Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-10-17
From the Railway Advocate and Register.
Buying n Convert.

TEMPERANCE STORY.
In one of the villages on the west side Of the
Hudson, lived, and. for ought ! know, lives
now, a parsonage famlliarly known to every
body in that vicinity by the name of Nose
indeed, may say it was not until had often
met with him in nv rambles, that seemed to
be aware that he had an additional cognomen.
Now, Nose was what some called a high
boy:" the auntys around there were unanlul-
Gus in the sentiment that he was ga queer
critter." 1t was very clear that he had no fixed
rules of living, and although he had little
family which he ought to have taken some IN
tercst in, he managed to have his time pretty
much at his own command. 4 glance at the
entire man was enough to show that he was no
smouch at the bottle In TRUTH he was fairly
entitled to honorary membership in the Tip
piers Society. He had evidently attained the
Scarlet degree in that ancient order, and wore
his blushing honors at ull times with becoming
dignity.
The first time ever saw this worthy was
while was s;roling with friend along sol
itary lane lust about night fall. lie was sit
ting comfortably elevated on rail fence. As
we came near he sung out or rather crolHed.
"Hulio there. you, what are you after down
this way-want to steal my chcrncS:' We
assured him we had no design upon ms ir"It,
and after few respectful WORDS on our part
he remarked with husky chuchIc. -" eli, go
ahead, boys, only let things alone
On enquiry we soon found that we mad en-
joyed the honor OF an interview with "oId
Nose" but remarked Aunt fiahnil, "the
crltter wont hurt nobody, only when lie crazy
drunk he's rather ugly to get along with, oih-
prwavS | wouldn't want Il Clevercr CrttCr -
we learned thlt Nose, u!""9h ii'arIaoE
" tight" would occa'ionaiIy 60 III Tor an extra
blow out, and at such tunes, helhg "a oFoad,
muscular man, would prove himself, wheh
intertcred with, somewhat troublesome Gus
toner.
At tins time there was very lIllIc heHrd ID
that section about temperance Alter the
days work. the tavern was a laVorltc louh9lHT
place, and this was so much matter OF course
that nobody seemed to care about II. 10 De
sure, when Instances OF The undue enforcement
OF family discipline occurred, there was d sur
amongst the folks, ana lhe squire "omid ue'-
pense TO Uncle Keuoen or Chcie ltler a
friendly word OF caution ana adVlcc' ana used
to wind up with the expression OF MS opinion
that they had better let IlckeF alone a'togeth-
er, II they DIDN'T Know now 10 use IT,
" N'''' ''''''7'
half dozen OF the leading men IN the place
the idea OF staItlh9 temperance
and accordingly invited some friends
of the cause to address the meetings. lheIr
labors were attended at hrS'' apparently "l'h
little or no good. At the very trst tap OF the
drum, our friend Nose was on his iect. lie
looked upon the proceeding as an unwarranta-
Dle INVASION OF the preScrlptVe prlVheBeS OF
the drinking community, and was determined
to resist it.
Accordingly, at the first gathering he was
on hand, and listened with exemplary attention.
The arguments adduced failed, however, to
carry convict ton to his mind, and at the close
OF the meeting he took the liberty to give his
own peculiar views upon the subject. lis re-
marks IN detail 1t Is not worth while to give
1t Is sufficient to say that they were, as may be
readily supposed, decldedly1n opposition to the
new movement; and he wound up by express
ing 1t as his opinion that them sanctliied look
ing black coats had better go home, il they
had any home, and mind their business, II they
had any business, and not come there neddIlng
with things that did not concern them
Nose was the lion among the brlsers that
night and consequently reeled homcwards most
gloriously tuddIed.
From what has been said, 1t may be thought
that Nose was an unmlugatcd, stupid sot-
Not so; with all his roughncsS he possessed "a
kind heart and 10 one was more ready to do
all he could for neghbor IN difficulty or dis
trcSs than himself.
lie was man that could think, too, altho'
his long and constant Indulgence IN the accurs-
ed poison had given hun an appearance OF stol-
Idly, and 1t was a common saying that amy one
that should take old Nose for a tool, would find
himself nightly deceived
1t so happened that the next afternoon, while