Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-09-01

moment ne seemed lost in thought and theT
in low and tremulous voice commenced. There
was depth in that voice. thrilling pathos and
sweetness which riveted every heart in the house
before the first period had been rounded NV
fathers attention had become fixed op the eve
Of The speaker with an interest which | had new.
er before seen him exhibit. can but briefly
remember the substance of what the old man
said, though the scene is as vivid before me as
any ever witnessed. . ~
my friends! | am stranger in your village
and trust may call you friends. A new star
has arisen and there is hope in the dark night
which hangs like pail of gloom over our coun-
try With thrilling depth Of voice, the spea-
ker locked his honds together and continued :
Oh God, thou who lookest with compassion
upon the most erring ofear,h's chlldren, i thank
thee that q brazen serpent has been lifted, upon
which the drunkard can look and be healed ;tknt
beacon has burst out upon the darkness that
surrounds him, which shall guide bnck to honor
and heaven, the bruised and weary wanderer'
1t is strange what power there is in some vol
ces. The speakers voice was low and lneasur
ed, but tear trembled in every tone, and before
! knew why, tear dropped upon my haad, fol-
lowed by others like rain-drops. 1Phe old man
brushed one frop his own eyes, aud continued ::
Men and Christians you have just heard that
| am vagrant and fanatic. | am not. Az
God knows my own sad heart, | came here to do
good. Hear me and be Just. =.
Il am an old man, standing alone at the end of
life's journey. There il a deep sorrow in my
heart and tears in my eyes. have journeyed
over dark aud beaconless ocean. and all ife's
hopes have been wrecked. am without friends,
home or kindred on earth, and look with longing
to the rest of the night of death. Without
friends, kindred. home Il was not so once =
No one could Withstand the touching pa,hos
OF the old man. ! noticed tear trembling on
the lid of my fathers eye. and no more felt
ashamed of my own.
mo, my friends, it was not 60 once Away
over the dark waves which have wrecked NV
hopes, there is the blessed llgh, of happm'ss and
home. reach convuisvrIv tor the sbrinps Of
the honsehod idols that once were mlne now
no more =
The old man seemed looking away through
fancy upon some brl hit visions, his lips apart
and his f ger extended. lnvolun,arlly turned
in the direction where it was pointed, dreadng
tosee some shadow invoked by lis magic move
inenis.
Il once had mother. With her old hear,
crushed with sorrows. she went down to her
grave. once had wife, a fair, angel hearted
creature as ever smiled in an earthly home. Her
eye was mild as a summer sky, and her heart as
faithful and true as ever guarded and cherished
husbands love. Her blue eyes grew dim as
floods of sorrow washed away their brightness
and the living heart wrung until every fibre
was broken once had noble, brave and
beautiful boy, but he was driven out from the
ruins Of bis home, and my old heart yearns to
know if he yet lives. once had babe, Q
sweet, tender blossom, but these hands destroy.
ed it, and it nov liveth with one who lovett
children.
do not be startled, friends am not nlur
dercr, in the common acceptation Of the term
Yet there is light in my evening sky. spiri
mother rejoiccs over the return Of her prodiga
son. The wife smiles upon him who again turn,
hal ob;lJ
visits me at nighfall, and | feel the hallowine
touch Of tiny palm upon my feverish cheek
My brave boy, if he yet lives, would forgive The
sonowng old man forthe treatment which drove
him into the world, and mamed him for life
God forgive me for the ruin have brought uroI
me and mine =
lie again wiped tear from his eye. Ny ia
ther watched him ~ilh strange intensity, ant
a counlenanee unusually pale, and excited By
some strong emotion.
Il was once fanatic, and madly followed th'
malign light which led me to ruin was ia
natlc when gave my wife. children, happiness
and home, to The uccursed demon of the bowl.
once adored the gentle being whom injured s,
deeply.
Il was drunkard. From responsibility an,
afiluence, dragged my family down with me
For years saw her cheek pale. and her sie
grow weary. lift her alone amid the wreck O
her home idols, and rioted ct the tavern. Sh
never complained, yet she and the children wen
hungry for bread
One New Years night, returned late to tn
hut where charity had gwen us roof Sh
was yet up, and shIvcring over the Goals. de
mahdcd food, but she burst into tears and to
me there was none. fercely ordered her +
get some. Shr turned her eyes sadly upon me
the tears falling iasl over her pale cheeks A
this moment. the child in the cradle awoke an
sent up famshed vail starting he despairin.
mother like serpent sting:
We have no food James ave had none 70
several days. | have nothing Tor the babe. NJ
once kind husband, must we siarve?'
That sad, pleading lace. ard those streamin
eyes, and the feeble wall OF the child maddeue
me, and Yes. struck her u fierce blow IN n,
iace, and she fell forward upon the hearth. Tn
fures OF hell boiled IN my bosom. and with dee
per intensity as tell that had committed
wrong. had never struck Mary before, b,I
now some terrible Impulse bnre me on, and
stopped down as well as could in my drunke
state and clenched both hands in her hoir.
God Of mercy James = exclaimed NV wit,
as she looked up in my fendlsh counenancs
you will moi kill us, you will not harm Willie
and she sprung TO the cradle and grasped him i
her embrace. caught her aga.n by the hai
and dragged her to the door, and lifted III
latch, the wind burst in with cloud of snow
With the yell Of fend, still dragged her OF