Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-11


sent to the prominent dealers in liquor IN
this city
BURLINGTON, VT, May Is, 1875.
DEAR sm:-Although you personally I'M
known to the writer OF this letter, you are IN res
pect 10 one thing subject Of his frequent thoughts
and many prayers TO God. / refer to the matter OF
one branch OF your business. | suppose } GU to be
one Of many persons in the place, who are endeav-
oring add To their personal gains, by dealing N
| intoxicating liquors. In this respect you are the
| subject Of great interest with many and many an
individual ofwhom you never heard, and whom you
will possibly never meet in this world The writer
oithis letter is one OF these.
You have never done any harm-so do not
think that have any personal wrong to spur me
on to write you a letter on this subject. thank
my dear Lord, that lie has so surrounded my life
with His loving care that you and those who like
you sell that curse Of homes for money, have never
gained any hold upon my dear ones. No poor be-
sotted and rum-cruel father or brother ever made
the fair home OF my childhood wretched and no un
certain step OF bleared eye, or maudn speech, or
fiery breath, ever chill my heart with fear ana
agony when my husband enters his happy home
have not even dear friend who is the victim OF
your cruel traffic. Why then do NEEDLE with
what does not concern me-yOuask. Because-well
think partly because my life has been SO free from
this trouble, that see how fair and happy this
world would be Il there were no drunkenness: be-
cause want others, who are bearing all the suffer
ing which it occasions, should know my happ ness
in beingiree from Il; but mostly, because 1 love
God, and il IS keen pain for me, 10 see how the
beautiful NNrll winch he lds nldlt le CuIstu
how the noble lives which lie has made are blishted
by this one dreadful evil.
And it is a gain, because love immortal sous-yOT
soul and the souls othe men 10 whose lips you have
put the glass. to-day, or yesterday. | shudder
think OF the end OF earthly life even il this LIE
were ful otlOy 10 you and them TO those who have
sold themselves 10 this cruel master For | know
that Whle he rules over Them so cruelty here, ne
does not des IN anything better FOR them hereafter
/ have the Holy bible open before me, and read ::
"know ye not that the unr ghteous shall not inherit
"a a f.rNn Nlar ran-- faK
nor oovetouS, nor drunkards-shall inherit the
kingdom OF God And in another place, Woe I'M
TO him that giveth his nelghb0r drink. that
puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken
also.' ] love your soul SO much that | long 10
have you take those two passages from Gods word
Is MS message 10 grH. think he has put il into
my heart 10 write this letter to you JUST TO remind
You that He has mat y druukarCs shall inner
10 the kingdom q tod And because He knew how
hard IL is Tor men VINO toe drink to keep from
drinking when they see u, OF have 10 offered them,
or kDow where they can find it for a few cents
glass He said. Woe unto him that giyeth his
neisHhor drink that puttest thy bottle to him and
make-t him drunken also" WILL you not give
yourself one hour or thinking what the Eternal
uOd must have ielt when lie said thatl With what
grief and dispeasure lie looks upon any thin even
q 4 is a legitimate business which Injuries the
people He has made and with what sorrow, then,
lie must look upon this business which destroy =
the body anu the soul OF every one who becomes
victim o. it, And how strange il seems 10 me that
when your business Us 80 dangerous 10 your own
soul, and 10 the souls OF those whom you lead on 10
drunkenness, you 90 not say 81 iciH not live in
such a condition Of shame any longer. There are
means %. support open to me which will not be
sucn source OF Wrelchedness 10 my own soul, and
oi woe 10 my fellow men, ana though use my
III gotten gains l ciH seek support in that which
Will not curse NY own soul, and my mel glhors
Ives Oh, that You might So decide There
Will then remain the results Of what you have
already done in this bad business. Nothing hut
the pardon o. Goa can make your own CONDITION al
all saie or hopeful, aLd the harm you have done 10
others can never be Uuduue.
But VIII you not IN true sorrow and shame !or the
past, seek forgiveness Of God anu spend the rest OF
our days in STRIVING 10 bless others, and TO pull
t1cn hack from sin, Instead o. helping them on IN
their eyl. ways.
May not urge you t. attend the Union meetings
which are beng held for the purpose ut aiding all
Wn0 need help 10 IND pardon OF GUd ior sinful
lives, and peace in believing IN Him.
TINS letter = written it'll the approval q many
Temperance ladies 81 this place, anu the prayers Of
many deyout hearts follow 10.
with the earnest longing that 70 may reach your
heart, and help you e. turn 10 God. feeble
us WDrcs, the writer commits il 10 your soul.
In behalf of the
huNASs' TEarFRANcE UNION.