St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-06-05

stubborn arguments, and his son must
have spoken the truth. What should
he do? Yielu to the entreaty, and ac
knowledge that he had been wrong in
the past Should he do this Or
should he take from his head its crown.
and trample this crown in the dust
John, call your brothers and sisters"
he said, without looking up. They
were summoned. "Call your mother,
too" She came. ''Now tell them what
request YOU have made. Tell them all
you have told me, if you wish them to
know"
Chances of surprise were exchanged,
us brothers and sisters waited silently
for what might he said The mother,
clasping the hand of her first-born,
asked, "What is il my son? ! am sure
your father can deny yOu no reasonable
request at this time. Let lis hear it."
John Warren looked around, and,
realizing how much was at stake, re-
peated the story he had intended only
his father should hear. He was a noble
man, ii Christian man. Never had he
given stronger proof of this than when
he acknowledged his sip in yielding to
the facinations of the wine cup. ''God
he said with touching earnestness. And
his boys; it was hard to expose their
weakness and their shame, but the
good of others demanded it. All, he
needed no borrowed inspiration. Wax
ing eloquent with his theme. he uttered
such plea for total abstinence as is
seldom heard. No one of his audience
would accuse him of weakness or want
IL & L..
fanatic ? He spoke the words of truth
and soberness words wrung from him
by an experience cruel as the grave.
His mother looked at him lovingly,
while her eyes sutf'uSed with tears and
her lips quivered. God bless you. my
boy" she exclaimed. as he paused.
"God bless You. and give grace to You
and yours to keep your pledge in
violate.
"Nellie, - 1t WAS the old-time name
Judge Warren had learned when he was
a school-hoy. and Nellie Barnard was
the merriest girl that ever woke the
mountain echoes with her laugh. Mel
lie. should | have been il better hus-
band had | never tasted wine ?" There
WIS no response. should have been
a better man. Il more consistent Chris
tian. living more as God would have
me live? Would my influence have
told more for the good of humanity.
had never tasted wine" He waited
for reply. Nellie"
John YOU have been good hus-
band but | believe You would have
been better, i'll every relation of life.
had YOU" a pale. haggard face CON
fronted her. She did not need to com
plcte the sentence.
should have been better father
to YOU. my children ?"
~ Iour example and influence would
have been on the safe side" answered
John.
The same question was repeated :
and from each son and daughter came
a reply of like import. 1t was an honest
hour. when. with hated breath and
wildly throhbing hearts. father. mother.
brothers and sisters took counsel to-
gether
, 500. -. ..~ -..---.:--- .-,u a,a,
seen me so much under the influence uI
wine that my brain had lost its balance ?"
After much hesitation and many mis-
glNIng>. tins. too. was answered i'll the
affirmative.
Il have told my experience : | wish
Others would relate theirs" now said
the eldest son. hoping thus to cover his
fathers confession.
1t WIS strange Vet those men who.
IN hour before. would have scolned To
acknowledge any weakness. now con-
fcSSed that wine and kindred drinks had
often mastered their nerves and becloud-
ed their brains. The daughters. too.
lovely and accomplished though they
were. were not wholly guiltleSs in this
matter. as they admitted with dcpreca-
ting humility.
And your boys p"
Not one of all but would have count
ed it Il priceless blessing to he assured.
beyond the possibility of doubt. that
their boys would he total abStaineIS
from all Intoxicating liquors not one
but Shrank from the thought of trusting
the happiness of their girls in the hands
of men who quatfrd the maddening
drink
Nellie. shall we have wine at dinner
tomorrow ,"
"ll"w can we. after what we have
now heard ?" responded Mrs. Warren.
John. shall We have wine ?"
NO. sir. y thousand times no
There was not Il dissenting voice.
Then as God hears me- there will he |
none hencetorth at my table. For my
sin ! will make what repalation | may. |
And-and
One by one they went ont. leaving
Nellie and her John. her lover and hus- |
band. The Judge forgot his honors-
forgot the wears which lay between him
and that brightest day of all his life.
when he had promised to love, honor
and cherish the woman now AT his side
lie was young again, with life and its
possibilities all before him. so hopeful
and so strong that never IA thought of
failure mtruded to mar his dream.
'Our children. john" ut length muir
INJURED his wife.
Yes. Nellie. our children. Thank
God for them. every one. and may He
bless them with the choicest of His
blessings"
People wondered that Judge Warren
should become il teetotaler but not
one who heard him speak upon that
great question of Temperance doubted
that his whole heart was enlisted in the
cause for which he had labored SO earn
estly and talked so eloquently.
change.
Old Love Rekindled---A WASHINGTON
Romance