The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-01-23

She had given her affections and her hand TO a
who had taken the first step in intemperance,-
She had left her home full of buoyant hopes hopes
never to be realized-to spend life of misery with
a sot.-Broken hearted-cust out from the society of
her former friends-frowned upon by the good socie
ty, humune-spoken Of as the miserable wife of
miserable drunkard-wiih no hand to help, heart
to pty-she very soon became tipper and a drunk
ard herself
By the side Of this stricken mother kneeled a
little girl Of five six years DID, down whose sallow
cheeks tears coursing; and who ever and anon
exclaimed, Poor little Willie, must you die? OH!
mother, Wiiesdie = then kissing the cammy
sweat from little WIie's brow, she covered her face
with Der taitered apron and wept bitterly.
In the opposite of the chimney, among the
ashes that covered the hearth, boy Of about
seven years, dragging fom the haf-burned embers
poatoe, which he broke open with the remark
Mother, give this to poor little Willie. May be he's
hungry. I'm hungry too, and so is sister; but Wlie's
sick, give him the potatoe mother
My, poor boy; said the mother willie viii never
be hungry again. He ,riH soon be dead
This remark drew all the children around the dy-
ing child The father was sitting upon what was in
his hands thrust into his pockets, apparently ndar
ent to all that passing around him. His head
resting upon his breast, and his blurred eyes
were fastened upon the floor, if he afraid to
look up at the sorrowing group who watching
the countenance ofthe dying infant
here was moment Of silence. Not sound was
beard Even the sobs of the little girl ceased. Death
was crossing the novels thresh- hold The first res
piration Of the household seemed suspended; when
slight shiverings of the limbs Of the infant and shrek
from the half conscious mother told all that e vital
spark had fed.
For the first time the father moved. Slowly advan
cling to where his wife was seated with quveriug lips
he whispered-',s Willie dead
yes, james, the poor babe is dendr thc
choaking reply of the nother,w still sat- as at fisst
gazing upon the face Of her little
Without utterng another word tho long brutalized
father left the house, muttering ha #, My God,
how long,
At this moment knd hearted lady came in, who
had heard, bat few moments before Of the danger
Gus illness of the child She had brought with her
medicine; but her angel visit too late
The gentle spirit ofthe babe had fled, and there
manned for but to comfort the living This she did,
while we followed the father We related to him
the circumstances which led to his house, and
briefly spoke of the evils and misery which inevitably
follow in the wake of inteniperance.
Il know it. sir said he. Il have long known it,
have not always been what you Alchoho
and my appetite have brought this depth of deg
radiation
why not master that appetite? You have the pow
err. Thousands have proved it,
Sir believe it. have others far reduced
as myself restored and made happy: but you the
first who has ever spoken to on the subject, and
had too strong passion for liquor to think of refor
nation myself
well, will you not make the odort:'
Il will 1t has occupied my thoughts during the
whole morning, and now in the presence Of Almighty
God swear never to touch the accused thing which
has ruined me and made beggars of my family
Happy enough to hear his manly resolution, re-
turned to the house with HMM due time made
the fact known to his wfe-and producing pledge
the uchoIe family signed upon the table uhich heid
I the dead body Of the child!
The scene was an affecting
Two years had passed, " hen that incident was re-
colcd to mind by shake of the hand from ger
teman who returning west with stock of dry
! goods which he had just purchased in New York. IL
| WAS THE MAN WHO SIGNED THE TEMPERANCE
! PLEDGE BY THE BODY OF HIS DEAD CHILD.
! FAITH.
! EY r. s. $. ANDRES.
! 4 swallow in the spring,
! Came to our granary, and meath the caves
Essayed to make Il nest and there did bring