The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-02-27
For the Voice of Freedom.
lntemperanCe.
Vile worm, that gnawed


Vile worm, that gnawed
The root OF all his happiness terrene; the gall
Of all his sweet; the thorn ofevery rose
OF earthly bloom; cloud of his MONDAY sky;
Frost of his spring; sigh of his
Loudest laugh: Dark fpot on every
Form Of lovliness. POLLOK.
Come we young, ye gay, the giddy and
the thoughtless, who deem it pleasure TO
spend The night in scenes Of revery and
mirth; that sip of the sparkling bowl, nor
once dream that 10 its bosom lies coiled that
which in the end "biteth like a serpent
and slingeth like an adder;" come, listen
10 tale of wre;chedness and wo, the
downfall OF one, whose prospects of lie
and honor babe fair, but who listened to
the Syren song Of the tempter until drawn
unawares into the very vortex of ruin.
Oh, listen and be persuaded TO dash the
wine cup to the ground, e'er lis sparkling
surface touch thy lips, and thy ruin seal.
And, ye middle aged who, as soon as
night spreads her sable curtain and hides
you from the gaze of men, leave your
fresides, your homes, your wife, the be-
ing you are sworn to prolect-your little
ones who climb upon your knees and
plant upon your cheeks the sweet kiss of
ehildhood's love--to spend The night with
your inveterate foe, to kindle in your
bosom flame, that shall consume the
temple which God designed to be the
dwelling place Of an immortal spirit
Here let thy career be stayed. Pause and
think, ere you are swallowed up in the
whirlpool Of intemperance, and lost, lost
forever. Would 10 heaven this were
solitary sketch Of misery thus produced.
Alas Ills true Of hundreds.
In the town OF P, N. York lived
N. His parents died when he was
quite young, leaving him to the care of
an uncle, who found for him home in
the family of pious people, and at the age
Of II years he experienced religion, join
ed the church, and up to the age of man.
hood was loved and respected. Soon az
ter his leaving that family, he married
lovely, pious woman, and a woman Of
property. She entrusted him with all her
living, little dreaming that in five short
wears she would be destitute, and unpro-
tected. But so it was. He established
himself in business, was doing well until
intemperance that cursed bane,' entered
his dwelling and marred all his peace
They were blessed with son, the very
picture of his father in form and features
Then were they happy, and joy like the
sunshine baamed on their pathway, soon
alas, too soon TO give place to fearful fore
bodings Of the future. His first step TO
ruin, was on entering the place at the ur.
gent solicitation Of a triend. where the
fell destroyer turks, and Satan's warmest
friends are always ready TO deal 'damna'
lion TO his victims He entered and
drank; yes, and fell; for from that hour he
became a drunkard. His wife saw, aud
Obi what anguish wrung her heart, when
before her all was dark, aud hopes fires
nearly extinguished; but she did not des,
pair. Turning her streaming eyes 10,
ward the Eternal Throne, prayed for her
husband. herself her child. Intcmper
nnce leads to poverty, and so with him.
He had sacrificed their all at the shrine
of Bacchus. He looked at his wife and
child whom he had made beggars. and
was stung for moment with remorse.--
But sitting these feelings he fastened TO
the bottle, his cares to drown, and the