The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-05-06
Plain Words In Season.
BY MRS. ANNIE A. PRESTON.

BYMRs. ANNIE A. PRESTON.
Two men met on pleasant country
road one balmy spring day. "Good
morning, doctor; you are just the man
1 want to see," said the elder, whose
name was Harrison, and who was on
foot. 81 have something here I wish
YOU TO sign," and taking memoran-
dum-book from the inside pocket of his
coat, he drew out one of the neat, blue
lettered gospel temperance cards and,
together with O pencil, handed 1t 70 the
gentleman in the carriage, who with his
elbows resting on his knees, and hold
ing the bright scarlet driving lines In
his gloved hands, was looking good.na-
tuerdly into the strangers face. The
doctor glanced at the proffered card,
and drew back angrily, saying,
"Who are you any wayP Had you
not better mind your own business?"
81 am John Harrison, pastor of the
church at Fox Hill, and l am minding
my own business. The business Of a
whisky-drinking and whisky a6voca-
ting family physician is everybody's
business. Up and down this entire
valley people are saying that DIR. Aid
rich Is one Of the kindest, most sympa-
thetic and skillful physicians in the
state, but they are growing more and
more distrustful of him, he Is 30 fond of
his whisky or-as some say-his dilut-
ed alcohol and because he is so much of
a gentleman and 30 much of a scholar
and his social and professional standing
is such, no one dare go to him with an
expostulatory or warning moral. But
come to you, stranger though am, and
minister in an adjoining parish. You
practice among my people, and am
told your social influence among them
IS great. come to you, the gentleman,
the scholar, my fellow-man and brother,
and ask you to put your name to this
card, and with Gods help to keep this
pledge. ask you to use your influence
on the right side In this great work that
is sweeping over the land. / have
spoken to you frankly, in all honesty OF
purpose and In all the kindness of my
heart. If l have been too brusqne OF
presumptuous, pray pardon me. Hyou
will not give me your name now, will
you take the matter under candid ad-
visement?
SECT right into my carriage here y
said DR.. Goldthwaite, throwing back
the handsome worsted robe. "Come
home with me to dinner. will think
about this thing. am going down tC
Smithfeld this afternoon to see pa
tient, and shall 60 by the old parsonage
Il presume you live there, and viii
take You to your door"
The minister seated himself in the
carriage as requested, and the two OF
three miles were driven over will
scarcely word between the two men
.'But prayed all the way" said Mr.
Harrison, "Dear Lord, let the ligh
shine into this mans SOUL" This learn
ed and skilful physician was not 6
church-goer, and withal was inclined tC
cavil in his treatment of the beliefs ani
doctrines of the evangelical church. Ii
the discussions of Christian doctrines
with old classmates of his, ministers
and others whom no met at the colleg,
reunions, at his home and elsewhere
both in their ethical and exegetical as
poets, he has been wary and skilfn
opponent. The Bible he regarded as |
literary phenomenon merely. Blu
science, science was what he delighted
in.
A servant took the horse at the door
The doctor jumped out, and precede'
his guest into the library, he drew OF
his gloves, and rapidly with firm han,
wrote his name on the card and handle,
II to the clergyman.
al don't want it," said he; "that is 70
you 10 keep"
"I'll nail it to the mast" cried III
doctor enthusiastically, and hurryin
nf Tim hn
with hammer and silvor-headed tacks
1t did not take long to faston the it'll
card securely to the mar BILE mantel an
below the doctors diploma, which hun
there in heavy gilt frame.
"There that Is most fitting compaI
ion-piece. never was SO proud of al
thing In my life," said DIR. Goldthwait,
looking al it admiringly.
"NOr l." said bis wife, coming in an
reading the card, and kissing her hui
band with tears on her cheeks, Will
the good minister and friend stood b
alternately laughing and wiping b
eyes
at is a good thing, IL he only keer
it," piped up Aunt Hannah, one of Ii
neighbors, coming in just then, an
scanning the card through her spect,
cles: g! don't think much of thes
pledges"
"Keep It'll" cried the doctors vii
testify, turning upon the croker wit
an AIR that made her quail, "Is not h
honor pledged, and does he not 50
with Gods help? Ifmy husband pu
his name to promissory note, is M
that q pledge, and IL is not as good as gol
wherever he is known? When he ma
ried me, did he not pledge his Low,
honor and support? When he put h
name to that subscription paper yeste
day to help pay for COW for poor oil
Jake Stratton, was not that pledge
Is not that little card just as proper
pledge as any other2 aud is not the do,
tors honor just as precious in iii
case" The old lady was silenced.
"Give me handful of those card
Mr.. Harrison, If You have them |
spare" said the doctor. ''They won
take up much room In my memoral
dum-book, and II ask man 10 sigl
and he refuses, ii wont hurt me mucl
l don't expect everybody to sign at FIR
invitation, as did to day. But if z,
one signer, it will pay me for a scol
who refuse with q surly, Mind you
own business"
So the doctor became q temperate
worker, and thanks God every day
his life that he is emancipated from tn
novel species of human slavery, ii
hard and cruel bonds of King Alcohol.