Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-12-28
TEMPERANCE ANECDoTE.

Hon. George N. Briggs Of Massec buseits, de.
livered a temperance address in Albany, recently,
in the course Of which, says the Evening Journal,
he related the following anecdote, with thrilling
effect:
Mr.. Briggs said this question (of the introduction
of intoxicating drink assumed somewhat of a
pratical form, last spring, in a thriving borough
in Pennsylvania. The inhabitants had assembled,
as was their usual custom, TO decide what number
(f any) of licenses the town should petition from
the county court, from whom they were issued.-
There was a vcryfull attendance. One of the re-
spectacle magistrates Of the borough. presided, and
upon the platform were seated, among others,
the clergyman Of the village, one of his d~eacons,
and the physician.
After the meeting had been called TO order, one
of the most vsspsc,ahls citizens ce-thesbaroagh
rose, and after a short spheech, moved that the
meeting petition for the usual number of licenses,
for the ensuing year. He thought it was not best
to get up an excitement, by refusing to grant IL
censes. They had better license good men, and
LET them sell. This proposition appeared to meet
with almost universal favor. 1t was so excellent a
way to ge. along quietly, and one, and then
another, in their turn expressed their hope that
such a course would be adopted. The president
was about to put the question to the meeting,
when an object arose in a distant part of the build
llR. ti4 III C1NS WIZ ~At $3.50 -" -
direction. It was an old woman, poorly clad,
and whose care worn countcnancc was the painful
index OF no light sufferings. And yet there was
something in the flash of her bright eye, that told
she had once been, what she then was not She
addressed the president, and said that with his pre-
mission, she wished to say a few words to the
meeting.
She had come, because she had heard that they
were to decide the license question. You, said
she, all know who | am. Yon once knew me
the mistress of one OF the best estates in the DO
rough. l once had a husband and five sons anc
woman never had a kinder husband--molber never
had FIVE better, or more sfiectionate sons, Blu
where are they now2 Doctor, l ask you; where
are they nowf In yonder burying ground, there
are six graves, filled by lha, husband, and thos'
five sons, and oh they are all drunkards' graves
Doctor. how come they to be drunkards2 loi
would come and drink with them, and you tolt
them that temperate drinking would do then
GOOD And YOU. too, sir. addressing the clergy
mani would come and drink with my husband
, and nv sons though. they might drink with sale
Is. because they saw pop drink. Deacon, yo'
I sold them the rum, which made them drunkards
T You have now goi my farm, and all my property
: and YOU got it all by RUM And now, said she
$ | have done my erand. go back to the poo'
: house. for that is my home. You, reverend 81
: Won doctor. and ron dsacnn.l shall never NEE
a ,o,;n until I meet YOU nj the bar OF God, whel
/ Won. too. will meet my ruined and lost husbant
e and those FIVE sons, who through your means an
E iufuenee, Gil the dfunkards' grave
$ The old woman sat down. Perfect siiene
!. rrer.iled until broken by the president who ros
Y 10 M, the question 10 the meeting. Shall v
c pe,ilion TO ,be count to issue licenscsioihis borough
Tor the ensuing year r. and then one nnbfose
a No (which msdc the very walls re-ech
with The sound, told the result Of the old woman
b appeal.