Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1849-11-28
TOO FAST AND TOO FAR.
The Cooper and the Currier.

with green blinds, aud pretty garden before it. II
is provided MS YOU sec 10y the double DOORS for two
families. That is the residence of the cooper and
the currcr. Three years ago, it perfect hoye,
whose fallen icnces,and broken windows, proclaimed
its occupant TO be drunliard lie was 1t was
the property of old Bill Cleverly, who died, cursng
the temperance folks with his latest BREATH The
chase drew up in front of the cooper's shop. Good
morning, Mr. Weber, said Purson Whcatly. Ah,
bless me, parsou'-rub dub dub, you nre ont early
dub dHL duj-goiug 10 Shuiileton. spose, with
Mr.. Mcrrick'-,1tb Gub dub. NO, we have come
10 pay you aud Mr.. Bailey short visit Mr.. Weber,
Very much obliged TO ye, parson' rub dup dub -
rub Il dub dib There, b'leyc that hoop'l stick
Come, walk in, Pcggy' be rcloccd to have ye take
breakfast with ussorry brother Bailey and his vile
have gone to the City-weut off by dawn o day.
The clergymen eudcavored to excuse themselves
from taking breakfast but Peggy was lmporunate
and the cooper assured them, that his boy, Eli had
caught some fine pckere, on the preceding Satur-
day afternoon, and that they were, al that moment,
in the spider They accordingly, were prevailed on
to partake of the cuopcr's repast. Nebber then
produced the family bible, and read a chapter: and
Parson Wheay made prayer. When he had con
uluded, he resumed his scat, and inquired of his
host if he were so leisure that morning, that he
could conveniently give them small part of it
with all my heart Parson Wheatly,' said hc, ifI
be useful for can drive the Job have in hand,
Il little father into evening" Alr. Weber,, said Par
son Whcatly, 4 have been giving my brother Mer-
rick, some account of the happy effects of the tenn
perancc reform in our village. | well know how
openly you and your brother Bailey, in the habit
of exhibiting your own conversion, as an induce
ment to others and, if you will do me the favor to
give Mr. Merrick some little account of it, shall be
much obliged to you. The effect of such narrative
may be beneficial elsewhere.
why, gentlemen said the COOPER with grave
expression upon his features, q shall bless the day
when the reformation came into Eddingon, and so
will Peggy Peggy Webber had removed the break
fast table 10 one side of the apartment, and with
baby in her arms, had drawn her chair into the circle.
Brother Bailey and have often said, continued the
cooper, that if we hadn't turned about just
did, should have beenas like not, in the drunk
ards grave by this time. We used to have terrible
troubles, and all about nothing. Rum was at the
h99 and of VI G Vent on 5 qn S e y WINS We f42gd
was no kind of i'll turn that Bailey wouldn't do me,
aud wasn't behind him in any sort of mischief
Our wives were separated from each other, and there
a complete family quarrel. BaiIcy's wife and he
had terrible time of it she took the liquor and he
handled her roughly enough. That poor woman
said he, pointing to his wife, 'had hard time of it,
too; but she never took drop Of the vile poison
She never gave me an unkind word in her life and
if | ever lifted my finger against her, in anger it
must have been when | was crazy with quor' you
never did, George said Peggy Weber. well,
am GRATEFUL continued, her husband, that have
not that sin against me- However, it was bad
enough. We got 10 be very poor, and got to be
very cross. When was ill-naturcd, Peggy used to
cry and when | was on Y melancholy she used to
come and sit down by me, and say all sorts of com
forng things; and, whenever she thought it would
do, she would urge me not to drink any more spirit.
lost all my custom, and we parted with the prnci-
pal part of our furniture. Our house got to be full
enough Of misery if it cmpticd of every thing
else. couldn't pay my rent any longer and our
landlord began TO talk pretty roughly, and threaten
ed to turn us out. heard there was good chance
for coopers 1T New Orleans and asked Peggy if she
was willing to 80: She said yes if thought it the
best course, hut that she didn't why we mightni
get Oh here, we used to. told her we could stay
here, and live on bread and water. She REPLIED
that she should be truly happy to do so, if 1 would
give up spirit: that she knew 1t made me poor and
wretchcd, and that this made her so; and thai she
did not believe our misery would be lessencd by
change of residence, but by change of habit.
which could be as well made here as any where else.
/ was not so degraded as not TO feel the force of
what Peggy said
My wiles father and mother were dead There
was a shrewd, honest old Quarkcr in our village
you know who | mean, Pursou Wheaty-old friend
Boynton, as we call him-he was a very intimate
friend ofmy Ue's father, and took interest in his
children, and used to visit at Baeys house and mine
till matters came to very bad state. lie was very
fond Of Peggy always. lie advised her to persuade
me to 20 and hear Il temperance lecture. went
twice and, though had nothing to say against the
lecturer, couIdnthelp smiling to think how little he
knew of the force of a tipplers habits He seemed
to think drinking man could throw them off, as
easily rs he could his old Shoes | knew better as |
thought, for had tried. I've promised Peggy hun .
dred times, when went out in the morning that |
wouldn't touch drop, and meant TO keep my prom
use too, but Eve come home drunk at night for all
that.
At the time was speaking Of when the landlord
threatened to turn us out, and our best prospects
were about as black thunder-cloud Peggy urr-
ed me to make n visit to old friend Boynton and ask
his counsel. felt rather awkward about it for |
had avoided the old gentleman of late and, when
ever met him, had put on n sort of staggering
gait, which drunkard occasionally assumes to show
his independence. ! couldn't release Peggys re-
quest however and besides, / felt as though I'd give
the world, if had it, to be able to leave off: SO
went to the old Quaker
q made my visit in the morning, and that might
appear decent, had not taken dram since the fore
noon of the preceding day. | found the old gentle
man at home. lie relieved me of all my awkward
feelings in an instant by his kind treatment 'Ah
friend Weber, said he Il am glad TO see thee thee
hast not made me II visit for a long time how is
Peggy thy wife, and thy little one told him they
were toleraby WE'LL and that Peggy had sent her re-
specs to him. Peggy was always good child
said he and she maketh thee a good help-nlnte
friend Webber, doth she not? "A thousand times
better than deserve, as you well know, Mr. Boyu-
ton. III didn't know how kindly YOU feel to my
poor wife, couldn't have come as have to ask YOU
TO help me- 'And pray, friend Webber, said the
old man, 'what woudst thee have me to do? Thy
wfe's father was my friend, when was a bow when
the heart is like solened wax, and impressions are
made deeply. There are people in the world ms
thee well knowest friend Webbor, whom it is hard
30 serve, but Peggy is not one OF that number and
Al cant have not come begging said l. inter
rupting him i have not come to ask for money
meat, fire, or clothes; and yet have come to ask
you to assist me to pay Off the heaviest debt that a
man owe to fellow mOrtal.'-'I will tell vou
SIR said |. when / courled my wife | made her
fair promises, such most men make on such ac-
casions, TO be kind to her. and do all things TO make