The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15
Temperance.
The Doctors Story.

" 1t wasn't common drunkenness
drunkenness that isn't altogether proof
against the policeman's club and curses
but rather case of general goneness.
When discovered, the fellow was lying
all in heap on the sidewalk, and when
they tried to stand him on his feet,
down he fell again. Starvation had
something to do with it, and so had ma
laria, bat the primal cause was whiskey.
When brought to the hospital he was
about the dirtiest, raggedest, and most
generally disreputable specimen ever
encountered. Well, you remember Mr..
Dicks excellent advice to Miss Betsy
Trotwood, when consulted as to what
was best to be done with her newly
arrived nephew Wash him. 1t is
the rule we go by at the hospital in
cases of alcoholism, and sometimes the
change thus brought about is quite
marvellous. After being washed and
laid on his bed in the ward, there was
nothing of the tramp left in SANKEY'S
appearance, although the ravages of
dissipation were plainly visible in his
face. AS soon as he was able to talk
little he informed me that mentally,
morally, physically and financially he
was completely played out. / was en-
tirely of his opinion, but, as it would
not do to tell him so, l only said
he mustn't talk nonsense. We had
him on hand long time, sometimes
improving a little and then falling
back. He was about twenty-three or
four years of age, and he must have
had the constitution of an alligator
t,, ho alixro of oil fn. hn FOLD tho+
at seventeen he had been expelled from
college, and since then had been going
at full tilt to the dogs. l was given
up by my father four years ago. said
he. He presented me with a check for
ten thousand dollars, and said if | ever
darkened his door again he would have
me arrested. That ten thousand is all
gone now, and if / ever get up from
here the Lord only knows how l shall
earn my bread and butter, as have no
profession, and never took kindly to
books. My father is rich man, but it
would be no 90 in that quarter. How
ever, there is no need to trouble myself
about such matters! The probabilities
are that 1 shall leave this bed only to be
put into coffin and slowed away among
the other paupers in potter's field
go You aren't going to die yet awhile,
said l, cheerfully, and truthfully, too,
for did think he might hold out about
week longer. Which one of the
Stanleys in the directory is your
father?'
"' Stanley is only borrowed name,
replied he. when my father pre-
scented me with that check and his
parting blessing he particularly re-
quested me not to drag his name any
lower than / had already done, so
used my old name only until got the
check cashed, and then dropped it for
good and all. My present name will do
well enough for my death certificate
" But the fellow didn't die after all.
All at once he took decided turn for
the better, and then began to mend at
two-forty rate. In a few days he was
walking about and bothering me with
questions: Did think he was strong
enough to be porter?' What kind
of stevedore would he make?' Would
there be any chance of his getting a
place as conductor or car driver?' |
think you can get place as coachman,
said to him one day. There was a
poor fellow brought into the surgical
ward yesterday, with broken leg, and
his employer, who was here this morn
ing to ask about him, said he supposed
he should have to find some one TO take
his place till he was up again, as his
wife (the employers wife l mean
must have her daily drive | am his
mani exclaimed Stanley. What's his
name, and where does he live?' l gave
the address and Stanley, who was look
ing comparatively respectable in sui
of my old clothes, took his hat anC
vamosed without waiting to be dis
charged. / heard no more of him till {
year later, when | received a letter from
one George Stanwood. / don't remem
Der the post-mark, but it was some
little place in Florida. | made first
rate coachman,' said he CT am quoting
the letter now, as well as | can remem
Der iD, but what do you think
from George Stanwood, ST., and tn,
sight of me on the box was too mucl
for the paternal nerves. So l received
another good-sized check, accompanie,
by the request that | would take my de
parture for some distant state, and no
let myself be heard of again. l though
Florida was distant enough, so | cam,
down here and went to budding orang
trees. had just got things well startet
that is, had built a house an,
married wife you just ought to SCI
herb when | read of the smash-up o
Stanwood IL Co., and of the utter pros
tration of the senior partner, owing t,
his financial troubles, following s,
/ closely upon the death of his wife On,
step-mother). l took courage to writ
the old man letter of coincidence fo
; he liked her, though | didn't and in
vite him to make his home with me
though / hadn't much hope of his do
ing so, being the black sheep of thu
flock. However, it seems that the tw,
/ white sheep, my older brothers, whC
are in business for themselves, had beer
talking about getting him into an Ole
Mems Homeland so he came to me
My Carrie Ooh. | wish you could Sc,
herr makes as good daughter as sh,
does a wife. | don't drink anythin!
stronger than coffee, so the old gentle
man seems quite contented and is a
much interested in the orange grove a
/ am. '"-Cldra Marshall, IN ChriStid,
at Work.
WHY is it that the sale of Hood