The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-07-04

SUCH ulslIust Oh Hlinsell, tllat hc fclllllcu
home at night by the most circuitons roulette
avoid passing grocer's shop whence issued
the steam of Intoxicating drinks Weeks
passed away, and he grew stronger. Once
more he stood erect in the dignity Of man
hood, and once more his mothers eye rested
on him with the proud fondness of other days,
Once more the light of cheoriulncss began
to glow on her pale face and again did she
feel that life was sweet TO her.
But the temptation met Charles Austin in Il
way that he little expected. One morning
while at his labor on the wharf where lac was
employed, he stumbled and fell, his head
striking heavily against stone, inflicting II
deep and ffightfii cash near the temple
The blood flowed freely from the wound and
induced fantness, when his employer pour
ed him a glass Divine, which the poor youth
swallowed His faintness was relieved, ANA
greeble excitement was produced, bur a cru
ell and restless thirst was awakened, which
every common beverage failed to satisfy
Hardly conscious ofwhat he WINS doing, he
found his way TO dram shop aud called for
brandy His thirst became more tormenting.
Liquid fire seemed to be circulating through
his veins, his brain was giddy, and conscious
ofbut the one desire for ardent spirits, his
visit o the bar room was again and again re-
peated, until at night he was carried home
helplessy intoxicated.
Had he been brought home, lifeless corpse,
Mrs. Austin would not have been more lor-
ror struck. With trembling hands and blood
less face, she assisted her inebrote son
to his bed, watering his pillow with tearsand
then in inconceivable mental distress. groaI
ing IN the bitterness other spirit over her high
ly raised hopes which had been so cruelty
Knocked, she paced the room until morning.
Then ensued n serious, solemn,and affection
ate conversation between the mother and her
son, another promise of total abstinence was
given, which for short time was remember
ed and then occurred another heart sicken-
ing lapse into former habits and vices. The
energy of his will was weakened, his moments
ofsobriety were dull, melancholy and unquiet,
his friends forsook him, Ills self-respect and
self-confidence had departed, and he Hgain
drank voluntarily and deeply, TO drown the
of his misery, bis guilt, and in
deed his very existence.
And now again the ever burning, never
queuched light of hope went out in the heart
of Mrs. Austin. With despairing calmness,
she observed how feariully rapid her son was
hasting TO the grave ofshame aud disgrace,
which his father had digged for himseI, and in
quiet anguish she awaited the dread catas-
trophe which she feared was to end his exis-
tence. She 10 longer hoped or expected
him as she had concerning his father, that
his promises were iaithIess, his habits of in
toxication too deeply rooted to be eradicable.
As she had dealt with her husband, so now
dealt she with her sou; her own hands fed
and clothed him, and found for him shelter;
and often might the sad-faced. premaurely-
aged woman have been seen leading home
her loathsome, disgusting son, from the low
est dram shops that are to be found in The
most degraded localities ofthe city of Bos-
ton the bands of intemperance were twin
ed around and around the poor victims spir-
it, "the handwriting of Judgment and woe
was on his countenance," and in the volunta-
ry remuneration ofreason and thought, i'm
the abect weakness ofmind and body which
him, was witnessed such over
weening craving for the cup, such incurable
fondness for the poisonous draught, that men
wagged their heads at him as he passed by
and called him irreclamable.
"Send him to the House ofCorection, was
the universal advice of Mrs. Austin's friends;
"send him over to South Boston,you can new
err reform him, and you may as well have
him out of your way, for he is fast wearing
out your life.
'Never, never!" was the mothers reply;"Lo
is my son, and never shall he leave until these
hands are unable to work, or death takes him
from me-" .....'. ....r
1t was at this time that the Westinghouse
was started, which like current
of healing swept through the land, overflow
ing the streams of sensuality and pollution,
the laDguid hearts of many who had
suffered long and deeply, and raising even the
dead to newness oflife. AT first, of
obscure origin, and embracing but a hand
ful ofthe dissipated and degraded,it marched
EDWARDS, gathering strength, notoriety, and
Al
years ofindulgence in intemperance had riv~
eted upon human souls, restoring to the arms
of wives, mothers and daughters, the hus-
bands, SONS and brothers, whom they had
mourned as forever dead TO virtue, exercising
from the most debased inebrates the legion
of unclean spirits that had taken up their u
bode in their souls. banishing disease, sin and
wherever it appeared, and leaving
in its pathway, traces oihealth, happiness and
Joy. Like an element of life, like spell OF
power, was its progress through
the land; and wherever passed, groups of
nebrates might be heard pro-
claiming the story of their deliverance, sur
rounded by throngs of glad and astonished
listeners. The journals ofihe day teemed
with thrilling accounts ofthis movement; and
from the Overlooking hearts of thousands to
whom Joy had long been an unknown visit
ant, and who had become so familiarized to
want and wo, that they had almost
ceased to be fearful, ascentied sweet ard
earnest thanksgivings. HoasaF Co., ucat
AT first, Mrs. Austin listened to the ne.
counts ofthe wonderful reformations achev-
ed by the Washingtonian movement as TO idle
tales. Butas again and again she heard
them rehearsetl, her interest was excited, and
she soon found notwithstanding every pa
per that came in her way aud reading with
a palpitating heart of the restoration of inc
briates ms helpless, hopeless and far sunken
as her still dearly loved son. Then sprang up