Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-01-27
Trnpfranrr.
Prom the New York Evening Pos,
A LITTLE UNSTEADY.

! What volumes these words speak to those
who know their true meaning! "a little I'M
steady" which means (being interpreted) now
and then taking wine or strong drink to the
point of being overcome, raving, stupid, drunk,
"What is the matter with Frank H :;
The last time heard Of him he was dong wen
in college his teachers spoke well oil him.
Now he is at home again"
ooh, he is little unsteady He began
with wine and supper parties, and his Jaded
stomach craved more stimulus. This appetite
he has INDUCED. has grown worse and worse,
broken the hearts of his old parents, and be-
come-'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 anxious Be-
cause he ia "a little unsteady With all his
pleasant ties at home he will seek pleasure
abroad, because he can there satisfy the crav-
ings ,allay. should have said,) of depraved
appetite So he goes abroad for excitement
and his wife grows pale at home, and his
friends mourn, because he is "a little un-
steady"
Bridget is out of pace. She is only a cook
and you 20 by reference to inquire her charac-
ter. She is an excellent cook, tidy, neat, re.
lluNAts Nuf SUI - a llANtt hhNtN"Ht - o.
only now and then that she is overcome but
now and then the charge is but too true
Exhausted and wearied with her never-ending
work she takes just drop. Perhaps the APP
petite was stimulated by the odor Of wine
given her to use in cooking, or by portions
left in bottles that had been used. upstairs
Her master and mistress and their friends
seem to have an easy, happy time in life, and
yet they need the support of social glass -
Why should not she have it in her tolls p
only. if she happens to be overcome. her work
Is not done. her fault is discovered and she
loses her place. because "she drinks"
Many a woman in high station lies in bed
from a sick headache, and no one dares Il
say the same Of her, nor even to hint that she
is "a little unsteady 1t would not sound
we'll. John is a coachman, an excellent man
is master of his business, faithful as the sun
but he has lost his place. What Is the mat
ter, Nothing, except that he is "a little IN
Steady" His master has command Of the
Injuries Of life, but works hard, and wher
faded with the business of the day. glass o
wine revives him; or if friend dimes with
him. they take a social glass-always in mod
Grafton, nothing more. 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 crystal, no decanters, not
even table to which he can invite friend.
But with social principle strong WITHIN nm,
he invites James into tho cornor grocery, and
they take a social glass, ust for good fellow
ship,-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 poisons now VI
use make tenfold havoc with the nerves. h'
| falls into the wild vortex Of drunkenness. neg
lects his work drives into another vehicle
and so his sin is discovered. He is dismissed
because he has not selicontrol, poor man, anC
cannot resist temptation His wife is miser
able, his children suffer, and all because he i
/ "a little unsteady"
Visit yonder abode of poverty and misery
worn and weary woman, hungry pining chill
dren. my good woman, are you widow
Have you nothing to depend upon "Oh
no, I'm not widow, but he is a little un
steady. Sometimes he gets work, and Their
isn't a kinder or better man when he is sot
err, but the drink makes him wild
You look around on the hopeless desolatio
and murmur, $50 this is the consequence {
being a little unsteady"
Terrible railroad collision. Loss Of life
No one to blame" The engineer went wit
the wreck Of his train, and when you ventur
to inquire carefully you will hear that he wa
a most competent engineer, faithful, devote
servant of the company, bit he was "a lit
unsteady
Another ship gone on the rocks just as sh