The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-13
Temperance.
Tempt Not the Weak.

"James Dunton, arrested for drunken
ness and disorderly conduct. Fined FIVE
dollars. In default of payment, sent to
Jail for thirty days." This item in the
morning paper met my eye, and / read it
again, for the name seemed familiar.
Could it be possible that this was my old
schoolmate 2 And my mind turned back
to the time when James stood among the
brightest of his class. True, he was a
little wild, and soon after leaving school
he commenced drinking, and would occs-
casionally become intoxicated. Then he
Joined temperance organization, and
seemed 80 deeply in earnest that I had
really thought him safe from all further
temptation. Such was the condition of
things when / moved to distant city in
the far West. had been absent for ten
years, and was now on visit to the old
home. l had heard nothing of James
Dunton during my absence, and supposed
him still working in the temperance ranks
Could it be possible that this was the
same man ? On inquiry, found it to be
true. James Dunton had become VIC
tim of intemperance, after abstaining for
three years. He had not simply gone
back to his old way, but had fallen far
lower, until the chances of his ever re-
forming seemed almost hopeless. l called
on him, and learned the story of his fall !:
"I had tasted no kind of liquor for more
than three years, and had conquered the
old habit so far that it had little or no
temptation for me. One evening / at
tended a party celebrating the birth
day of lady friend. Wine and other
liquors were used quite freely. l had
twice refused to drink, when the host
ess approached and offered me glass of
wine. l begged her to excuse me from
accepting it, but she answered somewhat
petulantly: 81 should think you might
drink once with me in honor of this &C.
casiop.' AS 1 said something about the
principle involved, and of the possibility
of single glass leading to further indul-
gence, she retorted rather sneeringly /:
"Oi | beg your pardon. 1 had supposed
that Mr.. Dunton was man enough to
drink harmless glass of wine without
fear of becoming a drunkard." "This
stab at my pride, in the presence of
others who had no scruples about taking
an occasional glass, had its effect, and
with some light remark in reference to
the excuse had been making, took the
wine and quickly drank it. This led to
another, and then another, for wished
to show the lady that l had sufficient
manhood to drink several glasses of wine
if chose. The result was, was carried
home beastly drunk. After that night
all the old cravings came back ten-fold
l tried to fight against it, but it seemed
of no use. My courage all forsook me
and became reckless. In my false at
tempt to sustain my manhood l had lost
all. l feel now that my fate is fixed and
there is no help for it. The sooner thai
the end comes the better for all con
cerned." l tried to encourage him tt
hope for better things, but he would
not listen. AS went away thought OF
the wonderful influence of woman, ant
how sad that it should ever be put t.
such bad use-that it should be used tt
lead men downward, when it might do 81
much toward lifting them up. The loss O.
manhood through life, and of soul through
eternity, are too weighty matters to b.
trifed away.