Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-31
Temperance.

Wine Is %ocssr strong drink Is raging and whosoever
In my journeys came to beautiful land
filled with pleasant homes. The fields were
covered with grain, the brooks ran merrily
through it, and said to myself, allow
happy are the people who dwell in such
land"
| had not been long there before | learned
that in the midst of the country was strong
castle in which lived giant, cruel and
wicked. lie was very DID, but he never was
more strong than he is to-day; and although
nearly every one wishes him dead, cannot
see why he may not live many years 10
come.
He is very rich; you could not count the
money that he has, or number the houses
| that he owns. His castle is stronger than
iron and stone, and from its towers can be
seen all the vast possessions of the giant.
One cannot be long in this country with
out hearing much of the awful deeds of the
cruel monster. He sends out year by year
and takes for his own use the product of
many of the richest fields. Men SOW barley,
and the giant takes it nearly all. He puts
his hands also on the rye and corn, and
takes some of the apples and many grapes.
He does indeed give money sometimes for
all these things, but he manages to get it
out of the people who dwell there, so that
for every dollar he pays them he gets twenty
from them.
| | could not imagine what the giant could
do with all this corn and barley and the
grapes, until learned that he had way Of
so changing them that they became the
means which he used to destroy the people
of the land--to get them to his castle and
grounds and devour them. One day while
was there | looked into the dungeons of
the castle. In it saw poor wretch: his
eyes were bloodshot, his face was scared,
his clothes were ragged and filthy, his hands
shook as though he had the palsy, He told
me his story.
al was born" said he, ain a pleasant
valley many miles from this castle. My
father was proud of me and my mother
loved me, and being an only sou | was TO be
their heir, aud l could have had the best
farm in all the region where we lived. All
went well with us until was about sixteen
years DID, when one day came to spend a
few hours on the ground where this castle
stands. | knew there was giant living
there, but | thought there was little risk Of
meeting him ; and although he is very cruel
his grounds are as beautiful as money can
make them. did not let father and mother
know where ! went, and | had such a
happy time that | went again. At length
my parents found me out. My father com
manded, my mother begged that | should
never go again upon the grounds. despised
their commands and tears, for had come
to think more of the good times on the
giants grounds than Of home. 1t took
money to make SO many visits, and when
had spent all of my own began to spend
that which belonged to father and mother
They became poor, the farm had to be sold
father died pauper; mother had gone be
fore with broken heart. had no power
to keep out of the hands of the giant, and
for years he has had me in this dungeon
lie abuses me every day of my life. wish
was dead. dare not die; | cannot live
o, what, what shall l do ?" and the pool
man looked the picture of wretchedness ant
despair. After few moments | asked hin
whether there were many prisoners in thu
castle. ayes, 0 yes" he said; sit is full
of them. There are ten thousand cells, anC
every cell has its victim, and there is not ;
day in all the year when the giant does no
find time to come around and do us all thu
harm he can and when we die (if report
is true) we are given over to worse foe
who is to keep us forever in torment.
alt would make your heart sick to hav,
me tell you of the woes of men shut up il
this awful CASTLE Some of them are made
insane; some become murderers many be
come suicides; not few are idiots. Don'
stay here with me any longer" said he, "bu
return to the beautiful land where | used tc
live and tell the boys and girls never
never to go for a day into any of the ground
of the giant Strong Drink; for although
they may think it joyous at first, it will moi
be long before, too late they will find out
as, alas | have done - that wine is
mocker, strong drink is raging; and whose
ever is deceived thereby is not wise. Ser
mons 10 B ys and Girls.