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

world and there was something Ill ms
last words, and in the tone in which they
wcro uttered, which assured the visitor,
that Johnuy's mistaken confidence III the
promises ofGod would not be disappointed
IN another.
How entirely inadequate is the most fin
i-ieh dclineation, to set forth III true rcilei,
the actual sum total of such misery as tins
How little conception have all those painted
male and female butterflies and moths, who
stream along our public walks of sunny
morning, or flutter away their lives in our
fashionable saloons ;--how little conception
have they of the real pressure of such prUc-
teal vretchedness as this To the interrog-
atory of poor johnny Hodges, "Can nothing
be DONE TO PIT an end TO The euils Of Jniemper-
aace % what answer, here and hereafter,
do those individuals propose 10 offer, who
not only withheld their names from the tenn
pcrance pledge, but who light up their
castles and call together the giddy and the
raw of both sexes and devote one apart
tncnt of their palaces, in the present condi-
ton of public sentiment, chastened and pu-
rified, ms it is, to the ,chiSkey punch bo,cI!
The sumner had passed, and The harvest
was over About four months after the last
interview, I heard for the first time, the story
of poor johnny Hodges. Taking upon my
tablets particular direction to his house a1d
shop, I put on my surtout, and set forth,
upon a clear, cold November morning, to
pay the poor fellow visit. 1t was not three
miles from the city to his dwelling. BY the
special direction, which had received, L
rcadly identified the shop. The doors were
closed for it was a sharp, frosty morning.
wished TO see the poor fellow at his forge,
before disclosed the object of my visit. l
opened the door. He was not there. The
bellows was still. The last spark had gone
out in the forge. The hammer and tongs
were thrown together. Johnnys apron was
lying carelessly upon the bench. And the
iron npon which he had been working, lay
cold upon the anvil. turned towards the
little dwelling. That also had been aban
doned. A short conversation with an elderly
man, who proved to be neighbor, soon put
my doubts and uncertainties at rest. The
conclusion of this painful little history may
be told, in q very few words. The wife,
who, it appears, Notwithstanding her gross
ntemperance, retained no inconslderable
portion other personal coneliness, when not
absolutely drunk had run off in company
with a common soldier abandoning her
husband and children about three months
before. Five days only before my visit, poor
Johnny Hodges, having died of broken
heart, was committed to that peaceful grave,
where the wicked cease from troubling, and
where the weary are at rest. On the same
day, four little children were received, after
the funeral as inmates oc the poor-house.
81 have known them well, all their life
long" said the old man, from whom |
obtained the information. "The first four
or five we ars of their married life, there was
not a likelier, nor a thrifiier, nor happier
couple iii the village. Hodges was at his
forge early and late; and his wife was a
pattern of neatness and industry. But the
poor woman was just as much poisoned with
rum, as ever man was with arsenic. 1t
changed her nature, until at last, it rendered
her perfect nuisance. Every body speaks
kind word ofpoor Hodges, and every body
says that his wife killed him, and brought his
children to the poor-housc. This is ter
rble curse to be sure. Pray, sir, Can't
something be done 10 PIT an end TO the erilS
of intemperance 2'' Such, Ahought /, was
the inquiry Of poor johnny Hodges. How
long can the intelligent legislatures Of our
country conscientiousy pennit this inquiry
10 pass, without n satisfactoryreply How
many more wives shall be made the enemies
of their own household; how many more
children shall be made orphans; how
many more temperate men shall be convert
cd into drunken paupers; before the power
of the law should be eXerted, to stay the
plague In the present condition OF the
world, while the legislature throws its ios-
terng arm around this cruel occupation,
how many there are, who will have abund-
mt cause to eXclam, like poor johnny
Hodges, from the bottom of their souls
WEAT 4 CURSE How many shall take as
fair departure for the voyage of life, and
make shpwreck of all their earthly hopes,
in similar manner! How many hearts,
not guilty ofpresumptuous sins, but grateful
for Heavens blessings in some humble
sphere, shall be turned by such misery as
this, into broken cisterns, which can hold
no earthly joy How many husbands of
drunken wives how many wives ofdrunk-
en- husbands how many miserable chill
dren flying in terror from the walking
corpses of inebrioted parents, shall cry
aloud, like poor Johnny Hodges, in the
language Of dospair,-WHAT A CURSE
Il have learned since the preparation ofthis tale,
from the collector himself, that Hodges expressed
the iveliest gratitude for the doctors kindness in
Telinqushing his claim for professional services
but that he persisted in refusing to receive five
dollar note which accompanied the recoipted bill
"God VIII reward lhe doctor lor all MS Kindness
said the poor follow, " but | cannot take the
money"
from the Richmond Compiler, of Jan. 81.
The Abolition Question Settied.-At about
o'clock yesterday evening, the House of
Delegates got through with the perpleXing
question of the last ten days. As general
n concurrence has been attained on the
resolutions, as could possibly have been eX-
pected, after the contrariety of opinion
which for while prevailed.
We copy the resolutions, as adopted
by the House, giving the vote UDon each.