State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-16
EVWOHENG. 225.

| bOsOu, iiic tllNltler OF MS CllluTeU, ana S'O
had become Il loathsome and ungovernable
drunkard. He nationally inferred, indeed
/ he well knew the fact, from his own obser-
walton upon the surrounding neighborhood,
! that such an occurrence was not Of an I'M
common character. Incorporate hus-
bands, incorporate wives and Incorporate
children were all around him. Johnny
| Hodges was a man of good common sense.
lie reasoned forward to the future from the
past. lie entertained no doubt, that, not
outstanding the most energetic, voluntary
efforts ofa the societies upon the face of
the earth, drunkenness would certainly con-
/ tiruc, in Il greater or less degree, so long
| as the means of drunkenness were suffered
to remain. The process of reasoning in
JOhnnys mind may be very easily desCirb-
ed. So long, thought he, as rum-selling
continues to be sanctioned by law and grog
! shops are legalized ut every corner, so long
as even deacons and church members distil
rum, and sell it, reducing the temperate
drinkers noble TO the drunkard's nine
pence, and that nine-pence to nothing and
Jail winning away the bred from the mis-
cradle tipper's children; and causing tho
! husband and wife to hate and abhor the
very presence ofeach other; so iong very
considerable number of persons, who will
not sign the pledge, will be annually con-
verted from temperate men ana women,
into drunken vagabonds and paupers The
question is therefore reduced to this: Can
no eifectual measures be provided by law,
to prevent cold, calculating, mercenary
body OF men rom tralilc6InS any longer,
IN broken hopes, broken hearts, and broken
constitutions; and to restrain, at least, dea-
cons and church members, who pray to tho
. . ord a load them nor into fpp,ptption
from laying snares, along the highways
and hedges OF the land, to entrap the feet OF
their fellow creatures, and tempt their
weaker brethren TO their RUM
A month or more passed away, before
tho collectors business brought him again
INTO the neighhorhood Of the b|acksmiths
SHOP, johnny Hodges was at work as usual.
He appeared detected and care worn. His
visitor shook him by the hand and told him
that the doctor said he should Qpnsder him,
as old Boerhavc used TO say, one OF his
best patients, tor God would be his pay
master "Neycr think OF the debt any more,
johnny" said the collector. "Ihe doctor
has sent you his bill receipted; and he babe
me tell you that III little money would help
you in your trouble, you should be heartily
welcome to it."@ "indeed," said the black
smith, ';he doctor is Il kind friend but l
suppose nothing can be done to put an end
to this curse" 81 fear there will not be,
at present" SAID the collector, ''rum is the
IDOL of The people. The friends oftemper-
ance have pettloned the Legislature to pull
this idol down. Now there are, in that
very body great many members, VIII love
the idol dearlXi there are many who are
sent thllher expressly to keep the idol up.
, so you see, tl9 petitoning the legislature,
, such as it nowis, to abolish the traffic in
, rum, is like Pa ioning the priests of Baal
; to pull down3eir false god. But you look
5 pale and sad has any new trouble come
upon You, do you find the old one more
grievous to bear" "Ah, SIR" said this
man OF many woes, we have had trouble
enough new ana OLD, since you were here
last lntemperance must be selfish vice,
am sure. About fortnight ago, my wife
cohtlrNed' wliIe was gone to the city 10
procure Few bars OF IRON to sell our old
= cow 10 grover and TINS woman, once so
kihd,hcorted ana thoughtful Their children,
Would see tlem starve, rather than deprive
herself OF the means OF lntoXcatlon. She
has been IN liquor every day since. But all
tins is nothing compared with our other
, late trial. Last Monday night was obliged
to be from home, till very late hour. had
a promise from neighbor to sit up at my
: house all my retlNn, to look after the chill
! drcn and to prevent the house from being
< set ON IRE. But The promise was forgotten.
4 When returned, about eleven o'clock, all
a was quiet. l struck light, and finding my
C Wile was m bed and sound asleep, looked
5 round for my children. The four older
5 children readily found, but little Peter, our
It infant, about thirteen months old, could
a find nowhere. After careful search, |
shook my wife by the shoulder, TO wake
h her up, that mi ght learn, ifpossible, what
S had become of the Child. After some time