Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-11-18
VI | s { E l. l. 4 Y ! .
ADRUNkEN MANS ARGUMENTS.

DRCNkEN MANS ARGUMENTS.
Don I vou believe in the doctrine of pre-
destination
Yes, | believe it ~ the Apostle Pau
states it
d" Well, then, you can 20 thus far yo
admit that God knows just what will happen
and that therefore there is no uncertaint,
about it?''
A" Yes. can 90 that far
Then what is the use Of your talking L
me about drinG King rum? ? since it is certain
that shall drink every dram that God know
will drink -
The speaker was a well-f0rmed and fine.
looking man. who had on the clothes of a
mechanic. The above specimen of his meta
rhysics must suffice lie was one # the best
mechanics in our county. and whilst sober
had laid up property. In an evil hour he
Welded 10 the temptations of an old ha ii OF
drinking rum. lie descended from one stage
Of degrdlt n to another with great rapidty,
and his best friends despaired of his IelUrma-
ton.
One day mct him in the office of a LAWYER
Although in the forenoon, he was quite tiIsy.
IL was such bright man. 50 superi in ma
nv respects, that l was pained to see him GO
ing to ruin. My feelings were indicated IN
my cauntenance; and. perhaps. anticipating
an admunti,n, he said - see you want 10
talk % me ahnut my habits"
admitted II.
al thought So" said he, - and now as
want You u conhne yourself to things nep.
let me tell you some things which you are
disposed {, sly hut which YOU need not say.
for know them alreply great deal better
than y1u can tell me -
You were Just thinking what n bloody
shame 1t is, that man whore mechanical
salii is sought after at high prizes, and who
could M Ike hims ,f Independent in IL short
tim. should sacrifice all this to his drunk,
amp tite, and reduce himself % pauperism.
3 candid Was yuu not thinking s -
/ said he had hit the nail on the head.
thought 81, - sail he " now you need
not say any ting on this point, for | ain al
ready Convinced; | know what fool | am
in this respect.
" Then YOU were thinking Of my trembling
nerves." he continued. =. and were amazed
that dare pour this distilled damn tion
down into my stomach, when | am on he
verge OF delirium tremens all the time. Con-
iess ow, il you were not thinking OF this2'
was not disp pSed t. deny 1t.
" JUS So, - he said. - Now, sir, / know
about this matter better than ylu do. have
te,- all that Cough OF DR.. Jewett has de-
scribej. | have seen the devils which haunt
the victim, and know that he who has this
disease, for the time Is in perdtion. You
can t tell me anything on that point, 50 when
y1u speak, pl ase omit this -
could not suppress a smile at the mans
ingenuity and frankness.
" But" said he. g" there is another view of
ny case which you are disposed TO urge You
want to remin. me how ten years ago | court
e1 my wife, (and no man has better wife
than mine), and bow she refused to marry
ne IN il she was assured that had left off
drinking. | loved her en- and love her
now. | promised to treat her as man
thould treat his wife. You want to remind
NE that have by my drunkenness converted
ny home into place of torment, and that
have actually laid violent hands Oh my wife,
HIS voice trembled and his eye noistened
as he alluded to his WIFE
And here are my children. You want
TO remind me Of the dangers and SORROWS ]
en- exposing them TO but you, sir, cannot
iell me anything pertaining to my family.
know all about it. | curse myself as a
wretch and tool. have no mercy in my
slI-condemnlngs. Yes, sir, | know all
about this by an experience which may the
Lrd deliver you from So you need say
nothing to me on fhls point"
could not but admit that he had drawn
the case with bolder hand than | would
nave dared to attempt.
Bat there is one chief argument which
you meant to try on me. You wanted to
draw motive for refIrm ltiha from the fu-
ture retribution which God will visit on the
orunkard. 1t is terrible motive, and be-
lieve II to be a true one. believe there is
he'll, nay, | know there is, for have ime-
times felt its fire., and have seen it's torment
ors. / sometimes am overwhelmed with ag-
ony at the bare anticipation of meeting God
in Judgment I admit that | am hurrying
very fast in that direction. and present ap-
pearInces indicate that l shall be turned into
hell as drunkard.' -
This was not said defantly or jestingly,
bat with gravity and feeling.
" And 50 you need say nothing to me
about nis point. ! know it already, but if
yol ave anything new to urge, l shall be
glad ID hear it -
And thus he anticipated, and most forcihly
sat'd some of the general arguments which
person would be likely to use in endeavor-
ing TO call him to lite OF temperance.
could nbtrtfrain from laughing to see hoS he
nae taken the wind out of my sails.
But thoroughly warmed with his subject
NY ne ghSOr stated his case sill further,
Sr, You know nothing about the appetite
4 i9f rum. Ny father taught me to drink it
foa my childhood. inherited drunkenness
A % him, and was drunkard before |
1 vas OF age. For the love of my wife / made
.lsnty effort to conquer my appetite, and
H |ought had succeeded. Time and tempta-
n N'n shove me my mistake The appetite
n was not removed. In due time it woke like
r4Ilnf demon. and filled me with unuttera-
os mrments. would think of my proper
ana my reputation then of my health
aua The horrors of delirium tremens then Of
I!, wife, and children. and home;
aug then of the hell into which the
Iundald will be cast. ] would rush into
~ business with furious energy. and thus
" overcome the appetite. and yet in the
.a0e OF all those motives, would 20 straight
- 'le tavern and drink myself drunk. My
s-uorS and shame were added to other mo-
Nh 70 Keep me from repeating the deed. but
~. nese seemed like the ropes and withes on
nhoe of Samson. This. sir, is my case
r -o, you ANYTHING nelo 10 add which I am al
Tay Ostter acquainted i0ifh fhan you can be p
was the mostimpressive temperance dis
~. .tse l had ever heard, because pronounced
H. 1hat unction whi;h came from a terri
perlence Of the evil which held him
Win ITS death grin.
ou' there is bright side to the picture.