The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-14

God What weakness must have eciK-
ed me. | accepted. The result was,
was drunk in short time, completely
under the influence Of liquor. | Left
my friend-what misnomer | went
home; opened tie door; went TO Al
ices room; She was sleeping. Thr
nurse did not see the. | staggered
against the beadstead; il awoke Alira.
She saw my condition, gave scream.
then fell sobbing. Before the sun ro-c
she was dead. Killed by mel No
no! not by me, but through the iustru-
mentality of alcohol! From that day
to this my life ha. been but sombre
dream. | drink to drown my remorse,
my sorrow. Several years have rolled
by, yet still ingcr here. The demon
that ruined my parents, killed my aiii-
anced wife, saddened the best years of
my kind and uoblc aunt, and destroyed
my future, is slowly taking me % my
grave. | have no ambition. Advise
not. have not the moral courage to
face my past. my future. | wish this
life TO end as soon as possible. | do
not dare to commit suicide instantly;
| am doing that by degrees"
He ceased speaking, rested his head
upon his hands, remained some time
absorbed in his great grief and despair.
ordered his glass replenishcd, drank
with avidity, then rceled ont of the
room.
Several days afterwards / stepped III
to the same place TO get a glass of beer
looked about for my new acquain-
taince, but did not see him. | felt
greater interest in his case than ever
before, and for that reason | would
wait awhile, as he might possibly come
in within a short time. | thought |
would see if ! could not use even my
small influence in his behalf, by striv-
ing to induce him TO try to regain his for
mer position of sobrietv. At this time
there was a temperance movement in
some of the churches to which | had
paid but slight attention. Providence
had so ordained ii that none of the i'm
mediate members Of my family were al
all addicted TO the usc Of alcoholic iiQ-
uors. Owing to this-which | au
ashamed to confess was purely selfish
| had no interest in the undertaking.
! was aware that the evil OF intcmpei-
ance was very great. but had no syin-
pathy or charity for those who indulged
in il to great excess. | had alWaNs
been moderate drinker, but never felt
a craving for spirits: in fact they were
liked beer and drant i ~"
nou. hnoan fo ,ri,e J;cr, tbo snl,;a,t from,
diilcrrnt siandnoint II I thongb, ~' her"
i man tillcd Win tho boit ;mnnlse.
intended fo bo Of groaf use fn tbc
would. nossassinee roworf,I ;ntolIcctnal
facultier havino n fhnrou@l edncatio,,
and vet an ohiost sla,,o 70 5,inl- MI,
ino could sove him f,on, ,,e ontte,. I'm,
death or the interposition Of Divine
Providence. | breatied Il PRAYER 10
God that lie mieht make me the in
strument bv means of which tbis voing
man could be saved for this world and
for the great hereafter. | determined
that if there was auohf that | could do.
either by urcceDt or examine. | voulA
leave nothing undonc. | accused my
self of having lone pursued an evil
course. Why had |. a man for whom
liauor had no attraction. whom il did
not benefit i'm the lea-t-set such an eX-
ample TO Young men? While was sit-
TING there. Two vouno men-mere bovs
were drinking beer and talking loud
lv. whilst |. n oTcv-headed. respectable
"Christian man" was moi only conn
tenancino their destruction. Init even
adding my influence TO the very cause
that was so rapidly hasteninr them TO n
drunkards life. then and there de-
tcrmined that never again would |. hy-
tbr orace of God Lnovinolv ueo a. a
hcvero~c on,.,hino thot cenn,ai,'s ,,ua
dron Of olrohol ''''' '''''' e'''''''''' '''e
r .,n
Just theh the oDleot oi my th9uehl,'
en'1reu the room. ms lace though
must be uu1cr cr,,eot mental snaarir',
NnvarthoIose ho en,;1oJ ,,1oo-,,,tI,
W iV H!iiii0" Pi."7HiIiiN
sealed lnlnself opposite me, and order
+ ed his olass of brandy
- -, -,
are you wen to-daN l asked.
T "Welll - he almost screamed
.s\VoIIi'' Croot T,It 1 o,,, c,,,l.,,,;,, =,
"Nii' N'iO"' ''ou am suii. ii'E
the very tOrtuleS OF the damned