Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-06-25
select Tales.
From The Baltimore Saturday Visitor.
THE DEAD HEART.
A TALE OF A PRISONER.
BY THE LATE CHARLES r TORRFV

BY THE LATE CHARLES T. ToRREY.

Recently found among my guardians pri-
vate papers an address before this same Mode
ration Society," 1918, in which the expedency
of total abstinence is modestly named as, in the
last resort, better than to stand by and see so
many of our highest and best going down to UNI
timely graves. But who then appreciated the
words of wisdom? Hardly Tic speaker himself!
But sucii ilInts were not popular in James CIapp
store, save with its owner.
Close attention to his business, with no inter
val of rest, brought on some slight debility
Unused to sickness James promptly consulted
our distinguished physician, man widely known
in his profession, and in the political world, and
himself model Of the temperance gentlemen OF
that day.
What shall dol cannot leave my bust
ness. Give me some medicine adapted to my
condition, asked he of the doctor.
Let me see. Well James, we'll, | think
your best remedy will be glass of bitters every
morning, before breakfast, taken in little
French brandy
Who didn't use brandy bitters, for every ache
and i'll? 1t was nauseous dose to James. But
it was medicine The brandy he did not love,
but it was medicine Insensibly, to qualify the
taste of the btters, the quantity of sugar and
brandy was increased till at last the bitters
were omitted entirely, and the brandy continued,
as a medicine,
Doctor, think the Lrandy has about as
good an effect, taken without the drugs
Well, we'll, IA favorte peroration to all the
doctors speechesD | think it will do, only be
careful to use it in moderation. 1t is a useful
drink, if we guard any excess
All it was not 'well!' At last, the afternoon
dram succeeded the mornings medicine, and
then the habit of drinking with his customers
was formed. Not yet sot, James business
began to flag He was less capable OF sound
Judgment, his bargains were often foolish, his
expenses wasteful, his accounts i'll kept; men
and women too, began to regret in quiet way
that James drank so much They we're re
ally afraid he would hurt HIMSELF STILL he was
not drunkard, ana nobody really expected he
would be. AT the last town meeting to be sure
he had been too much excited, and two of his
friends walked home with him, after spending a
pleasant evening, drank together, before parting.
Who found any harm from one act of error!
Before many months his business began to be
neglected, and it was whispered about that rude
intoxicated men were suffered in his store
Sensitive women preferred to 60 in the morn
ing, when they would be surest not to meet
them.
Customers dropped off, man Of influence
called to close his accounts. James made a
gross error in the reckoning and the customer,
somewhat irritated, told him he drank so much
he was not fit to do business Stung to the
quick, James then sought relief in deeper, more
frequent potatons.
At the fall election, the influence of the same
man deprived him of small Office involving
more of honor than profit. The reason for the
opposition was not concealed. James friends,
for he had many, came round him, and drank
with him, to soothe his mortified feelings.
There was one heart every puIsaon of which
was quickened at his approach. Jane Damer
was not one of our bellies She was not beaut-
full, she was accomplished, not like one of our
city damsels | don't think she had an ear for
music, unless it was for the music of the birds
that carolled in the trees around her DWELLING
Many years since that day, have seen her, with
her knitting work, seated by the open window
listening to the song of the golden Oriole, or
English Robin, as our towns people will call
one of the sweetest songsters of our native land