Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-02-01

Letter TO the Messenger,

l.. b. C.
Frolr the Messenger.
Letter TO the Messenger
| stood at the counter in Il bookstore
looking over the Christmas cards. They
were attractive and beautiful with their
brigh flowers, birds and glad wishes; and
such u VARIETY No wonder the little girl
said, "Who could have thought of them
all?" l had made my selection, but still
fingered. "Can I show you anything
else ~ asked my attendant, a rosy. checked
girl, ! looked into her smiling face;
would she understand me, queried, as l
replied rather listlessly, Il want some
thing different from these, omething to
send to several people to whom i wish
you merry Christmas would seem but
cruel mockcry." 80 yes, know; some
thing with Jesus own blessed words,
which mean SO much-look here" and
reaching down n box she held up before
my eyes just what l desired Again I
mado my selection and turned to 60 from
the store. Pardon me-" said scantily-
dressed, palo-faced woman, " but might l
speak with you? l overheard your con-
versation Just now and know of you very
well, and l should like to show you Il
place where there is need of some words
other than merry Christmas. Can you
spare an hour? you will, l am sure, for
you seem heaven. to mo-" We took a
horse car and rode almost to the city limits
and then walked through back streets and
alleys until VIC came to Il tumble-down old
rookcry. Going down some steps We
entered Il place where the air seemed
damp and fotid, There was Just barely
light enough 10 discern the occupants OF
this miserable place.
On some shavings and rags crouched
the wreck of man, and sitting near by
was another man considerably younger
butalmost equally wrctched in appearance.
Dana said the woman, speaking to the
latter, "you see | have found you out
again. I learned only this morning where
you were, but had not courage to come
alone, and while | was praying in my
heart l was directed to this lady, whom l
am sure you have heard of and will be
glad to know" She whispered few
words TO the man she called Dana, then
hastily grasping my hands said, rs the
tears literally poured down her cheeks,
90. God help you! God help you" and
before could collect myself she run up
the steps and was gone.
After little preliminary talk said, /" l
guess can spell it all out with three
letters, R-u-m." No." said the man,
with tones into which he put all the force
he could command, "its a longer, meaner
more devilish word-Cider!" He screamed
it over several times, then added, "there's
hell in it, every time" During our talk
and in the interviews since, learned his
story. lie was an orphan boy. His father
went down to drunkard's hopeless grave
and his mother died of grief and shame.
Ills childhood was spent in an almshouse
At the age of ten years he went 10 live
with Deacon ----.
The deacon was a good soft of man
had prayers Sunday mornings, there was
no timo for them on other days; every
body had all the cider they wanted for the
deacon wasn't stingy, and had to go to
meeting Sunday nights, cause he said he
was responsible for his household ]
staid there eight years, but he never spoke
to mo about my soul, and | never heard
him pray for me but once-then l go
drunk oil cider one spring and the next
morning ho asked God to show me The
folly of making beast Of myself / went
away soon aller and was gone some years
For most three Of them drank constantly
then reformed, and after u while became
Christian I thought. earned goot
wages and wasn't a bad looking fellow
and thought would like to 60 back t.
the old town and 80 to my mother'
grave.
called at the deacon's and he made nj
stay over Sunday. Saturday evening the
deacons cider was brought ont, but l re
fused it, the next day twas communion
and when the deacon passed the cup t
me, true as you live, saw tho devil
right between US. 1t was only an instant
but in that time had taken the cup ant
swallowed tho liquid fire. The fumes, the
taste, thrilled mo through and through
That night l drank glass after glass of the
deacon's cider, without II single remon.
STRANGE from him, though had told shim
belonged to reform club