Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-23
A HALF HOUR IN A BAD PLACE.


The stage would not start for half-an-hour.
1t was stormy and cold. | could not safely
stay out Of doors. aud the only place where l
could sit was bar-room where four or five
men we're sitting about the fire. took
vacant scat aud listened to their conversa-
tion.
Next me sat bloated, imbecile old man,
who seldom spoke, but when he did, it was
plain that his mind was nearly gone. l learn
ed before left that he had been a noted poll
tician in this city. now a worn-out. hard
drinkor, gradually sinking victim to intcm-
perance. Near him was a total drunkard-
his face famed red-his nose in blossom--his
skin ready to burst, so full Of rum it looked.
He was now two-thirds drunk, and talking
with thick tongue, Of politics and religion,
a medley Of both, with drunkard's loose
ness, and almost every sentence had shock
ing oath in it. The old man near me told
him TO stop talking. / como here he said.
" TO take a drink, and have a little comfort,
and don't want to hear any Of your stuff, il
! was the landlord | would have you put out
in the street"
/ Two young men we're sitting on the other
side Of the stove, and now joined in the CON
versaton, telling him to leave off his preach
ing and sit still Then he turned upon them
and made the strangest speech / ever heard
from drunkard's lips. ! will not break up
his speech by repeating all they said in reply,
but will give his words as nearly as | can
Imagine him to be so nearly drunk that it is
impossible for him to articulate distinctly,
and these remarks to come from his thick,
full lips, that were just now full Of bias
phemy
~ know what you are, both of you-you
are an atheist don't believe there is any God
you are German Jew, and don't believe
there ever was such person as Jesus Christ.
(neither Of them denied the charge--they
were old acquaintances, and he knew their
sentiments, and went on with his DISCOURSE
but want to tell you what it is, If you don't
repent Of your sins, and you've got enough Of
them to repent of, and believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, you will go down to hell, and
be punished in fire and birthstone forever
and ever. There is no way for you to be
saved but to believe in Christ who gave his
life for sinners, when he was put to death be-
tween two thieves on the hill of Calvary
You say you don't believe there is any such
place as hell. WE'LL that don't make it So
it makes no difference whether YOU believe II
or motif you don't repent of your sins and
come to Christ, you will find very soon to
u lls
in it for all eternity"
Here one of them broke in-"you're a
pretty one to be talking so--you don't be-
ieve a word you are saying, and can prove
it,"
"Well, prove it, let's hear what you've got
to say
''If you believe what you are saying, you
wouldn't do as you are doing-you would be
a better man."
The old drunkard seemed staggard for a
moment, and then with much more emotion
than he had shown at all before, he answer
ed
"You may say that, but it is all true, Just
as tell you'll learned it when was little
boy, my mother used to hold me up on her
knees, and read the Bible to me, and tell me
about Jesus Christ, and what must do to bo
saved; | know what / ought to do, but don't
do it, and don't expect to do it, but | want
you to do it, | want you to repent of your
sins, and get Jesus Christ to be your Sa-
| yiour."
Imagine all this to come from the lips of a
drunkard, profane, bloated, miserable, be-
sotted drunkard. But he said no profane
words while thus speaking. The stage was
ready, and left the company, but asked the
bar-keeper who the old fellow was, and learn
ed his name and history. He was once re-
spectacle citizen, who had ruined himself by
driuk-his property had been taken out Of his
hands, and weekly allowance given him
which he spent in liquor, and was steadily
burning himself up. The memory Of moth
er's lessons survived the wreck of his fortunes
and intellect, and perhaps will yet be the saw
ing of his soul. Hope on, trust, believe, o
praying mothers, never despair, o mourning,
broken-hearted father, there is no depth deep
or than drunkard's degradation, but up from
that doom the memory of your love and the
arms of your faith may yet restore ruined
child to the bosom of his parents and his Sa-
/ viour--N. Y Observer.