Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-28

Yes, ma'am, to the very best kind Of
place-up there, you know. There's no dan |
ger that they'll ever want for anything, or
ever be turned away"
There followed a moments silence which |
he was the first to break
II did seem dreadful bard at Grst.--iust
as they was getting old enough to work and
help some. But then, as | said to Marthy, |
what more did we want than to sec EN- do |
well and if | tried and worked my hardest
| couldn't have got EN- into no such good for
tune as they'd know now. It's better for
them, so we wont fret if it is little harder
for US, will we, johnny"
But il must be hard for you to take care
of four little ones just in the way, with no one
to help you" Mrs. Wilmot said
"Oh, do Mt Marthy helps a good deal
takes in washing, and such things, you know
It's pretty hard work sometimes but still we
get along, did nt take to this always.
though used to be bricklayer before got
the fall that lamod me but never could do
much at it aiterward"
You do not seem unhappy with it all, 3"
commented Marion, coloring suddenly, how
ever, when she found that she had spoken her
thoughts aloud.
But the stranger was not well enough vorscd
in the ways Of society to perceive anything
strange in the remark, and he answered it un-
hesitatingly.
Unhappy No, to be sure, aint Why,
dear me- haint got no reason to be- You'd
say so too, if you could just see the misery
there is in this world lie worked busily a
few moments, and then added, as if his
thoughts had been wandering away to the
many scenes Of suffering be had witnessed,
" You haint no dee. Nobody can have un.
less they've seen. There's some that's better
off'n am, that's sure but there's many that's
enough sight worse, I've seen good deal,
tramping about this way, ma'am."
Many Of those that arc better off are not
as contented and cheerful as you are said
Mrs, Wilmot, giving utterance to a thought
that held some seli.reproach in IT,
"Well, do MT know ant noways extra
ordinary that way myself--not like ought to
be but do like pluck aud good spirits, tell
you. | ought to be botter'n am, because I've
had chances, you see, We did have a hero in
our family once, ma'am."
Who was it2" asked Marion, amused
My brother, youngern me. He was a
real out-and-out hero wasn't he, Johnny ?
You see, miss, I've told johnny so many
times that he knows it about as we'll as DO
myself. David, his name was he was a
bricklayer toe" he continued answering the
question in Marion's eyes. He wasn't a
bit like me, He was a great tall, strong
good-looking fellow, with just the heartiest
laugh you ever heard-a prime workman
too No danger Of his ever being out Of
work he could always get it, and good wa
ges besides so he aud Mary-that's his wife
lived as snug as could be for two or three
years. Everybody liked him, and that was
the beginning Of the trouble-they liked him
too well. He must go here, there, and every
where with the other men, and he liked to
please 'em. Then he must treat once in a
while, for he made more money than the most
and it would seem mean if he didn't; that;
what he thought, and 80 he got from buying
it for EN- to'drinking it with EN-. expect
| needn't tell you much how things went af.
ter that you know how one thing follows
another on that track He wasn't one of the
sort that could keep on that way for yeari
and never show it it told on him fast. Why
his hands, that used to be so strong would
shake like leaf, Of a morning before he got
his bitters. That would steady him up lit
tie, and he managed to do considerable worl
for ALL He wasn't ever cross and quarrel
some, and he never got dead drunk, but h,
would drink every day. It worried me
dreadful, and don't know how his wifi,
stood it. David Ia say to him, your,
a going to ruin just as fast as you can take
yourself there Il know It but it aint nc
use to talk | can't help it, he'd say, and SO
it went on.
" One day there were few Of the mon
sent out on the railroad, to see about taking
some work two or three miles out of the town
David was one Of 'em, and not hard " s,
steady as usual even. After the train 20
going pretty fast he went out on the platform
and tried to step across. to another carriage
He staggered and slipped, and just saved
himself by one hand from going right dowr
between the wheels. II was minute or sc
before he could get rightly on to his feet
again but when he did he was sober, and
knew how near he'd come to being crushed
to death under the wheels. The idec of al
awful sudden death like that and going into
the other world drunk, as you may say, tc
meet everything that's to come, is enough tC
make every man stop bit and think 1t did
him. He didn't talk much TO anybody the
rest of the ride, and the first thing he did
when he got home that night was to hunt up
one Of them temperance societies and take
their pledge.
Well, we were pleased enough when We
heard of it, and you never did see such glad
woman as Mary. But David couldn't work
the next day--he was SO shaky without hi.
sperits-and the day after twas the same
thing. We thought he'd get over it in a few
days and get used to doing without but he
didn't. suppose it had took too deep hold
of him, and he just got weaker and weaker
" The doctor told him it was stopping SO
sudden, and that he'd have to take little
liquor along to keep him up till he'd ge
stronger. But David only shook his head
and walked off. That doctor tried it over
and over again. suppose he meant well
too-and he said twas the only thing woulc
help him but David wouldn't give up
sworn says he.
a. A bad promise had better be broken thar
kept, says the doctor
80 It's tho best promise | ever made, Da
yid tells him.
"'Well,' says the doctor, don't say yot
> aint right to stop drinking it's the way yor
do il that's the matter. You'd oughter stoI
by degrees-a little to-day, and little lesi
tomorrow and so on
80 You've learnt good deal, doctor ant
| think a good deal Of your opinion, but you
needn't ever tell me that man can get rid o
a sin by holding fast to it. know what
am, and what the first taste of liquor'd make
me. I've sworn | wouldn't touch it, and
wont, says David
"' Then, my man, you'll die says th,
doctor. There's nothing else II save you
david looked out of tho window min
ute, kind Of steady like and then he smiled,
90 Won III die sober man. says he
and III keep my pledge, sha' MT |, Mary ?
} F" Her face was most as white as his, ma'am