The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-03-17
Willie.

ltev. tharles Jarrett, AT recent
meeting Of the Evangelical Alliance in
Liverpool, England, told the following
true tale:
was The other day, in a beautiful
esidencc, where have often been en-
tertained before. There was large
gathering of friends, for this family
knew had been prominent for their
hospitality. | knew that total alb.
stinence had not been smiled upon
there, but ! was astonished when / sat
down at the table to notice that there
were no wine glasses. almost took
1t as compliment to myself in nv
foolishness; but, whispering 10 the IA
dy, said, 81 see no wine glasses
here are you teetotalers for the day
because | am here w-and l saw in a
moment the change in her face.
She said, al have something TO tell
you about that"
As soon as dinner was over, she said
to me: "You asked me abont the wine
glasses?"
said, eyes, noticed their alb
sence."
al will tell you the reason. You re-
member my Willie, well?"
"Ohl yes; I remember Willie,
wellln
"Was he not bonny boy?" she ask
ed with tears in her eyes.
"l es,," said, zone of the finest lads
| ever knew"
| eyes," she said, "and he was my
pride. You know he used wine free
~. You know that the leading minis
tiers in the Connexion had always
made this house their home, and that
they have always been welcome. |
used to allow the children to stay ND
when the ministers were here 10 have
the benefit of their conversation. The
children had a half glass of wine
ministers full glass, and so had their
father. BY and by, she said, 81 MOTTO
ed what aroused my suspicious. Will
liam used to come home smelling of
wine, and didn't like 1t. | spoke to
him, and he said there was no danger.
He had only been meeting few friends.
By and bye l noticed he was husky,
and at last he came home in state
that made my heart ache. One night
he came home quite drunk. could
not conceal it from his father. His
father Ia hot tempered man, and met
him in the lobby, and bitter words
the house, and he went, and for
months we never knew what became
of hun. Father would not let us men,
ton his name, and bis sisters and
could do nothing but pray. We did
not know whether he was dead or
alive, and one night when the servants
had gone to bed, aid we were sitting
together, l suddenly heard O noise,
and thought 1t was Wille's voice. l
dared not speak.
My husband looked round and said,
ibid you hear anything2 thought
heard a voice. l believe" he said, lit is
Willie. Just 60 to the door and see.' "
| She said, 81 went to the door, and
there he stood, more like ghost than
q Young man. He looked at me. and
said "Willie!"
"Mother," he said, twill yon let me
ill.,"
"Aye, my lad, thou ought never to
have gone away. Come IN, como in -
and, she said, had to lend him my
arm.
Don't take me into the drawing
room-take me into the kitchen. /
feel. mother, as if l were dying
NO, my lad, you shall not die.
viii you make me basin of barley
broth you used to make me-?
Il will make you anything you like,
my boy, but you must come up stairs
and lie down.
oh! mother, can't take it. feel
az though I was faintine.'
called his father and he came, but
didn't say an angry word to him. lie
could not when he saw the state he
was In. We carried him up stairs and
laid Lin down upon the bed, and after
moments pause he said,
Father, the drink has killed me-
No, my boy, said his father, we
shall bring you round yet
Never, father-God be merciful to
me sinner
And his head fell back, and there
was an end of our boy in this life. His
father stood and looked at Willie as he
lay there, aud said to me,
Mother, the drink has killed our
Willie, and there shall never be anoth.
err drop of drink in this house while
am alive
Sir, and gentlemen Continued Mr.
GarretO, there are many Willies.
am at the head of a mission in Liver.
pool, and can truly say there is not a
week in which l do not have Willie,
or letter about Willie, from some
respectable Methodist home blighted
and withered by this terrible curse
Is this mere idle whine that we are
speaking about? Ought we not to bat.
tie with it now and ever, and exert all
the power we possess in order to res.
cue the young people of our land and
make England what it ought to bel
May God help Alliance News.