State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-16

something upon my nlleu, Dut never tOiu
him. nor any one else, the cause Iof my
trouble till now. What curse--Dont
you think, sir,that something can be done to
put an end to this terrible curse of intem-
pornce?"--' Your case is very bad one
said the collector, after u solemn pause,
'and wish ] could point out remedy.
You need give yourselfno uneasness about
the doctors bill, for am sure he will think
no more oft, when have told him your
story. fit would not give you too much
pain, and take up too much of your time, ]
should like to be Informed, little more
particularly of the commencement and
PROCESS ofthis habit in your wife, which
seems to have destroyed your domesti-
happiness" johnny Hodges wiped his
brow and sat down upon bench in his
shop, and the collector took seat by his
side.
Eight years ago. said johnny Hodges,
como the first day of next month, | was
married. Polly Wilson, that was her mai
den name, was twenty-tlree, and | was
four years older. rccrtainly thought it
was the best days work / ever did, and
continued of that mind, for about five
years. Sincs then Heaven knows have
had reason to think otherwise; for, ever
sirce, trouble has been about my path, and
about my bed. About three years ago, my
wife took to drink. | cannot tell how it
happened: but she always said, herself;
that the first drop of gin she ever drank,
was upon a washing day when an oil
Scotch woman persuaded her. that it would
keep the cod off her stomach. From that
time the habit grew upon her very fast.
She has told me an hundred tines in her
sober moments, that she would give the
world to leave it off, but that she could
not, for the lie of her. So strong has
been her desire to get liquor, that nothing
was safe from her grasp. She has sold
her chdren's Sabbath clothes aud my own,
for rum. After had gotten well Of my
fever, | worked hard; and,at one time bad
laid by nearly enough, as ! supposed, to
pay the doctors bill. One day, | he'd re-
ccived dollar for work, and went to my
drawer, to add il to the rcst and--all was
gone The drawer had been forced open.
She knew that had been saving the mon
ey to pay the doctor and the apothecary,
for their services, during my tever she
knew that my sickness had been produced
by slecpless nights and broken heart, Oh
her account yet she could not resist the
temptation. She affirmed, in the most
solemn manner, that she knew nothing
about it; but two Of the little children in
answer to my inquiry, told me, that they
had seen nanny break open the drawer,
and take out the money; and that she went
directly over to the grocery, and III about
half an hour, after she returned, went to
sleep so sonndIy III her chair, that they
could not wake her up, to get them little
supper. At that time, went to Mr. Calvin
Leech, the grocer and told him, that
wondered, as he was Il church member,
how he could have the heart to ruin the
peace of my family. He was very harsh,
and told me, that every man must take care
Of his own wife, and that it was not his
business to look after mine. | began to
think with Job, that l would not always
live, Strange tancies came into my head
about that time, and ! tried hard TO think
of some escape from such world OF sin
and sorrow; but a kind and merciful God
would not let me take my own wild way.
read my Bible; aud the poor children
kept all the while in my way, smiling sweet
ly in my face, and driving all Thoughts
from my mind. My oldest boy was then
about seven. "Don't take on so, daddy ;
the little fellow used to say, when he found
me shedding tears, "don't cry daddy;
shall be big enough to blow the bellows
next year" | have tried TO keep up fol
the sake of these poor children; and few
, would be better, for their years, if mother
did not teach some of them to curse and
, swear. They have the same bright look
and gentle temper that my wife had, wher
we were married. There never was {
mider temper than Polly's, before this curse
fell upon the poor creature. Oh, sir, it il
l nothing but rum that has ruined our hopes
l of happiness in this world. How strange i
is, that nothing can be done to stay such {
t dreadful plagued"
The collector shook the poor blacksmith
by the hand, and babe him keep up hi
spirits us well us he could, and put his trns
in Gods providence. Promising TO max,
him friendly call in the course of a few
, days, he took his leave.
. This interview with the blacksmith haC
caused his visitor to contemplate the sublcc
2 of the temperance reform, somewhat in
novel point of view. The impouunae an(
, frequently repeated inieTogaory ofJohnn,
/ Hodges, "CdanOt something be done 10 pa
an end to the erits Of jntomPerance 2" t.
most individuals, would appear to SAVIOR o
. cross ignorance, in the inquirer, as to thoo
I amazing efforts, which have already beer
! made, ut home and abroad. But il mus
! not be forgotten, that poor Hodges was n
, iheo.iccr, in that department of domes'i
! Wretchednoss, which arises from iutcmper
, ancc. He was we'll aware that prodigiou
; effort had been made for the publication O
y the world 10y voluntary associations adopt
{ ing the pledge ofto,al abstinence. tie per
&, lectly understood, that all those who ha'
. subscribed such pledge, and faithfully ad
!, hored to it were safe from the effects Of in
e temperance, in their own persons. Yet TIL
/, poor fellow cried aloud, ont Of the YER
a depths of his real misery, "Cdnnot some
% thing be DONE 10 PIT an end to the erits Q
+ iatcmperqnce?" His own bitter experience
: had taught him that there was one porsol