Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-10-19
w. G.. T. u. COLUMN.
Norro. .God and Home and Native Land"
THF REASON WHY UNCLE ZACH
AIRY WILL NOTKEEP OR
SELL CIDER.

formerly sold cider, made from those
good old russell apples, showed their
disappointment at his refusal to sell
them any more, by saying harsh and
unpleasant things about him. But he
did not waver from his purpose. He
once and for all determined never to
keep, or sell, or give away another
pint of cider.
AS happen to know this determi-
nation, in justice to him and to the
cause of temperance, [ am going to
tell his story.
From boy Uncle Zachary was not
ed for his steady habits; for his in
dustry and honesty. He was from his
youth identified in the anti slavery
cause, but he was not a convert to to-
tai abstinence. By the time he set up
a household for himself, he was so far
advanced in the cause of temperance
as to entirely dispense with distilled
LIQUORS, but wine and cider were look
ed upon as harmless and healthful
drinks, and he was as sure to have
barrel of cider in his cellar as barrel
of pork.
He had large family of children,
but only one son, and, as was natural,
this son was the center of a great deal
of ambition as we'll as affection. He
was a handsome lad of eighteen when
my story begins. AS is often the case,
the son had not exactly the same ideas
as the father. He thought that there
was much more pleasure in the world
than his father had ever got out of it.
He liked a good time, and his idea of
a good time was to have plenty of gay
company and engage in frolic and mer-
riment. Farm work was not to his
taste, but he could dance and dress
nobility, and he was great favorlte
among his acquaintance. His sisters
were proud of his fine appearance, his
father hoped for steadier habits, and
his mother loved him only as a mother
can love an only son.
One night Uncle Zachary returned
in the drifting snow and biting cold
from the village five miles away.
WnSn he cdI16 I1UO OIIS w oil Hull ellAA
glow of the great New England kitch-
en- of his home, and sat down to a
tempting supper reserved smoking
hot for him, he thawed into a very
pleasant and agreeable mood.
sEWhere's all the children, mother?''
he said inquiringly. "Ain't nobody
here to draw pitcher O. cider? I've
been thirsty little mite all day, and
a glass o. cider seems mighty good"
''The children have all gone to the
singin' school," said his wife, ''and
they'll have tough time, too, getting
| home through the snow storm" She
hesitated a little, and then said rather
timidly: ''Tve been thinking a good
deal lately about cider. I've been
thinking whether or no it is not kind
of leading drink. l amt sure it does
the boys any good to run to the cider
barrel just when they please; and still
| amt sure as it'd be for the best tc
forbid it,
cts all notion, MOTHER" said I'm
Gle Zachary. Farmers amt going tC
get along without their apple juice
[ guess the good old way is good
enough for US. My father and moth
er and your father IN mother neve1
see no harm in cider, and what'd do 70
them guess'n do for u.s."
circumstances might alter cases,
said the wife. eff we see DANCE
ahead, mebbe it amt worth while t.
stop and consider what our forefather
did or didn't; mebbe it's safer to stee
right out of the way of danger, tn
first thing. I've been thinking as meb
be we might improve on them's gon
before us in some things"
Here the conversation was inter
rupted. l only give it to show tina
the anxious mother had begun t.
suspect that there was danger IN
glass of cider, and this suspicion ha'
arisen from her fear that it was hav
ing an influence on her son.
In Uncle Zachary's barn there was
barrel of cider that was sharp an
strong. The son and his companion
had access to this, and it had becom
a custom to treat all around on fire
ouent occasions. Evening after ev
ening these young men took thei
drink of cider, after their return from
some social gathering. The Who'll
, neighborhood of boys became demon
allied, and yet their elders had n
suspicion that the cider was at fault
TIT,0 10 noh
ary's was place called the Corners,
and there, in a country store, hquo
was sold. Although wine and eide
were common beverages among tn
farmers. still public sentiment ha
| advanced far enough to make iquo
saloon somewhat disreputable. Ru
mors foated about that Uncle Zacha
) RVS son. as we'll as others of his sci
, occasionally took drinks at the ban
but it came very vaguely to the home
of the boys, ahd was not credited.
r 1t was an Oid-fashioned New Eng
land picnic at the sea-shOre when Un
Gle Zachary and his wife were force
to see the way their son WIS drifting
A half-dozen young men came dash
} inc on to the picnic grounds abou
midday. All the picnickers gathere
about to welcome them. All wer
noisy and hilarious, but one was flush
ed, with cleaning eyes, waving his ha
f in air, and making himself strangel
conspicuous.
This was Uncle Zachary's son. ii
i sprang with hurrah from the Wagon
and fell in maudlin heap on tn
: ground. His voice was thick; he coul
: neither talk straight nor walk straigh
S There was no mistaking his condition
e He was drunk.
' 1t was a heart-rending sight, an
the picnic party was awed into silenc
and sorrow What Of the father an
r mother? Their shame, their grie
Y their fears! Who can depict them
: This was the hearsay, or SANDER. Wit
their own eyes they saw that the
S son had progressed in the drinkin
. habit until it controlled him. The
r knew he had begun with but a glass {
cider. Why had he not drank wit
moderation? Why had he been S
weak as to be overcome? His heart
S broken parents did not ask these ques
tions. They only saw that he had nc
drank with moderation, that he Ia