Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-05-24

GOOD AHECDoTE.-i gentleman was invited
into one Of the towns Of Massachusetts TO lecture
on temperance. Several days previous to he time
appointed general information was given to all the
inhabitants of the town, and il created considerable
excitement. The friends oltemperance were glad
Oft, but The rumseers and drinkers were eXaspe.
rated. AT length the time for commencing the
lecture came, and the house was well filled. Soon
after the service commenced the door opened, and
In came one of the principal tavernkeepers in the
town, accompanied by a miserable and squalid
looking individual, beaslly inroxcaled. They
marched up the aisle, and took their seats near the
pulpit, directly in front of the lecturer. The
speaker proceeded in his discourse, portrayed the
awful consequence of inlemperamce, enlarged upon
the inqniIy, and appealed to the audience TO make
every eXerIion TO rout out ,he monster from the
land. He grew warm and animated, and dressed
home The truth 10 the hearts and consciences Of the
bearers. During his time. the iaverukeeper
mute, but it could be seen by his counienance that
he did not relish what said. Not with his
companion, for when he speaker said any thing
that was cutting or severe, he would multer ont, /,
"i's false "ihal's lie, "iherc's no truth in t."
and such kindred expressions ill finally he fell
asleep, and gave good evidence by his snoring that
lie was lost 10 all tina, was passing around him,
Very soon the lecture was finished when the
innkeeper arose, and said that he wished to say a
few words in reply 10 the gentleman. He had been
an nhabitant Of that town for many years had
endea,ored to get an honest livelihood had minded
his own business !; had never wrongeh his neighbour
that he knew of; and he could no, sit still and hear
such vile and wicked SANDER, without endeavoring
10 counterfeit them. II such doctrines as had been
propagaed by the speaker should become universal,
there would be an end to all society he hoped and
trusted that the good sense OF his owusmen would
not permit them 10 be led aSray BY The deusions of
temperance people. The temperance reform was
all humbug it was priestcrali, and all sgners to
the pledge were hypocres. lie said he would
close what he had to say by asking one question of
the lecturer. Says he, "N!r. -, if the teetolal
plan succeeds, what are going TO do with our
apples, our rye, our oats, and our barley Yes,
say, what are we going to do with our oats, our
barley, our apples, and our rye?'' lie became
highly excited, and after repeating the question
several times, with more earneslness than before,
he, at The top o(his voice and giving his hat, which
he held in his hand, II twin through the air, hin his
sleeping companion across the f,cc,) reiterated the
question for the twentieth time, "Wlat, say ], are
we going 10 do with our apples, rye. barley,
and our oals 2" and sal down. The old fellow
who had been asleep awohe from The blow received.
and, thinking it came G0m the lecturer, grumbled
out, "IVhy, fat your hogs acith hem you old
JoOl" The audience were c0n,u'sed with laugh-
ter, and the iave'nkeeper rushed from the house,
chagrned and mortified Pairtucket Gazette.