The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-05-11
The Demon of the Cup.

my room, and on the tr Bile was a plas,
containing the remains OF sherry cobblei
| had imbibed, 1t never occurred to me
that these same sherry cobblers were
dangerous companions for young man
and | was in the habit of taking from
three to a dozen of them per diem-three
when was going to see Lucy Sheldon, q
particular friend of mine, aud dozen on
the of days.
turned the leaves Of the magazine,
but | could not find any other story that
looked inviting; so threw it down, and
sunk in the rocking chair Things had
beguo 20 look rather dim. and my own
consciousness very indistinct, when my
attention was attracted by strange COM
motion in the glass from which | had
partly consumed my cobbler.
glanced at it, aud presently a long
wreath Of smoke or vapor rose from the
glass, and stretched itself over toward the
further corner of the room, just exactly
as the clouds had preceded the appear.
ance of the geuii in the story had been
reading.
The yapor slowly, aud apparently with
malice aforethought, began TO assume a
tangible shape, finally resolving itself into
the form of as ugly looking demon as
have ever read about. lie was monstrous
in size, would probably have been twenty
feet high, if the room had been lofty
enough.
"Who are you ?" | inquired displeas.
cd with my visitor.
81 am the demon Of the cup" he re.
piled, in voice which seemed to shake
the whole house.
81 haven't the pleasure of your ac.
quaintance," | continued.
YES you have You are one Of my
best friends"
81 believe we never met before"
IA dozen times day."
"Then you do not look as ugly as you
do now, if you will excuse my boldness." ."
"No; wear pleasant face when l
make the acquaintance OF young gentle
should be better acquainted. You don't
know me yet. We will have a social
time if you like"
"No | thank you; l can not say that
| am much pleased with your society"
"At any rate, will introduce you 10
some of my friends" he continued, as he
waved his hand over the cup.
Instantly another cloud of smoke pro-
ceeded from the cup which presently as
sumed the form of decrepid, ragged,
filthy old man. OF all that | had ever
seen Of wretchedness, squalor and misery,
the figure before me was the most fitting
representative, only the degree of wretch
edness seemed a hundred fold intensified.
"Who are you ?" demanded, as the
old man moved coward me.
My name is Poverty. | just dropped
in to be introduced to you, for you and |
are very likely to be friends"
"Indeed old fellow, you are reck oning
too fast. keep only respectable com.
pany.'
"Just now you do; but you will change
your habits by.and.by."
Don't be too familiar, if you please, y
| suggested, as the old chap drew chair
to my side and seated himself.
"Be civil to him." responded the de.
mon, "he is one of US and good fellow
in his way. He often brings men to theiI
senses when nothing else will. But you
have another friend and again he waved
his hand over the cup.
Again the vapor rose from the glass
and another form more hdeous than either
of the others now appeared before me.
was alarmed at first by his savage expires
sion and glaring eyes.
"Who are you ?" | inquired shrinking
back from the loathsome monster.
"My name is Crime, aud have work
for you to do"
81 am too much engaged to assist you,
| replied.
Come, come, don't be stiff about it
| suppose you are not quite ready to helI
me yet, but can bide my time, for
have a mortgage on you which in due sea
son you must pay up
"How do you like my friends % aske,
the demon.
81 don't like them" | replied, "Th
old fellow is an inconyenient companion
and l don't like the morals of the othe
chap. His notions of mine and thine arr
too indefinite to suit my ideas"
"lndeed you seemed so much incine'
to make their acquaintance, supposed
you we're anxious to number them amonI
your friends. But there is one more tha
you must know"
As he spoke, that smoke Internal curle,
up and resolved into the form of woman
She was pale, haggard, and almost
skeleton. Sic was clothed in rags, anC
was perfect picture of wretchedness an
despair. There was nothing really hide
, GUS in her aspect, except the marks o
poverty and want she bore. She turne
and fixed glance Of reproach upon m
"a glance which thrilled me to the SOU
d | pitied the poor wretch, and turne
: away. l looked again, and those feature
a we're familiar to me. | was shocked
; Mortified, as | recognized Lucy Sheldo
Q in the dreadful figure before ne. "Ot
S Robert - she cried in agony as she thre'
> herself on her knees before me, "pity me
}, Pity our poor children they are hungry
am freezing, but | care nothing for my
self Pity them, save them Drink Il
IS more, Robert, you have reduced me
y the most abject misery. Drink no MOI
e as you pity me, if you do not love me
e "Oh, Lucy, Does She too, belong
b the cup7' asked appealing to th
a demon.
!. "She does but for the present We kee
3 her down in the mint and sugar 81
g will be one of us by.and.by," he repliC
'e with a grin.
r Robert, Robert" groaned Luc
n "promise me that you will drink |
'. more !"
ID "As God is my judge, will not
D. cried, springing from my chair,
u; But there stood in my chamber alon
- anl there on the table stood the gla