Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-10
A Word 10 Reform Clubs.

We cannot possibly conceive Of anything
more wise or timely than the following adj
vice to our Reform Clubs, which comes "a
us without any author, but which is worthy
Of being painted in letters Of gold over the
door posts Of every club room. as showing
the true way to a genuine and thorough re-
form
81 think that the most lonesome aud dis
consulate of all things is what | might call a
dry reformation for a man who has been
liquid sinner Drinking men nave hard
times but then they have jolly times
too They feel good for a while every day.
Where a man lives in a squalid house, and
has scolding wife (and every woman is
justified in scoliing who has a drunken hus-
band). and he is cold, and there is no fire
and no light. aud nothing to eat aud nothing
TO drink, aud he goes round the corner, and
there j. some one there taat slaps him on
the back, aud calls him 'old fellow, and
says. Why didn't you come sooner Z? and
sets him down and brings him a foaming
tumbler, aud he drinks, and it is light and
warm, and there are pictures, and Jim
aud Tom and Bill come in, he feels.
Well, this something like tin he goes
into temperance meeting, where he has
opened before him the dangers and the sure
destruction Oor it is sure), and then he is
appalled, at his perious situation, aud, in a
paroxysm Of right feeling, he determines
that he will stop his dissipation, and he signs
the pledge. And now he has a time Of it :
Was there ever anything so disconsolate as
virtue under such circumstances The man
is not going to have anything more TO drink :
he is all unstrung; he is gloomy gloomy in
the morning. gloomy all day gloomy all
night he has horrid dreams Besides,
things are not mended ia an hour man
cannot build up all at once what it has
taken him ten years to destroy. And his
wife does not become an angel or a saint in
a minute lie is deprived Of his com
pauions. lie does not dare even look in at
the window Of the place where everything is
so tempting. lie is told to keep away from
it. lie tries to do something, hut he cannot
get work Nobody wants to trust him.
Everybody knows what Interpolation is, and
gives him clear berth. lie is poor wretch,
physically broken down, impoverished, with
out occupation and the means Of grace -
at home are more than he can bear. lie is
trying to keep temperate, but it is hard
and my wonder is, not that so many 60 back
but that any ever go forward under such
circumstances.
tBut suppose man should take the true
course and should say, | have undertaken
10 reform myself, not merely because drink
but because ! am in need of a higher ant
better life; and it is my purpose, by tn,
grace of God, to he a man all over-no
alone in my mouth The resolution is
good one; and ! say TO him, Go forward
Go where there are Christian men an,
Christian women praying, and say to them
Pray for me Go and vow, am for life
and if die, ! will die struggling for saliva
ton Go with tears into the sanctuar,
where there are hearts that know how {,
echo the sorrow of other hearts, and say
Life life life Save me from the fire
from the food, from the wolves Go 70
the whole. Go for everything Go for de
cency, for knowledge, for industry, for piety
for faith, for loving other people. Then j
will not be so doleful. Then it will not b