Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-01
The Drunkard's Vow.
BY MRS. N. A. HOLT.

Good bye, Jim Brown, you have
got the last cent of my money that
you will ever get" said a poor miser.
able looking wretch, as he turned to
leave the bar-room of a hotel, where
a large company sat drinking and ca
rousing.
al guess that when you find a few
cents shall get them, jake" answer
ed the beSottcd landlord with a sneer,
"but l tell you again that you will
get no more rum until you pay off the
old debt"
Good bye, Jim Brown" said old
Jake again, 'you will never get one
cent Of it. nor will you ever sell me
another glass of rum"
| "Goin' to sign the pledge, Jake ?"
said another voice, "gue8s twill not
do you much good if you do, for you
like rum too well to keep it long"
May be shall sign the pledge"
was the reply, "but | consider my
word here, just as sacred and binding
as written pledge, and so | solemn
| ly swear before God and man never
to touch another drop of the accursed
/ poison so long as | live" and Jake
retreated towards the door as he said
! this.
Hold on Jake, don't 60 yet," call
/ ed out another voice still, "come back
and | will treat you. Here, landlord,
give him q good glass OF rum to make
him better natured" But Jake new
er looked toward the speaker, and
still kept moving slowly toward the
door.
You will try in vain, l guess" he
slowly said, "for l have drank my
last glass of liquor, God helping me"
aud old Jake Bell walked away.
"Wonder what has got into the old
fool, said one Of the bar-room loung-
ers, "lor | never knew him to refuse
glass of rum before"
Guess he'll come back before many
days go by" was heard from another
part Of the bar room.
Suppose that old Jake should re-
form, said one that had not spoken
before. u never saw him with such
a fit on, and if he should stick to what
he has said, landlord Brown has lost
one Of his best customers"
"And a few shillings besides, y
chimed in another voice.
Guess be has no: lost much by old
Jake Bell, for if I'm not mistaken his
money has been quite an advantage
to jim Brown for anumber OF years,
was the reply.
stop your noise, will YOU" said
the landlord with a scowl upon his
face, all take care of old Jake"
perhaps he II take care of himself, "
was the reply, "and l thiak he would
do quite as well, and his wife and
children would be the gamers"
"Stop your internal noise, Bill
Grey, or leave this room" yelled the
landlord, growing black with passion.
"Il / do go, said Bill quietly, al
shall go as old Jake did, never to
come back again. You know that
what Bill Grey says he means"
well, then, hold your tongue" re.
piled the landlord, a little cooled
down by Bills last remark.
Susan Bell sat by an humble win.
dow of her humble home, looking out
upon the beautiful landscape bathed
= with the golden rays of the setting
sun. There was an expression Of
pain and sadness resting upon heT
= face, and occasionally a tear cleaned
in her faded eyes. We doubt if the
glory Of the field and sky had awaken
ed one cheerful thought in her heart
, and if it did the dark cloud of misery
soon turned the rays of sunlight tc
gloom again. All! the bright hope:
of other days had long ago died ou
5 from the heart Of Susan Bell, and the
] grim shadows Of earthly wretchedneS;
e had long stood arrayed around hel
l pathway. But away in the dim lone
ago, this now wretched woman haC
e seen bright days Of happiness, though
/, they appeared now like some fair,
/, dream, which cast its mocking glor,
e upon the barren waters of life. Rum
the demon Of earthly happiness, hat
:, destroyed the hopes of poor SuSal
; Bel, and driven peace and plent,
q away from the once cheerful freside
Il Rum had ruined the prospects of ia
e cob Bell and made him a miserable
d besotted wretch. In other days h
e had been loved and respected, for h
/ possessed many noble qualities, an,
r he bid fair to be man of more tha
ordinary usefulness in the world.
But he became entangled in th
o snares Of intemperance, so down h
! went upon the fearful road of sin an
n ruin. Four children had once mad
h music in his home, but after he bega
q his career Of shame. disease laid it
q hand upon two Of them and they dice
n Mrs. Bell did not murmur as the deaf
If angel claimed them, for she saw th
storm that was gathering in the ives
ern sky. Soon it came, and then sh
re daily thanked God that there wer
Il only two to suffer ,he abuses of
.8 drunken father, and bear the heav
a load of want and poverty. Jim Brow
I had taken the earnings of the husban
,5 and father for many long years, an
q in return gave him the deadly poiso
i that made him a brute and deadene
i every impulse of nobleness.
. "He has gone to Browns as usual
% said Susan Bell to herself. 80 ho
p | wish that he would not go there
p often. He never will even try to r
q form as long as he goes there to spen
q his leisure hours" 4 tear droppe
u from the eye Of the drunkard's wi
. as she looked in the direction of Il
u village tavern. But il will do |
75 good to hope any longer, for he wi
50 never do any better she said ha
9 aloud.
)5 The sun went down behind tl