The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-07-25
lntemperance.
By REV. JOHN S. c. ABBOTT.

D
sees it, in his parochial visits, every grog-
shop would be swept instantly from the land
by general outburst of indignation. A poor
woman said not long ago to her pastor " To-
morrow my woes begin again, for my hus-
band returns from the House of Correction"
She was poor woman. supporting by hard
toll her family of little children. And her
only respite from personal violence, and from
the robbery of her own scanty earnings to be
squandered in the grog shop, was when her
husband was in the House of Correction
He had wept bitterly over his own ruin and
that of his household. He had promised
and promised again to amend. Occasionally,
for fortnight at a time, he resisted the
deadly appetite, until the effiuvia of the grog
shop, which he was compelled to pass, swept
as with hurricane force all his resolutions
away, and he returned to his home raving,
brutalized drunkard. While that dram shop
stood, it seemed impossible that that unhap-
py man could be saved
Once passed Sabbath in the interior of
Massachusetts, and was requested, during
the intermission of public worship, to visit
dying woman. The first aspect of the house
to which was led, in its loose clapboards,
and broken windows and decayed fences, told
me was approaching the home of a drunk
ard. The apartment in which the dying wo-
man was breathing was one whose aspect of
cheerlessness and discomfort made the heart
to ache. A few wretched articles of furniture
were scattered about the room, and upon a
low bed in the corner lay the wasted form of
the dying. Her countenance bore the traces
of intelligence, of refinement, and vet Of the
most overwhelming mental anguish. Her
husband stood at the head of the bed, with
an expression of as deep grief as could be
crowded into the features of hloated inebri-
ate. Five children wer, clustered around
the bedside, sobblng; the eldest, daughter,
not twelve years of age. kneeling by her mo-
theirs side and almost convulSively clasping
her cold and clammy hand as she drenched it
with her tears.
1t was one of those scenes of woe which at
once paints itself upon the eye and imprints
itself upon the mind in characters never to
be etiaced. From the few almost inar,iculate
words of the dying woman | gathered that all
the anguish of the mothers heart was in fe-
vered excitement as she was to leave her
poor children in this world of temptation
with no guide but their drunken, besotted ia
ther. Her last moments had arrived. and
soon her struggling. broken, grief-rent SOU
left the body.
inquired into the circumstances of her
case, ard found that few years before. this
woman, then young lady of many accom-,
plishments of person and of mind, was mar.
red to Young merchant, amiable, intelligent
of correct habits. and engaged in lucrative
and successful business. The sun of present
and prospective JOY beamed brightly upon
the morning of their nuptials. Everything
was cheerful and tasteful in the happy home
where their youthful affections were first ce
mented. \ few years of untroubled prosper
ity glided swiftly away.
But the young husband and father trifed
with the most dangerous temptation earth
+ has ever presented. He acquired fondnes:
for wine and conviviality; then for stronger
drinks. Gradually property was scattered
reputation ruined, his family beggared, ard
, he became ragged vagabond in the streets
He was naturally amiable, compliant, Weld
ing, and having in his disposition but little o
, that sterner material called decision, wher
temptation came in its mighty power he fel
at once and irremediably With such per
sons it is not unfrequently the case that in
toxication produces perfect frenzy. A few
glasses would craze him, and he would return
5 to his home at night raving maniac. IL
would take the whole range of the house i,
his fury, and wife and children were compel
r ed to fly wounded and bleeding from his ter
: rible violence. Despair struck the mother
y heart. Often would she gather her littl
! flock of children in the corner behind hel
and receive upon her own person the blow
: which the crazed father was dealing aroun
a him.
= "Oh. who can tell what days, what nights sl
= spent.
Of tireless, waveless, sailess, shoreless woe -
T. In the morning, this wretched victim {
1t rum would awake from his debauch, and r,
= stored to his natural affection, would refet
II upon his brutality with the deepest horre
/ and remorse. He would fall upon his knee
u before his wife, and with tears of anguish in
plore her forgiveness; he would curse II
day in which he was born, calling himself
brute and a fend, and wishing that he wei
l. dead. He would resolve and re-resolve ne
'e er to drink drop again. For few days
:, would succeed in avoiding temptation. b.
E. the acquired appetite would gather streng'
a by the transient restraint Associates wou
'ss lure him into the village store. The .igI
~ of the decanters, the fumes OF the spirits, Il
s. persuasions of topers would speedily bru:
r away all his resolves. One glass would fe
n r. low another in the desperation of remor
II and dasna;r Erenzied with tho eo,J ,-o