Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-21
A LITTLE UNSTEADY.


who know the true meaning. "A little unsteady
means-being interpreted-now and then ia
king wine and strong drink, to the point of be-
ing overcome, raving stupid, drunk.
What is the matter with Frank H.
The last time | heard of him he was doing well
in college his teachers spoke well of him.
Now he is at home again
ooh, he is a little unsteady. He began with
wine and suppers and then his jaded stomach
craved more stimulus. This appetite he has in
dulged, has grown worse and worse, broken
the hearts of his parents, and become-'a little
unsteady"
There is our friend James NJ. He
married with the brightest prospects. Why
does the wife of year look so pale and anx-
ious? Because he is "a little unsteady With
all his pleasant ties at home, he will seek pleas
ure abroad, because he can satisfy the craving
(allay | should have said, a depraved appetite.)
So he goes abroad for excitement, and his wife
grows pale at home and his friends mourn be-
cause he is "a little unsteady
Bridget is out of a place. She is only cook,
and you go by reference to inquire her charac-
ter. She is an excellent cook tidy, neat, relia-
Bile, but "a little unsteady 1t is only now and
then that she is overcome, but now and then
the charge is but too true. Exhausted and
wearied with her neyer-ending work, she tastes
Just drop. Perhaps the appetite was stimu-
lated by the odor of wine given her to use in
cooking, or by portions left in the bottle that
had been used up stairs Her master and mis-
tress seem to have an easy, happy time in life,
and yet they need the support of a social glass.
Why should she not have it in her tolls ?-on-
ly if she happens to be overcome, her work is
not done, her fault is discovered and she loses
her place because she drinks
Many woman, in high station, lies in bed
c.or al, 1oobo md m ~
the same to her, nor even to hint that she is "a
little unsteady 1t would not sound WE'LL
John is coachman an excellent man but he
has lost his place. What is the matter p
Nothing except that he is "a little unsteady
His master has command of the Injuries of life,
but works hard and when jaded with the bust
ness of the day, glass of wine revives him
or if friend dimes with him, they take social
glass-always in moderation, nothing moro
They have little temptation.
John knows this. BY the sparkling gas-light
he sees the shining table, the crystal, the silver,
the decanters. Poor fellow he has no silver,
no crystals, no decanters, not even a table to
which he can invite friend. But with the So
cial principle strong within him. he invites
James into the corner grocery, and they take a
social glass, just for good felowship--only one.
1t seems innocent, but the poisonous and fiery
liquor mounts to the brain and sets the blood
on fire, and they perhaps, call for another to
appease the burning thirst. Overcome by this
land the poison now in use makes tenfold hav-
oc with the nerves) he falls into the wide vortex
of drunkenness, neglects his work, drives into
another vehicle, and so his sin is discovered
He is dismissed because he has not self-control
poor man, and cannot resist temptation. His
wife is miserable, his children suffer, and all be-
cause he is "a little unsteady
Visit yonder abode of poverty and misery; a
worn and weary woman, hungry, pining chill
dren. My good woman, are you widow p
Have you nothing to depend on| ooh, no
I'm not widow, but he is "a little unsteady.
Sometimes he gets work, and there isn't kind
er or better man when he is sober, but drink
makes him Wild
You may look around Oh hopeless desolation,
and murmur, 80 this is the consequence of be-
ing "a little unsteady"
No one to blame. The engineer went with the
wreck of his train, and when you ventured tc
inquire carefully, you will hear that he was
servant of the company, but he was "a little un
steady
Another ship goes on the rocks just as sht
should have been entering the harbor; a new
fast vessel, that seemed almost proof agains
the clements. There she lies, broken wreck
and all because those who commanded her prov
ed "A little unsteady
So it is with merchant, apprentice, clerk
with workman, laborer, tradesman. Tempta
tons multiply; lures are held out at every cor
ner, displayed on every table: Come and learr
to be "a little unsteady" alas that the begin
ming should be made. Should there be tn,
least token of resistance, the surest of all weap.
on is ready to check it-a sneer.
1t is said that drink does more mischief thar
formerly; wines are adulterated, liquors arr
poisoned, and the fiery ingredients destroy the
brain and burn up the very powers of life
They propose inebriate asylums. 1t is well
but it is like building wall to protect fv,
feet square, when the fiery stream of lava il
spreading over acres. Is there any help wher
the only practical proposal is met with sneer
and when it is thing of course, that SOM
must be "a little unsteady n-Erenina Post