National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-12-04
A temperance Story.

I once heard DR.. Day relate the
occurrence which produced in his
mind the conviction that drundards
can be rescued from the domination
Of their morbid appetite. One even
ing, when he came home from his
work, he heard that certain Jack
Watts, the sot of the neighborhood,
was starving, with his wife and three |
children. Albert Day hit upon the
very method he has ever since pur-
sued, and so l beg the reader will
note the manner in which he pro.
ceeded. On entering the cottage he
was as polite to him, as considerable
of his dignity as head of the house
bold, az he could have been to the
first man in the village. "Mr.
Watts" said he, after the usual sal
utations, 81 hear you are in straight
ened circumstances The man,
who was then quite sober replied
~ am; my two youngest children
went to bed crying for food, and I
had none to give them. Ispent my
last three cents over there" pointing
to grog shop opposite, "and the
bar keeper said to me as he took the
money, says he, Jack Watts, you're
FOOL and so l am" Here was q
chance for fine moral lecture. AL
bert Day engaged in nothing of the
kind. He said, "Mr. Watts, excuse
me for few minutes; and he went
out, returning soon with a basket
containing some -four, pork, and
other materials for supper. "Now
Mrs. Watts, cook something and
wake your children up and give
them something to eat. I'll call
again early in the morning. Good
night"
Perfect civility-noIeproaches, no
lecture-practical help of the kind
needed and at the time needed. Oh.
serve, too, that the man was in the
condition of mind in which patients
usually are when they make the con
fession implied in entering an asy
lum. He was at the end Of his
tether. He waste use the Ian
guage of the bar-room--"deat
beat"
When Mr.. Day called, the mex
morning, the family had had thei
breakfast, ard Jack Watts smiled
benedictiOn ON the man whom he hat
been wont to regard as his enemy
because he was the declared enemy
Of Jack Watts enemy. Now tn,
time had come for little talk
Jack Watts explained his circum
stances: he had been out of worl
for long time, and he had cOnsum
ed all his substance in drink. Mr.
Day listened with respectful atten
ton, spoke to him of varions plan
for the future, and said that for tina
day he would give him a dollar
worth Of wood. chopping to do
Then they got upon the liquor ques
ton. In the softened, respectft
mind of Jack Watts, Albert Day G,
posted the substance of rationa
temperance lecture. He spoke t
him kindly, respectfully, hopefully
strongly; Jack Watts mind is con
WINGED; he said he had done will
drink forever. He meant it too
and thus he was brought to the sec
ond stage on the road to deliver
ance.
In this particular case, restin!
from labor was out Of the question
and unnecessary, for the man haI
been resting too long already, an
must needs 60 to work. The WOO
was chopped. The dollar to be pal
FOR the work at the close of the da
was fearful ordeal for poor Jacl
living fifteen yards from BARRON
Mr.. Day called round in the ever
ing, paid him the dollor without r
mark, fell into ordinary conversatio
with the family, and took leave
John stood the test; not a cent
the money found its way into I'll
ill of the bar.keeper. Next morl
ing Mr.. Day was there again, an
seeing that the patient was goin
on well, spoke to him further aboy
the future, and glided again int
the main topic, dwelling much o
the absolute necessity for total an
eternal abstinence. He got the ma
aplace, visited him, held II n u
fortified his mind, and so helped hi
tocomplete lasting recovery. ia,
Watts never drank again. He di,
year or two ago in Maine at
good age, having brought up h
family respectfully Atlantic Mont
~ for October.