The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-12-06
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE DRUNKARD'S BIBLE.

"Mr. President" said short, stout man,
with good-humored countenance, and a
forid complexion, rising as the last speaker
took his seat,-.'I have been tavern keep
err"
At this announcement there was move
ment through the whole room, and an ex-
preston of increased interest.
"Yes Mr.. President" he went on. 81
have been a tavern.keeper,ard many glass
have sold to you and to the Secretary
there, and to dozens of others that see
here"--glancing around upon the compa.
ny.
"That's fact" broke in the President
many gin.toddy and brandy punch have
| taken at your bar. But times are chan
ged now, and we have begun to carry the
war right into the enemy's camp. And
our war has not been unsuccessful, for we
have taken prisoner one of the rum sellers
bravest generals But go on friend W,
let us have your experience"
"As to my experience, Mr.. President, -
the ex-tavern keeper resumed, sin rum sell
ling and rum drinking-for | have done a
good deal of both in my day-that would be
rather too long story TO tell tonight, and
one that had much rather forget than re-
late. 1t makes me trembe and sick at heart,
whenever look back on the evil have
done. therefore usually look ahead with
the hope of doing some good to my fellow
men.
"But there is one incident that will re-
late. For the last five years 4 hard work
ing mechanic, with a wife and several small
children, came regularly, almost every night,
to my tavern and spent the evening in the
bar-room. He came TO drink. of course,
and many dollar of his hard earnings went
into my till. AT last he became perfect
sot-working scarcely one-fourth of the
time, and spending all he earned in liquor.
His poor wife had to take in washing to sup
port herself and children. while he spent his
time. and the little he could earn,at my bar.
But his appetite for liquor was so strong,
that his weeks earnings were usually all
gone by Tuesday or Wednesday, and then
| had to chalk up score against him, to be
paid off when Saturday night came. The
score gradually increased, until il amounted
to three or four dollars. over his regular
Saturday nights pay, when | refused to sell
him any more liquor until it was settled
On the day after had refused to sell him,
he came in with a neat mourning breast pin,
enclosing some hair-no doubt. thought
of deceased relative. This he offered in
payment of what he owed. | accepted it,
for the pin | saw at once was worth double
the amount of my bill. | did not think, or
1,lo oh ho xrhn h. ho
was the owner or not | wanted my own.
and in my selfish eagerness to get my own
hesltated not TO take little more than
my own.
81 laid the breast'pin away land all things
went on smoothly for a while. But he
gradually got behind again, and again cut
of the supply of liquor. This time he
brought me a pair of brass andirons, and a
pair of brass candlesticks. took them
and wiped off the score against him. At
last he brought large family bible, and |
took that too thinking, no doubt, could
sell it for something.
son the Sunday afterwards, having moth
ing to do-for used to shut up my bar on
Sunday, thinking it was not respectable to
sell liquor on that day. opened this poor
drunkard's family Bible. scarcely thinking
of what was doing. The first place that
| turned to was the record. There it was
stated that on a certain day he had been
married to Emily. had known EN-
lily when was young man very well,
and had once thought seriously of offering
myself to her in marriage. remembered
her happy young face, and suddenly seemed
to hear the tone of her merry laughter.
"Poor creature" / sighed involuntarily