Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-02-18
Temperance.
THE TWO PLEDGES.

was before the commencement OF the
temperance reformation, when every
family kept intoxicating liquors con-
stantly on hand, and used them as a
daily beverage. Taught by the ex-
ample of his father and guests, the
little boy contracted love for strong
drinks that gave his parents most
painful apprehensions on his account,
and was the subject of their frequent
but unavailing remonstrance. AT
length, at barn raising he had been
permitted to attend, and where he
had free access to key of liquor, he
became dead drunk, and was laid
upon board under tree. The rest
of the story is In the language of the
author:
"About four o'clock his father call
ed to accompany him home; not see
ing him, he eagerly inquired for the
child. They pointed him to the place
where he lay. With heart full of
sorrow he carried him home to his
mother and sisters. Together his
parents watched beside his bed dur
ing the long night that followed, not
knowing but the dreadful stupor
would result in his death but fully
resolved, if he lived, not to leave I'M
tried any effort that might save him.
1t was not until the evening of the
second day that he was restored to
CONSCIOUSNESS. His parents thought
it best not to speak to him of his Ill
ness for some days, hoping his own
reflections would do him much more
good; but in this they were disap-
pointed he did not exhibit the first
symptom of remorse OF conscious
ness that he had done wrong.
About week after, his father in
vited him one pleasant morning to
take a walk. Their road lay along
the shore of the lake, and was lined
with stately trees on either side. For
a time they walked along in silence.
'Dennie," said he, "do you know
what made you SO sick the other
day."
''Why, l suppose l drank too much
rum" he earnestly replied.
"Why, my son, do you know that
l think you are in danger of becom-
ing a drunkard? %
"Why, father, l know you tell me
so, but / am not afraid of it. You
drink rum every day, and are not a
drunkard; and when get old enough
to know how much it will do for me
to drink, then l can keep from being
drunk, too"
"They both seated themselves on
a rock near the shore, and most
faithfully did his father speak of the
evils of intemperance then taking 6
small gold watch from his pocket
which Dennie had long desired to
call his own, he said: s'Dennie, il
you promise me that you will never
drink any more rum will give YOU
this gold watch. Will you do it?'
''Rising from his seat, he replied
81 will tell you, father, what 1 vii
do. If it is wrong for me to drink i
is wrong for you, and if you stol
drinking l will
Had flash of lightning burst from
the cloudless sky above them his ia
Their would not have been more start
led. How could he preach or per
form the laborious duties of paste
without his daily glass of bitters
How could he get up in cold win
ter's night and 60 to pray by the be-
of some dying parishioner, without
glass of something to prevent hin
from taking cold? How could h
attend the various ecclesiastical meet
ings of the church without somethin!
to help him bear the fatigue of tn
journey? The sacrifice was indee'
great, but the welfare of his child de
handed it.
And summoning all his resolution
with a faltering voice, he replied
81 acW do it, my son. And thu
they pledged themselves to total ali
stinence there, the lake, the trees
and the pure blue sky being thei
only witnesses, save only the Hol
Being who is everywhere. AS they re
traced their steps, his father took til
little watch from his pocket. an
gave it to Donnie, saying: an
son, you have long wished that
would give you this watch. 1t
now yours as long as you keep yor
promise. Should that ever be. brof
en-, ! shall expect you to return it t
me-; till then, let it be token to 70
of this promise we have now made.
Years have passed, and the san
little Donnie is now distinguishe
clergyman in one of the most pop,
lous western cities. -Four bright Ii
tie boys call him father. The san
little gold watch decorates his parl'
wall, and often does he point to
and tell of the danger and his escal
from the whirlpool of intemperance
WHY HE REFORMED.
There was drunkard in Arkans
L. 1