Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-01-20
Gumorous.
"That last Julep!"
A SHORT TEMPERANCE STORY.

Mississippi river cities, The landioru vi
noted hotel in spite of the good fare
served upon his table took an aversion
to his food and, confning himself TO the
fluid exclusively, drank himself out Of ex-
'istence. He was jolly specimen of
publican, ard had endeared himself, in
his latter days, TO couple Of young boar
ders, by frequently inviting them to share
in what he called ga comfortable ca
rouse" These little reunions, as we be-
fore stated, were brought to close by
the principal suddenly dropping out of
the set, and being no longer able to
"stand up" to his share of the liquor
The deceased's wife being absent from
the city, his friends comfortably packed
him in ice for preservation until her re-
turn. The feelings of the hopeful young
conviviaists were sadly shocked at the
idea of sojourning in the same house with
the inanimate body of their regretted
companion. 1t was all well enough
when he was able to stand the liquor,
and drink his share of it, but the thought
Of his being packed away in such cold
quarters made them SILVER with strange
apprehension which even brandy failed
to dissipate. They had, nightly, to pass
the room where the body lay, TO reach
their own, and every time they were
forced to do so, the feeling of horror
grew stronger, Until at length the sad
example Of the deceased landlord began
to have its effect in winning them to tenn
perance. At length the wife arrived,
and the publican was consigned to his
long home; but we regret to add that
with his departure the desire for another
comfortable carouse" began to manifest
itself.
"Only one more, Bill" said the eldest,
Gust by way of a wake for the old fellow
he deserves as much from as to his
memory-and then it shall be an under
stood thing that we quit"
The last little party was agreed upon,
few good fellows were invited, and on
the night succeeding the burial they as
sembled in room but few doors from
the former apartment of their dead host.
"What say you to juleps, boys ?" in
quired Bill.
"Considering the state of the weather,
we ~iU go jueps," said guost-'ju-
leps all roundF'
"Hurrah for cooling drinks" echoed
the whole party.
Sam, a negro servant, was summoned,
and positive order issued forthwith for
all the concomitants necessary to make q
good jalep. The brandy came, then the
rum, then the mint-lresh from the earth
then the sugar.
CHOW, Sam, the ice," was the next
call, and of started their attentive wal
ter. he soon returned with towel full
Of the material broken up fine, and in
proper order, and straight the revel be-
gun. The juleps were delicious, and
with sleeves rolled up, shirt collars open,
and straws in hand, ,hey won't into then,
with n perfect gusto. Song, toast and
sentiment, carried them gloriously into
the "few short hours" by which time
they were all getting rather comfortable.
"Here is hoping our old host has, be-
fore this, experienced comfortable
change from his ice bor," roared one of
the prodigals.
ga little more ice, Sam p shouted a.
mother; 1--WE want enough to make a
parting drink" Sam vanished.
"Boys, what do you say to holding a
little pou-,cou around the old fellows last
tub =? Come, we will wake his old 'cold
III, he In
comfortable carouse,' just to lay his spir-
il, and keep ii from searching about az
ter nocturnal drinks"
This proposition met with shout of
approval, and glasses in hand, they pro-
ceeded in procession to the ice-box cham
Der, into which they burst, singing
ooh, ant yon coming back, Stephen"
What was their alright and horror, on
fairly entering the chamber, to see a
dark figure with hammer in hand, seat
ed inside of the recent receptacle of the
deceased. A light perched upon one
end of the box cast glimmer upon the
ice inside, which was reflected in numer-
GUS pale streaks Upon the dark figure and
the wall beyond. OF course, the first
impulse was to retreat, but a familiar
voice arrested their footsteps:
"What de debil is de matter, gem
men - inquired Sam, from the tub.
There was a pause, and then the in
quiry--
"What the ID are you doing there,
you black rascal?"
"Poundin' yOu some ice for dat lass ju-
lep p
"What !? All Oh,-o-o-o-ughp %
"Missis tole me, gemmen, TO use dis
up fust, kase de article is scace dis sea-
son %
A shower Of pint tumblers, ice, mixed
juleps and all, saluted the darkey n this
announcement. He kicked over the
light, and with heaying stomachs the rev.
ellers hunted for the dark cause of their
nausea to use him up; but in the strug-
gle he escaped, and the uncertain move
ments of the party brought them into
several collisions before they found out
they were pounding the wrong customer.
1t is almost unnecessary to add that