Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-02-05
NIScELLANEOTS SELECTIONS.
From the Peoria Register
The Temperan ce Pledge.

From the Peoria Register.
The Temperanc e Pledge.
II was on tho nigh, Of the 3Ist of Dec, 1881,
that | found n yseit seated before a large fire IN
the bar room OF a tavern or groggerv between
and Cicero Corners, IN The State oil
New York. As sat IN that state Of pleasant
siupor one experiences after a day exposure To
the severity Of winter, observed the landlord
buslly engaged in filing from barrels and demi-
johns, labeled "Oid Spirits" Odd Whlskey,"
.Cherry Brandy" &c, and arranging his bar
with a degree 81 ingenuity equaIled only by a
country merchant, with too many shelves for his
capital. Alter observing him for Some time, |
yentured to ask him IT lie was preparing for com.
pany. He merely answered in the affirmative.
Determined To CRAFTY my curiosity, or al least TO
exercise the privilege OF a New Englander, ] ques-
iioned him more particularly, TO winch he briefly
replied, al expect a few Of my choice friends
here 10 watch out the old year, and drink IN The
new. This vas 10 me a new eay Of greeting
the new year, and a. | had heard many tales re
epeciiDg the manners and customs prevalent IN
the interior Of the Empire State. | determined to
Sit awhile and watch The movements oil the party.
Presently the company came IN, and | was much
usionished and grieved 10 see seven or eight men
in the meridian Of life, apparently IN moderate
circumstances, and perhaps, stIil worse, heads OF
fam!ilee, met together a, a tavern To drink IN the
new year. Their friendly SITUATIONS TO me, n
stranger, their frank, open ard intelligent coun-
tcnances, warmly interested me IN Their favor,
and | resolved the first favorable opportunity
that offered, 10 give them n friendly admOnition.
AS they sat around the fire, engaged in social
converse. | observed that the landlord grew rest
less and uneasy, ill at last, love Of his profession
or, ~hai is more probable, a long bill In prospect,
overcame his c%upIdiiy, and he set bottles and
glasses on The counter md invited the company
TO take a friendly glass with him.-Ihls was the
opening Of The campaign, and bout after bout
followed n succession, while "crack loo" and "sad.
die the horse" filed the intervals. Hour after
hoGr passed IN this manner; yet, notwithstanding
the excitement Of drinking and partial Intoxicn-
ton, | could easily perceive that 10 the jewellers
the wheels Of time dragged heavily; that tho car
on which was seated The hoary headed Old Year
seemed scarcely 10 move. An occasional glance
might DO seen directed towards q venerable old
clock which hung suspended from the ceiling,
whose face seemed looking sternly upon them, as
itpoin,od significantly at the passing, shametully
abused moments.
TWAS midnigh,-,hc "horse" was just 'sad.
d!ed'-,ho watchers were standing with their
glasses filled, and the leader was just raising
his glass ,oihis lips as the clock commended sound
ing the knoll Of the departed year. He stopped
suddeniy--,he glass became stationary-he listen
cd in breathless silence until the last peal had
ceased to vlbrate--then, instead Of Profanely
drinking in the new year, he dashed his glass on
the floor and exclaimed. "There lies my pledge
that no intoxicating drink shall pass my lips Tor
enc yenr.' A second dashed his also, saving,
Sand there's my pledge for one year" These
were followed by five others IN quick succession,
while tho landlord stood in his criminal box Il can
.hink of no better term swearing they were n
Sc, OF fools, and ~inwardly cursing The spirit which
prompted such n number of his customers to form
these sudden and unexpected resolutions. They
had been inebriated on particular occasions for
years; sill their word was sacred, and he well
knew thew would remain true TO their pledges.
Suddenly n CLEAN Of satisfaction frightened his
countonance, and congratulated himself, no doubt,
with tho thought that soon :he term of their
pledge would expire, and they would return with
,enfuld eagerness to their former haunts and
practices. But, happily he was disappointed.
Instead Of reeling aud staggering home bruised
and self condemned, they could, when business
called them to the village, return and receive
tho happy greetings Of their wives and children,
and before the expiration OF the year they secret
" determined nercr to ineulge again in n practice
which caused SO much anguish to their families
and disgrace and torment 10 themselves. And
well and truly have they kept their promise
They arc now useful respected and beloved
living witnesses of a reformation occasioned by q
singular bu, well KEEP, Temperance pledge.