Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-27

brought in their foot.stovcs. In such place,
with the thermometer at ten degrees below
zero, and the wind making the loose sash rat.
tie like a continuous FIRE of musketry, and
driving the snow in through every crack and
Granny, it required both courage aud forth
udc either to preach or to hear. There
was, however, one advantage that should
not be overlooked the aching feet and
hands and shivering bodies of the cougrega.
ton were a sure preventive Of sleep.
have vision now Of the venerable Worces.
ter in the high old pulpit, the wind shak.
ng the broad sash at his back and sitting
the snow into a drift on the floor around him.
his hands red and stiff with cold, and hi.
teeth almost chattering aud yet he goes
bravely and unainchingly on from firstly"
to "tcuthly," the congregation not suffering
less than himself but listening with pa.
thence which, if it could have been utilized
to that end, would have served for so man,
martyrs undergoing the tortures of the In
QUESTION. IT, in such circumstances, certain
locality, more frequently mentioned then than
now, seemed an almost desirable place on ac-
count Of its warmth why wonder? On
such days as this, those who lived near the
meoting.house opened their doors at noon.
time to those who came from q distance, al.
lowing them to warm their shiyering bodies
at blazing wood fires while eating their
luncheon Of nutcakes and cheese Some, il
must be confessed, preferred to go to the
tavern, where they could warm the inner
and the outer man at the same time, aud
iortiiy themselves for the second service By
a MONDAY dram
At later period, within the recollection
Of many now present, the town had narrow es.
cape from being utterly demoralized by drunk
euness. Farmers, finding itup.hll work to sup.
port their families aud to lay by even a little
for a rainy day, were tempted by new form.
Of industry which seemed likely to be profit.
able. Canada aiiording ready market for
potato whisky, not less than thirty or fort,
distlleries Of the vile stuff sprang into exist.
ence here, and potatoes became the stapl,
production Of the town Many young men
it is to be feared, we're ruined by the taste fo
strong drink thus acquired and fostered
Looking back to that time in the light Of tn,
present day. it seems almost a miracle that
the town was not utterly and hopeessly de.
bauched. In the course of few years, how.
ever partly perhaps, on account Of the
small profits that accrued from the business
but more | am sure, on account Of the warn
lngs of the pulpit and the quiet steady inau
once of the more intelligent portion Of the 10.
habltauts-the distileries were one after
another, abandoned; and when the temper
ance reform presented itself the town wa,
among the first to recognize its claims and
lend it hearty support. There is another
form Of agricultural industry that is now de-
moraliling the fairest portions Of New Eng
land, from which you are happily exempt. To.
baceo, thank God cannot be proftably cult.
waited in Peacham. Congratulate yourselves
that your hard sol and cold climate exemp,
you from a temptation which is corrupting tn,
conscience and oyermastering the religion Of
thousands.
These references to the past, however inter
esting as history, are more important as sue.
gestiyo of present duties and responsibilities
The fathers in their love for the town i,
which they had made themselves home, it
their willingness to make sacrifices for tn,
promotion of its honor and welfare, in then
devotion to religion aud their care for III,
education of their children, have left an ex
ample which the present generation would Dc
well to follow. The people are no doubt NOR,
intelligent, their homes better furnished. then
farms in fewer instances under mortgage but
it may at least be doubted whether the old at
tachment to the place and the old pride in it.
prosperity have not somewhat abated.
would not be unjust, but | have suspicion
that, with greater pecuniary prosperity, Their,
is less Of public spirit than there was in tn,
olden time with far greater means and op.
portunities, duller sense of individual re-.
sponsibiity in respect to public affairs. Il
the days when there were no railroads, anc
even the mai-coach was but infrcquentl
seen the people by their very isolation from
the outside world were made homogeneous and
fraternal. They were often in each other,
houses, and the affairs Of the little town, it,
struggles and It's growth, were subjects Of
daily consideration. lluskings cuttings,
apple-paring bees, and other social gathering.
were frequent; and the farmers so loved to see
and converse with each other, that instead Of
working each one alone on his own farm. day
after day, they were often, by Il system Of
exchange, brought together by the dozen IN
the same field. All this served to give intens
ity to the social life of the town. Now, how.
ever, the facilities Of intercourse with distant
places are so multiplied and so many Of you
have sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, il
larger and more hourishing places, that you
are under constant temptation to travel
and the newspapers so excite you with thei
reports Of whatever is going on in all parts Of
the world that your sympathies are prone to
be diverted from your neighbors and what i'm.
medlately concerns the welfare of the town
The church, the academy, and the distric
school are dwarfed in your eyes, in COMPARE
son with greater institutions of the same sori
elsewhere, aud before you are aware of it,
perhaps, your interest in them, and the sens,
OF individual responsibility for their character
are sadly diminished. 1t is good thing. nc
doubt, to have our sympathes enlarged so a.
to embrace the whole world but it is not a
good thing to forget the duties we owe to tn,
place in which we live, and the people among
whom our lot is east. On the contrary. thes,
duties should be the first 10 claim a.,