Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-17

While | was quietly seated at the stove,a poor, miserable
sickly looking being came in; and, though apparently
ashamed, yet he mustered up all his courage, and adj
vancing TO the bar, stood there without uttering a SYLLABLE.
The landlord, however, too well understood the nature Of
his erfand 10 need any special information, and laying his
hand on the brandy bottle, he poured out a ~wine-glass full,
and then with a slight which long practice had made PEI
feet, transferred il 10 a tuMbler, which his thirsty expee-
iant took in his hand, and was just about putting to his
mouth, when one Of my fellow passengers, who, it appears
had been watching his opportunity, placed on The top of
the glass a handful of the American Tract Society, head
ed in large letters,
'sET DOWN THAT GLASS
| did not know whether it was surprise at SO sudden
and p~eGemptoIy a demand, fear, anger, or conviction; but
the man actually did set down the glass, took the paper in
his hand, hurried out of the bar-room, and left the brandy
untasted. II was two or three minutes before one word
was spoken the passengers looked at each other and at
the landlord; and as ! sought to read the thoughts which
were passing in the mind of the latter, hardly knowing
whether he was about to explode upon my fellow traveller
in anger, or treat it as a good JOKE, the stage horn blew,
and off we went.
'It is well, said | to my unknown companion, that
you did not get your head bruised by one or both of those
men,
Nc danger, said he, i have studied character too long
to mistake; | saw that the POOR drunken wretch who ask
ed for the brandy, was sunk too low in his own estimation
to have courage to resent an insult; and | saw he was too
far gone 10 Justify mild measures. Had he been a different
man l might have let him drink his glass, and then, when
he went out, followed him, and requested him to read a
tract of another description and as to the landlord, he
knew his interests too well TO take notice of the natter
But, he continued, Il am not solicitous about the risk;
for / believe it my duty TO strive to warn these poor VIC
Tins Of intemperance of the ruin on which they are rush
ing; and have many blessed returns to cheer me in what
may seem an ungracious business
We had a great deal of conversation in the stage, but
when we reached Hartford, he company separated. l
did not even learn the name of the temperance man, for it
SO h happens thatI was born south of the Empire State, as
New York is sometimes called, and therefore have ne
very extraordinary aptitude of getting an insight into other
peoples matters. However, must not say that | am en-
tirely destitute Of curiosity; for, in about a year after.
when engaged in business along the same rout, | stopped
at The same house, and the bar was gone, though recog-
nized the same landlord. l thought he looked happier;
out u may oe q matteF OF mere lmaglhalioh' that ne was
happier there can he no doubt, for he had ceased to be an
administered of poison to his fellow townsmen; and if any
thing should make him a happier man, this could not be
overlooked. Be all this as it may, l had only time to ask
him if he recollected the occurrence to which | have allud-
ed in the first part of this article. indeed said he, Il do;
that man has not tasted a drop Of liquor since that day;
and through his influence there is a temperance society
here which numbers all our inhabitants but a few broke
down sots, who can get no one to sell to them but one Of
E themselves, who Keeps a filthy room over %yonder,' POINT
ing to the place, and it is through that same incident that
this is a Temperance House