Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-04-05

VISITED UPON OUR
CHILDREN.

On trip up the Hudson an emf
nent divine saw an affecting sight,
tipsy man at whom the crowds were
laughing. A decent middle-aged
man looked on SO pityingly the doc
tor drew him out, and at last he told
his own story about as follows:
He was born and bred-I use al
most his own language-on a farm
in Ulster, Ireland. He married a
wife, nice girl who had served her
time in - to a dressmaker, who
shared his feelings, and they set up
little business. 1t was in the mar.
ket town close by his own place.
my people," said he "were re-
spectacle, and l got credit to start
with; but 1 did not know the ways
of the trade. My old neighbors used
to drop in, and my wife and myself
wished to be kindly, and we had
deal of treating, and this cost money
and we soon ran behind in rents, in
our bills, IN every way.
| could not bear to 60 down there,
and we managed to sell out, pay
part and promise the rest, for our
creditors knew who we were, and we
moved to Glasgow. Were you ever
in Glasgow
eyes" I said, 81 know Glasgow
very WE'LL
"Then you know how many mills,
and works, and shops it has, and
how crowded the people are together.
You may think the change it was to
90 into two rooms in High street,
and have nothing but these to our
selves. But necessity has no law.
l got work, and we paid little of
our debt, and l was getting a raise
in wages, and we had two children.
They have in Glasgow what they call
the Fair every July; for a week
little work is done; pleasure is the
only thing and OIL! it Is too often
pleasure like that poor fellow S
drinking, men and women, aye, and
children. Why, l have seen men
and women in the broad daylight,
lying deaddrunk on Glasgow Green,
and no one seeming TO mind it
Somebody had to stay at the works
this week, and l was glad to earn
the money. At six | came home
meaning to take Bessie-that was
her name-a walk !; but when | came
home she was out, and the two chill
dren were by themselves and crying
dreadfully. l did the best 1 could
put them in bed, and went out tc
look for Bessie. | found her
Like that man, only worse. She die
not know me-could not speak. The
women with her were drunk, toe
. And 1t killed her. We haC
a little boy, our baby; and she was
found dead when L was at work, with
the child-we called him Thomas fol
my father sitting on the floor by
her trying to awaken her."
He took longer to tell this than
have done, for he could not KEEP
back the tears. l expressed my
sympathy with him.
"Thank you sir" he replied
That's years ago, but l can't for
get it yet. Only there's one thing
| never said a hard word to Bessie
thank God l never did," said he
and l could well believe it as | look
ed at the honest face. "But oh
when | think of her going before
her Maker that wayr' he added
with flowing tears.
"Well, hope" l said, that tn,
, children will be comfort to you"
There was long pause before hi
spoke, and then it was with so mucl
evident pain that l regretted m,
: words.
r "One," said he, "the second, is
!. she is a good child. The oldest il
e not steady; can do nothing witt
her; and my boy, the little boy
told you about, can't be kept from
drink. That's my trouble now.
gave up the place l had in Jersey
l am going out to Ohio, to tow
where | am told liquor is not to b
e had, to try and save him. 1t break
it my heart second time; and | can
altogether blame him, for at the tim
g | took some, and his mother took to
much, and it looks as if it was pu
u u into his very nature so that he coul
id not help it. Oh, sir ' he said, turr
1t ing to me directly, and becomin
O. eloquent in his vehement feeling
"fathers and mothers ought to /
I told that when they are drinking the
as are putting the desire into their Chi
dren that will ruin them, and the
to will be scourged with the whip the
themselves make"
e. We parted with some words
hope to him, some entreaty that
las would not even yet lose heart. If
ed sees this page he will know that
ass am trying to act on his honest TT
Use words. Oh, that they could be p
OK into the ear and heart of men a
women IN Ireland and Scotland
be where "Glasgow Fair" is natio
al disgrace-in England 'and Anne
om ca Who would not wish for abs
do nence societies. tracts and beol
ed ed ministers sermons, young peopl
pledges, humane laws? One aim,
: se Of cries out for anything that wol