Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-21

Ofihis terrible truth obtained evidence
the following morning need not repeat
j: here. left the village. and saw no
more Of him for several years and when
subsequently, | did. he was a perfect wreck,
both in person and fortune. Indeed,
never saw a more Disgusting lump OF hu-
mainly. BIoated, filthy and british, he
had been at different lines an inmate Of
the work-house and Jail, and house Of
correction, from all which be came forth
seven-fold more monster of depravity
than when he entered either. Poor Car
oline! she had drained cup OF wretched-
ness 10 the very dregs She had been
driven from her pleasant home-her fur
ninre and wardrobe, piece after piece, had
passed out Of her possession, till at last
she and her little boy were tenants OF a
miserable howell in a remote corner of her
native town. TO their abode Carleton
would at times find his way and there,
instead of meeting frowns and reproaches,
instead Of being repulsed and driven from
the door, as an outcast and a scourge, she.
who 10 the budding hour Of woman hood
had sworn fidelity and love before the al
tar OF God, extended to the lost inebriate
ihe!hand of affection and kindness. There,
he who had sunk in the scale ofhumanity,
even lower than the most degraded of his
species, was warmed and nourished by the
very being whose hopes and aspirations he
had forever crushed. Woman thou art
indeed an enigma All weakness, when
danger appears in the distance, but indom-
liable in the hour of trial
From the lips of Mrs. Carleton herself,
Learnt the sickenine story of her long
years Of suffering wretchedness, yet in the
recital, not one unkind expression. not
single term escaped her lips while speak
ing of her husband. For his conduct she
offered no exeuse-nothing in palliatior
Of his dreadful course of life, and whatev-
OF might have been her hopes she gave
utterance to no expectation that he would
ever again return to the sober walks Of
life. The rich OVERLOOKING of her buoy
ant heart seemed forever dried up or
crushed beneath load of misery, for
whose alienation, time, the last prop of
the wretched, had brought none of its heal
ing balms
With This interview closed my acquaint-
ancc with this once interesting family
Years rolled away and l had ceased en-
tirely to think Of their condition except at
long intervals when some kindred incident
called to mind the ruin Of those in whose
wcIIare had accidentally acquired no in.
considerable interest. In word, they
became to me as though they had never
been.
In the course of last summer had &C.
casion to visit the interior of Massachu-
sets. Arriving near night fall at small
town, ia the county OF --, my horse
faded, and mysellin need Of repose. drew
up at somewhat inviting public house
the only one 10 the village, where or,
dered supper and demanded accommoda
tons for the night. noticed a consider
able concourse Of people about the house
and in the pubic room, and from the con
versation going on, there was TO be tenn
perance lecture that evening at the towr
house, standing a few rods distant from
the hotel at which stopped. / inquired
Of my host who was to address the meeting
whether townsman or stranger
A stranger, reckon, was the reply
We have none Of that sorl'o animal ii
this town; folks here mind their own bus
mess.
Do you know the name oflhe lecturer
was my next inquiry.
Have MT asked, was the laconic ans wer
and the publican turned into his bar, t,
serve customer to glass of brandy.
49, ~ - roov,, mae ,aorl f,,ll
Some were drinking, and others ridiculinl
The great temperance movement, OF which
they had heard much and seen something
soon perceived, however, that the caus
had made no progress here, and wa
well satisfied on another point, that thos
present, at least, were determined it shoul
not yet I was pleased to notice when til
hour arrived. that nearly all made thei
way to the town house; some perhaps t
create disturbance and others to Will
away an idle hour before their last glas
for the night.
With the crowd passed over and too
my seat in remote corner Of the building
The house was soon filled to overhowine
The body Of it was taken possession of b
larger concourse ofIadies, while the oui
er seats and galleries were occupied mos
ly by men and boys. Near the main en-
trance, 10 the broad aisle, within III
building, stood some twenty or thirl
rough looking men, with long boards
poorly clothed, and manifesting that SOL
Of breeding usually picked up in gro
shops and low drinking houses. Thei
vulgar merriment, and their overstraine
attempts at wit were insufera5ly disgust
ing. But what grieved me most was I
see the female pan of the audience ofte
Join he haIi.suppressed laugh which thei
miserable Ievity would at times provok.
ins,ead Of discountenancing their iIltime
and shameful violations ofpropriety. b.
this scene was Of short duration, for in Ih
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