Litchfield enquirer., 1859-04-14
HOW HE WAS CURED.

member the blacksmith shop on the corner of Maln and Chippewa streets? And who is there who cannot remember the worthy son of Vulcan who, for number of years there dis played his genius, but who, alas is now no more?
 l am not going to recount his drinking hab- its will not now tell of the dangers to which he has been exposed, or of the narrow escapes which he has experienced but I will tell how he once cured a drunken man of his intemperance by method, too cruel to be called joke, and yet so effectual as to prove an actual blessing A little back from the public thoroughfare, was place of resort where number of them Were in the habit of spending their evenings and their money in smoking and drinking, and indulging in rude jokes and sometimes scuf- fe or fight.
 As often happens at such resorts, they would not go home till morning." It was not un- common for some to continue Saturday night into Wednesday morning. Occasionally it took very dry individual, two weeks steady drinking to quench his thirst and some would continue their revels until they showed unms- 1 takable signs of delirium tremens. John, said a contractor to his teamster, you have got spark in your throat" "I have" he replied, "and I have been trying this last six months to quench it." Among the frequenters of this place was a farmer who lived few miles out and such was the infatuation with which he followed his indulgences that it led to almost total neglect of his home and the business of the farm. His mad career was, however, brought to @ sudden termination. He had been drinking for two or three weeks steady, until he was nearly crazy and in fit of delirium trenens he resolved to put an end to his life He became dejected and miserable, and his face was the picture of de- spair. It was Saturday evening, and more than the usual number had come together, when just in the midst of their enjoyment this unhappy mortal opened the door and en- tered their midst What is the matter ?n exclaimed half dozen voices at once.
 |" am tired of my life" he exclaimed, "and this night must die. Give me razor and let me die, for cannot live any longer."
 "Oh, you fool, said the blacksmith, who was in the company, i've will cut your throat Flor you for a quart of beern
 "A bargain" replied the insane man. "One quart is not enough to. go round" said Vulcan. II cannot do it for less than two quarts"
 '' l will give two quarts" said the farmer, for cannot live any longer, l must die."
 We must have the beer in advance.n said the smith, at the same time feeling of the edge of a razor, he had just obtained of the landlord.
 "I cannot pay in advance, I will order it of the landlord, aud you shall have it when the deed is done," replied the poor inebriate, who yet retained a spark of his native shrewd- ness.
 '.Then it cannot be done," said our hero. we shall not feel like drinking beer after seeing such sight,"
 70, it must be done, it must he done, I must die am tired of my life you shall have the beer" replied the poor fellow, with ! crazy look in his eye. The beer was ordered and passed around, and then the unhappy man shook hands with each person in the room, bidding them good bye, and saying that he must die, for he was tired of life. He then took his seat in a chair, and taking of his neck-handkerchief, and making bare his throat, he leaned his head back and said he was ready to die.
 You must say your prayers before you die," said the blacksmith
 "No," said the crazy man, "I am ready to die."
 "But." said the blacksmith, cit is shock ing thing for man to go out of the world without saying his prayers"
 Upon this he kneeled down and muttered a few words, and rose and said, All is ready.n
 The blacksmith took the razor and drew it backwards and forwards on the strop until it had an edge that would split hair, and then stepped forward to the unfortunate man. He was ready to draw the fatal stroke, when the crazy man looked so unearthly that the black smith stepped back and laid the razor on the table, and said he could not do the deed with the man staring him full in the face the man must be blindfolded, as the sight of his eyes made him SO nervous that he could not hold the razor steady
 To this the unhappy man would not con- sent he said he was prepared and was not afraid to die besides he had paid for the beer, and they had drank it down, and now they were not going to back out of the bar gain.
 All in the room united in assuring him no man could do such deed with him looking him straight in the face, and that it was in- deed necessary that he should be blndfolded, that 1t might be done better and without hes itation.
 {" Well, said the crazy man, " must die, l cannot live any longer, I am tired of my life and he consented to be blindfolded. s1
 The blacksmith took his neck handkerchief and bound it before his eyes, and immediately, without noise, took long tobacco pipe he had been smoking, and pushed it into the fire nearly up to the head He then occupied himself with stropping the razor until the pipe stem was red hot. :" Now" he said to the crazy man, the razor is sharp enough; are you ready ?"
 1 am ready" he replied.
 Then good by" said the blacksmith, giv- ing him his hand for the last time.