Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-20
zed as powers Il, their day, all Of whom

nized as powers. in their. day, all of whom
finally ,suceumbed to the. destroyer
strong drink. Since taking up my resi-
+ denee in: New England, i have: learned
of a clergyman in New York who was
I pastor OF. one of the most popular
churches in the city. who. has been sem
fenced to six months Imprisonment in,
I .Blaokwell's Island for drunkenness. We
have a class of young men who take an
occasional glass and who, when spoken
to on the subject, reply !: al am in no.
danger, sir ]. can shut off when /
please. Do you suppose / am
going to. make a hog of my
self 2" / suppose: you are. if you
take up with Intoxicating drinks. /
propose to occupy part of the evening
in speaking directly to these young men:
Here the speaker gave the history of q
young man of high ambitions, well edu-
Gated, brought up to attend Sabbath
school, and was never known to take in
toxioating liquor. Ia the army for years,
while others were daily drinking and
carousing, he invariably refused all.in-
vitations to partake He never even
learned the names of cards, which Soof-
ten lead to drink. He returned to New
York, ceased church work, and absent,
ed himself from the sanctuary. After a
short time he.went to Boston and entered
a large boarding house, at which it was
then the practice to have a Sabbath
evening parlor entertainment, at which
wine was used. A young lady offered
him a glass. He refused. She pressed,
and he drank. Stronger liquor was pass
/ ed around, he drank it. He continues
|. to drink. Soon be becomes acquainted
wigh a young lady and marries her. One
Lords. day he was brought home dead
drunk. Soon he has delirium tremens.
He calls to his wife one night, as. she in
her dreams was holding converse with
her mother, in regard to the drunken
husband, and promises, yea, sweaFs on
the bible that lac will drink no more.
He has sworn scores of times as his
wife would plead with him to come
home sober that day The terrible APP
petite burns, he .seizes his hat and. goes
to the bar and swallows a glass of gin.
His wife pleads with him again; he is.
stung with remorse, and asks what will
become of him. The wife suggests that
they go to Vineland, were no liquor is
sold; he suggests New England, and
they start and stop at Brattleboro. He.
thanked God.tbat he was free at.last, he
was in Vermont where no liquor was
sold. But he was disappointed he
went up the street and the liquor signs
stared him in the face. He maintains
his sobriety for several days, until he
drank glass of Vermont cider brandy,
when he fell again and was brought
home dead drunk. He visits the Good
Samaritan temperance meeting and
signs the pledge. Then the battle begins.
His system is diseased the struggle con-
tinues, delirium is on him. Finally the
crises comes he arises to 60 out for
something to cool his burning lips at 2
o'clock in the morning, but sees his wife
and children sleeping sweetly and peace
fully, returns and takes his Bible down
and reads the promises, kneels down and
prays, lays down again and goes to
sleep, and at nine o'clock springs up in
dream in which he thought he had
died drunk, far from hope and heaven.
Nearly three years have now elapsed
since then and the desire has not re-
turned. He now stands before you to
plead the cause of temperance. This is
why I am here to advocate the cause of
temperance,
The man who said the prohibitory
law could not be enforced uttered libel
on our institutions. There is not a law
on our statute books but can be enforced.
My heart is oppressed when think of
the desolate homes, broken hearts, cries
of the little ones and the sad wall of
Chow long, 0, Lord, how long," In
the name of the Master and the temper
ance men of Vermont, propose to move
on the enemy's works.
Here the speaker asked all in the audi
ence who were in favor of enforcing the
prohibitory law to arise. The whole
audience arose and then sung the Dox-
ology, and the meeting closed with the
benedictIOn.