Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-25
i BtnpetanGe.
The Careless Act.


VIII you have a glass Of this wine
sir II is fine old port, and | can recon
mend it," said an aged gcnilcmlu to th,
guest who dinod with him.
The guest was a clergyman noted foi
his earncstness and zeal. lie wfs moi
young, and had a grave, halfahstracicd air
as though his mind were busy with thc
sermon which he was to preach that after.
noon.
Thank you, do not care if / do, he
replied, aud bis glass was filled.
As he tasted it, and evidently enjoyed It's
flavor, met merry, hall-laughing glance
from a young gentleman who was seated op.
posite to me.
| could not return the glance for my
heart ached
The young gentleman was dear friend
lot mine, bright, agreeable, and with fine
talents yet in great danger lie loved wine
too well, and in the social circle used it
freely. As a consequence, his business
was neglected, and be gave evidence in
many ways that he was treading the down.
ward path
saw his danger and saw that but one
thing could save him. If he would ab.
stain entirely from all that could intoxcatc,
he might yet 90 we'll
That very morning, with all the eloqueuce
Of which | was capable, had urged this
course upon him
lie listened politely, but replied,
Thank you for caring about it. | know
| have been imprudeut Of late I will try
to be more prudent But as to total ab.
stnence | cannot promise that | do not
wish to be singular"
You will not be singular at all" |
replied. " Many good men advocate aud
practice it,"
Not in the society in which | move" ,"
he said, laughing " Men who arc better
in their lives than | ever hope to be, have
asked me 10 take wine with them. Can |
tell such men that hold myself as too
good to do as they do ?"
What could ] say in answer TO that,
except that even good men are liable TO
error
lie shrugged his shoulders.
Ny good cousin" he said, are you
not getting to be little of fanatic in
your zeal for temperance If those who
are wiser than we are sec no harm in the
moderate use Of these things, why may you
not be mistaken in opposing it 1t is only
the abuse Of these things which works
harm"
| did not yield the point, and had sue.
ceeded in more than half convincing him
that was right, when this good man came
and by his example destroyed all the effect
Of my argument.
That laughing glance had in it a sort Of
triumph and in another moment / saw an.
other wine-glass filed and emptied.
As We went out of the dining.room.
heard this whisper in my car
Do you not see | was right, my over
good cousin Dr. - sees no harm 10 tax
ing his glass Of wine after dinner as other
people DO and he is one Of the saints of the
earth. One who does as be does will not 90
very far out of the way"
Dear old DR.. --- never preached a
better sermon than he did that afternoon
But my thoughts wandered to that other
sermon, which be had preached through
that careless act Of self-indulgenoe, and l
could not follow him. | saw one who was
tempted, confirmed in an evil habit. l
knew that the appetite, stimulated by that
one glass of wine, would not be satisfied
without still further indulgence. knew
that he who did not listen to this sermon, had
been deeply injured by that silent, roiceless
preaching, and felt like crying out at
these good men who so little estimate their
influence or the weakness Of human ma
ture.
"Father, forgive them for they know not
what they do :"