Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-12


into this storm, If I'd put up with II, but I'm
not one to be ruled by petticoats, "-and 80
he continued to harangue. ms mother gather
ed our frightened baby in her arms and car
ried her into the bedroom, while ] hastily
followed, drawing JAMES chair. My dar-
ling brother, whose helpless limbs had new
er borne his weight; little did we think we
were SO soon to miss his voice and smile,
and his vacant chair" become IL silent mon
itor pointing ever to that night of terror.
| We hudded together in the darkness of
mothers room, almost paralyzed with fright.
Mother had subdued Edie's cry into stuffed
moan. Jamie had begged me to hold his
hand ms he was $50 frightened; and in this
way the slow moments glided into hours,
while the noise and confusion in the outer
room seemed TO increase.
Near midnight an alteration began, be-
coming so fierce and furious, that mother
said distressingly,
MY daughter, you must go for help, or
something dreadful may happen,n
"Oh, motherl l can not! | dare not!r [
cried.
| AhOh Hiust W, tuu leave Jam e ana
Edie with YOU"
Don't leave us, mother pleaded jamie
You must not go, mother" said |, "but
how can ever go through that roomp"
You can not. You must get out of the
window. Make all possible haste, and God
keep us alll'
The sash was raised, and clambered out,
away from the echo OF dreadful oaths, scuf-
fie of feet, and chatter of dishes,-out into
the darkness, cold and sleet, and ran to the
nearest house to rouse its inmates.
Every second seemed an hour, ms [ waited
for the desired help, and when at last our
neighbor made his appearance, it was to say,
''he was powerless to quell the disturbance,
and bad better go for some authorized per-
sons to act in the matter.n "Any way,n
cried, "only get some one here quickly"
He hurried away, while awaited his re-
turn.
Oh! the enviable quiet of the peaceful, hap
py homes scattered around us OH the sad
contrast of the present with the happy past
Great God why were we chosen to bear the
weight of others sinsP Is there no eye to
pity,-and no arm to save?
These thoughts came into my mind dur
ing those almost interminable moments of
suspense, which were ended by the return
OF our neighbor, accompanied by two peace
officers, one of whom had constituted the
majority in the Board of Excise, fsvoring the
spread of this human woe. Well might he
look upon our wretchednessl Had he not
consented unto it? Yea, had he not legaliz-
cd itP
The wrangle was broken up--the rioters
dispersed, and quiet restored in our dwelling;
but the end was not yet.
AT daylight, mother came to my bed.
with such look of anguish upon her face.
Sarah, said she, 81 want you to dress and
go for the doctor. Something is wrong with
Jamie. 1 hsArd hin, talking and went into
his room to see what was wanted, and he
did not know me, but kept talking about
father Something must be done at once.
could not reply. Was this all horrid
dream. from which there WAS no awaking2
dressed mechanically--as if in u stupor
started out, and summoned the physician.
"a sudden cold, with intense mental ex-
element. He is so frail, that the most ten
der care is required" he said, while his eyes
foretold more than this.
can not dwell upon those days of hope
lessness. and blank despair. believe shall
always hear our Jamie's pleading voice, cry
ing. "Where is my father? want my faith
en-" Even when father stood, broken with
grief, ut his bedside.
1t was only for few days; and then we
crossed his hands upon his breast, kissed the
cold, sweet lips, and laid him to rest.
at was better so; he had nothing to look
forward to-" This was tho comfort we re-
ceived
Yes he was the helpless child of drunk |
ard but we loved him. How gladly would |
have folded him in my arms and shielded |
him from all this sorrow,-but it could not |
be. The Craze gave HIM a rest and shelter.
Father had drank nothing since that dread |
full night; mother had seemed to gather |
hope from this, and / believe felt resigned |
in thinking that this was to be Gods way of |
leading him to reformation-to a reforma- |
ton lasting, If so painfully late.
We were sitting ut our lonely fireside the |
evening after jamie was buried, in sadden- |
ed silence. We could not talk of our dead |
as others talk, for his new-made grave point
ed its accusing finger at the living trouble |
which was still haunting us.
Father broke the silence, Mt last, by saying: |
"Oh Mary! know this is deep afiIic-
ton for you, but it can not be what it is to
me. There is no renlOrsc mingled with
your cup"
ado not dwell upon the past" mother re-
piled, encouragingly, "only to make it step.
ping stone to better future"
Father shook his head sadly, as he said:
81 know SO well the temptations by which
| am surrounded, that cannot take heart
| have made unnumbered resolutions only
to break them, and see no way Of escape
from this dreadful appetite, while there is
liquor TO be had, and tempters TO entIce."
II wish every drop of the accursed stuff
was in the depths Of the ocean, and the max
ing Of it abolishedr' cried passionately, I'M
able longer TO control my feelings.
Father raised his head suddenly:
my child" said he, 'if this were indeed
so, my shackles would be rivon 1 could
walk these streets free man, And ms he
spoke, he seemed almost to be breathing a
purer, freer air.
"Oh, Howaidp' said mother, beseeching-
", sis this your only hopeP Can you not ad-
here to one more resolutionP"
~ have resolved. and re-resolved, during
the past few days, but when 20 out to face
the foe again / may be vanquished" And
thus it proved; a week had not passed when
The usurping fiend again assembled the
throne, to rule on forever in his fiendish
power, and thus to complete the wreck of
our home.
The days which followed were repeti-
lion OF those we had already undergone, in