Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-27

hope, while abstOining from alchol as bever-
age; of his sad, dreadful fall by breaking the
pledge, his son quickly following the bad exam
pie. He thought of the tears and persuasions
of his fOvorite daughter Jane, the pet of the
family and ghborhood, how hard it was to
resist her appeals, and how often she urged him
to sign the pledge again. Especially did he re-
member the last time,-when that popular tenn
perance lecturer showed him plainly his course,
danger and only remedy, and how Jane second
ed his efforts by bringing him the pledge with an
earnestness that would reach him if anything
could; saying,-"Do father, do sign this time;
sign with me,"-but he would not do it. How
somowful this child afterwards looked upon him,
and when he last left her and home, to 60 for a
barrel o whiskey,while his family hoped he had
Ter; the silent tear Jane wiped away was now
like dagger to his heart. He thought Of his
influence over William, who always copied his
example, whether good or bad. And lastly, his
bringing into danger irretrevable, the son and
hope of his former neighbor, and once his sister
in the church of Christ No wonder that he
sighed, 30, that l had kept the temperance
pledge"
These reflections brought that miserable man
and his company within short distance of the
greatest fall of water in the world: where the
drain of those vast inland lakes of North Amer
lea pours over seven hundred thousand tons in
each minute. All the ships and navies in the
Universe could not now save them,--the whole
race of mankind could not extricate them. The
strongest winged bird would be unable to rise
from those swift waters. Hope, which comes
to all, had left them forever But the young
man Joseph looked as though lie had better
hope,-that of reaching heavenly country,
where no river fowss except the "River of the
water of Life"
This wretched father now turned his eyes to-
wards home for the last time. What did he
see I? his neighbors, family, and even Jane, were
Witnessing his dreadful end. The moment he
saw Jane, she raised her hand and shrieked
Father, if you know me, hold up your hand. -
Seeing her signal, he also raised his hand, cry
ing out, in agony, -,WouId to God had signed
the pledge again had signed the pledge ,0ith yOu
Jane.-That moment he and his boat, barrel
of whlskey, son and hired man-went overland
down, into the boiling, foaming, roaring abyss
deeper perhaps, than did the dlsobedient prophet
in his perlous three-days cruise, in water
proof vessel, never made by human hands.
And are there any in these states, who have
broken the same pledge yes verify like Egypt'a
frogs, they are in every place. Be admonished,
friend 1t may be, worse precipice than Nj
agara, awaits you. Now you can avoid the
regret OF that indescrbably miserable man-by
doing what he wished he had done-Signed the
pledge again.
The Niagara will still roll on, bearing safely
on It's bosom, thousands of f4gitiOeS, from Ma
ton of law.constituted slave catchers. But let
no inebriate attempt its dangerous passage, with
out first signing and keeping the temperance
pledge. While time endures, let this world-re-
nowned River, be consecrated to Liberty and
Temperance.
East Montpelier, Feb. 1851. C.G.K,