Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-11-20
Letter from Jonas,

MONTPELIER, VT, Nov. 10Th 1873.
Dear DJe:
was very sorry not to get a letter from
you last week, but shall expect one to
morrow sure. know you must be having
a pretty hard time, but keep up good cour-
age, feel that we are on the stepping
stone to a grand, and useful, life. You
had better have Chase, draw you load of
that slab wood, and be .shure to have the
boys split, and put it in the shed before it
gets wet.
l am not going out any more in the
evening feel real bad abont loseing my
watch, you know it was grandfsther's
watch, one that he had when he taught
school, on cobble hill; and he served on
the jury, with that watch. ut the time Bob
Wheatley, was tryed for stealing sheep.
And somehow feel that if l hadn't drank
that lemonade, | should not have lost it,
and | have made up my mind, to come
right out square for temperance.
The Senate, sent in u bill the other day.
prohibiting, the sale of lager beer, and l
jumped right up, l could not help it, and
purposed that it include cider. that had
been made more than three days. and ap-
pies that had been picked over night. |
had talk with a real nice old lady, this
afternoon, and she told all about the tenn
perance move that they had here year
or two ago, (you know we read about it at
the time, in the FREEMAN) She told me
how engaged, everybody was, and what
interesting meetings, they had, and how
she enjoyed, to hear the reformed men
talk. And she said they. all wore pretty
little blue bows, which ment they want
going to drink any more. And they had
reform club, and would meet every week,
and have Il real good social time.
And they had reading room, where
the young people could go evenings, and
read nice books, and papers. and so not be
at the beer saloons. And they had fine
fountain, put up at the head of State street,
with bran new tin cup, hitched to it with
II little chain where everybody could 90 and
get drink of water. But they wearied,
in well doing, and waited not for the har-
vest And to day, the fathers, and mothers,
of the young men tremble. And the strong
men, bow themselves. And the club
meetings have ceased, because their num-
bers were few. And the reading room, is
given up for want of support. And those
that look out of the windows are sad.
Also, they are afraid of them which are in
high places, and fears are in the way
So And the almon tree " and the hop vine,
flourish and intemperance has bccom q
burden. Because the blue ribon's, are
faint hearted, and stay at home. And the
mornners 60 about the streets. And the
silver cord (of the law is loosed. And
the golden pledge is broken. And the tin
cup at the fountain is gone, and the water,
is shet off from the cistern. Then shall
the reformed man, return to his cups, and
the young men, will frequent the beer
saloons. o Montpelier. Montpelier, how
easily thou might have swept intemper-
ance from thy borders, but ye would not.
" Behold. your house is left unto you des-
olate." This is in all human probability,
my last letter from Montpelier. l have
concluded not to go directly home, after
we adjourn. But l shall take Europian
tour, to Wells River and St. Johnsbury.
[ shall sail for Wells River Nov. Goth on
the mixed train, and will write to you as
soon as get there. They sell cotton fan
ell here for Is cts yard just the same
kind they ask 20 for over to the east vii
lage
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