Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-21
The Bridge of Bale.
A TOUCHING TEMPERANCE STORY.

ATOUCHING TEMPERANCE STORY.
Where the majestic. Rhine rolls its
broad waves like a silver landmark |
between France and Switzerland, |
stands the wealthy Swiss town of Bale. |
1t forms, as it were, the entrance gate
to the country which abOund.sO great
ly iii magnificent mountain scenery,
that it we'll deserves to be called the
"gem Of Europe" The Rhine divides
Bale into two parts, great and little
Bale, and large wooden bridge spans
the river. At the farthest end, to-
ward great Bale. there once stood a
toll-gate, surrounded by an ornament
Of very questionable taste, called the
'lolling king 1t was huge, wooden,
painted figure with a crown on his
mead, and whose tongue and eyes were
kept in perpetual motion by water
wheel. In time of discord between
Ghe two parts fthe town, this wonder
iull piece of art had been erected by
great Bale, in order to annoy little
Bale; and centuries after taste had
Oeen refined and peace established,
the 'lolling king" still surmounted the
gate, a relic Of barbarous ages, the de-
light and pride of all the urchins OF
Bale. But many years since the toll
,ate has been done away with, and
,he lolling kings reign has come TO an
nd.
\ hundred years ago, a toll collector
vas sitting at this gate to receive the
.ccustOMel toll from the passengers.
lie was q powerful man, measuring
lX feet without his shoes, and once
| is features had been as bright and
Intellectual as they were now dull and
,ioated. Alas one master passion
.dd reduced the poor man to u mere
STeck OF himSeli-the toiI-man was Il
.runkard. 1t is said that in the pride
ii her heart, the Egyptian Queen,
Cleopatra presented to Augustus cup
Df wine in which the powdered dust OF
l huge pearl was dissolved, thus vast
mg IN one drought OF VINE what would
lave saved from misery many OF her
Door subjects: but this toll man did
ar worse. for the cups which he empti-
.d from morning to night, swallowed
Iot only his earthly property, but 1t
brought his young wife down to a pre-
mature grave, ana ruined his immortal
soul. And yet ne was 50 good-temper-
ii, that even Ill MS worst state -ol IN
toNcatloh he dld not rave LIKE other
drunkardS, but the enemy lald hoid OF
his intellect, ana reduced the man OF
Iorty toa poor totterlh@ Wre'ch, whose
eyes were am, whose head ana hands
we're trembling ana whose lmoS often
refused TO carry hlln. mus ne Nege
tated on from year 10 year sunk IN d
state OF torPor, ana unlhIndIuL ol tha'
5oul lor when he lad one DAY TO give
an account, anu oi tile "ou VINO hiaut
It, AND yet thefG was one oenlS Wlll
;ouId animate WIN NE tuis NortiIe9'
mass oil clay, VINO could call d ray o
ihtelect 10 tilese aull eyes, ana d loN
ing smile 10 'neSe hea'! llPS, 1t wa
Mary. MS motherIeSS glfI ol LIe year
), old. she was orl9hU niue thlhg' all'
. The poor man IoVea ner Win All th
power ol heart "iilch was IelI 70 MN
ana III his most dePLorapie StaIe Oh ue-
radiation, ne never spoke al! unhlll
!, word to his little Mary Ana Mar
- owed her poor IaIhef 100; HeT lcllue
[. lge prevented ber from seeing oeel
+ INTO the mystery ol MS llelPIe9' col
= htlon. Lam growing oid, nIIIe oh'
cry OLD, he would say IN answer
Ter, when she asked OF hlm the reaso
r his rcelmg gaItanq tremoll'9 mana
md the innocent chllu iaa oel!eTe
i'm. Poor iather Is so Ola 50 oId
ic u7cu ~ "Hi9Poi' 'o" '''0 o''
q isin |ond press hca'lI, Oh 'Le mise l'1
.3.c man. ana then sac W"uIu 'ooN
his red. D!oaItd l&-t wan t'af'
res, and aGan a-d atah a1c Woi
.iss those tr,mohHg hahu' WIFI "
suderness o. pity. AND a9 he iooN,
'.' town upon that sweet innocent Il
- fall oi love, dim Visions WoHIn n
. .vlore the drunkadS mental ey
O. nonghts Ola lie OF purity anu ho-lne
a d OF those bright spot eSS oeiIls
Flich are sad to be mi'llSterii3 ang,
= o our fallen race Il Wonder "hG'
-. T that child Is my guardian anger
- le would often muttef 10 nimSelI' d
,of n such moments shame anu loNe "ol
wiring from his Soul thG Ie9oiu'lo1 ~
- lreaN the cnalll9 oi Si"t tE }, oho'ra ''."
I'VE more ToI'T5 3n+ ,.tbo CIV wow to h
un- ruSted 10 NM D1. aI,,+;ors v~p % - 5l .
dm- dnt Is paEeo "l''l 80 tpi,ll tIoay a,-on;
ring IN Ola proNGlp' anu ny I'e nav ~ slo'dn
ire. q. Mary loullu noI i'''l'' 90
ever ,.c o+ without
ct MARY >, NE was nov " lsl'I,,I 10 !
pleasures al 'lo p"1'on51 't ob
and Nlho "o[" VI l0oN | lol I.n,, 'lv r. an - ,.nl