Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-06-22

I cleaned across his hardened countonancc,
"wont it cut down the Good Tcmplcrs; lie
was one Of the officers. No I'm not sorry
after all, and he turned over and went to
sleep.
That night his guardian an angel (f he
had onc) voilcd her face and wcpt, and the
mocking fcud looked on and smiled and
watched the Rumscllors's slumbers.
Another twelve months has been added TO
| the past, ere VIC again look upon the Village
/ tavern. 10 is nearly sundown. the place
wears the same appearance as usual Jones
/ is leaning against the door conversing with a
gentleman who evidently belongs in the viii
/ age. just now the stage has stopped, and a
/ fine looking old gentleman alights, steps upon
the Piazza, declining the landlords polite in
yitation to enter, on the plea Of wishing only
/ Co rest moment preparatory TO visiting some
friends residing ncar-seats himself in the
willow chair, looks around upon the village
with an air of both interest and pleasure.
$50 Jonos the Temperance men have about
! gone up 3"
eyes, it looks, rather like it, too much i'm
/ iuonce against them, couldn't stand it, and
now I'll soon have my friends back and go
ON as usual
"All but one You won't be likely to get
William Murray again"
/ "Whv:"
"Why; You know as vol as do how
I he's been going down since Doe broke his
pledge, about a year ago. They've done all
they could TO reform him, but its no use try
/ ing-poor fellow, I'm sorry, so much talent,
only that tault-and now he has had The DELI
rum tremsas constantly for the last week.
"You don't say so Is it really so bad as
that; asked Jones, now for the first time
feeling slight touch of remorso as certain
rccolloctions came 10 his mind.
"Nes, ! saw him this morning, perfectly
raving. terrible fcver, and don't know
what all. The doctor was with him then,
and you ought to know how badly his wife
feels"
mercy | had no idea he was so bad as
that"
"Yos, be docs not know any one I could
not bear 90 look at him, to think Of his pros
poets all gone, but / must go home, for I
promised 20 sit mp with him tonight. Iou
remember how much be once thought Of me.
just then the Village bell tolled forth upon
the still evening air Tho Rumsollcr paused
both paused and anXiously listened, until
l the dread chronicle Of Fate's stern dCing-
had counted out the sum of twenty-soven
years, which were all that William Murray
I had know on GARTH then ceased its warming
voice.
Meanwhile there had been a trembling lis
tcner to the conversation--it was the old
gentleman, who was none other than the fond
father of our young friend, who had come to
spend few days with him in his own home.
to arrived in time to witness the terrible
/ grief of the young wife, and to see his only
and darling son laid in drunkard's hopeless
grave. But we will not speak Of his wild
grief. There are sorrows for which time
seem to own no healing balm.
Poor William Murray Could not words
of warning have been inscribed upon the
marble that watches his sleeping dust that
it might be read as voice from the grave, to
the thousands following in his footsteps.
And could he have spoken in his last hour,
we may believe it would have been words OF
warning, but no CLEAN of reason was there
/ granted him.-The rawlings of ioyerish insau-
/ ity were only stilcd by the cold hand Of the
"ioll destroyer, and sadder still. no earnest
petition 20 the God of Heaven no light from
the blessed promises of a Savior, and bet
ter life, lighted the gloom Of his departing
hours, and cheered the sad prospect beyond
The grave
Poor William Murray, sad as was thy fate.
wc have known even saddcr fatos than thine
And for these things, who is to blame Who
viii finally be held accountable Some may
answer "tho Rumscllcr' All, but there arc
thousands who never even sold or drank a
drop in their lives, who will be held far more
responsible than him. Influential men, who
might have done everything for the cause,
and did nothing. Christian ministers who