The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-11-22
Tlpc a1atag daEfG.
"REMINISCENCES OF IN EX.AGEN1

"REMINISCENCES OF AN EX-AGENT.
During one portion of my career an agent OF the
Total Abstinence Society, was engaged Cor some
months in striving 10 convert the good folks Of the
Channel Islands to right apprehension and practl'
cal adoption ofthe tee.tot al system twas my cus-
tom nj thai time, to ho orh five EVENING" in each
week to the inhabitants orSt. Peters Pert. As the
town was not SO large many Of our English towns,
had Of course to burnish up my wits somewhat in
dusrriousy, in order find new matter for the edit
cation Of my auditors. In kind consideration oG the
arduous character Of my task, few members Of the
Temperance Society in the habit of giving short
addresses at my meetings, and not unlrequenlly i'm
parting much interest tho meetings. and much in
srruct ton the people who composed them. or one
Of these kind friends shah think respectfully
and gratefully. lie was member Of tho Society Of
Friends rather advanced in ycars, Of most benign
aspect, and truly benevolent disposition.
lie possessed some property and considerable in
duence and frequently devoted portion Of ho,ho the
spread Of she temperance cause. One evening he
presided at o. my meetings It was held in the
friends meeting house The day towards It's close,
had been gloomy and stormy, and AS natural result,
the congregation was scant. However the most
crowded meetings not always the most interest
ing On rising the chairman remarked that the place
not filed with people, hut ho trusted that every
mine would be filed with good Fur his own part,
he had Felt his thoughts drawn powerfully to the con-
sideraton Of lhe danger OF the practice Of giving and
Altering int ricating driaks 10 others His memory
moreover, rurni he'd him with serious illustration of
the perous and, in cases, deadly nature Of the
custom to which he had adyerted. lie then, in a
style which fixed the attention Of all, and drew tears
from the eyes Of many who were present., spoke in
substance to the following effect:
"Several years ago, long before had heard Of Zee
toaIism, had occasion to take voyage in sailing
vessel from this sort to the cost of France was &c
compunied by my two daughters. In the expectation
Tint they would be troubled with sickness. and in
conformity with the general opinion, we had provid
ed ourselves with bottle Of the best cogpac brandy,
to lie used as qHteiiAg medicine in the event Of Ill
ness OF course, | see the bsnrdiy Of beliuy-
ing that strong simUle1t like ardent spirit is TT To tG
used when sickness has already excited the
ach. But 20 proceed; voyage delayed,
count Of the wind or other circumstances 80 much
that night came on after saiied and
made preparations for retiring to our berths, with a
view Of passing possible, several hours in the enjoy
ment of rcpose.
'Pror to our retirement for the might, we each
took small glasa full Of brandy; and the captain Of
the vessel, freedman, happened to be below just
then, he asked to have little of our brandy
lie tossed oil daughI Of our liquor with evident rel
sh, smacled his lips after drinking, aud bidding
adeu for the night, on deck We had not rest
ed more than few hours were awakened by
the trampng Of feet and confused noise of voices
| hastoned on deck. The night was cloudy; the sea
shouting to each other and bury ing TO and
fro. ''INhat is the malter?" inquired; "Where is
the caPaiu;" Judge Of my horror and regret, when
learned that he had been set to drink by tbs
brandy had given him, had got intoxicated, and in
that shocking state had fallen overheard!
1.-THE boat was PIT out, and the men rowed about
in the darkness for considerable time but ads all
was in vnin-!he man was gone TO be more
until ''the shall give up its dead" As may be
expected, sleep fUrsOok eyeds for the rest of the
night, and the captainess ship neured the French
shore just the began TO show its face of fire in
the glowing East When drew desired
haven took the ships glass and began Tuscan the
harhor and its neghborhood. | noticed in particular
neat looking house the landing place,
upper window Of which female, who seemed
10 be alternately sraining her eyes and waving "A
handkerchcfin the direction Of our vessel. / said
Of the crew. Some female in that house with
white front, the harbor, looking out for
the ship The rough French sailor drew the back of
his hand across his glislenng eyes,a wet with tears,
and said in tone, made tremulous with emotion All,
God help her! that's tho poor Captains wife Mon
seurp
OF necessity my grief deep and trying, but un-
Ill the light Of teeOtalism broke upon my mind neV
er saw clearly have done since, that my CIV
ing and offering strong drink a fellow creature
tho moving of this most real and distressing
tragedy. '-Ipswich Temperance Tracts.