The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-10-31
From the United States Gazette.
A Reason for Drunkenness.


A Reason for Drunkenness.
Nearly forty years ago we were sitting on q
rock that jutted out towards Plymouth Buy
ii slight breeze swept up the channel and
rippled its current; far off but far between the
projecting copes, was the line ofthe horizon
resting OH the blue circle of the multitude
nous sea. There was nothing TO disturb the
scene, it was the hour of noon-and silence
reigning along the shore, and even within the
habtations, because the table is there blessed
before enjoyed, and the invocation, ifit brings
not down the spirit which it seeks. lifts up
the heart which it reaches.
| We had been dispatched, that day, with
the dinner basket and the bottle 10 the man
laboring among the rocks, and gathering up
| the debris of the shore.
In these days piety herself proffered the
glass, and temperance solaced herself with
the regular cup.
| The man had busted himself with his fare,
but he rendered to us n portion of his food
we declined it, having already dined.
~ will not offer you anything from the bot
tie" said lac, iii is bad, very bad for the young
and worse for the old. Never touch it, 10.
seph, as you hope for respect in life
Let us say, that the speaker was the sou
OF one ofthe most res pectable persons in the
icouutry-bad been well educated, and started
in manhood with n fine competency,-hnt
took to rum. From one grade TO another he
bad gone down 10 the rank ola common la
horer, in the town ofhis birth, aud earned Il
miserable living for his wife and numerous
children, by the most mental offices, and
went home heasily drunk, whenever he could
get rum enough 10 make him intoxicated.
| lie was lost man, miserable object,
"Ncver touch it," said he, "ns you hope for
respect in life" II is II deadly poison, pals
| wing ull physical and moral powers-wi'h its
use man is brute, slave 10 every one who
wishes TO command him, wi,houtit, temper
ate and industrious, lie may he what he
| plcnses.
"No man can hope for respect who iudul-
gcs in ium--but temperate, with the Cduca-
ton to be acquired III our schools, hc must
| grow up IN the respect of his fellow Tneu, and,
| in time must obtain competency. Indulge
in ibis" aud he held mp to the sun the halt
emptcd bottle, '':Ld shame, poverty aud toll
| toliow-avoid l., aud you may command the
services oicveIy ono that sins IN this way
may YOU never he thus commanded"
The mar had been n sot, proverhlally, from
our earle st remembrance, and though we
knew he possessed Il spirit of kindness tow
ards otf ers, we had never heard him thus re-
fer To tue sin that most easily beset him We
ga2eC., therefore, for some time, upou him,
beio &c we ventured IA reply-ut length we
said, in tone marked rather by nttectlonnie
Sc licitude. than the iorwardness othoylsE INF
rcrtincnce. "If respect is only found by a.
voidiug excess in drinking, why then do we
see so many torfeiting thai respect"-Alr--
, looked little confused, hut he was seen pre-
pairing with reply.
at is, perhaps, because they have no one
/ 70 DOiut OII n them their prrOrSl'
"But," said we, "some know their own er-
rors, and point out the consequences TO 9th
ers. Why do they not avoid them"
| A cloud passed across the face of the poor
man; bur it was feeling ofpain, not ofanger.
He rose from the ground on which he was
sitting and standing few moments by my
side his feelings gradually suhsided 10 tile
calmness of the delightful day upon which
we were looking.
"You ask" said he !'why they do not avoid
the evil consequences ofrum. Alas! you are
too young to know the influences ofappetite,
when the means of qualification are within
reach. You cannot know how desolatng TO
every heart is the spirit of intemperance. AT
times it seems that good resolves will spring
up, but if the temptation is not removed, the
evil is repeated. Could there he found some
powerful influence, some human beings TO
remove the sufferer from the plague, TO raise
him above the attack, be would, perhaps be-
saved-but who shall do it?"
"Look along this shore, nearly its whole
extent is marked by barren sands or abraded
pebbles. Not spire of grass shoots up, for
every tide washes the whitened surface: and
should there at any time spring up beyond us,
few green spots of heritage, the acrid wa
tiers ofthe returning spring tides would de-
stroy it all. There is far up the bay, single
exception, Mr--has redeemed, by care,
portion of the shore, by shutting out the tide,
and eevating the sod; no portion of salt wa
ter now reaches the enclosure, which is as
green and Furnishing as the upland fields
And Just so il is with the drunkard. The,
poisoned glass returns to his lips as regular
as the tide TO the shore. Every house he en-
ters presents the bitter waters, and thrice a
day his employer provokes and gratifies his
appetite for the accursed poison, in order to
stimulate his muscles to labor. And 1t SIN
gle resolution ofabstinence is formed,in SICK
ness or in want, it is swept away by tho re-
turning wave of dissipation. When see
what has been tho murderous effect oSdrpnlS-
enness, stand astouished, that those who,
have got something to lose, should put all to
risk upon every days qualification. IL they.
cannot elevate the fallen above the influence
of the waves of intoxication, they might at
least place the feet Of their children above
this tide" a.. a.ua. ,ULE arff
We were astonished, child as we were, at
the correctness ofthe mans perceptions. The
wonder was that he SHOULD have venturcd VI
pom expressing them. .aI aBHil