St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-06-28
Selected Story.
1T STINGETH LIKE AN ADDER.

looked surprised You don't drink,
Murray? :" said Charlie Howard;
"but | did drink in my younger days,
and thereby hangs a tale"
Lets have it, cried Dick Warren.
Your stories are always interest
ing
But this is true story" said
young Murray.
That's why we want it, said
Charley Toward.
Put up your cards, then" said
Murray.
1--WE WILL" said Dick Warren; and
forthwith put the cards in his
pocket.
1t was a log hut in a lumber camp
in Wisconsin. The young men were
roughly dressed but were fine and
intelligent looking. Evidently they
were accustomed to refined society,
notwithstanding their present rough
surroundings. Donald Murray
leaned back in his chair and said:
Eyes, boys, l drank when a young
man, and it was less than six
months that my appetite for liquor
lasted but those six months have
left their impress upon my whole
life. You see l lived in a little ham
let in southwestern Pennsylvania.
My father was a good man, a Chris
tan, and strict, not to say stern,
father to his children. At that time
railroad passed through our dis
trict. and it needed new ties, and
gang of young men were at work IN
the mountains cutting them. l
Joined them partly because | wished
to earn money; but mainly because
l enjoyed their society. They were
rough fellows, and-they drank.
They all drank, and 1 learned to
drink with them-I, who had never
tasted liquor before in my life.
Boys, do you know what it is to
lead double life? l do. AS l told
you, my father was church mem
Der, and night and morning l kneel-
ed with my parents and sisters at
the family altar, and lifted my voice
with theirs in the hymn of praise
when my brain was scarcely free
from the fumes of liquor. My eldest
sister, Rachel, was a noble girl.
Beautiful in form and feature, she
was as good as an angel. How l
loved her! 1 idolized her.
girl from Pittsburgh came to teach
our district school. She was an in
innate friend of Rachel's, and was a.
good as Rachel. We became &C.
quainted and to make a long story
short, we were to be married when
her school closed in September. !
This was in June. How l loved that |
girl! Marion Moore was my ideal
of what a woman should he. She |
looked like a queen, with her tall,
majestic figure and her black hair
and eyes. Well, summer passed
away and the close of Marion's |
school was very near; only a few
DAYS, and we were to leave for our |
home in the West. But there was a
traitor in our camp, and he disclosed |
to Marion the secret that l drank. |
She knew this; but was just as cor
dial in her manner as ever; and be- |
lieve me, boys, l did intend to stop |
drinking as soon as we were mar
ried. The school was to close with |
an exhibition, and on the evening it
took place 1 walked with Marion to
the school house. 1t was Friday
evening, and we were to be married
the following Monday. 1t was
lovely evening, and, as we walked
along, my heart swelled with pride
to think that the lovely creature by
my side would soon be mine. She
was very silent, and / made some
casual remark about the bright fu-
ture before US, when she turned sud-
denly, fixed her blazing eyes upon
my face, and then, boys, the light
ming struck me.
"'Never speak to me again, Donald
Murray!' she cried; I will never
marry you You drink l will never
marry a drunkard! and she walked
on towards the schoolhouse with
the tread OF a tragedy queen, leaving
me standing in the middle of the
road, transhxed with shame and
amazement. Well, l skunk into the
schoolhouse, crept into a corner,
and watched the exercises like one in
dream. The last act on the pro-
gramme was a solo which Marion
sang. 1t was a Scotch song, Good
night, and JOY be wi you a. There
she stood-Marion, my Marion no
longer-dressed in black velvet, with
scarlet geraniums in her bosom and
in the clusters of her dark hair; and
how her glorious voice pealed out
into the darkness. Did You ever
hear that song, boys?" 1t is very
sweet and plaintive."
Murray was silent moment, and
then, slowly and softly, he whistled
the melody; and then, in a sweet
tenor voice, be sang the first stanza
of the song:
Good night, and joy be Wi you a.;
Your harmless nirth has cheered my heart;
May Gfe's fell blast out DER We blaw !
In sorrow may we never part
Ny spirit lives, but strength is gone,
The mountain fires now blaze in vain;
Remember, sons, the deeds I've done,
Id il deeIiS lie IN