Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-26
A(tsGelloneolts.
T EVITI VIIO W y 5UH'
The Sherif's Vision.
From the N. Y. Sun.

Sheriff n was fine gentlemanly fellow, and
quite favorite with all frquenters of'the temple
of Justice in w. Sacred hall how do lis walls
rise before me, its floor well covered with tan
bark, its green-baise table, and its pulpit-desk
where Law was predominant six days and Cos
pei on the Seventh. The only trouble with
Sheriff N, was, that he was incapable Of cer-
tain monosyllable, yclept, No. He was too
clever, by half; and when invited by Judge B.,
or Lawyer G., or DR.. L., could not resist the en-
chanting bowl. He was tall, we'll made, and
had good humored face, and was ssaasiblo
man. Nevertheless he was getting boated, and
his nose was gemmed and jewelled with carOun-
cles and rubies. Unless oyster suppers and
card-parties, and treats, and groceries could be
eschewed, it was PLAIN that Sheriff N, was in a
fair way to delirium tremens. This was before
DR.. Lewis met his fate, as shown by us last
week.
Now Sheriff N. had pious wife, member of
the church, and very lovely woman. He had
charming daughter, too, of whom he was very
fond. He was not drunkard, yet, oh no-far
from it. His house was still respectable, and
his family could hold up their heads among
folks. But Mrs. Sheriff N. knew pretty well
how matters were going, and many bitter cry
ing spell she had when he knew nothing about
it. She was wise woman withal, she was uni
formIy sweet and gentle in her demeanor, ut
tered 10 reproaches, and never scolded nor
preached She never told anybody her sorrows
and her fears. She never relied on temperance
societies, for she knew that no power on earth
could separate him from that clique Of which
DR.. L. was the inspiring spirit.
Her only resource was prayer. And to that
she betook herself after fashion that few peo-
pie wot of. AS kind of ally, she taught her
daughter to pray and both mother and child
did ntercede for " dear father" with an intensity
that only despair could prompt. Often when
he was gone to some spree or wild revel, she
implored the Lord to hedge up his way, and tc
destroy his comfort land her prayers were heard
Conscience was not dead. And Sheriff N. has
often told me that he knew not why it was, but
for year or more before his conversion, he hoo
been made miserable by conscience. In the
midst of his revels strange voice would rise
within to upbraid him and to prophecy certain
destruction in the way he was going. Mrs. N
used to keep her bible and hymn-book where he
could see them. And he has told me that they
acted upon him like a strange tasman. He Ion
ged to open them. He would have given the
a world to touch them, but he could not. Offer
m he saw her go quietly to church with her daugh
ter and longed to accompany her; but sham,
y held him back, and he wandered away to hi
of haunts, miserable, guilty wretch.
Out Of this state he was suddenly snatched i,
ur the way shall briefly describe. One Saturda
evening he suddenly and unaccountably resov
at ed he would never drink brandy again Th
he next day he was sick. Sabbath evening came
Late in the evening he heard people talking i
lis the front yard and voice like DR.. Lewis mer
ed toned his name. His wife went to the windo
ed and looked, but there was no person near I'll
IS house. They were surprised, and soon aft,
- she retired and fell asleep He then heard
to voice at his window, addressing him to forsal
al his sins and follow Jesus. His wife was slee
Of ing and heard nothing. Suddenly she wi
awaked by an exclamation of delight from h
Pl- husband. He was claspng his hands aud ga
'ur ing with intense rapture on an object the mo
not dazzlingly beautiful he had ever imagined.
nd was the infant Jesus, standing before him, ju
ch, at The foot of the bed, naked, and smiling up
W. him. His figure seemed to be intensely lumi
ian Gus, glowing like incardescent metal as it pou
to from the furnace. His wife sprung up, thinki
him crazy; but he said 81 am not crazy.