The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-27

"Not drink to that !" exclaimed his
tempter, in surprise, as he saw the
untasted wine.
"Thank you for the toast" answer
cd the young man, rising. 81 must
look to my birdie in the home-nest"
And bowling to the company be has
tily retired. One laughed, another
sneered, and another made coarse
Jest; while fourth said, with gravity
OF manner that was felt by the rest as
a rebuke:
Our young friend is right His
place is Mt home with his wife and
child, and not here. And there are
some Of us who, in my opinion, might
take lesson from his example"
A dead silence followed One looked
at another; and crimson spots burned
on checks that had on them no sign Of
shame little while before.
NO more wine for me, said the last
speaker, replying TO an invitation to
fill his glass
I've no patience with this kind of
stuff, spoke out one IF the company
I
ordered for, if not to drink %
He who said this was a gambler in
the disguise of friend He wished
to steal away the reason and con-
science Of his young companions with
wine, that he might rob them of their
money at cards.
/ As he spoke he filed one glass to
the brim, and then pushed the bottle
toward his neighbor, who filed his
glass in turn. But when it came to
the third in the circle sitting around
the table, he passed it on, leaving his
own glass empty. The fourth and fifth
filled their glasses. Said the one who
first passed the bottle, lifting his glass
as he spoke:
Here's to good fellowship" And
all but one repeated his toast, and
drank as he drank. Then the third
in the circle filled his glass with water,
and rising, said in a clear, ringing
voice.
Here's to birdie in the home nest
Frowns darkened on his compan-
ions faces Raising the water to his
lips, he drank it slowly As he set
down the empty glass, he looked at
the angry face of the gambler, whose
real character he more than half sus-
pocted, and bowling slightly, said.
81 also thank you for that toast; and
also will look to my birdie in the
home-neSt."
Then bowling low to all the company,
he left the room, the sound of curses
in his ears as he sut the door.
The young man whose refusal to
drink any more had first broken in
that company the charmed circle OF
danger, walked hurriedly away, turn
ing his steps homeward. He was, as
we have SAID, miles distant, and at the
opposite extremity of a great city.
Hurriedly ne walked at first; then his
steps grew slower, and his head was
bent down, for painful and self-con.
demning thoughts were in his mind.
A street car passed; ii would have
taken him, in less than an hour, within
few blacks of his home. Why did
he let it go by unheeded ?" Was
thought so busy that he had forgotten
lie could ride
No, that was not the reason. He
had drank too freely at the supper ia.
bic, and he knew that his breath was
tainted with liquor; and now that O
new light had come into his mind and
he saw, rs in a mirror, a true image OF
himself, he was shocked to discover
that he was less true man than in
days past, and less worthy to bear the
name of husband and father. This
was the reason why his steps were slow
and his head bowed down; and the
reason why he did not take the car
and pass quickly homeward He
shrank from the thought of laying his
tainted lips upon the pure brow and
lips of his wife and child, and so re.
vealing to them that weak and sensual
side of his character which was hold
ing him back from a nobler and purei
life than the one he was living.
Slowly he continued to walk, still
! with bowed head and busy thoughts
and memories. Suddenly there came
before him, even more clearly, if posi-
BILE, than when he saw it in the amber
wine, the image of his kueeling child
and again the voice, so full of sweet
music for his ears, was heard with
strange diEtinctness, saying:
"Bless dear papa, and make hin
good and happy"
Could God have answered the petit
ton of that loving child for her father
in any better or more effectual way
than by sending the words of hei
prayer to his inward ears by the voice
of an angel? He could not make hin
good and happy, except through re
pentance and a better life; but He
could make the prayer means of con
J viction and repentance. So the gooc
Lord is ever using us, whether we arc
children or grown-up men and women
and using us by thousands of differen
, ways, in the work of leading Others
, from evil courses into paths of virtue
/ and peace. And we are always better
! instruments in his hands, if we arr
pure and good, than if we are selhsl
! and evil; for, in some way that we dc
) pot clearly understand, our loving de
sires actually pass to others and move
) their hearts. And so, if we are pur
) and true, our influence over those w