Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-02-27
The Rumseller's Dream.

The night was dark and stormy the win
dows ratified in the fierce blast, great gusts
of wind came sweeping down the chimney,
while torrents of rain descended as though
the very flood-gates of heaven were opened,
and another deluge was about to desolate
the earth.
In brilliantly lighted saloon, in one of
our western cities, motley group was as
sembled. The young the middleaged, and
the aged were there. Most of them were
clad in the garb of gentlemen for the land
lord prided himself on the respectabiity of
his saloon; but in the flushed faces, the
blood-shot eyes, the trembling hands of its
inmates, one could read the sad story OF
blighted lives, lives fast being wrecked upon
the fierce breakers of intemperance.
Liquors of every description sparkled in
their glasses which the salooh-keeper and
his assistants assiduously sought to keep in
constant circulation among his guests.
The principal topic of the evening had
been the Woman's Crusade, which was then
proving so wonderfully successful in many
of our western cities.
"Well, Brown" said hashy dandified-
looking young man, show soon do you ex-
pect the women will make their appearance
in sich company as ours oh, wouldn't il
be jolly fun ? Perhaps a taste of your nice
drinks would add to the eloquence of their
prayers"
"Tney " won't come here but once" an
swered the landlord, his swarthy face flush
ing with anger.
al would quickly let them know am the
lord of my own castle. and permit no imper-
tinent intrusions. What business is it of
theirs how much liquor | sell ? Isn't this
free country ?"
"lf you lived in some of the states Brown,
you'd soon find out how free the country is.
Why, my man, you'd not only have to play
to the tune of hundreds of dollars but "A
nice quiet home, all free of expense, would
be allowed you"
"Well, Pm thankful | don't live in any
such place; this state suits me very well.
manage to make living here" and the
landlord chuckled as he ratified the money
in his pockets.
And, after all, what is all this fuss
about Men will have liquor; if | didu't
sell it, they would get it somewhere else and
you all know, as TO drunkards and such low
trash, have nothing to do with them"
Gay but you are constantly making
drunkards," thundered voice from a re-
mote corner of the room. All started and
gazed at the speaker, who had been listening
to the conversation with frowning face.
As he rose and confronted the astonshed
landlord, drawing up his tall form, and fix
ing upon him his flashing eyes, one could
see that he was man of more than common
intellect.
al tell you, James Brown" he continued,
81 would not have the crimes on my soul
that you will to answer for. | would not
have such record as is being hourly made
against you, for all the money that this
world can give. If there is hell, you rum
sellers will sink very low in it. God knows
we drinkers are bad enough, and no one can
despise such madness and folly more than |
myself but who is constantly tempting us
with the poison that kills soul and body Z
who, when we have broken away from the
foul spell, and begin to feel once more like
men, by devilish allurements, entices us, till
we are again bound with the chains of the
destroyer? Who ceaseessly feeds the burn
ing, unquenchable thirst that is gnawing at
| our vtals ? You, and such as you.
Nothing to do with drunkards Were
all the drunkards you have made assembled
here tonight, full well you know this room
would not contain them; and every one in
/ ttllS Sdlooi, anu tht oltdhti SiduStd hiOuli
the room, while in his voice there was an in
describable sadness, every one here tonight
| is rapidly pursuing a course that will end in
his becoming a terrible, despised thing-a
drunkard."
As he sat down a scene of the widest
confusion ensued. Some cried, Put him
out shame shame 4" Others, " lie has told
the truth touch him at your perll"
The landlord, though bursting with rage
dared not resort TO violence; for the man
was wealthy and influential, and moreover
one of his best customers. He was one
whose talents might have made him leader
in society, had it not been for the fatal curst
that was dragging him to ruin. Strong IL
many things, possessing many noble quail
ties he was weak TO resist temptation, anC
the landlord well knew now impotent wer,
all his resolutions of amendment. IL wa
not the first time he had heard similar sen
timents from his lips; he therefore sough
TO laugh off the effects of the speech, aud by
degrees the confusion subsidized but th'
mirth of the evening was over one by on,
the company departed, till, at much earle
hour than usual, the saloon was empty.
As the landlord sat, brooding with lower
ing looks over the scenes of the evening
these words were constantly ringing il
his ears
"If there is hell, you and such as yol
will sink verylow there" Vainly he sough
: TO banish them from his mind. 7" Fool tina
| am" he exclaimed, TO care for what h
can say. To what amount all his struggles
have him fast. Into my till his none
drops when get it all, then, my fine gentle
man, beware !"
But all would not do. The words seeme
TO be inscribed ON his brain in letters G
fire. Cold drops of sweat stood on his brow
and his form shook like an aspen leaf.
J "If there is HE'LL" The miserable ma
who, for years, had scoffed at the Bible an
its sacred truths, who had pursued his ev
course, sitting all the reproofs Of conscienc
until it had become well-nigh scared, SCENE
now to be feeling in his own breast the gnav
, ing of the worm that never dies. How lon
. he sat thus he never knew. After tim
exhausted by the violence of his emotion
: he leaned his head upon the table, and sleI
! heavily. But sleep brought no relief iroI
the demons tormenting him; it only adde
new horrors to the crushing load, that SCENE
pressing him TO the earth,
He thought he was sitting in his salool
4 gloating, with miser's joy, over his trea
. ures of bank-stock, of government bond
1 ETC., so rapidly accumulating, when the opel
v ing of the door arrested his attention. Lool
; ing up, sight met his horror-struck gaz
n which he never, to his dying day, forgot,
s One by one, a long procession of ghastl
s white-robed objects filed into the room, an
b with measured, solemn tread, approached I
u where he was sitting. All the faces wol
S the pallor OF death, the eyes were deep
sunken, but In the appearance OF each OF ii