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

Tic plesSeu my hand With great earnest
ness.
l felt better for my visit | found
that had Il friend. for Peggy's sake al
least, who did not utterly despise me.
kept my word with the old gentleman
and knocked at the door on Monda,
evening, with something like the conf
dence of the honest man. He opened
1t himself. Il am right glad to see
thee, said he; "sit down Well hast thee
kept thy promise p "Yes, sir" replied
Thee hast not tasted spirit since
last saw thee 7" Not ii drop sir" said
!. 81 thought so,' he replied "thee
loOkeSt better than | have seen thee fOl
Il long time. Dost thou feel any worse
for 1t friend Webher ?" Ne, sir
SAID 81 feel better and happier
"Well, now, must tell thee" said the
old gentlemen, "that | have been 81
much engaged since our last meeting
that thy matter has not occupied my
attention so fully as it ought | hav.
had much upon my hands in connection
with our conference, which takes place
on Wednesday. and from which | shall
not return till Thursday On the eve
ming of that day. will endeavor tu
| Pitp"iS i'i NhVt, anu Ill tlt iItdtlN llllt,
thee will promise me to abstain until
that time" gave him my proms,
and took my leave.
In the interim | began to feel the
want of occupation and, having fore
closed myself from seeking it at the
grog shop, | endravored to find it in
my own.
When George Wehber had reached
this part of his narrative, he perceived
that Peggy was deeply affected. A
few tears had fallen upon her infants
head, which the child had raised to-
wards It's mother, with smile of won
der upon its features, while its eyes
were turned inquiringly upon hers.
| The incident had attracted the attention
of the clergyman. "lou are thinking
of old times, Peggy" said her husband.
Yes. George, she replied, Il can new
cr forget that week, nor how | felt.
when | told Eli to go over to the tavern
and ask You to come home to dinner.
and he told me you had been sitting at
work Oh the shaving horse ever since
breakfast. | always had Il fundness for
music, but | never listened to ANY half
50 sweet as the rub Il dub dub that yoll
. h'I'' up il''n Npul dlltI NouI
return from visiting good old friend
Boyntnn."
Mr.. Merrick. who had become exceed
ingly interested in the cooper's story
begged him To proceed.
well, gentlemen said he. when
| Thursday evening came. | went once.
more to Nh. Boynton's house. He re
cciNed me a. kindly aS ever. Thee.
lnnkeSt ST. we'll, friend Webber," said he.
'that | need not ask thee if thou hast
kept thy word" Il have kept it. sir"
said |. And is not thy home pleas
amter and thy wife happier :" "Oh.
Yes sill, | replied, have You made
up Your mind. Mr.. Boy Nntun. as to any
course Which would he best for me p
Il owe thee an apology" said he. .for
thus putting off the full and tinal con-
SldeTatIon OF thy matter; but, if my
life he spared. and thee wilt call on me
on Monday morning, will surely give
thee my advice. We have killed a pig.
friend Webher, and my wife will have
thee take along roasting piece for
Peggy. Thee wilt keep thy promise.
trust, until we meet on Monday ,"
thanked the old gentleman for his kind
| returned to my family.
A> | WAS sitting 1T my work. il sud
denly occurred to me. that had al
ready reformed without knowing it.
sat for Il few moments on my shaving
horse, marveling AT my own stupidity.
in not having understood the old gen
tlrman'~ DRIFT before. | had not sup
posed it possible To abstain for twelve
hours. and Yet had already tried the
experiment successfully for nine DAYS:
and. when | marked the Increased hap
pInt>s OF my poor wife. and the light
ness of my own spirits. | resolved with
III my self that it should be something
more than Il nine days wonder. |
hadu't been inside the meeting house
tor about "A year. Saturday night. after
had shut up the shop, washed my self
up nicely, and, when | went into the
house, told Peggy, if my coat wasn't
torn so badly, I'd go to meeting with
her next day. "Why, George" said
she. I'm sit up till morning to mend it j..
if you'll GO" ''Do go. daddy :" said Eli.
and running out he got my hettrrmost
shoes, and began to scrub 'rm up for
sunday. | remember youI text that
morning. Parsoh WheatlN, and ap-
piled it to my own c:ise-"Let lis not
Wear! in we'll doing, for in due season
We shall reap if we faint not"
On Monday morning | went to see
my landlord, Mr.. Rohy /; and when
told him that | had left off spirit and
meant to work, he agreed to wait for
his rent.
did not go that morning to see Mr.
fan and in Ia. H..
of his own accord to visit me- He found
me hard at work. well, friend Web
ber.' said he, ''thOu didst not keep thy
appointment: hope thou hast kept
thy promise 'Ies, sir," said |. Il
have kept my promise, and | trust, 10y
Gods help, to keep it to the end. If |
can keep it for ten days, | begin to
think | can keep it for ten Years, and
to the end of my life and such, | sup
pose, though did not understand YOU
ut first, Is the substance of the advice
you lnteAded to give me-" "lea, verI-
ly, friend Wehber," said he, with Il
benevolent smile, Il can do no more
for thee than thou hast done for thy self
If all who are given to strong drink,
would make the effort, as thou hast
done, the path of reformation would he
found much easier than it is supposed
to be-"
Good friend Boynton spread the news
of my reformation, and | soon had as
much business as | could turn my hand
to; and from that time to this. Peggy
has had no lack of that music that she
tells You she is fond Of
II am Il better man than was, your
preaching, Parson Wheatly, with Gods
blessing thereon, has had its share in
making Inc so. About two months at
ter left off spirit, Peggy and | went
over to see brother Bailey aud his wife.
QL WIS sick LII LI.l ..ul LutL ..rl. lIILit |