Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-12-25
templated the gloomy contrast. Scarcely ves-

templated the gloomy contrast. scarcely YES
tge Of civilization remained, to relieve the
gloomy prospect A dense and polluted atmos-
phere hung over the Inflated country. Briers,
thorns, and every variety Of noxous weeds, had
covered the face thereof; and here and there,
in shattered ruins, appeared a solitary and mise.
rable hut--an emblem Of wretchedness itself.
The sides were dapidated, and overgrown with |
moss the windows broken, and filled with rags |
and the roof mutilaied, so as to expose the suf-
fering inmates to the fury of the ptiless storm.
Here, in groups, deploring their miserable fate,
were seen, pale, emaciated and weeping wives
and half clad and furnishing children. In some
places, were seen abodcs Of the same miserable
aspect, surrounded by men, or beasts in the
shape of men, with bloated chests and fiery
faces, literally covered with rags. Some Of
them were wallowing in mud, some swearing
most profancly, some singing the most obscene
songs, some boastng their gigantic strength,
some quarrelling and fighting, and all engaged
in conduct which would disgrace savage
When one of these wretches returned to his
family, his children flew from him in dismay,
as if from a beast of prey and his wife, whom
he had sworn to love and cherish, avoided him
as she would an assassin; for if she approach
ed him, it was at the risk of her life. But Lam
guage is too powerless to portray the miserable
and degraded condition of these unhappy people.
With heart surcharged with grief, wit.
messed this painful scene; and with sickening
disgust, turned away and wiped falling tear.
Here was accosted by being of the most
haggard and terrific appearance Of any thing
that | had before witnessed. Wherever he
went, the grass withered and crumbled beneath
his tread the flowers faded and fell and in
short, desolation and ruin invariably followed in
his train. A hellish malignity was manifested
in his look, and my blood was chilled with horror
as viewed his fiendlike countenance. "Young
man, said he, "my name is Intemperance.
am sworn enemy to Virtue, and the human
race. and deadly foe to human happiness.
hold dominion over the dark vale which thou
hast been observing. My votaries were once
the friends of Virtue, and happiness and con.
tent once cheered my dark domain. BY slow
and imperceptble degrees, drew them within
the reach of my influence. at first induced
them to take little of the inebriating liquid
their energies became paralyzed, and they fel
an easy prey to my Vaccinations and allure
men,s Those miserable huts which thou be
holdes', surrounded by my victims, are grog
shops Their owners are my emissares, whit
induce men to drink their poison, in copiou
TRAITS, in order to gain their money; and in
luce them to believe it is lucrative business
Soon, however, they will discover the mistake
for those men who spend their time in debauch
cry, earn nothing TO pay for the fatal poison
which preys upon their vitas, browns thei
senses, and hurres them head!ong to dcstruc
ton"
He pronounced the latter sentence with
smile of malicious satisfaction, and the viso
fled. then retired, and committed myself t.
forgetfulness and rcpo,e. II. SWEET.
Alburgh Springs.