Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-04-19

e 'ailed Tor bowl Of brandy in order To stot
inc bleeding, thrust his wrist into the bowl
ana then drank the contents. Stand not
when the thirst is on him, between man
and his cups Clear the track for him.
: Away with the children; he would tread
: thelr life out. Away with the wife; he
would dash her to death. Away with the
cross; he would run ii down. Away with
the Bible; he would tear it up for the
winds. Away with heaven; he considers
II worthless as a straw. "Giye mo tho
drink! Give it to mol Though hands of
blood pass up the bowl, and the soul trem-
D'cs over the pit-the drink Give II TO mel
Ihoush 1t be pale with tears though the
roth of everlasting anguish float on the
foam--give it to mel drink to nv wire's
woei to my childrens rags; to my eternal
Punishment from God, and hope, and heav-
enl Give it to me the drink I"
Again; we will contend against these
evils, by trying to persuade the respectable
classes of society to the Punishment of al
cs'olic beverages. You who move in oIe-
giant and refined association you whoncver
drink until you lose your balance, let us
look each other in the face on this subject.
You have, under God, in your power the
redemption Of this land from drunkenness.
Empty your cellars and wnc-closets of the
beverage, and then come out and give us
your hand, your vote, your prayers, your
sympathies. Do that, and | will promise
three things. First, That you will find un-
speakable happiness in having done your
| duty. Secondly, You will probably save
sonebody-pcrhaps your own child. Third
ly, You vii not, in your last hour have
regret that You mnde the sacrifice, If sacr-
fee it be. As long as you make drinking
respectable, drinking customs will prevail.
and the plough-share of death, drawn bv
terrible disasters, will 90 on turning up
this whole continent, from end to end, with
the long, deep, awful furrow of drunkards'
graves.
There is no home so beautiful but il NAV
be devastated by the awful curse 1t
throws its jargon into the sweetes' barmo-
ny. What was 1t that silenced Sheridan's
voice and shattered the golden scepter with
which he swayed parliaments and courts?
What foul sprile turned the sweet rhythm
of Robert Burns into tuneless babble?
What brought down the majestic form of
one who awcd the American Senate with !
his clOquence, and after while carried him
home dcld drunk from the Office of Secre- |
tary of State What was il that swamped |
the noble spirit of one of the heroes of the |
late war; until, the other night in a
drunken fit, he reclcd from the deck of 4 |
Western steamer and was drowned ? There |
was one whose voice we all loved To hear
lie was one Of the most classic orators Of
the century. People wondered why man
Of So pure II heart and so excellent life
should have such sad countcnance al
ways. They knew not that his wife was a
sot.
call upon those who are guilty Of these
indulEencies to quit the path of death. Oh
what change it would make in your homel
Do you see how everything there is being
des,lated? Would you not like TO bring
back joy 10 your wfo's heart, and have
your children come out to meet vou with
as much confidence rs once they showed?
Would you not like TO rekindo the Eome-
lights that long ago were cxtingulshcd? II
is not too late to change? II may not en-
tirely obliterate from your soul the memo
ry Of wasted years, and a ruined reputa-
ton, nor smooth off from your anxious
brow the wrinkles which trouble has
ploughed. 1t may not call back unkind
words uttered, or rough deeds done; for
perhaps in those awful moments, you have
struck her. 1t may not take from your
the bitter thoughts connected
with some little grave. But it is not too
late to save yourself and secure for God
and your family the remainder Of your
fast going days.
But, perhaps you have not utterly gone
astray. | may address one who may not
have quite made up his mind. Let your
better nature speak out. You take one
side or the other in the war against drunk
enness. Have you the courage to put your
foot downright, and say to your companions
and friends, II will never drink intoxicat-
ing iquor in all my life; nor will coun-
Ienance ii in others?" Have nothing to do
with strong drink. 1t has turned the earth
into place of skulls, and has stood open.
ing the gate to lost world to let in its vic
Tins, until now the door swings no more
upon It's hinges, but day and night stands
wide open to let in the agonized procession
Of doomed men.
Do | address one whose regular work in
life is TO administer To this a petite? For
Gods sake, get out of that business! Ifa
woe be pronounced upon the man who
gives his neighbor drink, how many woes
must be hanging over tho man who does
his every day and every hour of the day
God knows better than you do yourself
he number of drinks you have poured
)ut. You keep Il list but n more accurate
list than yours has been kept You may
all 1t Burgundy, Bourbon, Cognac, Held
sick, Hook God calls IL strong drink
Whether you sell il in low oyster cellar or
behind the polished counter Of first class
hotels, the divine curse is upon you. | tell
You plainly that you will meet your GUS
omers one day when there will he no coun-
er between you. When your work is done
IN earth, and you enter the reward of your
business, all the souls of the men whom
you have destroyed will crowd around YOU
md pour their bitterness into your cup
they will show you their wounds, and say,
You made them;" and point to their un-
luenchable thirst, and say, "You kindled
t." and rattle their chain, and say, "You
orged it," Then thcig united groans will
mite your ear; and with the hands out of
which you once picked slxpences and the
lines, they will push you of the verge of I.
ireat precipices; while rolling up from be-
leath and breakingamong the clouds death
will thunder; "Woe unto him that giveth
lis neighbor drink"
5
A German lately married says "Id I
AS VOusi so oosv as n uen1le cood voIl q