Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-23
What Grace Has Done.

There seems, after all, to be nothing that
will effectually cure the wretched and UNI
happy inebriate from the evil habits into
which he has fallen except the grace and
power of Almighty God. Human instru-
mentalities have heretofore, at least meas
urably, failed in this great undertaking.
Hence it is that there is constant appeal
going up to the church and the ministry in
behalf of those who have fallen victims 10
this most terrible habit. One or two SER
mons year on the subject of intemperance
will not do. II ought, either directly or in-
directly, to be kept constantly before the
people, and the pulpit should earnestly and
fearlessly engage in this work. Let man
be soundly converted to God, and he will
abandon the use of intoxicating liquors as
well as every other evil habit.
We will cite but single instance, out of
many we are acquainted with, of what the
grace of God has done in this particular.
About quarter of century ago, in one of
the states of the Union, there was an indus
trious and respectable mechanic, living, with
his wife and two children, in home of his
own, which he purchased and paid for out
of the proceeds Of his industry. This home
consisted of neat, well-furnished house,
with about six acres of land attached to it,
which was very productive, and upon which
were several outbuildings, of a convenient
and suitable character. His stock CORE
sponded to the size of the lille fdrm-two
horses, as many COWS, a few agricultural i'm
pements, sheep, swine and poultry. The
trade this mechanic followed was that of a
house-carpenter, appropriating only his lei.
sure moments to the cultivation of the land
upon which his dwelling was erected.
If any one in this world can be said to
have been contented with his surroundings,
it was this plain, honest, Woodworking me
chanic. He was almost idolized by his wife
and children. He "owed no man anything"
and he was respected and esteemed by all
his neighbors and acquaintance. In an
evil hour he was induced by friend to
take, with him, a glass of intoxicating
liquor, and from that time began to indulge
in it frequently and repeatedly. The result
was that he became an habitual drunkard.
His business left him, his work upon his
land was neglected, and he finally came to
want Article by article of his personal
property was sold by him for money to
crafty his appetite, and in short time
everything was gone except few trifing
pieces of furniture and two little cattle he
priced most highly, but which he finally
parted with for the following sad price-he
traded them to a liquor-dealer for two bar.
rels of whiskey, which had been brought
home and safely stored away in the cellar.
About this time there was revival of re-
ligion going on in one of the churches in
the neighborhood, and in the evening he
wandered down in that direction, in a state
of administration. He entered the house
of God, and while the solemn exercises
were going ON became sober. When the in
vitation was given, he rose in his place and
asked the prayers Of the congregation in his
behalf. People who knew him well shook
their heads, and whispered to each other
80 that will not last long He will be
drunk again tomorrow"
But he wasn't. The next night he was al
the meeting again, and the next and the
next, and finally he went home soundly
converted man. He arose the next morn
ing, and sent for a neighbor, who assisted
him with the two whiskey barrels, and they
were carried from the cellar TO the yard
and there their heads were stove in, and the
contents ran out upon the ground. Previou!
to this, however, he tapped single bottle
full of it, and had pressed the cork hare
down, so that it could not easily be removed
This he placed upon the mantel-piece in thu
kitchen, and then called his wife and chill
dren to him. Turning to his wife, he ad
dressed her in these words:
"Mary, do you see that whiskey.bottl
standing thereY
"Yes, john" she replied, al do, and hav,
often seen il there before"
"Well, Mary" he said, "that whiskey
bottle will stand there until / am carried
out of this house corpse. Let us pray"
And there, in that cold kitchen, with n,