Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-11-29


holding the before mentioned decanters and glass
es. Clustering there around each one helped
himself to very handsome portion Of that partIc-
ular liquor which suited his fancy; and steadlness
and accuracy being at that particular moment by
no means distinguished traits of the and legs
of the party, a goodly amount of the fluid was
spilled upon the floor. This piece Of extravaganza
excited the ire Of the parsonage who gave the
treat and that ire still farther increased
whenehe saw two or three loiterers, who seemed
disposed to slight his invitation to drink Charles,
as we have before mentioned, was looking in at
the window.
'Walk up, boys! walk up! Don't let there be
any skulker among US, or blastm eyes if he shan't
go down on his marrow bones and taste the liquor
we have split! Halo = he exclaimed, as he espied
Charles, 'halo, you chap in the window, come
here and take supp
As he spoke, be stepped to the open easement,
put his brawney hands under the boys arms, and
4 lifted him into the room bodily
There, my lads said he, turning to his COM
panions, there's new recruit for you. Not so
coarse IL one neither,' he added as he took Il fair
view of the boy, who, tho not what is called pref
ty, was fresh and manly looking.
| Come, youngser, take Il glass he continued. =
Aud he poured out nearly full Of bruTiy.
Now Charles was not exactly frightened, for
he was lively fellow, and had often been at the
merry -lIakngs and parties of the pIace--but he
was certainly rather abashed at his abrupt intro
duction TO the midst Of strangers. So putting the
glass aside, he looked up in the face of his new
acquaintance with very pleasant smile.
Il have no need Of anything n0w,' he said, 'but
/ Pm inst as much obliged to you as if was'
'Poh! man, drink it down, it WON'T hurt you, ;
said the sailor.
And by way of showing its excellence, the one
eyed worthy drained it himself to the last drop
Then filling it again, he renewed his efforts to in
duce the lad to go through the same operation.
L.
prayed me not to drink, and | promised to obey
her.
little irriated by his continued refusal the sal
lor, with loud oath, declared that Charles should
swallow the brandy, whether he would or no.
! Placing one OF his tremendous paws on the back Of
!: the boys head with the other he thrust the eGge
of the glass to his ps--swearng at the same time
that if he shook it to spill its contents it would
by no means be agreeable to his back and shout
ders.
Disiking the liquor, and angry at the attempt to
oyerhear him, the undaunted child lifted his hand
and struck the arm of the sailor with blow so
sudden that the glass fell and was smashed to pie
ceS on the foor while the liquor was about equal
ly divided between the face of Charles and the
clothes of the sailor and the sand. By this time
the whole Of the company had their attention
drawn to the scene. Some of them laughed when
they saw Charles undsguised antipathy to the
liquor? but they laughed still more heartily when
he discounted the sailor. All Of them, however
were content to let the matter go chance would
have it-all but the young man in the black coat
who has been before spoken of.
What was there in the words which Charles had
! spoken that carried the mind of the young man
! hack To former tlmes-o a period when he was
more pure and innocent than now" My mother
has often prayed me not to drnkm Alb, how the
, mist of months rolled aside and presented to his
souls eye the picture of his mother aud the sound
nj n in all
words. Why was it, too, that the young mans
heart moved with feeling of Kindness towards
The somewhat harShly treated child? Gould it he
that his association had hitherto been among the
vile, and the contrast was now so strkngy great!
Even in the buried walks of life and business may
we meet with beings who seem to touch the toun-
ia rs of our love and draw forth their swelling
waters! The wish to love and to be beloved
which The forms of custom and the engrosSing
: anxiety tor gain generally smother, will some
times burst forth in spite of all obstacles; aud kin
died by one, who, till the hour, was unknown tt
) us, will burn with permanent aud pure bright
ness!
: Charles stood, his cheek flushed and his hear
throbbing, wplng the trckling drops from his fac
: with Il handkerchief At first the sailor, between
his drunkenness aud his surprise, was pretty mucl
in the condition of one suddenly awakened out o
a deep sleep. who cannot call his CONSCIOUSNESS
about hin. When he saw the state of things how
e ever, and heard the leering laugh Of his compan
&c ions, his dull eye, lighting up with anger, fell upo
= the boy who wlthstood him. He seized Charlie
re with an iron grasp, and with the side of lis heav
20 boot, gave him sharp and solid kick He wa
about TO repeat the periormaIce-tor the chill
hung like rug to his grasp; but all of a sudde
)" his ears rang as if pistols had been snapped clos
to them lights of various hues Ackered in hi
lie eye, Che had hut one it will he re menbered) and
us strong pr0pelDg power caused him TO move III
IL I'll he was brought up by the wall. blow, cut
H. administered in such scientific manner thar III
~ hand from which it came was evidently /
T. stranger to the pugiliStic art had been planted
x the ear of the sailor 1t planted there by Il
Ell young man in the black coat. He had waite
VI ed with interest the proceedings of the sail0r-ar
- two or three times he was on the point of inert
1e renee, and when the kick was given his rage W
M uncomfortable. He sprang from his seat, and ii
. Stunning, unconSci0usly, the attitude of boxer,
struck the sailor in "A manner those u
re pleasant SENSATIONS which have been described
IN aud he would have followed up the attack in
ny manner by no means consistent with the sailor
= personal safety, had not Charles, now thorough
Il terrified, chung round his legs, and prevented
Il advancing.
j., The scene was n strange one, and for the tim
nl quite ii silent one. The company had started fra
ed their seats, and for moment held bfeathess b
strained positions. In the middle ofthe room sto
an the young man, in his not at all ungracefu attIu
ne EVERY nerve out and his eyes flashing Brilliant
III. All seemed rooted like rock-and clasping hi
M with an appearance Of confidence in his protectit
ar, hung the boy.
as Dare! you scoundreln cried the young ma
III his voice thick with passion, 'dare to touch tt
So boy again. and III thrash you till no sense is Il
le- III your bodyp
ale The sailor now partiallv recovered m.da 60,
NE gestures ofa belligerenl nature.
Up Come on, drunken bruen continued the anp