Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-08-07
Select Gale.


/
TRUE STORY.
No happier school girls could be found thar
our company Of ten, fresh from the vacation. and
ready for the active duties OF another term We
found the stage awaiting us at Hamilton, but were
TOO weary 10 be conscious Of our tedious ride To
the Western Seminary Soon it was growing
dark aud looking out, we observed we were trav-
ehng new road. Our hearts sunk within us when
We remembered the boated face Of our driver
Could it be that he hal fallen asleep and lef,
as 10 the mercy and wisdom Of the unguided
horses9
Il was even so. Our now clumsy vehicle olted
hther aud thither over che rough stones Above
were the signs Of a heavy shower We were in a
gloomy forest. It's topmost branches seem bend
r over us, as If inquiring into our sad condition
When could we emerge from its impenetrable
depth What new danger before usY On
ono side was deep raviue,--the road narrow (.
and the horses seemed already to have lost ali
presence of mind. / was the youngest but are-
est OF the company Should / see danger and
not be their protector2 Heaven forbid! | hur-
ried TO the horses, and led them by our immediate
danger. The driver was streached across his seat
in a state OF sound ntoXication and Che reus were
on the ground After several attempts, ] succeed
ed in climbing up 10 the seat. With great effort
removed hun 20 one side but this awoke him.
The rain now poured down
Who are you2n he inquired
" The protector Of these horses, this stage,
Yourself and these Young ladies', ,n answered
Who called you to this office - he half vacant
ly asked.
Stern necessity I replied Yourself
asleep, the reins on the ground, and the stage on
on the verge OF a deep descent impelled me to be
the driver"
TN drive myself" said he.
What should | answerY My feelings were
aroused to the reality Of our situation -au ntem-
perate driver now half recovered from the effects
Iffl a.. .I- 1.
merit of that beautiful verse - a soft answer tur-
meth away wrath / told him that rum made
/ king incapable Before | was aware he was sound
asleep. The ram was falling fast but my sister
handed me an umbrella With the reins in one
hand, and the umbrella in the other | drove as
( best ! could
I The restless driver soon awoke. and called for
" bis bottle" Having found it be was about to
drink when ! stayed his hand, and said, 9" do not
drink 10. IL is destroying your body and If pre-
sisted in will destroy your SOUL
Who made you iudgeY' he asked You
must either drink yourself vacatc this scat
new difficulty was before me! Was il not
enough that had taken the drivers seat ? Could
be influenced by fear, by druukard, to taste OF
the poison There is, iu all things right aud a
wrong My heart beat conyulsiyely But one
alternative was before me. Either yacate the seat
and suffer the hall-consciou, mau to drive over
that dangerous road, or drive myself and drink his
rum. NerJ" nay heart answered; 81 can
never taste it -" Nccerw my mouth hmuttered
" DO you persist'' he said fixing his fiery eyes
upon me.
' persist | replied
lie gazed at me one-half minutc and then one
geam OF reason lit up his face as he said " Who
ever you are | honor your decision. I know /
am unable to hold the rens but, oh, this burning .
thirst -
" Drink water" said, from Gods gushing
fountain
While he was talking, contriyed to reach the .
bottle with one hand; and bidding him look at
the gathering clouds ! tossed it ou,.
he did not notice 10, but proceeded 10 tell mo
his story. He said he had graduated at one Of
our Western colleges; aud it WAS there that he
had contracted the fearful habit
Break of at once" | replied. "You will
never regret it,
DO you think l can on he inquired.
" am certain you can, | replied.
Look at me" he said.
| looked and behtld fearful face yet a well
developed head and finely chiselled forehead
Is your Judgment now the same = he inqui-
red
''It is" replied
Where did put my bottle?0 he said 81
must have rum. There is nothing that satisfy
me"
As he was hunting for it behed over the hills
the gitterng dome Of our seminary. Was it not
proWlential, that, amid additional discourage
mens, the place Of my destination was in view? Il
| must have my rum, he continued, " could
it have fallen out =
! told him that undoubtedly if be could not find
it, it must have got out aud il So it was probably
beyond recovery.
But must have it, said he
DO not trouble me about what cannot give
YOU | replied "When reach the seminary, | 1
will give on something better than rum
What is it p he eagerly asked.
You shall know in time,n ! said
Provoking ~ said he. " that you will not tell
me > and he muttered some incoherent sentence
Of which took no notice, and soon he fell
asleep.
Happy |, yes, happy driving the stage; for
the drunkard was asleep, and ] was nearing the
seminary NeUe can | forget the astonished face
OF our principal, when he saw me in exalted
position. My precious cargo were by no means
slow in telling their own adventure {
is it possible p she said.
At this moment the drunkard awokc, and with |
not little chagrin attempted to show of his chy- t
airy The girls would not suffer him to help them
out; but | did not object, tor found myself so /
stiff aud besides, wanted him to feel manly /
" Manly ~ you will say What desire one {
who has thus behaved TO feel manly?n L
Yes, manly for 1t was in my heart to save that
man, II he would sign pledge he must feel him
self man. Once rid OF this belief, and all might
be lost. Besides, he had manifested desire to
REFORM and there was hope.
yer If he would sign the pledge, would give it to
him.
Ill / could only keep it." he replied.
- \ ou assuredly can in anothers strength II
said and invited him in for had not forgot
ten my promise Of something better than rum.
lie went into the parlor, and / obtained dish
of chocolate for him.
g on are killing me with kindness, he said as
entered the room with chocolate aud a light sup
per tray, aud the tears coarsed down his
cheeks Meanwhile, | obtained temperance
pledge and asked for his signature.
II will sign it," said the penitent and sober
man and he did sign it,
3hat piedge was kept He became n successful ;
teacher, and afterwards a lawyer, He was among
the first to answer 10 our countryh cell for youn
toers In the battle of Pitlsburg Landing there
perished no Drawer soldier, no warmer advocate of
temperance, no more devoted Christian than JAS i
FITZGERALD.
agricultural.