Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-11-06
From the Christian Advocate and Journal
ssWhat about these OniOmS?"

While our last General Conference was
in session at Pittsburgh. the Temperance
Societies of that city held frequent meet
ings, and several members Of the confer
ence addressed the meetings. One Of the
Delegates, from "Down East" related
AN incident, in substance as follows -
A merchant. in a small village. sold
rum; and had. Of course, u large number
of customers. who became poor "a con-
sequence of his ruinous traffic. The wife
| Of OvO ef those t,,,a --..;ted on tho
band no more of his deadly drink. She
was coldly received, and obtained no as
surance of favor. TWAS in vain that she
told him what her husband once was, and
what he would be again. but for his traf-
tic. which had already reduced them to
abject poverty. In vain she drew the
truthful picture Of poverty. want and so' :
row! No sympathy was inspired in the
heart of the rum seller.
AS time rolled on the inebtiate hus-
band went still downward in his course,
and had not only sold for rum everything
which he could exchange for the fiery
beverage, but had run up bill Of a few
dollars for the article at the store of this
merchant. For though neatly all the la.
Dor he performed was for this man. and
all for rum, he was SO far dest,oy in
his physical. as we'll as mental and moral
powers, as to be able TO work but little.
besides rendering his house place of
sorrow and want.
The afflicted wife struggled. as she was
able, to provide for her little children.
herself, and her ruined husband. A
small plat Of ground. which composed
The yard of their poor. rented cottage,
was put IN order b! the wife and her lit
tie boys. and sown with onions. These
were tended and weeded with much care
and gave early and unmistakable slgns
of Yielding a fine return. o. with wha.
delightful anticlpalions did the children
look upon The work Of tleir hands; up.
ON all which they could call their own
And as some dollars worth WAS likely to
be realized. tue mother told them at ma.
ny little comforts which nigh, be p,ocu.
red for the coming winter by the sale OF
their liul. harvest No wonder they
looked eagerly for the time OF gathering
their all--their only wealth
Al last the time arrived. and the little
hands which lea.ed, we've now busy III
securing the cultivated treasures. Blu,
little did they know the g.ief and disap.
poln,ment which awaited them! On the
very day which they hoped to gather
the harvest. they were To be robbed
tho fruit Of their toll. The rum. seller
had long had his eye upon thai only
fruitful spo. upon The desoIate premises
Of the victim Of his cupidity g; and rs
soon as the onions were out Ot the ground
The officer Of the law WAS there 10 seize
them ut the bidding OF the merchant, Oh
his demand against The roor husband and
father OF The producers! Slch an atHlc>
lion WAS us great and overwhelming TO
these poor ones AS would DO .he burning
oi the store Of y wealthy merchant. with
~ It's contents; or tile sinking OF the ship
| in which his all was ventu, ed !! n seas
their all! and. though that was little.
e was much 70 them! Despise no. the
trials which come upon the poor, nor the
| tears which they shed over their isttle
aaEAr losses The deed II the opprss
sor, was told in every part Of the Village,
aud IN an hour y h4ndred hearts beat
n,gh With Indignation! The injured and
| robbed ones shared ia the sympathy OF
Tie good people. aud this sympathy took
y On nnhmta ntiat forKna