Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-31

leaving behind you memory which future gen.
erations shall refer to as warning to others to
shun the course you have taken! If you desire
this for your eulogy, then quaf to its dregs the
cup OF intoxication This picture is not too
strongly drawn. You say, perhaps, just one
glass Do you not know that it is not in your
power, unaided by higher wisdom, to say when
the last one shall be- Beware, then, in time
and when the tempter besets you, remember
that you are in this life building for yourself
character which is not only yours for time, but
yours through the never-ending sgesof eternity.
One glass of wine may seal your doom. Then,
again | say to you, by all your hopes in
fhis In ar prespasts # that to come, shun thE
ways which lead down to drunkard's death.'
He ceased. Not a whisper was heard thro
that vast assemblage, and men left the lecture
room that night who had Tor years qaaffed So
eial glass, to forever Danish it from their
homes. All prejudice was swept away before
his resistless eloquence, and men wondered they
had not seen the subject In the same light be-
lore.
AS Thomas Grayson passed from the lecture
room he heard his name pronounced, and turn
ing, he bcheld his old friend, Judge Graham.
Judge Graham" he exclaimed, as he
grasped the others hand, /" l am glad 10 meet
you once more" T. ~
"Our pleasure is mutual, Mr.. Grayson 1t
is five years since we have met, think"
1T is. Your kind letters were the means o
placing me in the position now occupy. How
can l ever repay you, sir p"
II ain more than repaid-yes thrice repaid
for what little have contributed to your sue
cess. Your lecture tonight won high encomi
ums from all present, and was gratfed to Sc
the position you have nobly taken against tht
great evil of intemperance, You appeared t
throw your whole soul into the subject"
81 did, sir. trust may never be less earn
est than was tonight, should live to the ag
of three score years and ten
What were you thinking of when you be
gan speaking9 There must have been some
thing to have melted you to such earnestness. -
IL was thinking, sir, that long years since
promised one who was dearer to me than life il
SELF that my influence should be used aga ns
the spread of ntemperance' l.,
" And her name was Alice Graham"
"How did you learn this, sir " exclaimed
Grayson, starting.
81 will tell you. When knocked at tn
door of q cottage near my native city, five year
ago, TO give its inmates note you sent them,
beheld in the woman that opened the door on
II 1ong sitice mouiued 10 sS@d." 4
Your wife uttered Grayson
"Aye, and also found in Alice Graham
being who called me father
81 thought of this, sir, when l gave you tn
note, but did not mention to you my suspicious
as would not wish to excite delusive hop
in your mind"
"Ah, Grayson, it is who am deeply indeb
ed to you. But come to my hotel it is Ne
Years Eve, and have present for you =
Mrs. Graham and Alice will be here to- mo
row."
He took Graysons arm within his own, ar
they repaired to the hotel. They entered tt
drawing room, and as the door closed aft
them. Grayson started and turned pale. Befo
him stood his father
GOOD evening. sir" said he advancing, ar
extending his hand
"Tom, forgive me " was the exolamatiC
that tell from the aged mans lips as be bur
into tears.
"Most willingly, my father" replied Ora
son. Let the past be forgotten. y
II can never forget it, Tom, but | will t
and deserve your love once more and Il
stern old man grasped the hand of son he hi
years before driven from his home. His hea
melted at the joy he experienced in again ga
ing into his well-remembered features
Now for my present. y exclaimed the vol
OF Judge Graham. Here it is, and may
, be with you during long and happy life"
Alice was the only word he spoke, as
; saw the face by his side, which. for years, ha
day by day, been before him in imagination
' His whole being was filed with the most inter
. emotion as he felt that gentle hand within
: own
, Isn't tia present worth having - ask
!, Judge Graham.
;, I" What say you, Alice-do you consent
the gift" "
;. g If you think it worthy of the Hon. Tho
4 as Grayson," she replied smiling.
i Then let me say, Judge Graham, that
% count oil my political laurals as nothing co
- pared with the joy the possession of this tre'
h uro gives me-"
As the bells chimed a joyous welcome to
- coming of the New Year. Alice Graham utter
7 the VOWS which made her the companion
10 Thomas Grayson during their pilgrimage
st life.
q, 1t was years ago tlat these incidents tra
0. pred. Thomas Grayson has been in ma
b. places of public trust, and as he looks ba
to upon the past, q scene rises before him, and
ID discerns an Angel inthe Way,in the form of
to vito. to whom he looks as the one who sa'
>. him from the path OF ruin-who was the inst
no ment in the hands of Higher Being,n max
it him blessing to his fellow men.
~ 4-.------------------ -
III Judge Harrington, of Vermont, comm
~ sense but most unlearned Judge. is reported q
ct to have defined demsrer " A demnrre