Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-18

startling nature to admit of this. Moreover;
ITS singular connection with the neehbory con
VITALITY of the previous evening, when she was
forced 10 observe the unusual eation of hei hus-
hands mind gave food far quesiioninrs and
thoughts, which in no way served to obliterate
the dream, or to tranquIize her feelings. When
her husband returned home at the clnse of day
he saw; in her countenance, for the first time,
something that annoyed and repeled him Why
Was this? What was the meaning of the ex.
preston? Did she doubt him in anything All |!
How con'd she forget her dream that malg
nant face and Shiny serpent2 The fatal cup
and the death hidden in its fascinating contents !?
It was later. in the evening. The fitting
shadows had been chased away by the sunny
faces that gathered around the tea-tabIe. Amid
their children oil sense of oppression, If doubt,
had vanished. The kneeling little ones had said
in low, rcverent tones, Our Father" and were
sl' eping in sweet uncorsciousness. The eve-
ming bad waned, and now, in accordance with
habit, Mr. Erskine brought forth decanter, and
was about filling glass therefrom, when his
wife, laying her hand on his arm, said with a
sad earnestness of manner, which she strove to
conceal with smile
"Henry, dear, forgive me for saying so, but
the sight Of tha! drcanter makes me shudder |
have thought all day about my dream. The
serpent in the glass;"
" Bearing your husbands face" said Erskinc,
quickly. and with rather more of feeling than he
meant to express, land you fear that he will
prove the serpent in the end to suffocate you in
his horrible folds"
Henry Ersklne what could have tempted yon
to this utterance All the truth must be told.
IL loas The serpent IN the glass! False friends, as
he came homeward that evening, had drawn HIM
lde to drink with them Alas a malignant
demon was in the cup and its poison entered
his bosom. He did not drink even to partial
physical iu,oxlcation but far enough TO disturb
the calm, rational balance OF his mind, and thus
to change the order of mental influx. He was
no longer the equipoised man. and, therefore, nc
longer in orderly association with pure angelic
spirits. Just in the degree that he was separa
ted from these, came he into association witt
spirits OF an opposite character demons in the
eager desire to extingush all that is pure ant
good IN human nature. And thus it ever is, il
| lnco u,tth oil Mhn tfSttr
the rational balance of their minds, either par
italy or permanently, by the use of what intoxi
Gates. This Is The reason why the way of 'h
inebriate. even from the beginning,is marked b.
such strange inta,un,in". He seems to be in tn
power of evil spirits who govern him at will ant
he is, in reality, thus in their power,
An instant paIlor overspread the face OF Mrs
Erskine, at her husbands cruel retort. What al
age of wretchedness was comprised in single
moment of time! Erskine saw the effect of biz
words, and iepented their utterance. He, ev' n
for moment, partially yielded to an impulse tt
put up the liqnor untasted ;but the demon temp
ter was too close TO his side and TOO prompt tt
Whisper ihat Slcn an act W0ul1 ne an uh'liaDly\
concession to his wifc's foolish wickedness. And
SO, his mind already partially unbalanced, as has
been seen, he completed the dethronement o
manly reason by pouring out and drinking lar
ger draught Of spirits than he was accustomed tr
take.
Alas how quickly has the man become eclips
ed-partialy, and to shne forth again in the un-
clouded heavers. Yet, to be ecllpsed again
and again, until final darkness covers all.
Reader. we have shown you the man. When
yonr eyes frat rested upon him, at single POM
of the orbi; in which he moved, was not the form
beautiful to look upon, and the ministry of his
affections foil of good to Others? We have an
Other picture. Not thar ot a man but OF de-
mon. Will you look upon it: An! ify"u turn
your eyes away. We will not question the net. Il
is a picture upon which some need to look, and
therefore, it is sketched, though with hurried
and reluctant hand. Here it is.