St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-21
Temperance. "A True Story

Amid the green hills OF vermont. on
Il white marble slab. is written the name
of an onl \ son of one of the most wealthy
families of the place. y townSman. uu-
acquainted with the sad story of Young
=, might read the inscription on his
tombstone with Il sigh that the heir at
81 much wealth should die in mInh""d'>
prime: but To those intimate with his
personal history, wealth would be lost
sight ot. in view of the fearful struggle for
dear life he maintained with Il demon
that logged his steps fnr weeks aud
months, and wears even. and thrust him
at last in fearful terror into this uu-
timely grave.
:. grew up Il noble type "t mlnh""d.
Fine in form. genial aud diyniticd in
hearing. he WAS considered Il leader III
the community. aud placed in offices of
trust at Il very early age. But. alas '
the morning that hclmcd 81 brightly
WAS soon shut in hN the darkest clouds:
he loved The imchliatin% cup. !lat >""ncI
or later. "hIlcth Ike Il serpent and
stimgcth like an adder" His father hr
lirNcd in the moderate use ot >piIitunu>
liquors a> Il beverage. and often Niudi-
Gated his course before his SON, Icr\crt-
inc passages of scripture; and IlWaN :
supplied his family with brandy L" u-,
at the discretion ot lis members.
Young :, with his superior mental
capacities. SAW. before he WAS seven
/ teen. !hc peiniciouS effects ot Il Grc use
of this fiery poison. and felt. in his
! growing appetite for ii. there waS dan
! ger and this consciousness of danger
aroused the powerful energies nt his soul
To resistance. and he Ic>nlvcd never tu
taste it again. Until twenty. hc with
stood mamiullN the daily temptation his
mistaken father cruelty placed bcfor,
him. and kept his pledge uubl"krn
then he WAS Frustrated 10y severe sick
ness. aud his phl sician, rs is to" often
the c;IS,.. pIescribcd spirits as Il rc>torl-
tive: at first. he peremptorily refused
to taste it. but his mother, in her great
anxiety for the recovery of her darling
insisted he should take it ''just for
me,licine,' and he yielded. 1t seemed
a small matter, but the consequence
were fearful. 1t was like opening &;
crevice in bank against pent up wa
ters; his Slumberimg appetite was st
uuickcned by commencing again the
daily Use of liquor, that he never more
was master of himself. His whole sou
t rebelled against slavery to the ''demol
intempcrance." and hence the bittcrue~
of the cup of misery, which he drank t.
the very dregs.
t The drunkard who becomes sucl
without compunction. and even gloric
. in his shame, may live stupidity on TO
wears. il loathsome burden to himsel
: and society: but constant struggl
b. with the pursuing tieud, such as wa
| manifested 10y young =, soon wears on
the physical frame. He knew, and hi
= friends knew. that. unless he obtained
y. the victory, he soon must die. Yet
e strange to tell, his father. his crne
Il father, still kept before him the fata
Z brandy bane of his life. ln til
= daN of reckoning, how can he answe
e for this great wickedness
e :. loved most tendcrly heautitu
true hearted maiden, who WAS worth
% the wealth of affection he gave her. an
d who loved him no less terVently i'll re
It turn and her plighted troth was tn
o golden sunshine of heaven that hrougl
5 summer to his heart, but when he fouI!
Y his resolutions of reform We're of n
II avail-that, Notwithstanding all his e
: forts, the destroyer was constantly gain
e ing upon him-his generous nature IL
e coiled from the thought of binding he
d to share his miserable destiny, and |
is broke the engagement.
Then. III the bitterness of his spin
he prayed for death to release him fro
le his uuspeakable misery. Poor yon
4 man! would he had prayed for strengl
to resist temptation then the answ,
1. would have been My grace is sntficiel
le for thee :" but instead of looking ,