Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-30
Gam l My BrOther's Keeperlv


ats too bad too bad declare |" said
Uncle John, in a thoughtful manner, as he
warmed his chilled hands over the glowing
kitchen stove.
"What's too bad, father 2" called his wife
from the pantry close at hand.
"Well, just as | was coming by Jim
Stones rum-hole at the corner Fred Fisher
came out; and he was so drunk he could
hardly stand. tried to have him get in
and let me carry him home, but he wouldn't.
It's dreadful cold night for a man to be
out, if his head is muddled with whskey.
You know Fred signed the pledge when
Murphy was here, and he's been keeping it,
too, like man; but ] suppose the devil got |
the upper hand, this time"
Well, think it's too bad" said Aunt |
Mary, appearing from the pantry. If you |
temperance men did half your duty there'd |
| be some chance for men like Fred. What's |
| the use in getting them to sign the pledge |
| and leaving them to be tempted at every |
street corner? You might as we'll tie a |
| man hand and foot, and make him promise |
to run. Fred was born with an appetite for
| liquor. If you'd shut up these horrible
dram-shops, he might be saved. He never
will be, unless you do"
"Well, wife, / don't see as any good has
ever come from any of those hash means.
We don't want to be too hard on any one.
| Temperance folks nowadays think the spirit
Of love is about the right kind to have"
glove and law make good span,
think" said his wife, kneadng her biscuits
with great energy. al don't see any sense
| in making fish of one and flesh of another.
When your new buffalo was stolen, last
| Winter, you was fast enough for getting the
constable after the thief, and put him
through smart | never heard word but
what you was willing to let him have all
that the law would give him. And what's
a buffalo robe, John? What if it was our
Harry And it may be, if things go on in
this way
| Well" was the reply, these men are
good fellows, if they wouldn't sell liquor.
There's Tom Smith, one OF the best fellows
in the world. 1t seems kind of hard to put
the law on good neighbor like Tom"
"What kind of neighbor was he to
Molly Fritz, last SUMMER When her chill.
dren lay dead in the house Tom Smith kept
her husband too drunk to be of any use, and
know Molly wrote and begged him not to
sell any liquor to Jim while they were in
such trouble. If that is being one of the
best fellows in the world, the world is worse
than thought it. | don't want such neigh
borly kindness as that" said Aunt Mary in
dignantly.
"Well, well, mother, don't let us quarrel
about it That won't do no kind of good.
Why the children look fairly scarf"
"And only last week." Aunt Mary went
on, not needing the interruption, "Jimmy
| Saxton was sentenced for three months be-
cause in drunken frenzy he hurt old Mr.
Miles. suppose that is all right. At any
rate, it will give the boy chance to get the
liquor out of him, and be sober once more
and if n man puts himself in a condition to
commit crime, don't see but he's got to be
punished for the crime. The trouble is,
they shouldn't stop there. Why not find
out where the boy bought his liquor, and
make the seller suffer for breaking the law ?
That would be my way"
"Well, well, Mary 'twon't help nothing
for us to talk. Folks will do about as they're
a mind to, after all.
Eyes, father" said his wife earnestly,
but some one is responsible for some of
the doing. Anyway if talking is all that's
left for me, ! shall certainly talk. Ii it was
my husband or my boys, | am afraid
should take some of the doing into my own
hands, and not wait for anybody heard
Mr. Cough once tell story of a woman.
Her husband was a real nice man, but he
could not let liquor alone, if he saw it, or
even smelled it. He was going down very
fast, aud her little children were suffering.
Time after time she had begged the saloon
keeper not to sell her husband any more
liquor; but he only swore at her. and told
her he should let him have it whenever he
had money to pay for it. One time after
such an answer, she turned upon him, and
told him he'd better not. If my husband
said she, ever comes from your saloon drunk
again, will clean you out In just few
days her husband came staggering home
again. She put her things right on, and
marched straight for that saloon. There
were some loafers there, but the owner was
down cellar when his new caller arrived.
The noise of breaking bottles made him
hurry upstairs. There was the woman,
smashing right and left, and costly stream
flowing across the dirty floor. He flew at
her like tiger, but the balfdrunken men
there seized him, and he had to look on and
J see his whole stock destroyed Now said
the woman, starting for home sell my hus-
band liquor again, and I'll clean you out
again am afraid, said Aunt Mary, with
dangerous look in her eye, al should do
something like that if | was driven to it,"
"Well, boys, we'd better do the chores.
guess old Bill thinks am drunk, or crazy,
or something, letting him stand in the cold
in this way" and Uncle John beat re-
treat before the blazing battery of his wifes
temperance zeal.
1t was bitter Winter night. The cows
were soon MIXED, the cattle fed, and the
sheep looked after. Indoors there was light,
and warmth, and tempting supper-table
spread.
"Why, father" said Aunt Mary suddenly,
"you amt eating any supper Are you
sick p
"No, mother, I'm not sick, but don't
feel easy about Fred. A man would freeze
tonight in a couple of hours, and Fred has
a lonely road to travel. | believe" said he,
after him. | guess this is one of the do
ings I'd better look after, any way" and
he smiled at his wife.
"Well, if you think best father" said
Aunt Mary, rising, too, and hurrying to the
closet for muiilers and coats.
"Willie, get the horse ready for father
Harry will 90 with you, of COURSE"
"Taint worth while for the boy TO go.
It's dreadful cold night" said Uncle john,
putting on his coat.
"The boy is as tall as you are, father,
aud it is certainly worth while for HIM To
go. You may need help" said his wife,
helping her sou into his oyercoat.
flake good care of yourself" she called
alter them, WIN qulVer III her voice ana
pang at her heart.
ave will drive to the village first" said
Uncle John. lie may be at some of the
saloons still"
: Jim Stones was soon reached. II was
well filled with men, some young, some old,
some ragged and tattered, others mere re-
spectacle and well dressed, but all more or
less intoxicated. A sudden stiffness fell
upon the noisy crowd as Farmer Ladd
stepped in. :" / called to inquire about Fred
Fisher" said he, stepping up to the bar.
; ais he here 7"
"No," said Stone respectfully; "he left
$ here about four o'clock. What's the matter p
al only felt anxious to know if he got
safely home," said Uncle John. q" It's too
cold night for nau TO sleep in the ditch.
Boys said he, turning to the men, You'd
! better go home this bitter night, while you
can get there safely"