Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-03-06

AheN are business men. repIieu
David and although they live partly
BY the sale Of drink. they know that
sober man Is worth his money. l now
get the highest wages Of any man on the
rad. and if there's any very particular
message or letter to be sent it's general
" given 70 me. Austen won't forget
it, often hear The people say. and
feel proud Of their confidence. As for
my home, have got it again. Some
Of the things sold have been lost but
such as could easily put hand upon
again l got. little by little, The pawn
shop had the most Of them. Drunkaris
- uneOmmOnly fond of pawnshOps.-
Well, sir. my story is done, and III
leave you to judge whether was right
in refusing your offer TO drink. Had l
accepted it. it would have been like a
match to a train Of gnnpOwder. No
power oo earth. believe. would have
prevented my going back to my old
ways and bringing ruin and desolation
once more te my happy home"
Mr.. Mason did not Immediately re-
| ply: not that he had any doubt as to
the answer he would give. but he was
thinking-thinking as he had never
thought before. He could not but feel
convinced Of the truth of Austen's sto-
~. and conviction Of the thoughtless
ness, to say the least, he had been gull
ty Of forced itself upon him. IL must
acknowledge myself in the wrong" he
said at length. and the mere cOntem-
platiOn Of what might have done had
l induced you to reopen your old course
makes me shudder. l hope you will
forgive me.
Right readily. sir" answered Austen !:
land l am sure you will forgive me for
saying word or two more, and it is
this-when man in my position is
tempted by one in yours, its no easy
matter TO say NO You have got the
advantage of the likes of me in the way
Of education and manners, and when a
gentleman makes an offer of drink to a
poor man it's only natural for him to
accept it Believe me, sir. if there were
fewer givers of drink there would not
be half the drunkards and it would be
! more generous not to give at all than
, to offer man that which could by nc
possible means do him good. and which
might do him fearful harm
I The time came for the coachman tC
: hand over the coach to another of his
: class but before leaving he addressed
E the following words, with great earnest
: ness and feeling. to Mr.. Mason: ''Oh
t sir, as minister of the Gospel you ex.
t ert great influence on others. The
: difference an the influence Of yolir cram
: pie on others. at the end of your life
e through your becoming an abstainer ol
: remaining as you are. is, believe, be
T yond the power of an angel to estimate.
j Mr.. Mason grasped the hand of tn,
: coachman warmly, and with the SINGER
|. prayer. ''GOd bless you." pursued hi
:, journey toward Dublin. The impression
!, produced on his mind by the words o
: the eoaehman was never forgotten b,
e him, and whenever he in further jour
.e neys lifted a glass of wine or spirits t
, his mouth, the words of the Irish drive
" crossed his memory. and gave hin
3 trouble
" Mr.. Mason shortly afterwards cam
% over to England 1t was just about tn
1t time when the seven working men G
10 Preston had founded the well-know
d temperance society Some of the earl
D. adherents Of the moyement-knowin
rs Mr. Nason's ability as public speake
and the power he possessed for further
u ing Its interests from the influential pC
T. sition be occupied as travelling agent {
one Of our philanthropic societies-sai
/. to him, Give Us the influence Of you
D. example. You are constantly the guest
e, of well-to-do families in all parts of th
X United Kingdom, and therefore can d
lg battle against our drinking customs.
e M Mason replied. Il could give U
lg spirits and wine, but | cannot live Wit
Of out malt liquor"
be Give water trial for three months.
is they said--'do try our plan"
ID The words Of the Irish eoachman no
E. reverted with unusual power to NJ
E. Nason's mind. and. after praying f
II Gods guidance. he agreed to make Il
10 trial
" At the end Of SIX months the frienC
u again assembled TO hear the report
~ There was. however, no improvement
IS but 70 the qualification Of the frien'
th present. promise was obtained Of
70 further trial Of third three months.
,e. When nine months had passed ava
? the little party met again, when NJ
Ie. Mason said. II an weaker than ever
Ut feel such sinking and depression
a Is at times almost unbearable. and
/ fear that / nrEst return to my malt
e quor"
ed The friends looked at each other
ed They were perplexed and knew not VIII
r, 70 say, until one. more enthusiastic ths