The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-01-26
A TOUCHING TEMPERANCE STORY.

TOUCHING TEMPERANCE STORY.
Where the majestic Rhine rolls its
broad waves like silver landmark be-
tween France ard Switzerland. stands the
wealthy Swiss town Of Bale. Ii forms. as
1t were, the entrance gate 10 a country
which abound> 50 greatly in magnificent
mountain scenery. that it well deserves 10
be called the gem OF Europe" The
Rhine divides Bale into two parts. great
and little Bale, and a large wooden bri.! e
spans the river. At the tar,hest end. to-
ward @rgat Bale, there once stood Il toll
cate, surmomted by an ornament OF very
questionable taste. called the '.olIinr
king Ii was a huge. wooden, painted
figure with Il crown on his head, an;i wi.nso
tongue and eyes were kept in perpetual
motion by a water wheel. In a time of
discvrI between the two parts of the town.
this wonderful piece OF art had been erect
ell by great Bale, in order TO annoy little
Bale and centuries after, long after taste
had been refined and peace established. tie
''lo.ling king" still Surmounted the cate. a
relic oi b;rbHrou> ages, the dtlirht and
pride of all the urchinS OF Bale. But
many years since the toll-gate has been
done away with, and the lion kings reign
! has come 10 an end.
a hundred years ago, 4 toll collector
was sitting at this gate to receive the ;sc-
cv>tomel toll from the passengers II,
was :. powerful man, measuring six feet
without hi, shoes, and once iIis features
had been as bright and intellectual as they
We're now dull and bioa,ed. Alas one
master passion had reduced the poor man
to a mere wreck of himsclt-the tolI-mal
was a drunkard 1t is SAID that in the
pride OF her heart, the Egyptian Queen
Cleopatra presented to Augustus cup OF
Wine i'll which The powdered dust of a
huge pearl was dissolved, thus wasting in
one draught OF WINE what would have >lv-
cd from misery many OF her poor sub hlects
but this toll man did far worse. Tor the
cup which he emptie1 from morning till
night, swallowed not only his earthly
property, but it brought his young, loving
wife down to Il premature grave, and ru.
incd his immortal soul. And yet he wa:
50 good-tempcred, that even in his worst
state OF intoNicalion he did not rave Ike
Other drunkarls, but the enemy laid hold
OF his intellect, and reduced the man o
forty to poor, tottcring wretch, whost
eyes We're dim, whose head and hand.
were trembling, and whose limbs often re.
fused to carry him. Thus he vcgelatyd OF
from year to year, sunk in a state of tor.
Dor, and unminitu Of that soul for whcl
he had one day TO give an account, and O
the God who made l.. And yet there wa.
one being who could animate with lie till:
worthless nlans OF clay, WHO could call {;
ray Of intellect 10 these dull eyes, and {;
loving smile 10 these heavy lips. 1t Wa
Mar, his moihcrle>s girI ol five years old
She was bii ght !ite thing, and the pnol
man loved her with all the power o: hear
which was left TO him, aud even lii hi
most deplor:,bic state OF degradation, Il,
never spoke an unhind word 10 his iit;l
liary. And Mary loved her poor laii.e
too ; her tender age prevented her iron
seeing deeper INTO :lse mystery OF his help
less condition. Il am getting old, it'll
one" he once had SAID TO her. when Sii
) asked of him the reason of his recing caI
and trembling hands, and the innocen
cliild had believed him. Poor father
50 old 50 DID, she used to whisper
when the curse of sin would pres. hc;NiI
on the miserable man, and then She v,:u.
look Up in his red, boated face with icai
tui eyes, and again and again she woui
kiss those trembling hands with tn te!
dcrne>~ OF pity And aS he looked COW
= upon that sweet. innocent face, So full {
' love, dim visions would rise before ii
} drunkards mental eyes. thoughts of lii
of purity and holiness, and OF those bIi q
spotlcss beings, which are said to be nii
isterne angels to our ialienra Il VOL
der whether that child Is my guardian al
Gel p he would often mutter to himsei
Iaud in such moments shame and 10,
would wiring from his soul the reSolutit
to break the chains OF slavery, and TO Ii
t more worthy Of the charge entrusted
n him. But '.thc way to hell is paved WI
" good resolutions" says an Old pro'eI
and, the next evening, Mary found her +
: ther as ''old'' as ever.
r Yet Mary's life was not without
pleasures all the passengers had XII
; word or look for the pretty child, sol
N had even a bon bon or a ruddy apple, Al
,e her greatest delight was to run up a
down the long wooden bridge. Oit
when from the one side of the river, t
. fathers heavy snoring could be heal