The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-06-27
W oman's Temperance Column.
The LORD Of hosts IS scith as, the God
of Jacob is our refuqe."
The Demon OF the Cup.

kidoN tOhthihiuH ttiO VI % oiittt y
cobbler | had just imbibed. 1t had never
occurred to me that these same sherry
cobblers were dangerous companions foi
a young man, and was in the habit oi
taking from three to dozen of them a
day-three when was going TO see Lu-
cy Sheldon, particular friend of mine
and dozen on the of days.
turned the leaves of the magazine
but could find no other story that looked
inviting; SO threw it down, and sunk
back in my rocking-chair. Things had
come to look rather dim, and my own
consciousness very indistinct, when my
attention was attracted by strange
commotion in the glass from which l
had partly consumed my cobbler.
glanced at it, and presently long
wreath of smoke or vapor rose from the
cup, and stretched itself over towards
the farther corner of the room, just ex-
actly as the clouds had proceeded the
appearance of the gcnii in the story
had been reading.
The vapor slowly, and apparently
with malice aforethought, began to as
sumo terrible shape, finally resolving
itself into the form of as ugly looking
demon as 1 had ever read about. He
was monstrous in size, would probably
have been twenty feet high if the room
had been lofty enough.
"Who are your' l inquired, dis
pleased with my visior.
81 am the demon of the cup" he re-
piled, in voice which seemed to shake
the whole house.
81 haven't the pleasure of your ac-
quaintance," continued.
eyes, you have. You are one of my
best friends"
81 believe we never met before"
"a dozen times day."
"Then you don't look as ugly as you
do now, if you will excuse my bold
ness"
"No; 1 wear pleasant face when l
make the acquaintance of young gentle
men; but thought it was about time
we should be better acquainted. You
don't know ME yet. We will have q
social time, You like"
mo, | thank you; can't say am
much pleased with your society"
"At any rate, shall introduce you
to a few of my friends" he continued,
as he waved his hand over the cup.
Instantly another cloud of smoke or
vaper proceeded from the cup, which
presently assumed the form of de-
crepit, ragged, filthy old man. OF all
that had ever seen of wretchedness,
squalor and misery, the figure before
me was the most fitting representative,
only the degree of wretchedness seemed
a hundred fold intensified.
"Who are you?" demanded, as the
old NM, ,,nvad tcmorIc mo
"My name is poverty"
81 should think it might be. What
do you want hereW
81 just dropped in to be introduced
to you, for you and | are likely to be
friends"
"Indeed, old fellow, you are reckoning
too fast. keep only respectable COM
pany."
Just now you do; but you will
change your habits by-and-by."
Don't be too familiar, if you please" J."
suggested, as the old chap drew a
chair to my side and seated himself.
"We are bound to be sriends, Young
man. Did you ever read Emerson's
works."
''Of course | have"
"Well, sir, am q representative
man"
"Iou had better take Yourself of, OF
| shall be under the necessity of kick
ing you down stairs"
81 don't mind that; am used to it,
'Be civil to him." interposed the de-
mon. "Hc is one of lis, and good fel.
low in his way. He often brings men
to their senses when nothing else will
haH onnfhap tpinnH ~ and
again he waved his wand over the cup,
Again the vapor rose from the glass
and another form, more hideous than
either of the others, appeared before
me. | was alarmed at first by his saw
aye expression and glittering eyes.
"Who are your inquired, shrink
ing back from the loathsome monster.
MY name is crime"
"Then you have been well named"
81 have work for you to do"
~ am too much engaged to assist
YOU" Ireplied.
! "Come, come, don't be too stiff abou
it. suppose you are not quite ready t
hey me yet, but can bide my time
for have mortgage on you which il
due season You must pay up"
"dow do you like my friends?'
asked the demon.
II don't like them"
"No?"
"The old fellow is all inconvenien
companion, and | don't like the moral
of the other chap. His notions of min
and thine are too indefinite TO suit m
ideas"
"Indeed, YOU seemed so much inclil
ed to make their acquaintance, that
supposed you were anxious to numbe
them among your friends"
opp
"Certainly; they belong in the cur
But there is one more you mnst know.
AS he spoke, that smoke Internal cui
led up and resolved into the form of
woman. She was pale, haggard, an
: almost skeleton. She was clothed l
rags, and was a perfect picture
wretchedness and despair. There wa
nothing really hideous in ber aspeC
beyond the marks of poverty and wal
which she bore. She turned and fixe
, glance of reproach upon me-a glanC
1 which thrilled me to the soul. pitie
: the poor wretch, and turned away.
l looked again; those features wei
familiar TO me. was shocked, horr
: fed, as i recognized Lucy Sheldon
the dreadful figure before me.
Z "Lucy' exclaimed, with start
: horror.
= "Oh, Robertl" she cried, in agon,
: as she threw herself upon her knee
a before me. "Pity mel Pity our poo
: childrenl They are hungry, they al
: perishing with the cold. | am hungr
i / am freezing, but care not for mysel
y Pity them, save themW .H
: "My Godv' iu
n Drink no more, Robert. lou ha'
q reduced me 10 the most abject miser
Drink no more, as you pity me, if "
do not love mel"
"Oh, Lucyl Does she too belong
. the cnp?' | asked, appealing to 4
. demon.
4 "She does; but for the present '
" keep her down in the mint and sugt
10 She will be one of us by-and-by,"
IF replied, with a grin.
"A 'Robertl RoDeril" groaned Luc