Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-17
/" Sober or DE-"
ms STORY OF a REFORMED MAS

ms STORY OF REFORMED MAS.
{" You might have been gentleman of
fortune had you been an economical, enter
prising, sober, and industrious man." said |
red-faced landlord to miserable mortal who |
loved his morning sling, his noontide dram, |
and his evening toddy, more than he val |
ued his character his health, and happi. |
ness.
ayes, might have been rich man had |
not squandered my fortune in your white |
washed sepulchre, and you might have been |
my coachman," remarked the drunkard, as
he stepped out of the tap-room into the |
street. 1t had been raining during the day, |
and the road was more like fluid than
solid one. As he was staggering and stumb-
ling through the mire and slush, a gentle
man cried out "Good afternoon, friend
Have you heard of the temperance meeting
in the chapel on the hill this evening" and
will you honor us with your countenance 2"
No, YOU cannot catch old birds with such
chaff. | would cut pretty figure at a
temperance meeting, with a beard long
enough for shoe.brush, face red as the
rising sun, and bloated body tied up in
rags" " | am aware that you are not very
fashionably attired,' observed the gentle
man; but if you have no objections, |
will borrow a suit Of clothes for you and
as you have been sleeping in barns and
stables, will comb the hay-seeds out of
your head, cut your hair, brush it as smooth
as birds wing draw razor over your
face, and then you will look well enough"
After few minutes conversation, the
kind-hearted friend turned barber for the
first time in his life, dressed his customer
with borrowed coat, hat and pantaloons,
and ha raall,, ,,,a1a rrontaal
At early candle-light the house was filled
with the beauty, fashion, taste, and talent of
the village The poor drunkard sat on
bench near the door, and listened with in
tense interest to every word that fell from
the lips of the eloquent speaker, who knew
how TO sympathize with the wretched VIC
Tins of debased appetite, for he had been
drunkard himself. When the pledge was
presented, he made several attempts to rise
from his seat, but irresolution pulled him
back, appetite pleaded for one glass more,
self-esteem said, You can govern your
self" misguided caution entreated him to
try the experiment before he ventured so
far; but the speaker said, "Come !" and
conscience said Comet" At last he sprang
from his bench, walked rapidly toward the
altar, and wrote what was intended for his
name. 1t was miserable scrawl, and
looked as though the chickens had fallen
into the inkstand and wiped their feet upon
the paper. lie then faced the assembly,
and delivered thrilling, burning, eloquent
Speech which caused the dew of sympathy
to mosten every eye, and the chords of
compassion to vibrate in every heart.
lie referred to the plainly period of hi.
life, when his thoughts were pure as the
prayers of childhood, when his prospects
were radiant with promise. Great pains
had been taken with his education he
graduated with distinguished honor, be
came eminent in his profession, climbed
into notice, and became Judge of one of the
supreme courts. lie had friends and fame
and capital, and a graceful, beautiful, af
fectionate and accomplished companion
But fashion, pleasure, and appetite led hin
astray; he neglected his office, associated
with the worshipers of the drunken deity
kept late hours, and went with rapid stride.
along the down-hill road to bankruptcy anC
ruin.
lie became miserably poor, aud did moi
supply his family with the necessares O
life so that his companion sought refuge il
her fathers house. He then drank deepe
than ever, and went on from bad to worse
so that he became newer of wood and {
drawer of water for the tavern keeper. lie
would hold horses, blacken boots, run OF
errands, do anything for sixpence, SO as t.
purchase his favorite beverage. lie was S,
deep in the ditch of degradation he coul,
not have sunk lower unless he had turned
bartender. The day after he signed tn
pledge he was seized with fit of deliriun
tremens.
lie imagined that huge anacondas twine'
| tl..,,, 4 10
arms, and wound their icy folds about hi
neck, so that he could see their fiery tongue
and flashing eyes and feel their warn
breath on his face. AS soon as they sill
away from him, vipers glided over him, am
bugs, worms, and flies ran through hi
throat, ears, and nose, while loathsome vel
min burrowed in his flesh these were sue
ceeded by beasts of prey; he screamed 70
help whilst they were tearing the flesh fror
, his bones. What was more dreadful tina
all was, he thought he distinctly saw deaf
i lift his ileshless skull above the sides of
black coffin, and row with his ribs acros
the river of death. Devils were grinning a
! him. and pointing toward him, and chatter
, ing about him. They ordered him to jun
into the fire, to wade through the pond, I
= leap from the house, to cut his throat, {
, hang himself, to blow out his brains, poiso
! himself, etc.
, lie became so i'll that physician wa
> sent for. When the doctor requested hir
to take spirits of wine, he sprang from hi
> chair, shouting Sober or die !" As tn
:, blood spouted from his mouth and nostril
: he screamed out, " Sober or die !" As tn
= flesh seemed to creep upon his frame, and tn
. hair to move on his head, and his eyes
. protrude from their sockets, he cried on
), " Sober or die ~ Although his distorte
4 Imagination peopled the house with demon
. who chased him from room to room, threa
r ening to take his life; although he woul
q creep under the bed, conceal himself in ii
. closet, and dodge about the house from I'll
7 cellar to the garnet to avoid his tormento
q he would not violate his pledge. The neg
q day the fit left him; he gradually improve
A in health and spirits. lie commenced ii
;. practice of law. His father-in-law heard {
A his reform, and invited him to make h
4 house his home. He arrived at the res
a dence of his father-in-law few hours aft
y the death of his devoted wife.
a The sad intelligence was severe trial
= him, although it afforded him some consol
ton TO know that his dear wife heard of h
reformation with satisfaction and pleasul
before she went to heaven. lie is now OF
n of the leading lawyers in the State of Ne
h York, and the richest and wisest men sen
n their sons to his office to be educated. TT
4 gentleman who secured his signature to u
!. pledge has frequently lectured in this cou
n try and Canada, where his labors of 10y
have been crowned with distinguished an
n triumphant success.-Naional Temperdn
q AdrOcdie.
=, declaration of IndeDpndeuce.v