Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-22
Savedi Saved /!

Savedi Saved!
The red dust flew in clouds, binding the
eyes of the hurrying passerby, whirling on
to door.steps and window-ledges, and caus-
ing care enough TO the dainty housekeeper,
whose brushing and re-brushing seemed to
have but little effect.
Perhaps you have never lived in mining
village, with its rows upon rows of implanted
housewife its hillsides and swamps,
speckled with decaying stumps telling
mournfully of the sacrifice made when tree
after tree fell to fill charcoal furnaces, leav.
ing country as desolate as though swept
by consuming fire. Perhaps you have never
watched the long file of weary miners, be-
grimed with ore, issue from deep, dark tun-
nels coming up out OF the danger, while the
very heavens seem to quake with the repeated
shock Of rend-rock or nitro-glycerine.
Our little home, standing on stills, that
the swamp.waters might not enter the
kitchen, with very small front yard and
very dusty red fence, seemed TO attract, by
its very loneliness, the largest clouds of dust
that followed in the wake of dump carts,
lumber teams and beer-wagons
Within, a woman, weary and worn, is
pacing the floor up and down, while sad
moan, forming itself into broken words
"What shall do? What shall do ~
issues from the trembling lips.
The children play and whisper in an adj
joining room because "Papa is sick" A
glimpse into the bedroom shows stalwart
man lying on the bed, breathing heavily, his
face crimson and bloated, his breath strong
with the fumes of liquor. Suddenly he calls
his wife to his side "Mary, must have
something's am on fre-iust teaspoonful
of brandy will do "Charlie, you know
there is not drop in the house" "Well,
patiently, "or,"-here he swore terrible
oath-"I will 60 myself" Trembling with
fear of the consequences should she refuse,
and loathlng with her whole soul the sight of
the liquor for which she must go, she hastens
to the nearest drug store and obtained an
ounce of brandy, knowing that he will de-
maLd it more than once ere he will have So
| bered off enough to resume his business so
! long neglected. "What shall do p is the
thought uppermost in her mind. "This
| must not go on he has lost good situa
ton during the last year, and would have
lost his present position had | not plead
with his employer to try him just once more.
Oh if could but soften the hearts of those
who tempt him; if they could see into my
agonized heart Yet, feel so powerless
The arm of the law does not touch the rum
seller; and yet why should it not ? Perhaps
there is some way--and yet this foolish pride
has held me back from seeking counsel of
those who would be my friends. For the
sake of my children, who cannot understand
the cloud that has always shut the sunshine
from our home, will arouse myself and do
something. If there is law in the land
that will help, my husband shall and must be
| For hp IA hppp
under the bondage of drink; little by little
our property has slipped away plying
friends, with delicate tact, helped US on,
until grown weary by repeated failure they
ceased their efforts; and the pride that has
often wreathed my face in smiles to hide an
aching heart has sustained me. But to-day
my heart is broken am weak as child.
Pride has fed hope is dead" These were
the bitter thoughts that flashed through the
brain of the desolate woman and as she
caught glimpse of the faded face, with
swollen eyes and whitened lips, she con-
trasted it sadly with the portrait smiling
down upon her from the wall, taken on her
wedding day TO crafty the pride OF fond
husband.
Thenext morning her husband, having par
italy recovered from his debauch, wended
his way down town, stepping into drug
store for little btters to quiet his unstrung
nerves.
An hour later the wife and mother, with
firm steps and face quiet with determine
ton, enters lawyers office. Her heart
beats wildly though her voice is clear and
calm. The lawyer courteously awaits her
pleasure, not expressing the surprise he no
doubt feels at call from one whom he
knows does not possess a cent in the world.
She begins by inquiring, f." Is tn ere q law by
which a wife can prevent liquor dealers
from selling liquor TO her husband provided,
of course, she can prove her knowledge of
the facts 2"
"No, madame, not unless you can prove
damage done"
damage done r. rechoes the poor woman.
as it not enough that our beautiful home
that all our property, every cent of it,
) has gone by way of these saloons Is it
not enough that health and life are at stake
| that"
Hold, my good woman, you have my
heartfelt sympathy, but that would not have
any effect in court. What mean is, have
you sustained any personal damage? Has
your husband lost money from his pocket in
this saloon Have your children been rem
dered helpless by blow from your husband
while in state of intoxicaton We must
have something to take hold of, something
TO sue for, or you never can recover dam
ages"
Silently before this wife and mother arose
the vision of the pitiful voice of her babe
who died for want of nourishment-of the
bitter winter night, when thrust by her rum
crazed husband out of doors, she shivered
on the steps until day-dawn, and then the
= terrible blow that sent her Keeling on the
floor, insensible. Could she open these
bleeding wounds to this stranger Could
she tell all this, and have the name so dear
TO her branded with cruelty? Would it re-
: form him ? Would it punish the rum seller
Il who will one day have to answer for sins
e committed by his victim
"Is there no other way ?" at length she
asks.
After carefully taking down ponderous
d volume, and as carefully studying page after
r page, he slowly reads the law.
:" Yes, there is one other way; | might
serve papers on all the saloons and places
where liquor can be obtained, warning then
not to sell to your husband, and if they dis
obey the injunction, then you can sue then
for it,"
= "There can be no harm in trying" she
replied 1t is a last resort; if it will save
nv husband ! shall never regret it. vii
you do it to-day, sir-ths very hours the
necessity is urgent; please don't delay =
'' The kindhearted lawyer readily consented
Mrs. Bracket FASTENED home, trembling
e. for the result, knowing full well that hei
ID husband would soon discover what she hac
!, " done. and probably upbraid her bitterly
4 IF il will only save him" was the though
I'd uppermost in her mind, he may thank mt
'y some day" She waited impatiently his re
/. turn, dreading the consequence of her hast.
"a step, YET conscious of doing right, an'
;" knowing that time would smooth 1t over.
glance at his face as he enters the hous
satisfies her that he knows all, Baked il
]. his endeavor to obtain a drink-with ever,
nerve unstrung, with stomach and brazil
craving the usual stimulant-is it any wonde