Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-12-22
Farm and Fzreszde.
GOOD MULTIPLICATION nv H.rRT-
FORD.

The Boston Recorder o. Nov. "A, contains
an interesting account of the experience
meetings held by the Good Samaritan so
ciety Of Hartford, Conn, from the pen of
Mrs, Mary Spring Walker. The following
is an extract:
They are held Tuesday and Saturday
evenings in room No. 8, Marble Block.
The society hold other meetings; outdoor
gatherings Sunday afternoons in the State
House yard in the summer, and big meet
ings Sunday evenings in Music Hall or the
Opera House, interesting and profitable al
ways, and productive of much good but
tits Of their experience meetings am NOV
ed TO write.
The members Of this temperance society,"
large proportion reformed drunkards,
come together on these eek-day evenings
to talk of the struggles and temptations
through which they have passed, and the
victories they have gained. They come
from the workshop, and the factory, from
the carpenters bench, and the coal yard,
some of them walking two and three miles
after their days work, and often going
without their supper, that they may attend
these meetings. They esteem it no sacri-
flee. They say they here get all the
strength and courage they need for the
hard battle with appetite which they are
lighting. 1t is a common saying among
them, and the advice they give to new
corners: "Sign the Good Samaritan pledge,
and come to the week night meetings, and
you are all right"
They are constantly bringing in recruits
One hardly calls himself member in good
and regular standing till he has persuad-
cd another to join, and in this goodly city
Of Hartford, 1.-THE city of churches" as we
are proud to call it, these good samaritans
find plenty of "neighbors," (alas, that our
priests" and our "Levites" daily pass
them by on the other side stripped, plum
dered, wounded half to death, by worse
thieves than piled their trade between Je-
rusalcm and Jericho.
And having found such an one, despised,
iorsaken, despairing, they seek to restore
him, oittimes out of their own poverty
ministering TO his necessities, and with I'M
wearied patience and gentleness, striving
10 quicken into life the faintest spark of
self-respect left in his wretched, benumbed
heart. And 50 it is a common occurrence
at these meetings, for brother 10 enter the
room, unfolding the lettering steps OF
some poor wreck of humanity, hanging
back perhaps, in his yacllaton, falterng
at the last moment in his good resolve,
while tho other, strong, rosolute, tender,
with whispered words of encouragement
urges him on. And when the step is tax
on, and another drunkard has 'signed off,
l have seen the face of his rescuer, the face
of hard working mechanic bronzed by
exposure, and deep lined by care, grow
beautiful in its expression of b0nevOlence
and love. "Verily he shall have his re-
ward"
There arc no formal addresses at the ex-
perie nee meeting. brother A." the lead
err of the meeting says, twill you tell us
how you are getting along?" and A re-
spends, "Well, Mr.. President, have only
the old story to tell. I've been faithful to
my pledge since the last meeting, and with
the help of God I'll keep it as long as l
lives" and b and c in turn called upon,
give in their testimony and renew their
vows III tne Sdlnt language.
ID, with "the mark of tho beast" stamped
plainly on his face and the rum-tremble in
his hands, Ga fortnight since, poor fellow
hc was drinking his sixteen drains a day
tells how the struggle isn't quite so hard
this week rs last, that his food begins tc
relish, that he dosnt lie awake nights SC
much, longing for whisky, and though its
an awful tough fight he's having, with the
help of Almighty God he means to put il
through. They applaud this speech, and
call out hearty words of good will and
cheer, and the half-reformed man, looking
in one and another kindly, helpful face
gets strength to persevere.
1t Is anniversary night with brother
two years since he signed the pledge, anG
IN his talk he calls il his birth night "for'
says he, so simply and seriously that he
cannot he accused of triAing with sacred
subject, sit tells in the Bible, how mar
must be born again, and that's what hap
pened to me when 1 signed this Good Sa
marian pledge. / was the lowest, and thu
dirtiest, and the meanest of Gods creation
was dead to everything decent and good
And now I'm alive again. / feel clean
and new, and whole. tell you, brothers
two years ago tonight, in old China Hall
/ was "born again"
The room is very still while brother
his face working with emotion, tells hov
since tho last meeting he has buried dea
little daughter, who, when she lay dying
called him TO her, and stroking his cheol
with her thin hand, whispered, "father
Pm proud of you since you signed tn
pledges" and "oh brothers," tho fathe
says, tears streaming from his eyes, ''if
hadn't enough to keep me from breaking