The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-23
THE cur or COLD WATER.
ny tn. AHrHuH.

ny T, n, ARTHUR.
Henry Green was a reformed mAn. Ile
had been most abandoned drunkard, and,in
the years Of bis sal dccadSncc, had shame
fully wronged and abused his family, hut,
in. a lucid moment, he perceived, with start
ling distinctnes-, the preeipice, upon tho very
brink Of which lac was standing, and started
back therofrom.
For his suffering wife and children, the
waste places became green again, and the
desert bloasomod a. the rose. Afler long,
long night Of weeping, the sun came forth,
and his smile brought light and gadncss 10
their spirits. The husband and father WAS .
man once more with the heart of a man. lie
turned no lbnger away from them in dcbas-
ing self inaulgcncA but toward them in
thoughtful affection.
How quickly is perceived a change for the
better in'cyegthing aPPcrtaining 10 the inc
briato's family, when the head Of il abandona
his sin and folly, and returns TO his affection
and duty, All this change was apparent in
the ihmilyof Henry Green. They had suf-
: -i..F,.--rrn-tut the deprivation OF every com
fort; but Of these one and another wore now
restored, until every part of their humble
dwelling seemed 10 smile again. How hNpPs
they were
And yet the wife of the reformed man Of.
ten felt a sense of insecurity, She under
stood too well that for her husband, tcmpta-
ton lurked at every point How often did
she await his return home, as evening ap-
preached, with trembling snxicty; aud mark
while yet afhr oil, his steps, 10 SOC il they
were firmly taken.
IL was early in the fall Of the yoar whom
Henry Green took the pledge. Through the
could earn good wages, his income had given
them, AZ just mentioned, very many comforts
He had not been much tempted of his old ap-
petite during the cold weather, nor did he
feel It's active return at The opening spring.
But with the fcrvcnt heat Of summer the
slumbcring desire awoko,
Active ,lily labor produced free perspir-
alton. Frequent thirst was the consequence;
and, whenever this was ioIt, the thoughts OF
the reformed man dwolt upon the pleasure
cspl glass Of some mixed liquor would give
With an effort, and often with fear at his
heart, would he thrust aside the aluring inn
ages drawn by his truant imagination. Aud
yet, they would ever and anon return; and
there were times when he was tempted al
most beyond his strength.
Green was carpenter. Early ia the
spring gentleman offered him good con-
tract for putting up two or three frame build
ings which he gladly accepted; and as the lot
upon which his house stood was large, he O.
rected shop thereon.
More checrfully aud hopefully than ever
did the reformed man now work. He saw =
clearer light ahead. IIc would, ero long, ro-
cover all he had lost and even get beyond
the point of prosperity from which he had
fallen. Time wore on. Spring passed and
the summer opened. july came in with iu-
tensely hot weather. Already had Henry
Green felt the cravings ofhis awakening APP
petite, and required strong efforts at self
denial 10 refrain from indulgence.
About eleven o'clock one day-it was a
hotter day than usual Green's thoughts were
dwelling ms now too often the case, upon the
''refreshing glass" once so keenly enjoyed
A little way from his shop, though not in
view, was tavern, the bar room of which |
memory ~4ls petaring To the ayes of his mind 1
with tempting dishnctness. lie had often
been there in times past--often drank there
until thought and feeling was lost, He saw
IN Imagination, the rows of alluring decanters
with theirm colored liqrorsi he heard the
'old ice as It ratified in the glasses; he almost
cit the cooling beverage upon his lips So
absorbed did he at length become, that he
,aused in his work and leaned over his bench,
his eyes half closed, ike one in dreamy
everie.
1t was a moment upon which his future, for
'eod or for evil, hung trembling in an oven
'aianee that hair might turn;
For as long time as five minutes did
Icnry Green stand leaning over his work I
ench, picture of the neighboring bar room :
istinetly before his mind, while he was CON .
riousoi an intense thirst--that il seemed ms .
nothing but glass Of mixed aud iced Ii ?
uor could possibly assunee,
With deeply drswR breath he at length 1
used himself, the struggle that was going m L
his mind more than half decided in favor q
selfibduleence. a