The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-27

, long lime mlsseu rom tne stteets VI
poor and wre,ched inebTia,e, but was ,ol
, iha, he was a, work steadily, and RENAME
faithful to his promises.
One Sabbath, noticed among my COR
gregaiion tall, well dressed siranger,a gen
ileman in appearance, and a serious and al
ten,ive listener 10 the services Of the hour
At the close Of worship inquired who h
was, and wasasked in reply, Why, dom
you know IL ] could scarcely below
my eyes, the Transformation was so com
ple,e. The pledge had worked wonders
though i,needed something more to perfec
the work, by a renewal Of the heart. Or
inquiry, ! leaned ,ha, he had wholly desert
ed the tavern, and avoided passing il. ifpos
sible, for fear OF rclapsiug into his old habits
1t is needless 10 say how this change was
felt in his family, to which he had been The
source only Of sorrow and shame. Severa
months ailer, was called upon by former
companion Of this man, himself also re-
formed drunkard, and asked 10 go and visi
l., who was sick and probably dying
| was shocked 10 hear Of his illness, ant
more so when | learned its cause. Fo
nearly year and half he had been free
from his old habits, and firmly resisted al
attempts to draw him back into his former
associations.
The keeper Of the tavern at whose bar he
had for years fed his appetite, and squan
deTed the means which Ough, TO have been
given to his family, boasted publicly thai
he would make him break his pledge; and
had often tried withou, success 10 accomplish
his fendish purposes. One fatal day, a:
he was passing his old haun,s, he was told
iha, person wished 10 see him within, on
special business. He entered the bar-room,
unsuspeciing any mischief. AS he looked
around him, he saw many Of his former as.
sociates, still pursuing their career Of vice
and shame, while at the bar stood the man
who had long supplied him with the draugh,
Of death, and who now approached him with
a glass Of brandy, which he asked him to
drink. The unhappy man firmly and nobly
replied, al have been free from this habit
for more than year. have seen my fam
lily restored 10 happiness. Lam once more
respected. A single drop would bring on
my old appetite ard ruin me-" With an
oath, the tavern-keeper replied, "yOu shall
drink it," and pouring out some in his hand
forced it against his lips. The poison was
thus tasted, and the work was done. The
slumbering appetite awOke again, and re-
viyed with teniold intensity. In less than
three months he was pros,ra,ed with delir.
ium lremens, and was called to see him
dying.
Following his friend, passed on TO a
poor and dilapidated house, and ascending o
pair Of stairs that cracked and ,rembled nj
every iootsicP, entered the home Of the
drunkard. Everything showed that the
work Of ruin was complete. The evil spirit
for time banished from his bosom, had
returned with seven others, worse than
the first" In three months all his earnings
had gene 10 fa,ten men whom the law had
licensed for the public good 10 ruin the
peace aud happiness Of society. On a mis-.
erable bed lay the victim Of traffic that is
evil and only evil his eyes starting from
their sockets his limbs trembling with an
uncontrolled agony; his breath short and
convusive; his cOunienance denoting an
unearIhly horror; and his groans seeming
like the prelude 10 the SORROWS Of hell. BY
his side stood his broken. hearted wife, with
her children pale and wan and over a few
brands tha, smOuldered upon the hearth, q
halfdTunken associate wrs trying 10 warm
some Cruel for his food. l, was scene
for al artists pencil, that desolaic room
agains, whose broken and patched window;
howled the winters wind, and where death
was doing its fearful work.
could do no,hisg for the unhappy man
His mind was already shattered and gone
and his liiew fast ebbing away. He evi
denily was already unconscious Of all tha
was going on around him, and the solemn
and awful shadows Of eternity were rapidly
gathering around the dying man. To con
verse with him was useless; he heard mt
not. could only kneel and commend hi,
afflicted family TO God. Two days ailer,
was called 10 oiticiate at his funeral. Hi
pall-bcarers were twelve Of his old associates
| Tel, that OH such an occasion my duty was
to the living and no, the dead and so Sc
lec,ing for my text, the warning OF the wise
man, "And thou mourn at the last, wher
thy flesh aud thy body are consumed, ant
say how have hated instruction and de
spised reproof,' | sough, 10 set before hi:
companions the bitter elements Of sorrow
they were preparing for themselves in dealt
and in eternity. have often though, o
that scene. Wha, was the nc, bu, mur der
,ha, sent iha, man 10 drunkard's grave
And yet around him at whose bar his appe
,iie was fed, aud by whose houid act he wa
drawn away from the paths Of virtue, tn
law threw It's protection, and sanctioned hi
unhOly traffic. o could !, have no pity an,
care for the helpless family Of his victim
Mus, Liberty and the Constitution be for
ever pressed into the service Of men who's
only work is ruin anu death. Blessed b
God for the dawn Off brighter day, whicI
shall bring some measure Of security {,
men who earnestly desire 10 break fiou
the spell Of,hc enchanled cup, aud 10 wive
and children who have too long suiFere,