Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-09

job have In hand, little further into the
evening"" "Mr. Weber," said Parson
Wheatly, "I have given my brother Mer-
rick, some account of the happy effects ol
the temperance reform in our village.
well know how openly you, and your
brother Bailey, are in the habit OF exhibit
ing your own conversion, as an induce
ment TO others; and, II you will do me the
favor 10 give Mr.. Merrlck some account OF
1t, shall be much obliged to you. The eG-
feet of such narrative may be beneficial
elsewhere"
"Why, gentlemen" said the cooper, with
a grave expression upon his features, III
shall bless the day when the reformation
came into Eddlngton, and so will Peggy"
Peggy Webber had removed the break fast
tablo to one side of the apartment, and,
with a baby in her arms, had drawn her
chair into the circle. "Brother Bailey and
1 have often said" continued the cooper,
"that IL we hadn't turned about just as we
did, we should have been, as like as not in
the drunkard's grave by this time. We
used to have terrible quarrels, and all about
nothing. Rum was at the bottom of them
all. don't really think we should have
had any pickering, II it hadn't been for
rum. The first time we fell out, we were
ruddled, both fus and we went on from
bad TO worse, Till there was no kind Of i'll
turn that Bailey wouldn't do me, and
wasn't behind him in any sort OF mischief
| Our wives were separated from each other,
and there was a complete family quarrel.
Bailey's wife and he had terrible time Of
1t; sic took liquor, and he handled her
rough enough. That poor woman" said
he pointing to his wife, chad a hard time
OF it, too but she never took drop of the
vile poison. She never gave me an unkind
word in her life aud If l ever lifted my
finger against her, in anger, 1t must have
been when l was crazy with liquor" "You
never did, George" said Peggy Webber.
"Well, l am grateful" continued her hus-
band, "that have not that sin against me.
However, it was bad enough. We got TO
be very poor, and got TO be very cross.
When was ill-natured, Peggy used TO cry I;
and, when l was melancholy, she used TO
come and sit down by me, and say all sorts
f comforting things; and, whenever she
thought it would do, she would urge me
not TO drink any more spirit. l lost all my
custom, and we parted with the principal
part of our furniture. Our house got TO be
full enough OF misery, If it was emptied of
everything else. L couldn't pay my rent
any longer, and our landlord began TO talk
pretty roughly, and threatened to turn us
out. l heard there was good chance for
coopers at New Orleans, and asked Peggy
il she was willing 10 go. She said yes, if |
I hought il the best course, but she didn't
see why we migbtn't get on here, as we
used to do. i told her we could stay here
and live on bread and water. She replied,
that she would be truly happy 10 do so, II
l would give up spirit; that she knew II
made mo poor aud wretched, and that this
made her 30 and that she did not believe
our misery would be lessened by change
OF residence, but by a change of habit,
which could be as well made here as any
where else. 1 was not 80 degraded as not
10 feel the force OF what Peggy said.
my wife's father and mother were dead.
There was shrewd, honest, old Quaker in
our village,-you know who l mean, Par
son Wheaty-old friend Boynton, as we
call him-he was very intimate friend of
my wife's father, and took an interest in
his Chi ldren, and used to visit at Bailcy's
house and mine, Till matters came TO very
bad state. He was very fond of Peggy al
ways. He advised her TO persuade me to
so and hear temperance lecture. / went
twice and, although l had nothing to say
against The lecturer, l couldn't holp smil-
ing TO think how little he knew of the force
o tippler's habits. lie seemed TO think
a drinking man could throw them of, as
easily as he could his old shoes. 1 knew
b etter, as l thought, for l had tried. I've
pr romised Peggy hundred times, when 1
went out in the morning. that l wouldn't
touch a drop, and l meant TO keep my
promise too, but I've come homo drunk at
night, for all that.
"At the time l was speaking Of when the
landlord threatened to turn us oGt, and our
best prospects were about as black as n
thuuder-cloud, Peggy urged me to make
visit 10 old friend Boynton, and ask his
counsel. felt rather awkward about it,
for had avoided the old gentleman of late;
and VIII enever 1 met him, had put on a
sort Of staggering gait, which drunkard
occasionally assumes to show his independ-
erce. l couldn't refuse Peggy's request,
however; and, besides felt as though I'd
give the world, If had it, To be able to
leave off; so / went TO see the old Quaker.
81 made my visit in the morning, and that
might appear decent, had rot taken a
dram since the forenoon of the previous
day. 1 found the old gentleman at home.
lie relieved me of all my awkward feel
ings in an instant, by his kind treatment.
'Ah, friend Weber, said he, Il am glad 10
see thee thee has not made me a visit for
long tinle5 how is Peggy thy wife, aud
thy little oner 1 told him they were toll
erably well, and that Peggy had sent her
respects 10 him. Peggy was always good
child said he, and she maketh thee a
good help-mate, friend Webber, doth she
notT "A thousand times better than de-
serve said I, 'as you well know, Mr..
Boynton. If didn't know how kindly
you feel 10 my poor wife, couldn't have
come as l have TO ask you to help me-
And pray, friend Weber, said the old
man, what wouldst thou have me to dor
Thy wife's father was my friend, when
was boy, when tho heart is like sollened
wax, and Impressions are made deeply.
There are people in the world, as thee well
knowest, friend Weber, whom it is hard
to serve, but Peggy is not of that number,
aud if cant have not come a begging
said |, interrupting him. i have not come
to ask for money, meat, fire, nor clothes
and yet have come TO ask you to help me
pay off the heaviest debt that a man can