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PUBLISHEDBY KNAPP 8c JEWETT, EVERY TUESDAY MOUNWG, NEARLY OPPOSITE TIIE I3ANK, AT $S A YEAlt, OR $1,50 IN ADVANCE.
VOfj. V. A'. 57.
REOiWFI2K.ffJGR, CVT.) FSESRVAKY B. 18G.
WBSMEK. 225.
For thc Stalc Journal.
TIIE POST OFTICE 11EP011T.
ln tliu fcw bricf notices vo havo secn
ofllic Ileport of tlio Post Master Gcncral,
not ono of thcm luis, in nll respcets, o.
prcsscd our vicws, in relalion to said doc
umciit. Mr. Kcndall is justly ouiitlcd to
grcnt crcdit, for rcstoring tho dcpartnicnt
ovcr which liu presidcs, in so sliort tititnc,
froin llic chaotic and cinbarrasscd eondi
tion, in which lic fotind it, lo tlio prosper
ous statc indicntcd by tlio report. Wo will
frankly confcss tliat wo could not Imvo
liclicved, tliat so iimcli conld lmvo liccn
donc in so sliort n timc, townrdti relicving
tlio dcpartmoiit froin its fiscal cinbarrass
incnts. lt nlso strikcs us tliat tlio suggcs
tions in rclation to somo inodificntions in
tlio orgnnization of tlic Dcparttncnr, arc
judicious, nnd wo wondcr tliat tlio propo
sition to mako thc ratcs ofpostago conform
nblo to tlic denoininnioiis oftho nnlionnl
coin, lias ncvcr bccn thotight of bcforo and
adoptcd.
Itis cvidcnt at tlio first g'ance, tliat tliis
nltcration nlonc would exccedingly siinpli
fy and lighton tlio luhora oftho niany thou
sands crinncctcd with tliis Dcpnrtincnt. lt
would nlso tend somc to cncourage a pro
ferenca for Atuerican coin, wliicli isno tri
fling coiisidcration, as tlio gcncral substi
tution of Anicrican siutill coin for Spanisli,
would facilitatc tlto pcriod whcn fcilcrnl
nioncy will eiuircly supcrccdo tlio difl'erent
etnto ciirrcnoies; it will greatly siinplify
tlio Btnnll, cvcry-day nioni'y trnusnctions of
lifo ; it will provcnt in a oonsidorablo dcgrcc
tlic (luctuation of tlio aiiioiiutof sniall coin
in circulation, ns, not hoiny souglit for
aliroad liko tlio Spanish coinngc, it will
always reniain in circulation at liomc.
Wo arc too wcll npprized of tlic condi
tion of tlic old arcoiuu booksof tlic Gcner
nl Post Ofii .0 to bo oitlicr surpriscd nr
displenscd r.t Mr. Kcndnli'd procuring u
new sct. An adniitiistration coniminittco
of Congrcss informcd tis tliat tlio old
books wcrc iiniiitelligible, and disfigurcd
with niargiiml notcsand incnioranda, botli
pcnncd nnd pcncillcil, wliicli, liowovcr, m
it rcgardcd tlic niagnitudo oftho coutracts
nnd traiisactions of wliicli thcy tlio mar
ginal notcs -wcrc tlic only rccord, innilc
no nican figuro.
Tlio ground Mr. Kcndall lias takcn in
rclntion to tlic trausniission by inail, o(
piiblications of a ccrtain charactcr, cspc
cially obuoxioiis to tlic South, is untcnablc.
If tlic publishers hcro or thoso who rcceivo
nnd circulatc tlicin at tlic South, violalc in
so doing, tlic laws ol thcir rcspcctivo slates,
to thosc laws let ihoin nnswcr it. If thcy
havo infringcd upon no law, by what pro
cesa of rcnsouing, or sophistry cithcr, can
it bc madc to nppcar tliat thcy havo fur
feited thcir right to privilogcs conimnn to
nll? If tlio laws aro dcfcctivc, lct tlicin ho
so anicndcd, if it can bo coiisiitutionally
donc, as to rcacli tlio casc iu (picstiou.
If tliis cannot bc donc, why, thcn it is far
bcttcr to subniit to nn cvil of iinccitain
cxtcnt, and of so aiiihiguous charactcr, thot
tlio law docs not and cannot bo inado to
bcnr upon it, than with u vicw to rcmcdy
it, inflict upon tlio country a ccrlnin injury,
nnd establish n preccdcnt wliicli will bo
nppcalcd to in nll afior timcs,to jiistifv tlic
cxercise, under cvcry form, of arbitrnry or
undclogatcd power. If tlio traiisii-issioii
by innil of priutcd papcis bo rcfucd, mny
not writtcn papcrs oftho sainotendeiicy, bo
nlso rcjcctcd? Supposo the proscribod
papcrs bo scnlcd in an envelopc, nnd nmil
cd ns lcttcrs, tnny not tlio Pnstmastcrbreak
tho scal on suspicion? and if so, whoro is
tlic tnucli laudcd sccurity of inail convcy
nnce whcrc tlio bcnclit to tlio conimuni
ty, of tlic Post Ofiiciiennblishment?
Though totally disscnting frotn tlio viows
of Mr Kcndall, in rclation to tlio last inen-
tioncd subjcct, yct scciiis such wcro his
op'mions, their cxprcssion was not pcrhnps
niisplaccd iu tlic Aiiimal Itcpoit. Itut what
biisiiiciis hai tlio culogium tlio unincritcd
culopiiun of m iinincdiate prrdcccssor, in
mi oflicial dnciiuicnt? Without nny pcr
noiial knowlcdge of Mr Uarry, wo ncvcr-
thcless havc snflicc.it knowlcdgo of h.m.to
bo ablo to say, iinlicsitatingly, tliat ns fnr ns
it relatcd to his public cnrcer, tho ciilngium
is n burlcRfpin. Evcn Mr. Kcndull'H ingc
nuity could contrivo no othcr waytoscrccn
Mr Hnrry from tho implication oftho inost
notorious nnd unblushing mismnnngcmcnt
of his dcpartnicnt nud wantou wasto oftho
public moncy, ns wcll as thoso who foistcd
him into oflico, from tlio chnrgo of sacri
ficSng tlio public good to pcrsonal and party
prpdilcclion.", thnn by dcclnring him to bo
too good and lioncstuninn. (Wo cannot
givo tlio prcciso languago, not having tlio
rcport bcforo us.) Too honcst n ninn lo
watch with fiilclity ovcr tlio trust coniinit
tcd to his hands! Wo aro rcuiiudcd tliat
Mr liarry is no moic tliat his nshcs claim
llic coninion privilogcs of cxciuption froin
tlio trcad ofinan. Voknowllc isdcad,aud
niay God foigivo liini, aiul nmy his country
too forgivu hiin aiul sho lias niucli to for
givc, but inay tliat country ncnr furgU
tlio aduiiiiUtrntion wliicli Ibr so considcra
blo pcriod atiiilaincd in n highniid rcs)ou
sihlo oflico, ono who liad so long nnd so
pnlpably sliown his nttor incoinpctcncy for
tliu statioii lio occupicd, as Mr Harry.
Sustaincd ho was, through ycnrs of tlic
grosscst inis-nianagcnicnt, iintil tlio Kxccit
tivc, popular as ho was, and his party,
btrong as it fclt itsclf, could no longcr with
safcty to thcinsclvcs, cndurc tlio cnoriiious
weight of thcir Post Mastcr Gcncral. llo
was thcrcforo juilkiously trausfcrrcd froin
thc hcud of tlio Post Olico Dcpnrtincnt lo
tlio niiasiun lo .Spain, froin an oflico in
wliicli iudustry, honcsty, and n incdiocrc
undcistaiiding, suflicicd for thc full pcrfor
inanco of its diilicF, to ono wliicli n.'piircd
tlic siipcraddition of tnlcnts of a higli orclcr,
of n sngacity tliat can pcnctrato tlio secrct
cotuistl of oilicre, nnd a prudciicc wliicli no
art can dupc, with u Miiall nbatctncnt of
honcMy.
Tlio prcscnt prospcrous condilion of thc
Post Ollico Dcpartnicnt, i?, as Mr Kcndall
vcry wcll knowcth, a scvcro couinicnt ou
thc inis-inaiiagciiiciit of his prcdccrssor,
and we suspcct thc culogy on tlio Prcsi
dcnt's lato fnvorito is dcsigncd to soolhc
liis scnsitivo .niid irritablo fcclings. Vo
cannot but Inincnt tliat tlio liigh ofliccs of
onr fruo ltcpuhlic arc kcjit under such
stiict siirvcillaneo as cntirclv to rcnrcss
cvcry scntiincnt of inauly indcpcndciicc.
XYZ.
I'or tlio Statc Journal.
Mr EniTon:
Voluntnry associationp, discussions, and
publications havo bt'cn thc grand instru
nicnts for arrcstiiig tho progrcss of intcin
porancc, aud for proniotingthc tcinpcr(Incc
rcforni, and I bclicvc drunkards, and thcir
abcttors, havc nvvcr attcinptcd by mob3 to
brcal: down such nssocintions, to provcnt
such discussions or to riflo from thc ninil
and dcstroy such imblications. Evcn
drunkards havo fclt too niucli rcspect for
thc authoiity oftho laws nnd tho rights of
thcir (cllow citizcns to dcfcnd themsdvc3
by mobs, whcn ussaultcd iu thc inost luri-
oiis inauncr.
Tho fricnds of human rights havo cn
dcnvorcd to awakcu tho attcntion of tliis
uation to tho sin and danger of slavcry, by
voluntnry associations, by frco disciiss-ions,
aud piiblications addrcsscd, not to thc
hlac, but to his mastcr. And slavo own
crs nnd thcir abcttors havc, not only do
noiinccd thcni from high plnccs nnd low
placcs, but thcy havc tramplcd U)on tho
laws of thcir country, violatcd tho sacrcd
rights of frccmcn, nnd by tho viohncc nf
mobs, havc cndcavorcd to disperso tho
fi icnds of frccdoni, to provcnt nll frco dis
cusHoii on tho sin ofblavcry, nnd to dcstroy
thoso piiblications tliat wcro addrcs?cd jo
tlic cnnscienccs of slavo holdcrs. Why is
all Ibis cxcitcincnt nnd violcncc? Arc tho
fricnds of slavcry rouscious, tliat slavcry is
u vwitshT of such horrid mcin, thnt it inust
bu hatcd, if it bo biitscen; or aro thcy in
futt worso cit'rcns ihcn drunkards ? Facts
aro stiibborn th'uigs, lhj thcir fruils yc
shull know them.
Mr Editor, 1 lmvo bccn lcd to makc
thcso rcinarks by reading tho rcsolvcs of
tho Tciiipcrnnco Convciitioii holdcn nt
Shaftsbury last Novcuibcr, as itiblishcd in
tho Vermont Chroniclc, Dcccinhcr 10th.
And I wish lo trausfcr foiiic ofthosc Rcso
lutions into your pnpcr, with a fcw vorbnl
alicrations, which I will niaik hy iindcr
scoring, thnt tho cditorof tho Chronicln nud
othcrs'iniiy sco how circumslanccs allcr
cascs :
"1. Kcsolvcd, Thnt in thc opinion of tliis
Convciitioii tho ufo and trnffic in human
1;, md hma is illllll0raiily)U vlolntlon
of tliu laws of God, and, as biich, ought to
bc, nud so far ns incn obcy him will bc,
uuivorsnlly nbandnuud.
'1'. llcsolvcd, Tliat tho uso and tiaflic
iu humuh Jlcsh and boncs, nro productivo of
tho inost dircful ovil, inornl, pliygicnl nnd
and political, nnd hostilo to tho bcst intcr
csts of man.
":i..Itcsolvcd, Thnt tho i.aws which nu
thorize tho palo of human Jlcsh and boncs,
nre iMttonAt, nnd tliat thoso who nro cn-
gngcd iu cnacting such laws and sustain
iugthciu,aro ncccssory to thc proniotion of
vicc, and aro ncting against tlio bcst intcr
ests ofinan and of thcir country.
Kcsolvcd, Thnt lUo Molilion Rcfonn
is inaiuly to ho sustaincd nnd cnrricd for
ward, by cnliglitciiingnnd corrccting plubio
scntiniunt in rcgnrd to thc iiutnornlitics and
ovils of using nnd cncouragiiig tlio uso and
traflic in Inimunjkshandloncs.
"0. Uctolvcd, Tliat frcipicnt publio dis
cussion isauiong tlio iuost cflicicnt incans
of ciilightcning public scntiincnt, and cor
rccting tlio i'also opiuions nnd hahits of ;
thoce whu Irqffic iu haman Jlcsh and boncs, i
crcii though it he donc in a modcralc
grcc- ,
"10. Rcsolvcd, Tliat Ihc trajtc in human
Jlcshamt boncs is noi only inunoral, but tliat
it is bi diicct oppof iliou to tlio spirit cf
sound nnd wholcsonic lc"islatioii, a:id
oiipht tlicrcforc to bo iinincdiatcly abolisli
cd by law."
Tlio othcr rcsolutions might casily bc
madc to oxprcsj tlio vicws of abolitionists,
nnd to bcnr ns hard u)on slavcholders a
upon runi-driiikciB. Wo might also ray
"appctito aud avarico" wcro tlio inain hin
dcranccs to tlio progrcss of ciiancipation
...... , juuy.u.-., -'i'-''"'-
Aml wo might say, as wcll ns thc orntor, ;
llmt "svslciMiilin nri'niiiynlii.n. ilifl'iisinn nf
ii.fonnnlinu. fn.iiii.Mit i1Usii.imi. nml nn
appeal to tho poll-, would bo tho bcst incans i
fbr abolitionists to purMic, ns wcll ns tho
Tcuipcrancc Socictics. IJut thcn wo inigbt
bc stiginatiscd as fanaliciand inccndiurics;
nnd pcrhaps cvcn tlio cditor oftho Cluoii
iclo would rap our knucklcs, and cry out
abolitionists mcan to mukc thc qucstion of
slavcry a political qucslku, nud thcy will
l uin thc Ucpublic.
Dcar Slnvcry, you inust bb crndled nnd
rockcd and your fricnds must bc coa.xcd
and soothcd, and mobs mtist bo kcpt on
tho alcrt to gunrd your righrs ; but your
daughtcr Huiu and hcr fricnds inay bo
kickcd nnd cufl'cd nt plcasurc ! Inteinpcr
niice has clnir hcr thoiisnudd ; bul ds.nry
hn slain its tcn tbousands. Why thcn
'coudcnin thc lcss cvil nnd cxtcuuato thc
grcatcr? Aud why not cmploy tho samo
incans to bnnish from our lnud slavcry aud
intciniicrancc, thc inothcr and hcr daugh
tcr? Thcy arc both cbildrcn oftho wickcd
onc. Lct Satan havo his own !
CONSISTENCY.
Tompcranco Talu-
vtiixt
liy I. M. Sarucnt, lCsq.l
V Ot'ltSE!
OR JOHNNY IIODOnS,THK HLACKSMITII.
"Tho doctor is a kind man," said Johny
Ilodgcs, addrcssing n pcrson of resnccia-
blo iippcarance, who was in tliu nct of
returning to his pockct-book a physicinu's
bill, which tho blacksinith did uot fiud it
convcniciit to pav. 'Thc doctor is a khnl
man, a vcry kiud uiau, nnd lias carucd his
moucy, 1 clnro say, iiuil 1 iloirt negriidgo
liini a sbilling of it all; but, for all that, l
havc not tho mcnns of payiug his bill, nor
nny part of ir, just now." "Wcll, wcll,"
said tlic collcctor, "1 shall bo tliis wny
Dctoro long, aiul will call on you as:aui."
Johny Ilodgcs thaukcd him for tho iu-
ilulgcnce, nnd proccedcd wiih his work;
Dut tlio iiauuucr swuug licavilv upou thc
anvil, and many u loug sigh cscapcd,
DC'oro ino jon iu lianil was lairly tiirncd
on.
Tlirco or four timcsalrcndy, thc collcctor
linil paul a visit to tlio lilacksinitlrs sliop,
wno wns niways rcauy to miinit tho uis
tico of tho claim, audthat tho iloctorhad
bccn vciy kind aud attculivc, nud had wcll
ourned his inoncyi but Johny wasnlwnys
bchiiidliaud; aud, thouch full of nrofcs-
sions of gratitudo to tho good doctor, yct
tho doctor's bill sccincd not vcry likcly to
no liiiiu. i'anuuarity, saitn tlio lirovcvl),
hrecds contcmpt. '1 liis old saw is not nnt
to work inoro ronghly, in nny rclation of
lilc, tbau bclwccn tho crcditor, nr tho crcd
itor's agcut, nud thonou-pcrlornruigdchtor
Thcpiirsuing paity is apt to hccoinu im
portunatc, aud tho pursiicd lo grow gradu
uily cnllous aud indillcrciit. Upon tho
proscnt occasion, liowcvcr, tlio collcctor;
who was u bcnuvolcnt niaii, wns cxtrcmi'ly
iniicnt and foibcaring. Ilc had sufliciciit
jicnctrntion lo pcrcoive, tliat ponr Johnny,
for somc catiso or othcr, wns nlwnyH cx
ccedingly innitilicd nii(l paincd, by thcso
rcpcatcd a)iplicatious. lt did not, howou-r,
cscapo tho siispicion lif tho collccior, tliat
tbcro iuight bc u ccrtain, seerot I'liusc, for
Johuy's iuability to pay tho doctor's bill.
Intumpcrancojs oxhibitcd, in u grcat vari
cty of inodilicatioiis. Wbilosoinn individ
unls aro spccdily roiisnl inio violcnt nud
disordcrly action, or hushcd to sluiiibir,
nnd icduccd to tho roudilion ol n hclplcM
nud linrnilcss innssj othcrs, providcd by
iinturi) wilh bcads of iron nud lcntlicni
skins, aro cipially intcni)eiato, yctscarcclv,
for many ycnrs, prcscnt bcforo thowoifd
thoRlightcst pciiioiial indicatioii of thcir
habitunl iiidiilgcnco.
Johny Ilodgcs was ou cxccllcnt workninu,
nnd ho hnd nhiindanco of work. lt was
not casy to nccount for such nn appropria
tion of his carnhigs, ns would lcavo him
not cnough for tho pay mont of tho doctor'n
bill, upou nny othcr supposition, thnn thnt
of n wastoful and sinful cniploynicnt of
tlicin, for tlio purchaso of strong drink.
Johnny's countciiiuico, lo bo surc, was
oxcccilingly palo and sallowj but tlio palc
faccd lipplcr is, by no incans, an iiucoin
nioii epcctaclo. On tlio otbcr band, Johnny
was vcry induslrioiis, coiistnntly iu his shoji
in working hours, and always busily cm
ploycd. Alkr an intcrval of scvcra! wcckw, tlio
collcctor callcd agaiu, and put tlio custotn
ary qucstion, Woil, Mr llodgcs, can yoii
pay thc doctor's bill?' Pcrhaps thcro was
sdnicthiiig iiiiusunlly huiricd or iniporuin
atc,or Joliuny so thoii"ht, iu thc ninuucrof
inak'nig tlio iinpiiry. Johnny was cngagcd
in turning n shoc, aud ho hauinicrcd it
ontfrciytmt of shape. IIo laid down his
linimiitTaud tongs, aud, for a fuw sccoiids,
i i.:,. i...i, I......I il .!..'.
i know how I can nay thc doctor's hill,'
said .lohuiiv Iloilnes.
i vo notniug ncrc
iu tlio sliop, but my tools nnd a vcry liltlo
H0C,t5 1 vr nT s , 1 ' i
know thc doctor's bill ought to ho paid,nnd
if ho will tako it, ho ihail bo wcli-oinc to
oiir cow, though I havo fivc little cbildrcn,
wbo livc unoii tlio inilk.' lNo. no. IIoiIl'cs.'
said thc collcctor, 'you aro niucli inistakcn, .
if you supposo thc doctor, who is n Ulnis-
tian and a kind-licnited iiian,woiild tako your
cow, or oppress you atall, for tlio iiuioiint
of his bill. l!ut how is it, tliat you, who
havo always f-o niucli work, havo ncvcr
any inonV)?1 'Ah. sir,' Faid Johnny
Ilodgcs, wliilo no wipni ino pcrspiraiiou
Iioiii lns incc. lor no was a
hard-Nvorking !
A!,,,.,,.,' naiii lie,'vliiitu ciuaoit isi-
cnn uothing bc doii'i to put a stop to tliis
illtCinilcrailCC? 1 licar a grcnt dcal ol tlic
cuoi, uiai .iro umi.Mi
but slill tho runi
1 liiiQiiim (rnod nn. Ifitwrm not U)i' thc
tumptiitimiM to tako strong drink, 1 should
do woll ciiougli; and thc good doctor should j
not havo sc nf twic.c for thc aniount of his i
bill. Vcrv few of thnso, who writo nnd
talk so niui'h of intciiiioicucc, know any
lliing of our trials nnd troiiblcs.' 'I con-
fcss, said thc collcctor, 'tliat I havc liad my
suspicioiis and Ibars belbri'. Why do jou
not rcsolvc, tliat you will ncvcr touch j
aiiollicr drop? Go, Ilodgcs, liko n inail, 1
and put j our nanie to tho pledgr; and
pray God to cnablo you to kccp it liiiih-1
fullv.' 'Why, us to llu.t, sir,' said thc black-
sinUh.Mhc plcdgo will do inc no good: iho 1
lifiiciiliy docsn't lic thcrc What u cursc ! '
Is tlicrc no profpcct oi piuu 'g au cno '
to iiiteiuperoiieer 'To do suro tncrc is, icmptation. sno aitirmcd, m tno mcsr. ! you iu your irouuic, you suouiu no iicariuy
rcplicd tho collcctor. 'If pcoplo will sigu solcinn inauncr, tliat shc know nothing 1 wclconio to it." "Indccd," said thc hlack
tho plcdgc, aiul kccp it too, thcro is no ' about it; but two of tho l'utlo cbildrcn iu j sniitli, "tho doctor ia a kind fricnd ; but I
uiiliuuiiy.' -JinT, supposo thcy will not , answcr to niy iinpiiry, told inc, thnt thcy I supposo nothiiig can bo dono to put an cnd
uiuicuiiy.' Jnit, supposo thcy wui noi ,
sign thc plcdgc,' n-joincd Johnny Ilodgcs, 1
'Mill, if rum wcro not so couunon ns it is,
nnd so casily obtaincd, tho tcinptation '
would bo takcn nway.' 'Tliat is all vcry
truc, biitit is oory luan's dilty to do somc
tliing for liiiuclf,' rcplicd tho collcctor.
'1 advisc you tosign tho p'cdgc, as soon as
possiblc.' 'Why, sii,' said tho blncksmitb,
'tho dilliculty docsn't lic thcrc, ns 1 told
you; I sigucd tho plcdgc long ago, nud 1
bnvo kcpt it wcll. I ncvcr was givcn to
taiiing spirit m my nie. iiy jauor nt tno
forgc is prctty hard woik, yct I tako noth
ing strongcr lor ilrinu llian com watcr.- i
am sorry, thnt i iiiisuiiiicrsioon you, rc
plicd tlic collcctor. 'JiUt, sincc you uo not
tako spirit, and yourchildrcn, us you havo
lcd tnotosiipposc, aro of tcndcr ycnrs, why
nro vou so anxious lor ino supprcioii oi
iutom)crancc?' 'Ilccaiiscsaid, poor John
ny Ilodgcs, allcr a pausc, and with cvidcut
ciuotion,'lo tcll you tho plain Irulli, it luis
inado my hoino n hcll, my wifc a drunk-
ard.and my chihlrcii Dcggars: foor tiiings,-,
said hc, ns'hc brtishcd away thc lcars, 'thcy
havc no iiiutbcr any morc. Tlio old cow,
that 1 oflbred you, just now, for thc doctor's
dcbt, and I bclievi! it would lmvo brokcn
thcir hcarts.to havo partcd witli old llrin
dlc, isiuoro of a inothcr to thcni now,
thnn thc wonian who brought thcm iuto
tliis world of Iroilhlc. 1 havo littlo to feed
old liiindlc with; nnd tho chililicn nro
lunning licro and thcrc, for a littlo swill
and such innttor.--, to kccp hcr alivc. Kvcn
thosuiallcst of llicsu poor tbings will pick
up n Imncli of bay or u fcw scattcrcd corn
stulks, nnd fctch it to hcr, nud look on with
dclight, to sccbur cnjoy it. I havo sccn
thcni nll logethcr, whcn thcir natiiral inoih
cr, in n drunkcn sprcc, has drivcn thcm out
of doors, flying forrclligo to tlio old cow,
and lying bcs'ulo hcrin tho shcd. What a
curso it is!
'What will bccomc of thcm nndofinc,'
continucd tliis brokcn hcartcd niau, ! can
not tcll. I soinctinics fcur, that 1 shall loso
my rcason, and bo plnccd in tho inadhousc.
Such is tho thirst of tliis wrctchcd wonian
for runi, thnt shc has rcpcatcilly takcn my
tools, nnd cnrricd thcm livo or si.v uiilcs,
and pnwiicd or sold thcni for liipior. Tiio
day bcforc ycstcnlay, I cnrricd liomc ajoiul
of nicat Ibr diiuicr. Whcn l wcnt boinc,
tircd.aiid liuugry, nt tliu diiuicr hour, l
fuiiiid licrdriiukuiid nslccp upon tho lloor.
Sho hail s-old tliu joint of mcnt, inid sjiciii
tlio inonoy iu rum. lt's griewms to tcll
such maticrs ton Ftrangcr, but 1 csui't beur
that you or thc good doctor sliould think
inc ungratoful any longcr. I uovcr shull
forgct tho doctor's kiudncss to mc two
jcars ago, whcn I bnd my drcadful fcvrr;
niid, if cvir I cati gct so niucli uiniicy
logcthi'r, hc shall ccitainly bo pnid. That
fBvcr wns brought on, puiily by hard vorli,
liut tho iiij'ui spring oftho niuiter was iu
thc inind. My wifc wns gclting vcry bad,
and wbi'ii sho" was in liriuo r, hcr languago
wns both indcccnt nnd prnl'niio; though,
whcn wo wcro tnnrricd, thcto wasn'ta
moro inndcst ulrl in tlio tiarish, Just be-
foro mv fevcr caiuo on, in ono of hcrlits of
inteinpciniico, sho strollcd uwny, nml wns
gono threo duys and tlirco nights: aud, to
tliis hour, 1 havo ncvcr known whoio sho
was all thnt tinie. It nlniost broko niy
hinit. Tho doctor alwnys said thcro wa
soincthing upon my micd, but I ncvcr told
hiin, nor any ono elsc, thc couscjofiny
tioiihlo till now. Whnt n ciirso! Don't
you think, sir,tlititsoinclbing can bo donc to
put an cnil to tbis tcrriblo curso of iiitcui
jicrnce?" Yonr caso is a vcry bad onc,'
wiid thc collcctor, allcr u tolciun pati3c,
'and I wish I could poitit out n rcnicdy.
You ncud givoyoursclfno uncasiiicss about
thc doctor's bill, for 1 aui siirohc will think
uo ntorc of it, whcu I havo told hiin yoili'
story. Ifit would not givo yon too niucli
pain, aud tako up too iiiucli of yoiirtiinc, I
should liko to bc ilifornicd, a little morc
paiticularly nf tlio cotiuncnccincnt nnd
progecss of tliis habit in yottr wifc, wliicli
sccins to lmvo dcstroyoil your domcst1
hnppincss." Johnny Hodgcs wiped his
brow, audsat down upon u bcnch in his
shop, and thc collcctor took a scat byhis
sidn.
'l'iight ycars ago,' said Johnny Hodgcs,
'coino tlio first dny of ncxt iiionth, I was
niarricd. Polly Wilt-on, thnt wns hcr niai
dcn nanie, was twcnty-tl.rcc, and 1 was
foiir ycars oldcr. I Fccrtainly thotight it
was thc hcsl day's work I cycrdid, aud 1
continiicd of lliat iniuil, for nbout livc
vcars. oiiics tlicn iicavcn Kiiow.i j navo
iiad rcason to think othcrwiso; for, ovcr
sii.ee, troublc lias bccn about niy iiath, and
about niy hcd. About tlirco ycnrs ago, inv
wifo took to drink. I cannot tcll how it
happenetl: but sho always said, hcrscll',
tliat thc first drop of gin hho ovcr ilrtink,
was upon a wnshing dny whcn nn ol 1
Scotcb wonian pcr.niadi'd llcr, tliat it would
kccp tlio co'd uffhcr Rtouiach. Irom tliat i
timc thc halnt gicw upou liir vcry last.
Sho lias told nn! nn liuudrcd tiiucs, iu Itur
sober iiioiiiciit:, thnt sho would givo tho
woiid to lcavc it otl, hut thnt slic coulu
not, for thc lilo of hcr. So strong lias
bccn hcr dcsiro to gct lintior, tliat nothiiig
was safc from hcr grasp. Sho lias sold I
hcr childrcn's J-'abbath clothcs nnd my own,
lor runi. Aftcr I had gottcn wcll ol my
fevcr, I workcd liaiil; nnil,at onc tiinc. hnd ' thc collcctor's busincss hrought him ngain
laid by ncarly cuougli, as I supjioscd, to'iutotbo lietghborhood of tho blacks'inith'rf
pay tlio doctor's lull. Onc dny, l had rc-
ccivcd n dollar for work, nnd wcnt to my
drnwer, to add it to thc rcst; nnd--nll was
gonc! Tho drawcr had bccn lbrcoj opcn.
Sho kucw tliat I had bccn savitig thc nioii-
cy to pay tho doctor aud tho apothccary,
for thcir scrviccs, duiing my fevcr; sho
knew tliat my sickucaa had bccn produced
by slccplcss nights nnd n brokcn bcart, on
ncr nccount; yct sno couui uoi rcsisi ino
answcr to niy uiqtiiry, toiti inc, tliat incy
hnd sccn ma'nmiy brcak opcn tho drawcr,
nnd tako out tho luoncy; and that shc wcnt
dircctly ovcr to thc groccry, and in about
linlf nn hour, allcr sho rcluriicd, wcnt to
slccp so soinidly in licr clic.it, that thcy
could uot wako hcr up, to gct thcni a little
suppcr. At that tinie, I wcnt to Mr Calvin
l.cecli, tho groccr, nnd told luin, that 1
wondcrcd, ns ho was a church mciuber,
how ho could havc tho hcart to rtiin tho
pcace of my family. Ho was vcry harsh,
and told inc, that cvcry inan inust tako caro
of his own wifc, and that it was not his
biisincssto look allcr niinc. 1 began to
think with Job, that 1 would not always
livc. Sirango fnhcics cnmo into niy hcad
about that timc, aud 1 tricd hard to think
ofsomc cscapo fiom Eiich a w;orld of sin
andsoirow; but a kind and mcrciful God
would not lct ino tako my own wild wny.
1 rcad my lliblo; nud tho poor cbildrcn
kcpt all thc wliilo iu my way.suiilingswt'ct
ly in iny faec, and "tlrivuig nll thoughts
liom niy mind. My oldcst boy wns thcn
about scvcn. "Don't tako on so, daddy "
tho littlo fcllow uscd tosay, whcn ho foiind
1IIU MIUUIUII'I IUUI.'., tlllll l CfY IUIUUV i X
..l.-.l.l: u.l t. ..... . r
shall bo hig cuougli to blow tho bellows,
ncxt ycar." 1 havo tricd to kccp up for to bo liom liomc, till a vcry latc hour. I liad
tlic sakc of thcso poor childrcn ; and fcw a promisc from n ncighbor to sit up at my
would bc bcttcr, for thcir ycars, if inothcr houso till iny rctiirn, to look uflcr tlio chil
ilid not tcacli somc of theni to curso aud drcn and to provcnt tho houso lioiu being
swcnr. Thcy havo tliu samc bright look sct ou firc. liut iho promisc was forgotten.
and gcutlo loiiipcr that my wifc had, whcn Whcn I rcturncd, about olcvon o'clock, all
wo wcro niarricd. Tlicrc ncvcr was n ) was qtiiot. 1 struck a light,nnd finding niy
iiiildcrtciupcr than Polly's, bcforo tliis curso wifo was in bcd and sound aslccp, I looknd
fcllupoii tho poor crcaturo. Oh, pir, it is rmind for my childrcn. Tho lbur oldcr
notbing but l-mii thnt hns ruincd our boncs 1 childrcn I rcadilv found.but littlo Pctcr, our
of hnppincss in tliis woiid. IIow stiangu it
is, that nothing can bc donc to stny such n
drcndful plaguo!"
Tliu collcctor shook tlio poor blacksinith
hy tlio band, nud bado him kccp up his
spirils us wcll ns ho could, nnd put his trust
iu God's providcncc. Proniising to mako
him n liicnilly call in tho cotirso of a fow
days, ho took his lcavc.
Tliis intcrvicw witli tho blncksniith, had
causcd his vWtortocoutcniplate thc subjcct
oftho tuinpcranco rcfonn, sdincwliRt in n
uovcl point of vicw. Thc iinpoitunatc aud
livquuiiily rcpcatcd intcrrogatory of.lohiiuy
Ilodgcs, 'Cannot somilhingbe done lo put
an cnd lo the Cfi7s of inl(petnce?" to
inost individuals, would nppcar to savor of
gross igiiorancc, in tho inquircr, as to tho-o
aiuazing cllbrt, which linve nlrcady bccn
mndc, at homo nnd abrond. liut it miist
not bo furgoitcn, thnt poor Ilodgcs wna no
thtoiizcr, in thnt (lcpartinent of doincsMc
wivtchi'dncss, which ariscs froin iutcinicr
nncc. IIo was woll awuro thnt a prodiginus
cll'ort hnd bccii mado for tho puiilirntion of
tlic world, hy voluntnry nKoi'iiilions adopt
ing llic plcdgi' oftntiilubhliiicncc. Ho pci
fcctly undcisiood, thnt nll thoso wbo Iiuil
subscribcd such li plcdgc, nml I'nitlifully nd
hoicd lo it wero safc fnmi thc cirects of in
tcniperaucc, in ihcirown pcrroim. Yctthie
poor follow ciicd aloud, nnt of thc ery
ilcnths nf UU rcnl niiforv. "Cannot somc-
thing he i0Nn In put an cnd to Ihc crils of
intemperanctt" liis own iuticr cxpcrienco
hnd tnught him that thcre was ono pcrson
who could novcr ho provailcd upon tu sign
thc plcdgc; ono upon whnso fnitlifuloxccn.
tion of hcr doiucstio dtilics, his whoio cai th
ly happiiicss dopcuded ; tho pnrtncr of his
bosoni; tlio inothcr of his childrcn; and s"o
hnd bccoiiica loathsoino and tingovcrnablo
(Irunkard. IIo rationally infcrrcd, indccd
ho wcll know thc Ihct, froui his own obscr
ation ii)on tho suiTounding ncigliborliood,
tliat such nn occtiiTcnco wns not ol'an un
coniniou charactcr. Intcmpcrato hus
bands, intctiipcrato wivcsand intcmpcrato
cbildrcn wcro all nroiiud hiin. Johnny
Ilodgcs was n ninn of good coininon bense.
IIo rcasoncd i'orward to tlio futurc from tho
pnst. 11c cntcrta'uicd no douht, thnt, not
withstnndingthc inost cncrgctic, voluntnry
cirortsofall tho socictics upon tho fuco of
tlio :ni'tli,druiikrnues3 would ccrtainly con
tinuc, in a grcatcr or lcss .dcgrcc, so long
oi tho mcansof lriinkcniicss wcre BiifTcrcd
to rcinaiu. Tlic process of rcnsouing in
Jolinny's inind inay ho vcry cnsily dcscirb
cd. Solong, thought ho, ns niin-sclling
contiiincs to bo sanctioncd by law and grog
shops aro lcgali.cd at ovcry corncr, so long
a3 cvcn dcncons aud church nienibers disiil
runi, and scll it, rcdticiug thc tcuipcrnta
drinkcr's noblo to thc drunknrd's ninc
pcnce, nnd thnt niiio-pcncc to nothing aud
jail ; winuing awny tho brcd froin tho rnis
crablc tippler's cbildrcn ; and caiitiug tho
hiisbaud aiul wifo to hatc nud nbhor tho
vcry prcscncc of cach othcr; so long n vcry
cons'nlcrablc uuinbcr of pursons, who will
not sign thc tilcilirc, will bo anniiallv con-
vcrtcd from tcinpcratu incn and woinen,
into drunkiiii vagabonds aud paupers. Tho
(picstion is thcrcforo rcduccd to tliis: Can
no cflcctiial incasurcs bo providcil by law,
to provcnt u cold, calculating, mcrccnary
body of nicn from tratlioking nny longor,
in iiroltcn nopcs, iiroucn iienrts, aiul iiroucu
coiistitutions ; nnd to rcstrniu, nt lcast, dea
cons and chtirch meinbcrs, ivho pray to tho
i i.onl to lc.ul tlicui not mto tcniptation,
'froin laying snares, aloug thc bighways
1 nnd hcdgcs of thc land, to cntrap thc fcct of
thcir fcllow creattircr, nnd tcmpt thcir
wcaKer urcturcn to mcir rum
V nionth or morc passed awav, bcforo
siiop. .loiinuy ilodgcs was at worlsusual.
IIo appcarcd dcjcctcd and caro w;orn. II is
visilor sbook him by thc band, ajid told him
tliat tho doctnrsaid ho should ofensider him,
as old Rocrhavc usud lo say, onc of his
bcst pntients, for God would bo his pny-
mastcr. '-Ncvcr think oftho dcbt any morc,
Johnny," said tho collcctor. 'Tlic doctor
lias scnt you lns bill recciptcd; nnd bc bado
ino iuii you inai u a muu iuuiicy wouiu ucip
i supposo iioiuuig can no ciono lo
j to tliis cursc." "I fcar thcro
I at prcscnt," said tho rollector. "r
i idol of ihc pcople. Thc fricnds
"i icar uicro wiu noi uc,
riiin is thc
.Is of lcinpcr-
nuco havo pctitioned tlic lcgislaturc to pull
; tlns ulol (lown. iow thcro nre, in thnt
I vcry body a grcat many mcinbers, wlnlovo
thc idol 'dcarly.: tlicrc aro many who aro
i scnt thitlicr c.vpn:ssly lo kccp thc ulol up
So you sec, tha, petitioning thc lcgislnturc,
such as it uoKm, to abolish tho traffio in
riiin, is likcijnMlioiiing tlic priests of IJanl
to pull dowilKir falso god. IJut you look
pnlo and sad f.has nnv new troublo como
upon yoUjUrdo you iind thc old one inoro
gricvous to bcnr?" " Ah, sir," said tliis
inan of many wocs, " wo havo had troublu
cuougli new and old, sinco you wcro hcro
last. Intcniperaucc inust bo nsellish vicc, I
am siiy. About a lbrtniglit ngo, my wifo
cotitriued, wliilo I wns gono to thc city to
procurcafuw bars ofiron,to scll our old
cow to a drovcr ; and tliis wonian, once so
kind-ficartcdaiid thoughtful oflicrchildien,
would sco thcm starvc, rnthcr than dcprivo
huisclf ol'the incans of'tntoxicatioii. Sho
has bccn in liriuor ovcry day sincc. IJut all
. ifliS J3 il
tliis is nothing comparcd with our othcr
lato trial. T.ast Monduy nicht I was obliccd
infiint, about thirtccn niontbs old, I could
hnd nowiicro. Mter n cnrciul seurch, l
shook iny wifo by thc shouldcr, to wako
hcr up, that 1 might lcurn, if possiblo, whut
hnd bccoinc of thc child. Allcr somo tinie
though cvidcntly under tho iiiflucuco of
liqttnr, I nwakcucd tho wrctchcd wonian,
and mado hcr uudcrstaud inc. Sho thcn
madc a sigu tliat it wns in tho hcd. I pro
ccedcd to cxnmiiic, and found tho poor
siiflcring babc bcncath hcr. Sho hnd
pres-.ed tho lifc out of its littlo body. lt
was (uilo dead. It was but ycstcrday, tlmt
1 put it into tho grouiid. Ifyou can crcdit
it, thc miscrablo inothcr wns so iutoxicatcd
thnt shc could not follow it to tho gravo.
What cnn n poor mnn do with such n bur
dcn as tliis? Tlio owncr oftho littlo tenc
incnt, in which I havc livcd, has pivcn mo
notico to quit, bccauso hc says, and rcason
ably onough too, thnt tho chanco of tny
wifo's scttlng it on firo is growing grcatcr
cvcry dny, liowovcr, 1 lcc! that within
inc, that proinises n rclcne bcforo long,
from all tliis iiisufl'crable miscry. Hut what
will beeonio ofniy poor childrcn !'' Johnny
snt down uponit.uciichtthd liurst intotcars.
liis visitor, as wc havo said, was n kipd
hcnitcd m.'in. "SupnoBcl should gctsomo
diFciC!.! pcrson to tulk with your wifo," pnid
ho. .lolinny rnlspd liis cyrn tiid his hand?,
nt thosnmciiioniciit. '-Tnlk witli licr,"ho
roplicd, "vou might as wcll tnlk with tho
whirlwiiid j tho nbusc, which sho pourcd
on mo tliis nioiiiing, for proiosit!g to bring
our good iiiinistcr tn talk with hcr, would
havc mado your linir stiiud on cnd. No, I
am hcart brokcn, nnd iindonc forthis world.
I havo nn hopc, savo in n bcttcr, through thfl
mcrcics of God." Tho viVuor took Iho poor
