Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-02-11

Suppose that any of you were standing by
the river Niagara, and you saw many people
in the river dead and dying, how would you
feelP And suppose You saw them come
headlong over the awful cataract, some
dashed upon the rocks, some being torn in
the whirlpool or choked in the rapids, some
trying with desperate energy to reach the
shore, while others in despair floated down
to death without even a struggle for life.
Suppose you saw frightened wives trying to
drag their husbands to the shore in safety.
"Oh !" you would cry "this is dreadful.
Can nothing be done to save them ?"
Then suppose you ran along the bank to
find out how and where so many people fell
in, and on your way you met with ladies' and
gentlemen, some in carriages and some on
foot, laughing, chatting and singing on the
way, and suppose you were to shout Help,
help People are going over the Falls being
dashed TO pieces on the rocks, and drowned in
the whirlpool" And suppose the people, in
stead of rushing to the rescue, were some of
them to say " Yes yes we know. They
have been going like that for years but it's
none of our business;" and others were to
laugh and say; "Why, you little goose,
should you get excited and make such
fuss You are not in the river" But YOU
could not stop, for the cries for help were
ringing in your ears so you ran on, and
you saw two bridges reaching across the
river, and that from one of these bridges
people were constantly falling and dragging
others with them, and that, although many
crossed in safety others stumbled and fell,
and all who did fall or had ever fallen into
the stream had fallen from this bridge. And
suppose, on inquiry, you found that no one
had ever been lost by taking the second, al
though many thousands of people had
crossed and were crossing; that no one fell
or had ever fallen but those who had turned
back and took the first bridge Aud sup.
pose you saw at the first bridge large
crowd of people, ladies and gentlemen, some
of them well dressed and refined in manners,
and that they were advising the people to
cross by that way, and If among these ad-
visers you we're to see minister of the gos-
pei, what would you think
And suppose you were to ask "Why do
YOU give such bad advice Why do you
| not cut down this dreadful bridge, or bar
its entrance so that people may not go upon
| Z" Aud suppose some were TO reply
"Oh it is a nice place to see the falls and
watch the rapids. We have been on it
many times and never fell and if some
people will go near the edge, become giddy,
| and fall, that is none of our business"
Then suppose you were to ask, Is this
bridge necessity ?" and they were to an
swer, " No."
ais the other bridge as short 7" Yes"
"As pleasant 2" "More So"
Broad enough and strong enough to &C.
| commodate all the people who have to cross
over 2" "Yes."
"The toll as low ?" at is free"
Then you would say "Why, then, in the
name of common sense and common hui
manity, do people go themselves and advise
others to go by this dangerous way Z" And
suppose they were to answer, " Because 1t Is
more fashionable and far more popular than
the other" what would you think Now,
my dear young friends, one bridge is mod
Grafton, the other is total abstinence.
| Every year a vast army is borne down the
river, struggling, shrieking, cursing, laugh
ing, and even praying. On, on they go,
men, women and children. Sometimes one
is caught and brought safely to the shore
| by life-boats, such as the church, lodge di-
vision, band of hope, reform club and 9th.
ers. But not one out Of hundred of those
who fall from moderation bridge into the
black river of drunkenness can be saved in
this way.
Remembering, then, that every drunkard
| in the world became one by taking modera-
| ton bridge, and that no one was ever lost
nr became drunkard who took and kept
| Tor the whole journey total abstinence bridge /;
md as in the journey Of life in search of
peace, health, wealth, happiness and heaven,
| We must take one of these two bridges,
shich do you suppose it would be most sen
| ible to take p Selected.