Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-28
From the Alexandria Gazette.
THE DEATH BED OF THE INEBRIATE.

THE DEATH BED OF THE INEBRIATE |
1t was n cold, chcoress evening in the month Of
January 1871, when in compliance with the request
OF q friend, visited young of splendid abil-
tiles as a scholar, tortured by the worst of all NAL
aides that ever entered this world of ours-the dc
lirium tremens.' The hollow winds sighed in the
leaness trees a requiem for the departed year-the
torn clouds which had buttled with the furious win
ter storm, revealed their rugged edges the sicky
moonbeams fell upon them--oC casionally a little
star peeped from behind its sable curtain and then
its soft bright eye withdrew its light if unwil-
ling TO look upon a world so full of human misery
and woo, and all nature seemed to be in unison
with the darkness and gloom which, at that hour,
overshndowed many human minds and hearts.
Although period like this seems only to wear a
drcary aspect, yet it has its pleasures for when the
sun fades into the light of heaven" and night
shadows gather in the sky the toll and care of bu-
siness is laid aside, the wearied mind reyels in the
delights of social intercourse, and "home, sweet
home" (if sought throws its sweet associations a.
round the human heart prompting it to forget the
anXletles and pcrpleXites of the "busy world, and
inviting lis reposc upon bed of roses where turks
no secret thorn TO pierce with many sorrows All
these circumstances remove the cnnu OF many an
hour and even gd the raven wings Of night
But when the gloom of mental night comes on,
and the bright star lighted up in that pure world
"beyond the fight of time and reign of DEATH"
shines NOT. deathke darkness is spread all round,
more dism1l than when man fell" and over this
guilty world rested the irown of an offended God
But, before preceding further, perhaps, short
sketch of the individuals history Just referred to,
! is due to the reader lie was young man of SUI
periOr talents, graduated at one Of the first uStltu
! tons Of learning in the world, master Of the
ancient and modern languages, and his towering
mind and splendid education prepared him to figure
| largely in scientific and literary circles. Starting
| out In life with prospects 50 litterlng, one would
!
and adding fresh laures to his countrys garland.
But, alas, how different the Behold the NOR
al and intellectual man thrown into heap of ru-
ms and he, who but few years back, enjoy ed the
pleasure of home, friends and every blessing with
in the gift of earth, now, that the winter of life has
come destitute Of all these comforts, and the mis-
cradle "out cast" about to breathe away this life
In lonely exile, unwept, mot unpltied and the mem
| DRY of his name to be blctted out forever.
1t was in this destitute situation that | found him
one evening. Tho cause which led to such a con-
summaton-crushed his manly heart -quenched
the star which might have lighted up the pathway
ofcomlng ages, and threw him out upon lies stor-
| my ocean to float awhile among ITS weeds, and then
sink into It's bosom to perish, may be summed up in
one word -IYrEMpERANcE. He was lying on the
floor in one corner of small room provided for
him by few friends. The faint light of taper
| revealed to my gaze his sorrow-stricken, frgtul
countenance and, oh that ghastly grn-that fire.
shot eye-that fiendsh smile i those he1r-rendng
and soul-harrowlng expressions continually gusI-
/ ing from his lips, would have moved an adanantine
heart, and made an angel weep if tears are wep
in heaven.
The mental hurricane which had so long swept
over him, now began to subside. The mighty
ocean which had tossed him about upon its rough
pillows, was growing more calm and placid, owing
to the prostration of physical power, for sleep haC
not rested upon his eyelids for many days.
thought that his CLASSY eye. feeble iuttering pulse
aft in6c n1 Ia
change. And in this was not mistaken. For
few hours afterwards, death unfolded its black
wings to close his earthly suffering. and prepare
) him for the grave -eternty-judgnent Oh, wha
an awful period 1t is when the immortal spirit lin
J gers the shores of Time in the last moments o
It's earthly existence. Then, sad thoughts eros:
the mind and shade the heart, and feel the force
! Of that sentiment, " Death makes towards of u:
ALL"
In that eycntful crisis, its sweet to repose on
thornesS plllow,-to listen to the fluttertng wing:
; of angel spirits impatient to bear away the iewe
to gllsten in the casket fthe skies but horid, in
,, deed, to rest bed of thorns when the dealt
shades are gathering thick and fast, skrted witt
} no bright beams of an Immortality of bliss, bu
bluckened with an eternal lifetime of anguish ant
remorse. The destiny Of an immortal being vii
soon be fixed forever; it is now struggling to b,
released from its prison house of clay. Tell me
oh, tel. me, when the agones of life are past wha
will be its doom, its rrevocable fate These ques
tons, so momentous and important, excited m.
mind when gazed upon the spark of life SWIFTLY
t waning and going out. 1t was melancholy hour
one that will cast sombre shadows over my min
!, when the death bed scenes of the maniac arise o.
i my mind.
Could every lover of "strong drink" have bchel
the tortured victim writing under the anguish q
its thousand stings, and those burning, gnawing
corroding pangs, too keen for utcrancc, yet to
n deep for death; could they who are charmc
i by the magic spells of the insdions serpent hav
" looked upon him then, methinks they would das
) away the damning bowl, and swear eternal hatre
to its influence. But he has passed away from tn
. earth. In yonder "charnc house" may be see
e the manac's lonely tomb, where few attenv
- friends laid him down to rest No tears have bee
wept there, save from the skies, and no signs hay
= sadly fingered there, save the sad cadence of wiz
try winds
il There is no afectionate memento at his head
r Spring will come, but lis early breath will not Xxi;
J. the grave flowers nor its early dew weep over I'll
IS greenswnrd raised on his senseless bosom. Bl
!. spring will come with its flowers, autumn with i
fruits and wintry winds again sweep along OF
l. world; but the grave now desolate, will be des
IS late still the place where he reposes will not Ion
to- be distinguished even by little mound of eartl
+, for the plough-share of time will level and dcstro
j. and weeds will spring up and hide it forever fro
AZ human ken. d. n. II.
70 Alexandria, ID. C. Feb. l, 1916.
Too True That SANDER is often beneficial
; the person slandered is indsputuble. We recolle
g an anecdote in point. A RAN somewhere out we
in was elected to Congress lie was totally unqua
r fled in every respect, for the position friend
re Washington once asked him
3, GLOW the deuce did you manage to get elected