The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-12-16

btds mo cheer up and pu ny 6oso
God's mercy. sad 70 reasabss thss h "
often darkest iuss before daslisht
The farmer and hi siis ssss asahsl
OF the tempersnos socissy, I'D signed q
pledge; and ! bad oitsa kpAra hin =
that be believed u he'd sassd hin fro,
destruction. He bad beiose his nasriAg'
and for year altar bses IL ths hAbis I
taking : little spirit every ~. Hs "
% industrious. thriving ma. bat shorti
after his marriage BE- bsoAae bound ioF
neishbor, Who ran ox asd ~ ~ obligs
70 pay the dsbt IhAss hsard hin d
clare that when tho shsri6 snok away Il
his property and stripped - little cot
tage. and scarcely leit him thoss tri6s
which ere secured 10 tho pose man By lev
and when he considered hos III bic poo
wiie vas 4 The time IN conssqssscs of ~
loss oI their child. thst died saly : monll
before. .he. xM uafsaiasd .ispn rsyortini
nothing but ths recollection Of ~ plsd6s
he had signed. Farmer Johnson's minis
Ter vas 10 favor Of pledges. and bad Often
told him that affection might weaken biz
judgement and his moral sense. and thsi
the pledge might save him d lest. y the
plank saves the lie Of the mariner Who ID
tossed upon the waves. Our good clergy
man was. unfortuuaiely. Of different
opinion; he bad often disapprcved ol
pledges. The deacon vAs Of The came
opinion; he thought very lily Of pledges.
Month after month passed away. and
our happiness was utterly destroy \. NJ
husband neglected his business. and power
~ began 10 stare ~ 10 the iaoe. Notvith-
standing my best exsrtions, Il was hard
work to keep ny littls ones clothed and
fod. Iimy husband earned :
shilling. the dram seller vas ~ sure Of IL
as il it vas already 10 his till. ! some
times thought I he'd lost all ny Affections
for one Who hsd proved 90 eatiSsly regard.
less OF those whom II was his duty TO pro-
lect and sustain; but when looked in the
faees Of our children. the recollection Of
our early marriage days and oil bis kind
words and deeds soon taught me the
strength OF the principle that had brought
US together shall never cease TO re-
member the anguish / felt when the CON-
stable took him to jail on the dram-ssllsrs
Execution. Till that moment did
not believe that my Affection could
have survived nnder the pressure Of that
misery which be had brought upca rs al.
put up such things Of the little that re'
nained TO us as I thought might b. Of uss'
md turned my back upon spot whore I
had been very happy and very wretched.
Dur FIVE little children followed. weeping
bitterly. The jail was situated in the next
own. "Oh. Georgel" ssid l, ''if you had
,nly signed the pledge ii would not have
,omc to this 4
he sighed and said nothing. and w
walked nearly mile in perfect silssns.
As we were leaving ths village 70 en-
,ountered our clergym going forth upon
lis morning ride. When | reflected that
few words from him would have induced
ny poor husband TO sign the pledge. and
hat, il he had done 80. he might have
,een the kind father and the affectionste
husband that be once WAS, I own II cost
ne considerable effort to suppress my
motions. "Whitber are you goinga" said
lie holy man. Ny husband, who had al
rays appeared extremely humble in the
resence OF the minister. and replied 10 oil
is inquiries 10 subdued tone Of voics.
nswersd with unusual( (6rmnsss: "To jsil,
everend sir" ITO jaiII" said he Ah. 1
90 how it is; you have wasted your sab |
lance in riotous living, and ars going 70
ay for your improvidence and folly. You
ave had the advantage Of nv precept and
rsmple. and you have turned : deaf ssr
, the ono and neglected tho Other"
Reqersned SIR" my husband replied,
allied by his reprooi, which appeared TO
i'm ~ that particular moment
.; unnecessary aggrAvstiou Of biz
'isery. reverend sir. your precsptl
nd your example have been my
nin; l have followed them both. You.
ho had no experience of the temptations
, which your weaker brethren are liable,
ho are already addicted 70 the temper
Le use Of ardent spirits. advised me never
, sign y pledge. have followed your
Twice TO the latter. You admitted that
ktraordioary occasions might Justify the
Sc Of ardent splits. snd that on such oc-
.sions you might use it yoursslf. I fsl-
wed your example; but Il has besn ny
Misfortune never to drink spirituons LOU
rs without finding that my occasion
ere more extraordinary than ever. Had
followed the example 81 neishbor John
IN. should not have msds good wife
IiserabIs nor ny children bsggars.
While he uttered ttsss lsas words myl
oor husband looked upon bis little ONES
I'd burst into tears. and ths minister rode
owly away without uttsriug word.
sjoiced. even 10 the midst Of our misery.
sec that the heart Of my George -
A
.nderIy Affected; iosit b sot nors pssd-
il that the hardness Of vaE should b.
abdued by IRE than ti,st the hssst Of
lsu should bs sofssped By aflictics be-
,rs deep and lasting impressioa co -
,sde. Dear husband" said I. I've ~
ouug; it 10 not too late; lot us truss 10
Iod. aud all may YET b. wsl'." He nsdsf
0 reply bat coutinu usd 70 wsIk % ed
'eep 10 silence. 4
Shortly after the deacon appssssd q
pms distance coming tossrds ~ on Ne
,sd, but % soon - be discovered uho "
'ers be turned into pssvsss pssb. -
-n..s~ ~. .>~~.sI arSsuowkat f<1m80 ~