The literary echo. (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1851, 1851-06-05

ne turned away, leaving the young temp
rance reformcr with his enthusiasm in Il
cause down to zero. While this state {
mind was predominant, the balance of I'll
tracts were thrown over the fence, an
meeting gust of wind, were scattere
apart, and driven in various directions. -
: The distributor returned home, mortife
and discouraged. On reflection, however
he was vexed at himself, both for tn
bunglng manner in which he had proceed
ed, and for his having been so easi.
thrown off by rebuff.
" The tracts needn't have been wasted,
said he, "that was a folly of which ough
70 be heartily ashamed"
About an hour after this occurrence, {
man came walking along the road, nca,
where this little adventure took place. A
piece of paper caught his eye, and STOPPING
he picked it up. Moving on, as he opened
it, he commenced reading, and was soon
deeply interested, for he walked slower
and slower, and sometimes stopped alto
gether. This man was also tavern keep
er. After reading the tract through, he
placed it in his pocket and continued on
his way.
Stop and think" said a wife in an ap-
pealing voice to her husband, as the latter
was about leaving the house.
"Don't talk to me in that way" replied
the husband impaticntly "You couldn't
act worse if l were a common drunkard. ,;
" But the danger, John. Stop and
think of that There is a lion in the way"
{" am out of all patience with you,
Alice" said the man. GA high respect
you have for your husbands good sense
and good principles AS if [ couldn't
enjoy glass now and then, without being
N danger Of becoming miserable sot."
With this, the man turned off, and took
his way to the tavern, while his wife went
weeping into the house As he walked
along, the words she had uttcred-"StopI
and think, ,'-rung in his ears, and he tried
to push them from his thoughts, in order
that he might not think. All at once
fresh blast Of wind blew from field that
ldjoined the road, piece of paper, and as
t fell at his feet, his eye caught the
words
'SToP AND THINK"
The coincidence of language startled
lin for moment. He took this piece Of
'aper and commenced reading; and as he
cad, he walked slower and slower. One
# Wllton's temperance tracts had fallen
nto his hands. 1t was a close appeal to
he moderate drinker, and set forth his
anger in the fullest manner. At last the
IAN stood still. Then he sat down by the
Dad side, still reading on.
There is danger" he at length mur-
lnred, folding up the tract as he spoke.
Using, he stood irroso!ute as to whether
should return home, or keep on his
ny to The tavern. Had any one thrust
ID tract into his hand, h. would have re.
cted 1t; but coming to him rs it d!l. /. !
und MS mind prepared to hoa,kcn to If, :
'peals. But the love of drink had been /
rmed, and at the prospect of havnc its t
'customcd qualification cut off, began to y
y ont for indulgence. A combat in the ?
md OF the man was the result; and thi.
'ntlnued until appetite gained the veto. 4
so far that he concluded for this time il
least, to 60 to the tavern, but to give up o
C habit thereafter. i
" | hate to turn back after I once star I
do thing" said he as he moved on to g
lrds the tavern, OTIS bad luck.o
Still the argument for and against any