The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-03-11
Temperance Column.
EDITED BY TUE
W. O. T. u
Angels and Demons.
An OLD MANS STORY.

wife, a most excellent covk, had bad
luck with her biscuit and she was very
much disturbed by the circumstance.
| pride myeelf on being a model hus-
band, never having in our early mar
ried life been in the habit of telling
how my mother did, aud what good
cook she was, even if articles on our
table happened occasionally to fall u
little short of perfection. Aud now,
being an old man, have forgotten how
tue foUd prepared By my mother tasted,
and have formed the good habit of en-
cournging my wife. Therefore, when
my WHO looked so annoyed, | ate
rather more biscuit than I should had
they been good.
The tea lhin.s cleared away and the
room tidied up bit, my vito took her
Bible, and my newspaper for a quiet
hour. Before commencing her read.
ing, Mary, that's my wiie's name, SAID
to me.
IL hear the temperance women nave
suggested as their next topic Angels
visits Now, why on earth they did
that cannot see. For they are few
and far between enough, nowadays,
and | do not remember as they were
ever very frequent. There was the an
gel at the gate of paradise, but he
could not have been q very cheerful
sight to the exiled Adam and Eve.
Aud the remember two angels visl-
! led Lot ia Sodom and led him and his
family vSt Of tho doomed city, but
think il must have been pretty bard to
leave the sons-in-law and all the tocks
and herds, us l suppose they ui..
Now, if the subject had been fallen all
gels, it would nave been a pract icul
one; we SEQ enough OF their sort every
day"
reminded her of the "sons of tod
which suppose were angels, shouting
for joy at the creation; and OF then
feeding Elijah and guarding Daniel.
But she replied dejectrdly, "Thal
was good while ago"
Her Responding words rested heavily
on my heart aud the biscuit on my
stomach, and thinking just then OF
some errands l would like TO do, took
my hat and cane. and started off, feel
ing sure Mary would find comfort in
the book she loved cest OF all to read.
AS 1 stepped out doors | noticed a
peculiar odor and the air seemed full
of invisible spirits who were hustling
about in way quite confusing to u
man OF my years and quiet habits. l
went into the stores, and beside the
merchants, but unseen by them, stood
some of the beings my wife had spoken
of. They were directing the attention
of the merchants to their lcdgers and
suggesting that they keep very calm
and not get excited and ianatical Oh
tho temperance question Gas it there
was any danger,) limiting that they
would lose trade il not ALWAYS in sale
distance of a good strong fence. They
were further instructed how to talk
and act when appealed to to right the
wrongs OF mothers, wives and chill
dren. They could look very solemn
and say, Eyes, that is all true, we can
not have two much instruction in day
and Sabbath school for our children, or
be too severe Oh the rumsellers, but" -
and here half dozen different excuses
werc presented for them to choose
from. To SOME it was suggested that
they look very bright and hopeful aud
that they intimate that matters were
exaggerated. They did not see much
drinking or many drunken men, and that
it was their opinion there was more
fuss made than there was any call
for, aud by some good story or joke,
change the subject.
AS turned from the stores | noticed
number OF beings wearing a peculiar
kind of head gear, aud they seemed to
be- particularly jolly; they were full OF
antics, caperiny about and performing
feats that were very amusing.
tUhan acka1 what alI thfa mani
they hustled me along aud babe me look
in at different places aud see the kind
of pay Tie bartenders received. Aud
to my astonishnent l beheld piles OF
dry goods, packages Of groceries, boots
aud shoes and every comfort that the
families Of tho poor victims needed.
| But when touched them | found they
were not the real articles, but a repre-
reseutation OF what the poor mems
money would have bought, had the
business men united aud put down the
liquor traffic. 1 saw poor creatures
barIering health aud strength, clear
brains and healthy stomach, manhood
and the hope of heaven for the poison
cup. Aud the tiend, rejoiced. could
stand II no longer aud | thought
would take walk past some of the
christian homes, where surely no evil
spirit coull find entrance, and become
calm before going home. A moments
reflection would have convinced me
how useless it was to seek place So
halo wed that Satan would hesitate 10
seek abundance and attempt to accom-
plish his ends by Il skillful use of his
various methods.
Had not heard of little house, the
hnme of an aged, godly couple, that was
lit rally swarming with the wicked
sprits2 l was told they sat on the
gaze posts, on the door steps, lowered
about the windows and percbed on the
chimneys. And they replied to the in-
quiry, why is this, are these people SO
very bad? "No, il is because they are
so good" Did not know that, a.
though Satan has greater power Of
temptation over an evil nature, it il
possible for him TO attack sinless one
q In Il Q temptation Of our Lordp
And l did find them everywhere
true 10 their name and nature as ealum
niators, detractors, false accusers
They seemed to be masquerading, SOM