Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-07-19
"Fire and Frost. "

The Hon. K. B. Hale, in one Of his
mastery speeches, illustrates the pow
er Of appetite by relating the follow
ing fact, which is given in his own
words, as nearly as they can be re-
membered: 81 was, said the eloquent
speaker, "on my way to a lecture ap-
pointment in New Hampshire, one
cold wintry evening, when a man of
diminutive stature came into 4 tavern
at which | had halted to rest and
warm myself, and placing a small bun
die on the counter, called for a glass
Of gin. The landlord opened a cup
board, and pointed to some chalk
marks upon the door: There, John,
said he, is an unpaid account. You
can't have any more gin until the old
score is wiped out
4 am on fire said the poor sot. 4
shall burn to death, unless | get some
gin.'
You cannot have another drop of
gin here until the old debt is paid,
said the landlord.
John then united his little bundle,
and with trembling hands held up a
shirt and pair Of socks, saving, This
Is all the clothing | have in the world,
except the rags I nave upon me.
Take these things and give me a gill
of gin
No, said the hard-heartcd landlord,
d will not let you have another glass
of gin until you have wiped out the
old score
4 must die unless you give me one
drink. Give me one glass to put out
the fire which is burning me to death.
Not drop said the stubborn rum
seller.
You have got my money, and my
farm, my horses and cattle, and my
furniture. You have broken the heart
of my wife and scattered nv children
and now you refuse to trust me for a
glass of gin when | am suffering the
pang5 Of thirst which water cannot
quench."
At this point of the scene, Mr.
Hale determined to test the strength
of the unfortunate drunkard's apDe
tite; so, taking a silver ten cent piece
from his pocket, he held it up anC
asked him what he would give for it
The poor victim of appetite Offered
the contents of the handkerchief. Mr.
Hale refused to make the exchange
and asked him if he had not some
thing else he could give for the silve
dime, and then, pointing to his boots
he asked if he would not give then
to him for the money, which woulr
buy the gin he craved with a passion
which threatened to consume him.
"If | dc not get the GIN" said he
81 shall certainly burn to death. L
| sell my boots, i shall freeze to death.
As he spoke the cold freezing win
/ blew the snow into drifts in front O
the tavern. Il must have the gin,
: he continued. alt is easier to freez
! to death than it is to burn to death,
and then he pulled off his boots an
offered them for pint of gin. o
course, Mr.. Hale did not buy tn
boots. He left the tavern and keT
his appointment about mile distau
and the next morning he heard th
news that the poor drunkard ha
, frozen to death during the night. Fl
made some inquiries, and found the
If the statements made the night befol
e in regard to bis loss and suffering
/, were true.
1p The landlord had absorbed all tt
o drunkard's property; his money; h
e little farm; his chest of tools (he WI
rs carpenter); his furniture and h
!. clothes. His wife had died of br
ken heart, and his children were COZ
r PEELED to leave home and seek shelf,
;. and food elsewhere; and then, in b
t terrible hour of painful extremit
y \ when his vitals were burning with Il
fire this brute had poured down h
throat, he refused to trust him to
., gill of gin, and the drink was final
We paid for by some neighbor, who W
messed The distress, and then the hon
less drunkard turned into the sire
RS RS where he found a winding sheet
ng snow.