The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-15

saw him with my own eyes,"
"Well, my saloon-keepers were
pretty good; they were too astonished
to be anything else. Only one was at all
impudent, and two promised me not to
sell any liquor on the Fourth. Now
we must see the women"
A busy week followed-a week OF
earnest work and earnest prayer; a
week of sacrifice, too; for, when that
band of earnest women were first
assembled in Miss Sinclair's parlors,
listening to Estelle's eagerly-unfolded
plans, one practically-minded sister
had inquired where the funds were to
come from. There had been little
hush for moment, and looks of con-
sternation had been visible on many
faces; then Estelle's clear voice had
answered, bravely;
81 will go without single new ar
ticle of clothing for the coming year
and spend my money for this work"
And /, and l, and l." cried score
of voices, and the wave of enthusiasm
swept so high that there was little
storm ofapplause from women's hands
even in Claytonville parlor.
I" But | see no need of quite such
sacrifice" said Aunt Esther; "let
those who can afford to pay, pay for
your dainties; they would pay for their
liquors. Give only to the poor"
81 hadn't thought of that" said Es-
telle, slowly. "Still, if the girls are
willing, 1 would rather we paid for
this--so far as we may; then whatever
surplus funds there may be, can go to
the establishment of permanent read
ing-room.
And so the matter was settled.
Great establishment was awakened in
the manly breasts of Claytonville as,
on the Sd of July, a large booth was seen
in process of erection on the village
green, the grand center of their patri-
otto demonstrations. The mystery was
not explained until, as the central fea-
ture in its tasteful decoration from be-
meath festoonng of flags, stood forth
the mystic letters, CIV. G. T. U. In
God we trust"
"Humph!" said Deacon Downing and
Michael Flaherty, the saloon-keeper, in
the same breath. Some woman's
tom-foolery"
1t seemed a very attractive piece of
tom-foolery the next day. The girls
were in their places at early dawn, each
| in her prettiest dress and with her
sweetest smile; and when it was found
that Aunt Esther's famous coffee was
! likewise on hand, there was such raid
from the youthful connoiseurs as babe
fair to exhaust the supply. 1t was not
very hard, after they had eaten of the
smoking beans and brown-bread, and
drank the luscious coffee, TO persuade
those boys not to go near saloon that
day. The girls were surprised to see
how easily it was done; hardly one left
the table without white ribbon in his
button-hole.
By ten O'Clock it became evident that
provisions would not hold out; so for
aging expedition was organized, with
orders to call at every house. How they
roasted over the fires in hot kitchens
that day-those mothers of Claytonville.
Then came a flank movement. The
soloon- keepers had been waiting pa
tiently for their custom. AT first they
had only felt vaguely uneasy, but now
they were genuinely alarmed; so plac-
ards were posted about, telling of free
drinks, and all the old veterans were
sent down to the Green to decoy the
boys.
The girls felt that the life or death
struggle had come, and with pathetic
bravery they prepared TO meet it. The
ce-cream, which had been held in re-
serve, was now brought forward, and
Maria Cushing stood for a half-hour
with plate in her hand trying to per-
suade Tom Bryant to come with her tC
eat it, while Michael Flaherty was al
his button-hole urging him saloon
ward.
She always felt that she should have
lost him if, just at the right moment
help had not come. From such an un-
expected quarter, too! DIR. Parsons
son, who, last year, had been intoxi
Gated on that very Green, had returned
from college the night before, and with
him a young friend. They had nj
thoughts of attending the celebration
that day, but rumors of the women!
work reaching them, they hurried dowr
to help. Jamie Cushing's death haC
burned deep into Frank Parsons soul
and Harvard held no more earnest tenn
perance advocate than he, unless i
were his friend-Harry Emerson, thu
young theologian.
How they worked! 1t seemed as
they were everywhere in the same in
slant, and everywhere with just thu
right word. Tom Bryant found himsel
eating his ice-cream with very solemn
face, for Frank had wrung his hand ant
whispered: "Oh, Tom, remember ia
mie!" and then Jamie's sister hat
;, placed the dish in his hand and turneC
away with sob.
! For two hours the battle ragged, bu
! when, at one O'Clock precisely, Aun
! Esther brought forth her first chicken
pie, the saloon-keepers gave up with
groan. Some of them were even wis
enough to close their saloons and joi
in the festivities. All that afternoo
there was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
.. and an impromptu dance on the Green
I while the display of fireworks in tn
evening was said never before to hav
; been 80 fine. The reason may hav
a been that they were never befor
touched off by sober hand.
Az tho Last rockat shnt Skvwa RI