his address.--Mid. Gan.
| have been repeatedly told since have
been on the decline OF life, that Il 10 for the
health and comfort ofaged people, to make q
moderate nse Of strong drink, 40 they are
cOmMOnly the subjects OF many painful in
D Rrmities. Perhaps might have given anrnJ
] credit to this assertion, had not observation
and experience fully convinced me ofits false
hood and danger. After had reached three
score years and ten, found no ipGrmity 4,
DO lessened, no degree Of atrengtb restored
by moderate use Of this beverage. Ant
having for several years past, observed cnsr,
abstinence from the use Of spirituoHs liquors.
and comfort, and by the blessing Of God.
have been enabled almost constantly 70 per.
form che lab0rious services which attend the
ministry, though I have lately entered upon
the 10th year Of my age.
1t IL my fixed opinion, that no class Of men
are more injured, even by the moderate use
Of ardent spirits, than the aged and intirm.--.
Ii has an unfavorable bearing upon the AMI.
NAL system, for old people to make use OF
strong drink. Though It may produce mo.
mentarily, an agreeable excitement, yet it
causes tho rapid a circulation Of the blood to
pass with safety, through old and contracted
veins. And the agreeable sensations which It
occasions. are only preparatory for deeper
depression OF spirlts 70 succeed. IL DeAre
striking resemblance to those dark and stormy
clouds which frequently follow the bright
shining Of the sun in squally day. Nour-
ishing food and wholesome drink, are much
more conducive to the health and comfort Of
aged persons, than stimulating liquids
Moreover. at no period Of life are persons 10
greater danger ofbecoming drunkards, lnsen-
sibly, than 10 advanced years. Their INTEL
lecfs are weakened, their Judgment impaired.
and yet their appetites continue rs strong or
stronger than when they were young. and
they have much less. ability 70 keep them UNI
der due restraint. Nor are they generally q.
bic % engage in those laboriOus exercises,
which are calculated to carry or the huttfal
effects of sPirits by Precipitation. Hence it
has often happened. that persons who had
been moderate drinkers for many years, and
were classed with the temperate. have, to the
astonishment Of their acquaintance, become
drunkards when on the decline Oflife.
knew q man some thirty 1--we or forty
years ago, who was favored with an uneOm-
monty robust constitution. and for many years
It was his practice 20 drink one quart Of rum
q day when engaged in farming. or other Ia
borious business. Nor was he ever known
to discover any symptoms Of intoxieation
more than the man who drank his half pint