The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-09

"OOunb unem, DelleVe Jnere arc twenty
five."
She did so, and said Correct, major
Now, gentlemen, l am ready to count
some more from you"
The captain then handed her one bill.
"Look here" said the major, "I must
see that bill there amt much of show
there"
Annie held out the fifty dollar bill, and
the major said, 4" So far so good"
1t was then the deacon's turn, and he
gave Annie quite roll of bills. She
counted aloud, and before she could reply
the cheers commenced. They cheered
the major, then Miss Hillyer, and then,
such uproarious laughter as was heard in
that hall
When quiet was restored, Miss Annie
turned to the gentlemen and said, " have
now from you three gentlemen received
one hundred and twenty-five dollars, for
which please accept my sincere thanks
| only wish that the motives which actu-
ated this gift had been of different ma
ture; but trust it may be the means Of
doing much good to ALL"
Again loud cheers we're heard all over
the hall for Miss Hillyer, then for the
noJOl, VIC CupIhlu anu buo uodCOu, hltcI
which the major said:
"Annie, Annie, Miss Annie have
little money left, may l have the pleasure
of taking you and my good wife to sup
per ?"
They started off, each hanging upon an
arm of the corpulent man amid shouts of
laughter.
At the table the major said, "Annie,
what did you mean by the motive ?"
81 did not know, major, that you had
had any trouble with those gentlemen,
until after they had gone out to get the
money. hear that your distillery is
closed for the present, and Nat those men
were the cause"
eyes, they have made me lose big
sum of money by their foolishness, but |
suppose it is all for the best. I've had
my revenge now, and I'll call it even."
have seen so much wretchedness,
major, since l have been South, caused
from liquor, that have perfect dread of
it. Would you advise me to marry
man who drank ? want you to imagine
me your daughter, and come to you for
advice
A long pause. "Well, Annie, no by
no means, no."
"But you make it, and sell it. Now
won't you please think very carefully,
major, before you open your distillery
again ? You have enough money to sup
port yourself and wife, and also me, if l
could be your daughter but as there is
no chance for that, enough to support you
both in stiluence all your life"
Directly opposite Annie at the table
sat Mr.. Lockwood and DR.. Allen. Soon
DR.. George came down with his wife and
Miss Dickens next to the widower. They
had an introduction all around by the
jolly major, and many jokes were passed
back and forth. At the end of the table
sat the merchant with Susie Layman, but
they were too far away 10 engage in the
conversation with the major and his COM
pany. We noticed that MIR. Boutelle
looked and acted very restless and uneasy,
and by Miss Lyman's appearance she was
dreadfully absent.minded.
Supper passed off very pleasantly, at
least to the majors party, and when they
returned to the hall, Susie Layman met
them and asked Annie her success.
81 have nearly one hundred and forty
dollars" she replied. elbow much have
you, Susie ?"
al have about thirty dollars myself {;
those three candidates for the foot-rest
have spent money very freely tonight,
Annie"
Now and then music was interspersed
with pithy speeches, until about ten
o'clock, when the votes were counted, and
the names of the successful candidates
were proclaimed from the stage. The
chair was awarded to Miss Dickens, and
the foot-rest to Mr.. Boutelle, realizing for
the chair one hundred and seventy dollars
and thirty cents, and for the footrest,
forty-nine dollars and seventy cents. The
unsuccessful candidates Immediately came
forward and congratulated Mr.. B., and
wished him more success in mating his
piece of embroidery.
After the pleasant chat at the table,
MIR. Lockwood ventured to offer his as.
sistance in carrying the chair for Miss
Dickens, and also to accompany the said
lady to her home, much to the discom-
future of the young merchant.
Annie Hillyer spent very pleasant
two weeks at her home, and at its expira-
ton she returned to the seat of her la.
boris; but not without sowing much good
seed, which soon after sprapg up and bore
fruit yielding an hundred fold. The few
words dropped by her on that long-to be-
remembered night, made lasting impress
sion, for the majors distillery was never
opened again for the purpose of making
Intoxicating liquors. He destroyed his
machinery. He began, or rather tried to
begin, where he left off twenty-five years
ago. He took his wife to church, to
prayer-meeting and Sunday-school, and
before the next summer had rolled around,
his name was entered upon the church
books. He was trying hard to undo the
past dreadful wrong, but the homes which
were wrecked, the wives that were more
alone than if they were widows, the
wretchedness of the mothers as they saw
their sons going fast to drunkard's
grave, must ever remain as relics of that
distillery. All that was in the power of
man to do the major did but the scars
OF sin are not only left upon his brow,
and upon the community in the little
village, but also throughout. the neighbor-
ing towns. These scars, time as yet has
never obliterated. The merchant is still
unmarried. The widower lost the foot
rest, but after time won the chair; and
when, in good time, invitations were out
for the marriage of DR.. Allen and Annie
Hillyer, the major was not forgotten and
at the wedding, when he extended his
congratulation and good wishes, he said