Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-27
Two Sides Of One Canvas.

One beautiful afternoon in August there
came to me the heart-broken wife of state
prison convict. We tried to plan for his
pardon, and restoration TO home and the
world. IL was very sad case. He was the
only surviving son Of very noble man, one
who lived only to serve the poor, the tempted
and the criminal. All he had, all he was,
he gave unreservedly to help thieves and
drunkards. His house was their home his
name their bail to save them from prison !;
his reward their reformation. IL was
happy hour TO hear him tell of the hun
dreds he had shielded from the contamina-
ton and evil example Of prisons, and of the
large number he had good reason to believe
permanently saved. Out of the hundreds,
he once told me, only two left him to pay
their bail, forfeited by neglect to show them
selves in court according to agreement
only two
Bred under such roof, the son started in
life with generous heart, noble dreams,
and high purposes. Ten years Of prosper
ity fairly earned by energy, industry, and
character, ended in bankruptcy, as is often
the case in our risky and changing trade;
then came the struggle for business, for
read-temptation-de Acknowledgements
He could not safely pass the open doors that
tempted him to indulgence, forgetfulness
and crime. How hard his wife wrought to
save him from exposure How long, wife,
sister, and friends labored to avert convic-
ton and state prison al would spare him
gladly" wrote the prosecuting attorney, d" if
he would stop drinking. He shall never go
to prison if he will be a sober man. But all
this wretchedness comes from rum"
Manfully did the young man struggle to
resist the appetite. Again and again did
he promise, and keep his promise perhaps
month, then fell. He could not walk the
streets aud earn his bread soberly while SO
many open doors lured him to indulgence.
So rightfully the state pressed on and he
went to prison. An honored name disgraced,
loving home broken up, worthy, we'll
meaning man wrecked.
As parted from the sad wife on my door
step, / looked beyond, and close by the
laughing sea stood a pretty cottage. The
grounds were laid out extensively and with
great taste. Over the broad piazza hung
lazily an Eastern hammock, while all around
were richly painted chairs and lounges of
every easy and tempting form. Overhead
were quaint vases of beautiful flowers, and
On the lawn itself gayly-dressed women
idubHCu ONCi ClOluCt, noioy
children played near. A span of superb
horses paved the earth impatiently at the
gate, while gay salutations passed between
the croquet players and the fashionable
equipages that rolled by. 1t was comfort
able home, as well as luxurious one. Ma
ture, taste and wealth had done their best.
1t was scene of beauty, comfort, taste, lux
ury, and wealth. AHcdme from rum.
Silk and diamonds, flowers and equipage
stately. roof and costly attendance, all came
from rum. The owner was one who in a
great city, coined his gold out of the vices
of his fellow-men.
To me it was dissolving view. lost
sight of the gay women, the frolicsome chill
dren, the impatient horses, and the ocean
rolling up the lawn. l saw instead the pale
convict in his cell twelve feet by nine that
sad wife going from Judge to attorney, from
court to governors council, begging mercy
for her over-tempted husband. heard above
the children's noise, the croquet, laugh, and
the surf waves, that lawyers stern reason for
exacting the full penalty of the law. All
this comes from rum.-Selected.