St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-06-09

ne was very iona Of PegSy always
lie advised her to persuade me to %
and hear temperance lecture. / went
twice and, although had nothing tu
say against the lecturer. | couldn't helJ
smiling to think how little he knew of
the force of Il tippler's habits. He
seemed to think ii drinking man could
throw them of, as easily as he could
his old shoes. knew betteras thought,
for had tried. I've promised Peggy Il
hundred times, when went ont in the
morning, that wouldn't touch IL drop.
and ! meant t" keep my promise too,
hut I've come home drunk at night, for
all that
At the time ! was speaking of, when
the landlord threatened to turn lis out,
ana our best prospects were about as
black as Il thunder cloud, Peggy urged
me to make Il visit to old friend Boyn-
ton, and ask his counsel. felt rather
awkward about it, for | had avoided
the old gentleman of late; and when
ever met him. | had put on il sort of "A
staggering gait, which Il drunkard oc-
caslonally assumes to show his indie
pendtnce. | couldn't refuse Peggy :
request, however; and besides, felt
as though Id give the world, if had it
t" Ice able To leave off; 50 went to
the old Quaker.
made my visit in the morning, and
that might appear decent, | had not
taken dram since the forenoon of the
preceding day. found the old gen
flenIan at home. He relieved me of all
my awkward feelings in an instant. by
his Kind treatment. "Ah, friend Web
Der. said he. Il am glad to see thee Z;
thee hast not made me IL visit for IL
long time; how is Peggy thy wife, and
thy little one ?" told him they were
t"lerably well, and that Peggy had sent
her respects te him. PEGGY was al
ways Il good child" said he. land she
maketh thee Il good help-mate. friend
Wehher. doth she not p "A thousand
times better than | deserve" said l..
''as You we'll know, Mr.. Boynton i'll
didn't know how kindly YOU feel to my
poor wife, couldn't have come as |
nave to ask You to help me" And
pray. friend Webber," said the old man.
what wouldSt thou have me To do 4?
ny wIfrs father WAS my friend. when
! was II boy. when the heart is like
>ottcncd WAN. and impressions are
made deeply. There are people in the
world, as thee we'll kuewest, friend
Nebhcr. whom il l. hard To serve, but
| Peggy Is not OF that number and if
can Il have not come Il begging"
said lntcrrupting him: Il have not
Come To ask for money. meat, fire. nor
clothes; and Vet have come to ask Won
I" help me pay of the heaviest debt
that Il man can owe to IL fellow mortal"
And pray. what may hc the nature of
| thy debt. friend Wchhrr ?" said the
/ Quaker, c\ identlv with a little di,trnst
a. To the condition of my mind. and the
real object of my visit. Il will tell Won
>il. said |. Nv When courted my wife.
| made hrr tam promises, such as most
men make on such occasions, tu he
kind L" her and /" do all things t" make
her happy. These promises have
broken. When married her she had
little property. which You. as her
guardian. had considerably Increased
thlS property have >quandered. She
took mc for IL sober man. and | have
proved drunkard. have abused her
Kindness and good nature. Vet she has
never gwen me Il harsh word OF an an
grN look. Many times when | had pIo-
Nldcd nothing for dinner. and SUPPOSED
her without ii mouthtul for herself and
her chlldrcn. she has sent little Eli to
find me. and let me know that dinner
WAS ready and when | have returned
not untIcqucntlN from the grog- shop |
have found her. if not cheerful. always
kind. and glad to have me come home.
f"I have always loved her. however |
have neglected my duty towards her
and the children. Peggy. somrhnw or
other. always found something for din
ncI. Il few roasted potatoes. Il dish OF
dandrlion>. and after Eli got to Ice old
enough t" catch fish. which are plenty
in the pond. We had no Lack of them in
their season. At such times, | have
always felt heartily ashamed of myself,
and have s"lemnly vowed, again and
again, that | would never touch an
other drop of spirit. But the smell of
it. or the sight of it. or the very thought
of it. has crowded my good resolutions
aside, and in day or two, | have re
turned home intoxicated. Now. sir. if
| could only cure my self of this dread
ful habit. could be happy, and 81 could
Peggy. Ii there WAS no spirit ! could
earn money and keep it. But feel
unable to resist the temptation that is
to hc found in every corner. Rum has
customers 50 often that | have lost
them all. have nothing to do. and
Rnhy, onr landlord. has warned Us out
Peggy has been anNi"ns that should
come and talk with vou. and take Your
advice; though | don't see how that
will he like to help me"
Thee talkest we'll and wisely. friend
Wchhcr." said the Quaker: Il have
,ti .4I t.,, h...
have long hoped that thou would come
to reflect, aS il seemeth thee hast done.
upon the fatal consequences of thy bad
habit. thank thee sincerely. friend
Wrhbcr, for the confidence thou seem
est to place IN me. and thou shalt in no
wise he the worse for it. Thou hast Il
just view of this matter, and thy feel
imgs are right. and thee wishcst hearth
ly to reform; now why doSt thou not
put thy name to the temperance pledge
| WAS well pleased to see thee at the
lecture about the middle of the fourth
month" "Oh, sir" said |, Il cannot
do that for | shall never he able to
keep clear of the temptations. should
certainly break my word, and be worse
of than | was before. | dare not trust
myself, Mr.. Boynton. | don't think |
could leave off for any length of time,
unless was compelled to do SO, in some
WAY that cannot foresee." ..Nerilv."
said the Quaker. after IA long pause,
THY case is an Interesting one, friend
Webher, and think better Of thee.
than if thee hadSt Il vain confidence in
thy self and thy powers of resistance. | |
cannot advise thee to any course, until |
have considered thy matter more full |
ly. Tomorrow will he the Sabbath ::
will thee call and see me again on the
evening of the Monday foIloviuU P- 81