News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-03
THREE DRUNKARDs SAVED.
Sunk TO the Lewest Depths-HeIped When
They Were Down.
tFrom the New York Tribune.I

|
By a singular coincidence three WE'LL
dressed, contented-looking men met in
front of the Post Office one morning re-
Gently. One was politician, one a
Custom House official, and one former
ly well-to-do lawyer. Each of the three
looked as if life agreed with him and he
enjoyed it. An acquaintance passing by
was hailed by one of the group, the
eldest, past fifty years of age, who said:
II want you to see three reformed
men. You know me, and guess you
have seen us all at one time or another"
A good-natured laugh from the others
greeted this remark. Four years ago
the eldest of the trio was one of the
most miserable, degraded drunkards
that ever trod in ragged shoe-leather.
His haunts were in the lowest dens in
Baxter and Mulberry streets. His
clothes were rags and tatters, and he was
even lost to decency and had been dis
owned by wealthy relatives and by all
people of respeLtability. The man
whom he had called to the group had
given him many nickle and was glad to
get rid of him. The Potter's Field
seemed to cape for the miserable man.
AS last resort he was sent to the Chris
tian Home for Incorporate Men nearly
four years ago, where he was clothed and
fed, and since that day the man has led
a sober life, has been restored to his
family and social position, and has saved
money. One of his delights now is to
visit the quarters where he once led such
life of wretchedness, seeking out the
suffering and needy and aiding them in
a small way financially and otherwise.
A second one of the three, we'll
educated man of forty years, had Jared
even worse than the eldest one So
strong was his appetite for rum that he
lost friends, position and everything, and
joined the tomato-can brigade. He was
one of the most besotted tramps in Null
berry street, and a year and half ago
was sent to the Island with a gang of
vagrants. Here one of the Commission
ers of Charity and Correction befriended
him, gave him employment and cloth
ing, and the man, who said he had once
despaired of ever being a respectable
human being again, became temperate,
and to-day is doing well, is restored to
his family, and is respected by all who
know him.
The third one of the party is the
brother of a wealthy New Yorker 'I
had been hard drinker, said he, "for
forty years. held responsible positions
and d1ned at Delmonicos. l used to 90
on my sprees in a carriage and drink
nothing less expensive than champagne
spent fortune that my father left me,
and cost my brother another and my
friends great deal, and 1 got so low
that was cast off by all. 1 committed
forgery and was sent to Sing Sing, but
that did not cure me. Eighteen months
ago l was as low down as it was possible
for a man to be, and l would actually
beg for ten cents of stranger to buy
vile rum. My wife died of broken
heart and my brother sent for me to at
tend her funeral. 1 had not seen her
for years. 1 vowed when saw her that
1 would never touch liquor again, and .
haven't. would sooner lose my right
arm first. Everyone despaired of me
and said there was no hope for me in
this world or in the next. But l lack
for nothing now, and find that there
are people always ready to help sober
pan who tries to help himself. Who
dares say" concluded the speaker,
''when he compares our former condi-
ton with our present state, that there is
no hope for drunkard 2"