Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-20
Sober and IndustriuOs.

"None but sober and industrious men
need apply" so ran G. F.'s advertisement,
which George Alderman answered when he
secured the place of cartman with this we'll
known and influential firm. Sober and in
dustrious George proved himself to be, as
year after year he drove the great brewery
horses, giving satisfaction TO his employers
and making a comfortable living for his
wife and four growing boys. But by-and-by
the sober and industrious cartman became
something more, even regenerated man and
a member Of Christian church, and then
change came. George felt that he could
no longer take the occasional glass of whis-
key that hal been his wont, nor did his new
principles allow him TO accept the treat "
always offered when he drove his great bar
rels OF beer TO the stores of their purchasers.
His awakened conscience, too began TO
grumble little about the business in which
ne was engaged, and from which he drew
the subsistence of his wife and children.
Still, it was their subsistence, and the only
means of making livelihood so far as he
saw, within his reach, and it would have
been long time, in all probability, and not
without hard struggle, before he resolved
to give up his easy and lucrative situation.
But one day the cartman was called into the
presence of the proprietor, who thus &C.
costed him: SLOWS this, sir I | am told
that you have got some fanatical notions
into your head which are running my bust
ness. 1t strikes me as a very dishonorable
proceeding to work against the firm from
which you draw your bread and butter"
With what do you charge me, sir 2" said
George, very much taken aback at the un-
expected accusation of dishonor. "Well,
you know in a business like ours all con-
cerned must be affable and obiging; our
customers won't deal with surly, unsocial
fellows, and will give their custom where it
is appreciated We have lost some of our
oldest friends already through you" al
vas never called surly before" said George
quietly. It's the same thing; am told
hat you refuse to take a civil glass when
It's offered to you, and that's an insult the
iealers don't easily forgive or forget" IF
you mean that won't drink, you are right,
sir; I've made up my mind never to do that
again. But | should think you would be
glad of that you always advertise for sober
men, and think how many you have had to
turn away for drinking" " Certainly, won't
nave druukards TO work for me; it is not
respectable, and they're not safe drivers
but / don't want temperance lecturer to
sell beer, and unless you can regain your
common-sense and recommend my business
by making yourself agreeable to my custom
RS you had better look for another situa-
tion." George did look, and fortunately
vas it only by fortune or chance found
one as good as, if not better, pecuniarily,
han Fleischmans, where his conscience no
longer troubled him on the score of carry
lug about liquor. He often reads in the
papers advertisements for " sober and indus
trious men," and laughs as he tells his chill
dren how, because he was sober and indus
trious," he lost his situation with the great
acknowledgements Adcocdte.