The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-13

OultHC lsotdi dDSlntnCe plcugt, iDy MunQcr,
Kate, hit or miss, and the next Tuesday Pm
goin' to preach.n At first his wife would
not believe word Of it; but the next day,
the indications of a change for THE better
were too strong to go unnoticed, and she
admitted that something must be in the
wind" The signing of the Pledge dated
from Wednesday, and Friday, Bill did what
4 he had not done for two years he worked
all day--mending his windows, put new
shingles on his root, hauled fire wood on
his hand-sled, skc--7S Saturday, Monday, and
Tuesday, were similarly spent, and when
the temperance meeting came, on Tuesday
evening, he brushed up his old coat, took
his wife by the arm, and tugged silently to
the school house. .iti ND f # ri.
The audience had got there before him,
for every one was anxious to hear what
Lazy Bill could say on the subject Of tenn
perance. Old Simon had seated himself
close to the desk, that he might have abetter
opportunity to play off his pranks, and when
Smith entered looking 50 changed--so no.
ble-so dignifed, comparably; the old man
crept away, abashed,, and apparently aston
ished. Can this be lazy Bill?' he mental
ly asked; and the more, he asked the ques-
ton the more he was puzzled to answer il.
Pretty soon Smith commenced
"Ten years ago was respectable, indus
trious and happy. came into this neigh
borhood, bought me few acres of land,
built me small house, got married, and
went to work. We used to have social par
ties in those times, and Sarah there, (pointing
to his wife, and used to attend them.
Sarah learned to knit edging and tell stories,
and / learned to drink wine. Very soon
began to find myself occasionally impatient
for the time Of the next party to arrive; and
the wine go round. Finally drank to ex-
cess-even to intoxication- one Of these
parties; and from that time, though for a
while heartily ashamed Of my conduct, had
less of self-respect, and more Of the appetite
for liquor. began to visit the tavern, and
the rum-shop down there at the other village,
| and with others Of like inclinations and ap-
petites, ! spent my time lounging about
| these groggeries sitting, now in the sun,
now in the shade, bu. never engaged in any
more active business than whiting pine
stick or tippling decanter of New England
rum. lost, by degrees, all my ambition
became lazy and idolent, and you call me
Lazy Bill. At first my wife fretted and
scolded att my changed conduct; but this on
ly made II worse. Then she cried and en-
reated-but this had the same effect, produ-
ced trouble, and drank more rum to drown
it-Drunkards are sure to find trouble e.
nough when rum has become its only anti
dote, ! drank,-lost the little property
had accumulated-broke the heart of my
wife, and became finally needless of every
thing. So lived along till last Wednesday
night. Y on know what we heard then, and
] need not say that was convinced rum had
made me g Lazy Bill" and caused all my
trouble. sigued the Pledge, and till now
kept it inviolate; and God helping me, IN
never drink another drop Of fliquor as long
as ] live. Already ! begin to feel the fires
of ambition again in my breast, and to mag
inc myself a man. My wife there, is happi-
er, and looks healthier; and my little boy
smiles sweetly when take him in my arms
In short, am new man, with new feel
ings, and new hopes, and now am going to
lead new life, regain, if possible, my char
acter, and my property, and be happy
And want my old companions to 60 with
me. Some of you promised to sign the
pledge, if would, and nothing has befallen
me to discourage that resolution. ] hope
you will come up here and redeem your pro-
misses"
There was a pause for some minutes
The audience seemed paralyzed with aston
ishment Old Simon had been seen to
brush away something that had apparently
escaped from between his eye-lids, and all
were looking to him for some movement
that should break the spell of enchantment.
Presently he rose, walked up silently to the
desk, took up the pen, and put his name to
the pledge. Now the people seemed to
breathe freer; and one by one, every man
and woman in that house, followed his ex-
ample.
CHAPTER v.
Five or six years ago, / was passing
through the little town Of Pepperelbro, and
recollecting some of the incidents related
above, bethought me to ascertain if Bill had
kept his pledge. ] could not recollect his
snname, and was obliged to inquire for
Lazy Bill as of old. Nobody knew him,
or could tell where he lived. Finally L