Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-11-19

hard earnings drowned my grief that night in
a BacchanaIian revel and in few days ! was |
again pennyless. will not dwell upon the |
| every day scenes Of my life, which were such
| as may at all times be witnessed at any OF the
two hundred dram shops Of your CITY, wnc'e
wretched men squander the little p'ttance tha'
Justly belongs to their suffering wives and chill
dren.
But, to pass on. For nearly three years J
have been drunken, wandering outcast. SIN
months ago received letter from my dear
MOTHER enclosing 800, and informing me thai
she was fast sinking with disease, and entreatlng
, with all mothers feeling, to coue home and
see her before she died. For time felt the
0 appeal, and resolved to comply with her re-
quest and accordingly took passage on steam
boat for that purpose. For two days tefra'ned
from liquor but my thirst became insupPor'a-
ble,-at length my appetite overpowered my
better feelings, and I approached the bar and
demanded the liquid fire. l was soon intox'-
Gated when mady sought the gambling table
and before the boat reached Louisville, was
s,ripped of every cent. Thus all hopes OF
seeing my dying mothor cut of; l remained
q Louisville several weeks in which time an
:. ed that my mother had died, and that her las
) breath was spenffor her wretched child.
e From Lou svilfe shipped on board the steame
J.. Brazil, as deck hand, and came to this plac
81 every young man reflect upon this picture.
Of who had moved 10 he first relies of society
IA had been The guest of distinguished public the
and favorite among the literat Of the countr
y was now turned off as unfit for deck han
Of on a steamboat yet intemperanoe had done tn
= much.
~ Iloitered about this city for several week
C. and was sometimes engaged in posting up book
|io o. some dram shop, for which was paid in I'll
,ts liquid fire, kept for the accommodation OF GU
toners One evening fell in company, with
ad man who lately had been lodged in jail for pa:
Or sing counterfeit money. We played cards ar
nj won from him the three dollar bill in questio
The next day learned it was counterfeit, a,
nt' did not offer 10 pass it for some days ! had
|th other money! could meet no one who won
m, ask me to drink. My appetite was like ra
,' ing fire within me. could not endure it.
ny sought dram shop-.-offered the bll-it was a
Dr. ceptcd and when fornd, a few hours AFTER
nm the officers of justice was beastly drunk
w. The evidence Of guilt was conclusive a
~! before my brain was clear of the intoxicati
rn- fumes was lodged in a Jail to await my tri
90. am now done. I have not detained I
.' Court with any hope wish that clemen
IN would be extended to my case: But warm
,w- to other young men--hat those who hear
oJd may, when asked to play social game of car
"" or drink social glass, think o. my fate F.;
he refrain. They may feel themselves secure
eel they may believe they can stop when Il
please but let them remember that arg,
thus until was lost. Here the defend
s ] sunk down and appeared to be much affectt
my and for few moments silence regned throu
in out the Court House..
rave At length the Judge, who is as much {
de- ,;nouishcd far the qualities of bshear, ne
past is for learning as Judge, proceeded
o o%w brief but appropriate manner to pass S
wy fence upon the defend mt, putting his pun
give ment in the Penientiary down to the shor
hose time allowed by law.