The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-11-24
THE DRUNKARD AND TTvs STONY

life:
a few Sabbaths since, at morning service
one of the most degrading specimens of hu
manitv that ever greeted INV vision, came
staggering into the chanel of the House of
Industry. His wild and fri2htful locks. rac
ced and dirty beyond description bis f.r,
bruised and swollen. rendered him an ohio.
OF disgust and terror. lie seemed to ,ooL ;,
the children with Wonderful interest occ,
s'on'y mntterins to himself, Beautiful
hea"ti'u: . that mine were here" II,
SAT an Four or two more. and then with ?
io!;g an.; earnest Took at the children. stac
gerrd out of the chapel, and went up to the
, dark valley of the sha low of death" Cow
Rav.
As the bell rang for service in the after.
noon. and while the children were clustering
together, the same wild looking man staocer-
ed in once more. lie surveyed the faces of the
children with the closest scrutiny. and at
length his ewes rested on two brcht.eveI lit
tie Sirls. who were singing one of their little
h"mS. He sat immovable az 4 statue durino
the whole service. gazing intently on the ia
ccs of these two children.
The services closed, the congregation dis
pcrscd, yet he fingered. and the tears came
rour>lng down his face thick and fast
Dr. S.--askcd him what was the mat
ter.
." am drunkari. \ wrctrh-an outcast.
homeless and without penny Once Ihad a
home and friends father. mother. wife. chill
dre''. aud hosts of friends. who loved and re-
srr'.ted mo. Time passed on, aud became
a drnnkard. One friend after another l,.t,
me: s'iI drank on. and down. down | fell.
Father and mother both went down 10 their
graves with broken hearts Ny poor wife
clnng 10 me when all others had deserted me
still drank on. pawnng one article after an
other TIL all was cone. and when NV wife
refused to give me her weddin. ring, which
she had clung to with trnaciiv of a death
grasp. | tc!lrd her to the earth. seized her
finger. tore of the ring and pawncd it for
rum. That tata! blow malicncd her, and in
despair she too drank, and together We wal
lowed INTO the gutter.
- Prnnllrss, We h"yyed our wav from Yer.
mont 70 this great city. Here we hired a
small cellar in dark ard dismal street. and
>'nt our children ont 70 hcg. Many weary
"av W" spent IN thai cellar, wh,e orr ,Li-
''rcn Were wandering in the streets. bccr,po
Tor their drunken parent. About forty ,,ays
since. INV it'll girls went on; 10 bec. and
from that hour to this have not seen Them
Without food or fire r|ung to INV dismal A.
h"d". MI hunger forced me out to search for
my children. NV degraded wife. has been
sent to Harkweir> Island AS vayran,. and
alone ] went to the Island. 10 the House ~,
Rrfnce. to the Tomh>. and in deSpair | wan
dcred 20 fhr Five Points. and for th,. las, few
days hav" lived in Cow B,v. among beo-
~ars and theiv"s. TODAY ! saw children.
who. if they had no, looked ~"r'c .n "''. sung
UewaIH 10 God 'irsv" 'i,s"T were ;r'is' '''" NINE
q" Tell mo the name" said DR.. s.
Sc and viii see" In few moments two in.
trrr>'rg little children were led toward him
At the SIGHT Of this fearful lookinc man thew
>arunk back. The poor man srranr ~ his
feet. cX"lalmlnG they are mine, mine,
Come to me-. my children. Father loves vou."
[le reached ont his arms: the !irtlr ones We're
lm'd at first. hnt they soon climbed up their
fathers knee. while the tears were STREAMING
lown his face
" Mss Your poor drunken father, NV chill :
Iron" Eut The tarr of the man was .,jl,
and filthy. nor a place ccu!d h. found S,on
hey tor-o' the dirty face and r...,..,,,ur.J
"",r poor lr"~adcd arhcr and each on.
'wlnInr their iftlc arms around his neck. and
f"nilv kissing him, The elder one said. with
I voice that tonhed every heart, "Fatbrr
We are so happy here that we want TO stav
Won't Won come and live here. too. r,ras
What makes Won drink so: Dear rara. do
son III" plrdc" and not drink anv more. Mr.
lrasr found MS in the street h,.uciuo and
now We are happy. Do papa. come and live
here and be AS good to rs AS Won u~ed n hr "
n" 1hherS heart was overwhelmed he /
S"hE''i and "roanr': aloud For more than
m hour they sat together. tiIi at last the old
man arose. still rIn"inc 10 his children. and
exclaimed =" The pledge, the pledge. I
never will drink again | ravc him tbp
Piled ." and from that hour he has faithfully
kept it. Tie is now a nan again. engaged in
business earning ten dollars per week. and
none could recognize IN the we'll dressed man
who still boards in the louse-tbc dcor,J.
Pd original who's" portrait can still be seen
at the House of Industry. dacucrrcotvped IN
its strkin. dcformi'y, and squaor.
"A IorGH WITNESS. - Proscrn.;nr
Attorncy-"Mr. Parks. state, if YOU pIcase. /
You have ever known the defendant
to follow any profession" "IIc's been pro-
fcssor ever since I've known him" PRO. 1
frs>or OF what :" "Of rclioion" .You
don't understand me, Mr.. Parks. What does
he do!" Generally what he pIcases.
=" Tell the Jury, Mr.. Parks, what the defend.
ant follows. 'Gent!cmen of the iury. the
defendant follows the crowd when they On in
to drink MIR. Parks. this kind of preva-
ricatIon will not do here. Now state how
TINS defendant supports himself" IL saw
him last night support himself against lamp
post. May it please your Honor. this wit
ness has shown disposition to trifle with the !
Court. Judge" Mr.. Parks, state, if Won
know anything about IT. wha: the defendants
occupation is "OccupatiOn. did Won sav 2"
Counsel-'' Yes. what is bis occupation p
y Ii amt mistaken. he o,rupies a carret
in town." That's all. Mr. Parks"
Cross-examined-" Mr.. Parks. | understood
v0u to say that the defendant was professor
'f religion. Does his practice correspond
with his profession ?" II never heard of |
my correspondence or letters passing he-
ween them" You said something about
lis propensity for drinking Does he drink
lard ?" No; :hink he drinks about as
aSv as any man I ever say" "One more
question. Mr.. Parks. You have krnwn the
defendant long time what are his habits !.
pose or otherwise 2" THE one he has on
ow, think, is father tight under the arms.
nd too long wai>ted for the fashion," "You
an take your seat, Mr.. Parks"