Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-08-18

/ become. will rot say an infdel-l a
ar / was too Ignorant of the theory oft
kenticisFn to be one. became mock IS
=. Fools mock at sin" and such a
Dol. was il. / saw that this part of my I,
oaduct was extremely painful to my pious
wife, and / tried to restrain myself from
fifing with the bible in her presence, but
loved 10 raise loud laughter among nv
3oisterous companions, and the indulgence
served so to strengthen the pernieious hab-
il, that / was often detected in the use Of
his offensive language.
Il was not until become a father, that
her touching appeals on this subject reach
ed my conscience She would say, "must
this child be trained up under these bane-
full influences? Must he be taught by
parental example to despise and ridieule
the scriptures with his lisping tongue, be-
fore he is able to read It's contents, or rea-
lie its heavenly origin2 No counterfeit
ing Influence Of mine can obliterate from
his mind the jest with which his father
has assailed this or that sacred passage"
Our son now became an interesting lit
tie praitler initiating whatever he heard
or saw. perceived with a sort of dia-
bolical pleasure, that the first efforts of
his infant tongue were TO initiate my pro-
fame language, the recollection of which
now sends a thrill of grief and horror
through my bosom In vain did his sor-
| rowing mother endeayor to counterfeit the
influence Of my wicked example. con-
tinued to swear, and he to initiate my pro-
| family, unconscious of the turpitude. On
a certain occasion | returned from one of
my gambling excursions, and found nv
wife and child absent. On inquiry, as
ertained she had gone to her accustomary
place Of retirement in a grove, at some
distance from the house. I knew she
had gone there for the purpose Of devo-
I ton. | had been accustomed to see her
retire thither at the evening twilight, and
though | thought her piety unnecessary,
had no objection to il as source of hap
piness to her-but that she should take
her child with her excited my surprise.
felt some curiosity to follow her. did
Iso, and took my position unseen by her,
but where had full view of her atti-
Itude and features. She was kneeling be-
side rock, on which lay her Bible be-
| fore her. One hand WIS placed on its
Iopen pages; the other held the hand of
the fair boy, who was kneeling beside her,
his eye intently fixed on her face. She
was pale and careworn. Her eyes were
! closed, but the tears were chasing each
} other down her cheek, as she poured forth
/ her burdened soul in prayer, first for her
| husband, that he might be reclaimed and
saved; but especially did she plead with
4 God that her son, whom she unreservedly
dedicated to him, might be saved from
Those sins which were taught him by his
| fathers example. "Save him. she cried
| with agony, :. save linn from taking thy
! great and holy name in vain and give
I his anxious mother wisdom, fortitude, and
| grace, efectually to correct and break up
the habits Of profaneness"
4 Poor mother pretty mother" said
the child, rising and Wiping off her tears
with his soft hands. Don't cry, moth
er, father will come pretty soon"
i Wretch that am said | 10 myself
what pangs have rent that gentle bosom
That child had so often seen her weep on
account of my protracted absence, that the
little fellow now supposed it the cause Of
j her present agony and tears.
crept silently from my hidding-pIacs
and returned home with conscience har-
IroWed up.by the keenest selfreproaches.
knew that her feelings were not the fit
/ ful ebullitions of passion or excitement
had long been convinced that her conduct
was regulated by firm and virtuous prin
ciples, and the Bible, which | so lightly
esteemed was the rule of her life. On
her return TO the house she was solemn
but the law Of kindness still ruled heI
tongue. She did not reproach, me, bul
from that day she firmly and faithfully
corrected our little son for the use of pro.
lane language, even in my presence,
iwhen perhaps, he had just Caught il from
my lips.
She succeeded in conquering the habit
In her child, and when she had restored
him, she had cured me. / resolved to
abandon forever the use of language which
had cost her SO much pain. | did aban.
don It from that time. Nas now effec-
tuaily reclaimed from two of my promin.
ent vices. But my habits Of intemper-
ance We're daily becoming like bands.
My morning, noon, and evening dram,
my loss OF appetite. and trembling nerves,
proved the strong grasp it had upon my
constitution.
| was associated with nv wicked com.
lpanions-siill following up system O
Igambling, which was rapidly bringing
ruin on myself and family. The hand
some estate, left me by my father, VAS
nearly wasted. Meantime, my family III
creased. | resored to the lottery, and
every species Of gambling to meet It's In
| crea sipo donoands 3. h,t ,l,.r,, $685. l.,