The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-03-16
Helieious Afadino.
Half Hour in a Bad Place
. STAGE OFFICE IN BROADWAY.

STAGE OFFICE IN BROADWAY.
The stage would not start for half-an-hour.
1t was stormy and cold. Icould not safely
STAY out of doors, and the OILY place where |
could sit was bar-room where four Or FIVE
men were sitting about the fire. | took a
vacant seat, and listened to their converse
ton.
Near me sat bloated. imbtcile old man,
who seldom spoke, but when he did, it "as
plain that his mind was nearly gone learn
ed Leore left that he had been noted pol
tic IN in this city, now WORKOUT hard
d~inker. gradually sinking victim to intem-
perancp. Near him was total drunkard-
his ace flame red-his nose IT. blossom-hlS
skin ready to burst. so fall Of rum it looked.
He was now two-thirts drunk, and talking
with thick tongue of politics and religion,
a medley o: both with a drunkard's loose
ness, and almost every sentence had shock
ing oath in it, The Cd man near me told
him to stop talking, Il come here lie said,
ITO take drink and have little comfort,
and don't want to hear any of your stuff, if
l was the landlord would have YOU put out
in the street"
Two Young men were sitting on the other
side OF the stove, and now joined in the con-
versation, 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 repl!!
but will give his words as nearly as can
Imagine him to be so nearly drunk that it is
impossible for him to artlculate distinctly
and these remarks to come from his thick
foul lips, that were just now full Of bias
phemy:
Il 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 a person as Jesus Christ
(neither of them denied the charge-they
were old acquaintance, and he knew their
sentiments. and went on with his DISCOURSE
bu, want to tell YOU what it IS, if You don I
repent of your sins ard you've got enough Of
them to repent Of, and believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, you will so down to hell. anG
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 Well, that don't make it Sc
it makes no difference whether YOU believe i,
or nCt-If YOU don't repent of your sins and
come to Christ. YOU will ind very soon to
YOUR sorrow that there is hell, and YOU are
in it for all eternity"
Here one CT them broke in-"you're a
pretty one to be talking so-you don't be
lieve word YOU are saying, and can prove
IT,"
well prove it, let's hear what you've got
to saw
ri You believe what YOU are saving, YOU
wouldn't do as you are doing. YOU would bt
better man.
The old drunkard seemed staggered for 4
moment. ard then with much more emotion
than he had shown at all before, he answer
ed:
You may say that, but it is all true JUS
as | tell YOU, l learned it when was LITTLE
boy, my mother used to hold me up Oh bel
knees, and read the Bible to me and tell TT
about Jesus Christ ard what must do to b.
sayed-l know what ought to do, bat don
Go it, and don't expect to GO it, but wan
YOU to do it, | want YOU to repent of YOU
sins and get Jesus Christ to be your Sa
viour'
Imagine all this coming from the lips of
drunkard, a profane, bloateI, miserable, be
sotteu drunkard. But he said 10 prufan
words while thus preaching TIE Stage wa
ready. and left the company, but asked tn
t'arkeeper who the Old fellow WIS, and learn
ed his name and history. lie was once
respectable citizen, who had ruined himself
by drink-his property had been taken Oh
Of his hands. and a weekly allowance gvel
him which he spent in liquor, and was stead
lily burning himself up. The memory Of
mothers lessons survived the wreck of hi
fortunes and intellect, and perhaps will Y.
be the saving Of his soul Hope or, trus,
believe. o praying mother never despair, {
mourning, brokenhcarted father. there is n
depth deeper than a drunkard's degradation
but up from that doom the memory of YOU
love and the arms of YOUR faith NAV vet re
store ruined child to the bosom of his pa
rents and his Saviour-.Neu York OJse,
rtr.
G>v \ T..