The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-23

Aunt esther tnat very evening, and, as
its immediate result, they started out
early the next morning-Estelle to call
on the saloon keepers, Aunt Esther on the
minister.
Really auntie," the girl said, earnestly,
"Im giving you theharder work. would
rather face a hundred saloon-keepers than
DR.. Parsons"
al don't wonder you said So" said her
aunt, with flashing eyes, as, at the dinner
table they talked the matter over. 81 list
ened to very interesting discussion on
Paul and the miracle at Cana, but not
one word could get from him as to the
present state of Claytonville morals and,
Estelle, that mans boy was drunk last
Fourth, for / saw him with my own eyes,"
"Well, my saloon-keepers were pretty
good they were too astonished to be any
thing else. Only one was at all impudent,
and two promised me not to sell any
liquor on the Fourth. Now we must see
the women"
A busy week followed-a week of ear
nest work and earnest prayer; week of
sacrifice, too; for, when that band of
earnest women were first assembled in
Miss Sinclair's parlors, listening to Es-
telle's eagerly.unfolded plans, one prac-
tically. minded sister had inquired where
the funds were to come from. There had
been little hush for moment, and looks
of CONSERVATION had been visible on many
faces then Estelle's clear voice had ans
wered bravely:
al will go without single new article
of clothing for the coming year, and
spend my money for this work"
And I and I and rriad q pcnra ~
voices, and the wave of enthusiasm swept
so high that there was little storm of
applause from women's hands-even in
Claytonville parlor.
"But 1 see no need of quite such
sacrifice" said Aunt Esther; L" let those
who can afford to pay, pay for your
dainties; they would pay for their liquors.
Give only to the poor"
al hadn't thought of that" said Estelle,
slowly. Still, if the girls are willing, l
would rather we paid for this-so far as
we may; then whatever surplus funds
there may be can 60 to the establishment
of permanent reading-room."
Aud so the matter was settled.
Great establishment was awakened in
the manly breasts of Claytonville as, on
the 81 of July, large booth was seen in
| process of erection on the village green,
the grand center of their patriotic demon
| strations. The mystery was not explained
until, as the central feature in its tasteful
decoration, from beneath a festooning
of flags stood forth the mystic letters,
"W. G. T. U. In God we trust"
"Humph said Deacon Downing and
Michael Flsherty, the saloon-keeper, in
the same breath. "Some woman's tom
foolery
1t seemed a very attractive piece of
tomfoolery the next day. The girls were
in their places at early dawn, each in her
prettiest dress and with her sweetest
smile; and, when it was found that Aunt
Esther's famous coffee was likewise on
hand, there was such a raid from the
youthful cannonesrs as babe fair to ex-
haust the supply. 1t was not very hard,
after they had eaten of the smoking beans
and brown-bread and drank the luscious
coffee, to persuade those boys not to go
near saloon that day. The girls were
surprised to find how easily it was done
hardly one left the table without white
ribbon in his button.hole.
By ten o'clock it became evident that
provisions would not hold out, so forag.
ing expedition was organized, with orders
to call at every house. How they roasted
over the fires in their hot kitchens that
day-those mothers of Claytonville
Then there came flank movement
The saloon-keepers had been waiting
patiently for their custom. At first they
had only felt vaguely uneasy, but now they
were genuinely alarmed; so placards were
posted about telling of free drinks, and
all the old veterans were sent down to the
Green to decoy the boys.
The girls felt that the life or death
struggle had come, and with pathetic
bravery they prepared to meet it. The
ice-cream, which had been held in re.
serve, was now brought forward, and
with plate in her hand trying to per-
suade Tom Bryant to come with her to
eat it, while Michael Flaherty was at his
button-hole urging him ssloon.ward.
She always felt that she should have lost
him if, just at the right moment, help had
not come. From such an unexpected
quarter, too DIR. Parsons son, who last
year had been intoxicated on that very
Green, had returned from college the
night before, and with him young
friend. They had had no thoughts of at
tending the celebration that day, but ru
mors of the women's work reaching them
they hurried down to help. For Jamie
Cushing's death had burned deep into
Frank Parsons soul, and Harvard held
no more earnest temperance advocate than
he, unless it were his friend, Harry Emer.
son, the young theologisn.
How they worked 1t seemed as if they
were everywhere in the same instant and
everywhere with just the right word. Tom
Bryant found himself eating his icecream
with very solemn face, for Frank had
wrung his hand and whispered, "Ob,
Tom remember Jamie |" and then Jamie's
sister had placed the dish in his hand and
turned away with sob.
For two hours the battle ragged, but
when, at one o'clock precisely, Aunt
Esther brought forth her first chicken.
pie the saloon-keepers gave up with a
groan. Some of them were even wise
enough to close their saloons and join in
the festivities. All that afternoon there
was neutrality-suspicious. and an
impromptu dance on the green, while the
display of fireworks in the evening was
said never before to have been so fine.
The reason may have been that they were
never before touched off by sober hand.