The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-01-28
FIREs OF la1EErEEAxCE.

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The mountains u Vermont have long
I been subject - frequent aud extensive
\ ffos. AZ some periods the smoke u
I thair burning has been seen for days
I and weeks together The scene IN the
night AZ times, has been terrific. The
/ mountain burning 10 The midst Of Heay-
I en-; tho roar u the raging element dis
tinctly audible and tie vast HELD u
flame shooting rapidly upward has for
4 cibly reminded the hehoiders OF the day
when the heavens being on fire shall
( be dissolved, aud the elements melt with
ieryent heat
On some occasions these mountain
fires have takon their way downward,
1 approached tie dwellings Of the inhab
/ itants and endangered the fields and
I enclosures Of the husbaBdman. On
such occasions, the danger has been
seen, the alarm sounded, aud the IN
habitants gathered 10 oppose the pro-
| gress Of the flames And now, when
4 ever these fires are lighted up, they at
I tract the attention of the people Their
/ progress is steadily watched, particu-
larly By those whose premises are ex-
posed, and the people are always ready
/ TO repair 10 the point OF danger and ex-
ert themselves manfaily TO save their
neighbors territories from cor hagra-
! ton.
But however frequent and extensive
I these fires may have been in former
years, or Whatever danger may occa-
slonally attend their occurrence at the
present time, for which those who wan
toniy kindle them are justly held re-
! sponsible, they are not the only sources
4 of evil There are other fires less bril-
liant and sublime in their operations,
but more to be dreaded because more
constant, more extensive, and far more
destructive. These may be called Tie
Fires ot h,temperance
I This fire has ragged not only at par
ticular points upon the mountain, but
it descended into every ravine and glen
OF the valley 1t invaded every farm
and enclosure passed over the streams
aud riyeIs spread itself in the streets
Of the village entered every habitation,
every mandatory and mechanics shop.
The tayerns and stores were at ali times
completely enyeloped withits flames.
This fire not only lighted up the ball
room, and burnt all night around the
tab g Of the gambler, but the sober house
wife saw it early and often lighting up
Der kitchen, creeping upon her table
shining out IN the yisage OF her hus-
band, torturing his body and burning
IN deep upon his soul.
THIS fire found its way into the even
my party of trends burnt bright amid
the scenes Of tho drawing room spread
itself in the house Of feasting covered
the house Oh mourning, and swept over
the graves Of the dead Il found its
way into the nursery taking bold of
the parent and torturing the child. 1t
also found its way into the office OF the
lawyer into the chest Of the physician
shed its ftful glare over the minister
in the pulpit ragged high in the senate
chamber threw its red light upon the
brow Of the advocate, and burnt darkly
around the canopy OF the Judge. No
\ spot, however retired or sacred could
De secnre from its approach The tenn
pie of the living God the place where
the Fathers worshipped, was thus often
epyeoped IL what might be truly de-
nominated strange Jre.
The period of lighting up was co-e1l
with the settlement Of our villages and
towns. Its flames went up with the
first smoke Of the cottage. The beams
Of tie first log cabin were colored by
it; and from those days 10 the present,
the work Of burning has been largely
going on. Tie loss that has been in
Cured. and the sufferings consequent
upon It's ravages exceeds all human
calculation. Ii often swept over whole
farms and consumed entire the products
Of tho fields Many family it render
cd houseless and friendess- casting
out the mother with her children with.
out home withouta shelter without
clothing without bread. Her cry was
/ heard III the night IN the beginning o.
4 the watches, when she poured out her
heart like water before the face OF the
i Lord. and lifted up her hands towards
Hun for the life Of her young children
that were faintmg with hunger
Even the home cattle Of these burnt
places were unable 10 escape from tbs
effects Of this scoufge Hundreds o
miserable creatures suffered in this fire
: Tie old family horse, starved and tor.
b tured, and all bis substance CONSUMED
might be seen wandering with the bar,
framework Of his body from place Il
i place along the highway, exhibiting il
! bis crippled limbs, stitiened joints, emp
, ty and cavities or sightless eyebal.s
!. tie marks Of this fire distinctly upoI
him
In those days, families removing, OF
! ten revealed BY their mode Of convey
: ance, deartn of materials and slow pro
eress, that they bad been badly burnt
Many families, however, were found en-
tirely unable to remove. Their house
and thelr barns, ih.ir cattle aud then
sheep 81 that they possessed had beel
= entirely consumed, OR, If able TO max