Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-08
Sweet Cider.

and the house was new and convenient, with
bay windows and broad piazza.
On the right of the well-kept lawn was a
large orchard which yearly yielded an abun-
dant crop of rosy.cheeked apples, which
were converted into cider, portion of which
was kept for home use, and the rest sold
in the neighboring villages.
Seven years previous to the opening of
my story, Frank Atwood had wooed and won
the heart of the prettiest and brightest girl
in the village. To this pleasant home he
had brought his young bride, and here had
been passed seven years unalloyed happiness.
During this time two bright-eyed boys had
come to increase the cares and comforts of
their loving parents.
Really Mr.. Atwood, | would not allow
that child to drink so much cider" said a
gentleman who was dining with them one
day, as little Arthur passed his glass to be
filled the second time. " 1t won't hurt him."
answered Mr. Atwood carelessly. "Ive
drank it all my life, and it never affected
me in the least. Here's Ernest, now only
six years old and can drink nearly as much
as | can"
Ernest looked up quickly and said, That's
so, papa, and it doesn't make me cross nei-
Their, as it does Arthur"
"Does it make you cross, my little man ?"
asked Mr.. Atwood playfully, pstting the
head of four year old Arthur.
"Tourse it don't, papa. Why, love it
most as well as l do you. Please, mamma,
may | have some more cider asked the
little fellow, as he passed his glass to be
refled
"Not any more now, darling, mammals
afraid it will hurt her little boy"
"That's right, Mrs. Atwood, don't allow
him to drink too much" said the gentleman,
"Why don't you say, don't allow him to
drink any 2"
al would if | thought it would do any
good, but you are confirmed cider-drinker
and, of course, will give it freely to your
children. But warn you not to let Arthur
drink too much, for if, as Ernest says, it
makes him CROSS now, what effect will it
have on him as he grows older ?"
He'll get used to it, of course. But see,
you've frightened May already with your
foolish forebodings"
al wish could brighten both of you So
much that you would never make, buy, sell |
or use another drop of cider as long as you |
live"
"Why, what harm can sweet cider do any
one ~ asked the farmer with strong EN-
phasis on sweet.
mo harm as long as it is sweet, but how
few hours old it contains alcohol. Only
think, Mr.. Atwood, of giving alcohol to these |
innocent boys"
"Pooh alcohol in cider, the idea I" and
Mr.. Atwood laughed as if it was good
joke.
Ten years have come and gone, bringing
their freight of Joy and sorrow to the At.
wood family. During these years a shad-
ow had been slowly but steadily dimming
the brightness of their happiness. 1t crept
along so stealthily that for long time none
perceived its approach. Arthur, the pet
and darling of his mothers heart was fast
falling victim to that curse of New Eng
land-cider His love for the beverage had
grown stronger with the passing years, and
its effects on him had grown more and more
alarming.
One day Ernest was in the barn caring
for the animals when he saw Arthur com.
ing towards him bare-headed, with glazing
eyes, and sharp butchers knife in his hand
Arthurs appearance startled him, and he
sprang aside, just in time to escape blow
from his brothers hand. Arthur chased
round and round the barn, declaring that
if he caught him, he would kill him At
last Ernest made his escape and fled to the
house, closely pursued by his crazy brother.
The poor mother was greatly frightened at
the sight of her oldest son being chased by
his brother with knife in his hand. She
fastened to call her husband, who was
busily engaged in the orchard in setting
out some young apple trees which he had
recently purchased
Arthur had always been an unusually
dutiful son, passionately fond of his parents
and accustomed to obey the slightest COM
mand without word of remonstrance.
"Give me that knife, Arthur" rather
sternly commanded Mr.. Atwood as he en-
tered the house.
Arthur meekly handed it to him without
a word, and suffered himself to be led away
by his father. After the effects of the cider
had worn off, Arthur was told of what he
had attempted to do
" 1t was the cider that did it," he said.
" Every drop of it which l take seems to
fly right to my brain and crazes me. 1t has
always been so ever since can remember"
You must give up drinking cider, Ar
thur. You would have killed your brother
had you caught him."
thankful enough to you for teaching me in
slant obedience
He buried his face in his hands and was
silent for some time.
/ have resolved, with Gods help, that
will never touch another drop of cider. And,
father, to aid me in keeping this resolution,
am going to ask you to discontinue the
use and sale of it,"
/" | had already determined to do so.
When | saw you chasing Ernest, made a .
vow that it would be the last time you
would be crazed by drinking cider made by
me. If you had killed Ernest, should al
ways have felt as if |, and not you, was the
murderer"
Both father and son kept their word.
And instead of being famed for the superior
quality of his cider, MIR. Atwood was famed
for strong adherence of it. He lost no
of denouncing it and was the
means of inducing many others to discon-
tinue its use.
This is no fight of the fancy, kind reader,
but true story, related by Christian tenn.
perance worker.
have told it to you, hoping it will be a
warning to many fathers and mothers who
are daily using cider themselves and giving
it to their children.
Cider may not have the same effect on
your sons that it did on Arthur Atwood {
but it will prepare the way for something
stronger when they 60 out from the shell,
tering influence of home, to mingle in the
world.