Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-01
The Liquor TraiIlc---Youthful Victims.

The writer having occasion TO call at
neighbours not long since was struck with
the detected and sickly appearance Of the
lady OF the house, who was entirely alone.
The secret of her affection, however, was
soon revealed for allusion being incidentally
made to her only son, she pressed her hands
heavily on her throbbing heart, as IL to pre-
vent its jumping from her bosom, and ex-
claimed, 40, Brother Eddy, my trouble is
killing me The rumsellers, in spite of all
tibet | can do, are numbering my dear boy !"
As soon as she bad somewhat recovered her
self possession she related her personal in
terviews with the dramsellers-how she,
with tears, demonstrated, begged, and prayed
that they would desist from selling or Civ
ing liquor to her son but all to no purpose.
Another case has just come under our OBJ.
servation. A man living in Indiana said,
"Well, temperance is all right enough, but
there are matters of more Importance before
the people now" Two nights after he made
the above remark spring-wagon was stop
ped in front of his house. about one O'Clock
in the morning. He was called to the door.
His wife looked out OF the window and saw
six men carrying something on a door or
wide board. She guessed what it was in an
instant, and giving Wild frantic scream,
cried, "My boy, o, my boy What shall
do He is dead have been fearing this
would happen by that cursed whiskey !"
Sure enough, It was her son brought home
nearly dead. He had been drunk and en-
gagged in a saloon brawl He was beaten
into almost shapeless unacceptable mass
and stabbed in the right side. But why
should we refer to one or two instances Of
the crushed hope of broken hearted and
almost crazed mothers? While we are
writing, doubtless, there are thousands of
mothers and others enduring similar agony
which they try as best they can to conceal (;
and could we hear their involuntary out
bursts of grief, their EXPLANATIONS would be
substantially the same.
That men who for filthy lucre lie in wait
and in didbolical cunning entice youths and
even little boys to drink intoxicants should
be severely punished, no rejecting person
can deny; but, alas, how seldom is it the
case that in this world the party most guilty
gets his just deserts. The unwary effect,
too often, is made to suffer, while the guilty
cause goes scotfree. For example-not an
imaginary one either-an ignorant boy, who
has none to teach him lessons of sobriety
and virtue at home, is enticed or strays into
grog shop Liquor is sold or given to
him. OF course he is soon intoxicated. A
breach OF the peace is the natural conse
quence But is the boy the only guilty
partyp Nay, obviously his seducer Is far
more guilty, and deserves ten-fold greater
punishment. However, as it is much
easier TO convict verdant, friendless youth
| than a willy tapster, the former is sent 10
| Jail and there locked up with hardened
criminals, while the latter unmolested, is
left behind the counter to victimize others
Indeed, it would seem that the rage on the
part of some liquor dealers to make drunk
ards of even small boys is not only mercen
airy but devilish. Instance case recently
published in New York paper.
A little boy who had taken the abstinence
pledge was induced to enter saloon, with
the promise by the keeper of some candy
but after entering the candy was withheld
until he would drink glass of beer. With
out forethought he yielded to the tempta
ton but, filled with remorse, Immediately
went to the secretary of the temperate,
society, made confession, with many tears
and renewed his pledge. Now, we ask
! what punishment can be too severe for tn,
wretch who takes so much pains to seduce
little child into drinking habits And ye
we have great reason to believe that suci
| incarnate fends exist outside our grea
cities. That these dens of worse thai
thieves can be found anywhere in our Ian,
of boasted civilization aud intelligence, anS
especially kept open under the real or osten
sible protection of law, is a burning disgrac,
which cannot be too soon wiped away b.
the people.-Reu. L. A. Eddy.