The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-02-17

Little Lizzie.


Mrs. Leslie, weeping. 'Oh, it they wouldn't
sell him liquor thele'd be Ito trouble. He's
one OF the best Of men when hc doesn't drink.
He never brings liquor into the house, and
he tries hard enough, know, to keep HIM
self sober, but he cannot pass by Jelihss ta,-
ern.'
Mrs. Leslie was talking with sympathi-
zing neighbor, who responded t,y saying that
she wished the tavern would burn down and
that for her part she didn't teel any too good
to apply fire TO the place herself. Mrs. Les
lie sighed and wiped away the tears with hel
apron.
i, is hard, indeed it is, she murmured, to
see man like jerks getting richer and rich
er every day out Of the earnings Of poor
working men, whose families are III want OF
bread. For every coin that goes over his
counter, some one is made pourer-lo some
already wre,ched heart is gwen throb OF
pain
Its downright shame exclaimed the
neighbor. Indignantly, ii had my way with
the lazy, good-ior-uo,hing fellow, Id see that
he did something useful, II it was to break
stone on the road. Were it my husband, i'll
stead OF yours that he enticed into his TAR,
YOU may depend upon it he'd get himself i'll
to trouble
While this conversation was going on a
little girl not yer ten years old sat listening
at,entively. After while she went quietly
from the room and throwing her apron over
her head took her way unobser,ed, down
the road.
Where was Lizzie going? There was a
purpose in her mind-she had started on d
mission. -, ii they wouldn't sell him liquor :
These earnest, fearful words of her mother $
filled her thoughts. If MIR. jerks would not
sell her father anything to drink. there
would be no more trouble How simple
! how direct the remedy. She would 20 tu
MIR. jerks and ask him not to let her father
have any more liquor, and then all would be
we'll again. ArtIess, innocent child. And
this was her mission.
The tavern kept by jerks, the LATEST man
therefore went to taver',-keepinS
nearly quarter of a mile from the i,o"r ten
ement occupied BY the Lesles. Toward lhi,
point under hot, sul,ry sun. Lizzie made
her way, her mind being SO filled with Ill
purpuAe that she was unconscious Oi heat u
fatigue.
No, long before ira, eller alighted at tht
tavern. After giving directions to have El'
horses ted, he entered the bar-ro,m, ait
wen, w. to where jerks stood Gehind III.
counter.
Have something to drink p inquired ,h'
lsrdlurd.
Iii take a glass Of water, if YOU please,
said he.
J...hs could not hiGe the indifference a
u,ce lei, towa.ds the >tIaiser. \cIy Gtl'Ee
ra,ei, lie sat u pitcher and lass upon ;h'
Counter aid then lurEcd partly away. lh'
>tra,,u.r puui.d out fun lul!,brr OF ,h'
water aru drank It uti with all air ol sa,istac
liun.
Good water, tina, Vt yours, landl'rd,' Salt
he.
is it p was returned somewhat uncouIte
ousy.
i pretend to call it good wafer. do 10
you!
Never drink water by itself As Jenk
said this he w,nked To ule Of his CUSTOMER
who Was luuaSl,.g ON the bar In fact, II
So lons Slice ulalk amy wal'r. that ha>
forgot how II tastes. Say, ha'th !ou' Aes
: lie:'
The man TO whom this was addressed va
not quite SO Tar lost ~ shame as was jerks
.. lie flushed and looked confused, as he +.
piled:
III might be much better for some of Y
! il We had not lost our relish tor good. pur
water
}. "A true word spoken, my friend said tn
stranger, turning ~ the man. whose s"olle
Usage, and patched, thread bare garments, lo
). plainly told the story OF his sad ll'e' :" ate
uure ater, bright water, that is my motto
Il never swells the face, nor lhfiames the ey
nor mars the conntenance. Its attendant
are health, thrift and happiness. 1t tak'
:. m, away the childrems bread, nor the tOlIl
IS x;fe's garments. Water, it is one OF God
chie,est blessings. Our trien9 ,he landio'
here. SAWS he has forgotten how 1t tastes, all
>ou have lost all relish for the refreshing
!. ;nyieura,ing draught. All, this is sad co
fession-one which angels might weep
hear .,
There we're two or three customers at Il
;" har besides Leslie to whom this was addres
: cd. and all of them-in spite OF the ia''
lord. angry aud snvering cou'itena',ce'
:; :: treated the stranger with attention and
spec,. Seeing this, jerks could not res'ra
himself, so coming from behind the oar
advanced to his side, and LAYING, ms pa'
- quite rudely on his shoulder, SAID ma Ps
.See here. my friend, if you are about