Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-11
Hugh Martins Dream.

certainly very provoking that Elizabeth
should thus intermeddle with his business
affairs, and the fact that he was fully aware
that she was in the right only increased his
irritation; and the additional fact that,
although her arguments had entirely con-
vinced his judgment, he was resolutely de-
termined to act in opposition to his con-
victions, made him feel his wrongs still
more deeply.
Little ten.year-old Hugh, too, had in his
childish way espoused his mothers side of
the question, quoting in support of it his
Sunday-school teachers views ON the sub
ject and although he had silenced the child
with threat and his wife with sharp
word, and thus proved himself master of the
situation, yet, in reviewing the conversation,
he found that his only resource, if he did not
wish to acknowledge himself in fault, was to
work himself into passion on the grounds
that he had been unjustifably interfered
with.
The point under discussion had been the
final destination of the fields of waving
grain that covered the sloping hill far as the
eye could reach. Within the year distil-
lery had been set up in the neighborhood,
the proprietor of which had made most
tempting offer to Martin for his crops-an
offer that he would have accepted eagerly
had it not been for his wife's unexpected
opposition, as he would thus realize at least
third more than if he sent the grain as
usual to the mill. He took out his pencil
and made the calculation again. As he
wrote "proft at the end of it, the word in
a strange way appeared to spread itself
along the line, and he seemed to see written
there the sentence that Elizabeth's soft, low
voice had repeated so impressively What
shall it profit man to gain the whole world
and lose his own soul p Pshaw !" he NUT
tered impatiently, "what has that to do
with the subject? | will decide this ques-
tion at once, and finally, if it is only to show
her that will not be controlled. A wife's
opinions should follow her husbands, not
seek to lead them" So saying, he drew
forth second slip of paper, and wrote in a
firm hand an acceptance of the distiller's
proposition, signed and sealed it, and put it
in his pocket.
As he rose to return home-for the moon
had risen and was casting WEIRD wild shad
ows all around him, and shedding a strange
unearthly light over the grain.felds - he
was suddenly startled by the sound of
shrill laughter. Now, laughter, as gen.
eral thing, is pleasant to the ear; but this
W 40 hdiou, uiocouduot uidDOhC III us Cudl-
acter; and as he gazed around, bewildered,
he perceived that myriads of tiny, hobgoblin
forms were swarming through the fields,
gesticulating wildly, casting themselves into
grotesque attitudes, manifesting their fiend.
ish delight by hideous contortions and
grimaces.
"Victory, victory !" they shouted. "The
victory is ours. We have entered upon the
inheritance withheld from us so long. In
the name of the Genius of Intemperance we
claim these fair fields, this golden grain.
Our pleasing duty it is henceforward to
shield it from the pure dews of heaven, and
sprinkle it with tears and death.damps ;
ours to feed the roots with our choicest pois
ons; ours to graft the stalks with all the ills
that can bring distress and misery to the
hated race of man, whom it is our delight to
torment and destroy. Let US to work Let
us to work The kernel has almost reached
its healthful perfection; we have much to
counteract."
Then Hugh Martin saw that each little
spirit bore tiny vial labeled in letters of
fire, and as they passed and repassed before
him he read " Extract of Madness" I" Idi
ocy," Dyspepsia" "Convulsions," "Ds-
lrium Tremens," "Death" -" and he noticed
with what care some poured these poisons
around the roots that every drop might be
absorbed, whilst others bathed the tender
grain in them; whilst still others as care
fully grated the stalks with tiny splinters
marked also in letters of fire, " Malice, -" Ha-
tred," Remorse," Blasphemy," False
hood" Dishonesty" "Treachery," "Mer-
cilessness," "Murder and as they worked
they sang fearful songs that seemed to be
composed of dying shrieks, and means of
pain, the frightened sobs of children, and
wailing of despair; interspersing them from
time to time with shouts of Victory p and
that diabolic laughter that chilled him to the
heart.
AS he stood there, rooted to the spot,
sweet, sad voice murmured softly in his ear :
:" If thou hast the courage to gaze into this
magic glass thou wilt see the harvest OF mis-
cry that must be garnered in the next ten
years from the fields thou hast this day ded-
icated TO Satan -" and turning, he saw
standing beside him pale, spirit-like form
bearing silvery mirror, and as he gaz ID
into its depths, shadowy faces, stamped with
terror, dread, remorse, keen agony, hopeless
misery, gazed back at him reproachfully or
scowled at him with malignant hatred.
"These are thy Victims" said the spirit;
"these are they through whose bloodsshall
course the baleful poisons with which the
demon slaves of intemperance are now inoc-
ulating thy grain. These are they with
whom thy soul will find eternal fellowship
in those regions OF woe to which thy deed OF
this afternoon has consigned them. Read,
if thou wilt, pages from their life.histories,
the study Of which will be thy occupation
throughout the ages of eternity"
Then, impelled by strange fascination,
Hugh Martin gazed again into the mirror,
and saw, as though looking through an open
window, the interior of a cottage home. A
bright fire burns upon the HEARTH rosy chill
dren shout merrily over their play, whilst
the young mother sings cheerily as she
busies herself with preparations for tea.
Come, little ones, she cries, it is time for
you to be watching for papa. See who will
get the first kiss tonight. Hurry to the
door, and mind that you give him warm
welcome"
She turns with a bright smile as the
chorus of tiny voices announce that "papa's
Gomez" but the smile fades, and the color,
too, from her comely cheek, and an anxious
look creeps into her blue eye, as she hears
uncertain, shutting footsteps ascend the
stairs and as through the open doorway
man enters with unsteady step and disor-
dered hair, she clasps her hands convusively
with wild cry Of anguish.
He has broken his pledge" she means,
" he has broken his pledge The old dark
days will return again. | had almost for
gotten them in tho happiness that the past
two years have brought"
She clasps her frightened children TO her
breast aud casts herself upon her knees.
" Pray for your father, little ones," she muir
murs, "for nv heart is dumb, il cannot