Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-11-18
From Me Trenton Emporiun.
PROGRESS OF ERROR.
"AvoiI the appearance OF evil"


wickedby degrees, and probably the
worst man that ever lived can recollect
time when he shuddered and hesitated
at the idea of committing small of
fence. This thruth should be often i'm :
pressed upon the minds of the young;
say TO them avoid the appearance Of
eyil,;' for every time you deliberately
do wrong thing, you pour dose of
poison in the heart which will tend to
destroy conscience, and break down the
principles ofyirtue you ought to cher
ish.
The traveller who put mp at the old
sign OF the Gen. Wayne, in Alsbury,
some fifteen or eighteen years ago, |
promise you, did not leave that house
without shaking hands with, and prais
ingssomewhat Montgomery Rosco, the
innkeepers son, as fine little boy as
ever blessed parent with the full bios
soming blessed promises. He was so
obedient to his parents, so attentive and
respective to strangers, SO kind and in
yariably polite to every one, aud with
all he learned so smart at school, that
every one loved and admired him.
Few youths left home with fairer
propects and with better character
than did Montgomery, when at the age
oflilteen he was sent TO Philadelphia, &
put under the care of business doing
merchant, that he might get such an in
sight into the business as would Justify
his father in setting him up in store in
Alsbury, for this was the destiny he had
marked out is directly in point in csta
bisiing what said at the begin ling, and
tho' few may have passed through as
singular complication OF crcunstan-
ccs in their way, ! AN fully satisfied
hat his, in all its main and general fea
lures is the history of thousands.
| said he was apprenticed to mer-
chant; it was to one Mr.. Markley; bis
master esteemed him highly and placed
in him unlimited confidence. For lit
tie while he remembered the kind ad-
monitor OF his faithful father, and bes-
lowed great care on the matter of select
ing company was conscious in the dis
charge of every duty, and tried as well
as he was able to avoid the appearance
OF evil. One day however, he went 10 a
store a moment to see
Young gentleman and return borrow
ed book. His friend very politely
drew glass of wine from one Of the
casks, and pressed him to drink; he did
SO and departed.
The next day the same person step
ing TO see him, he happenedto be alone, |
and the strong desire not to be behind |
hand with his new neighbour, overcame
the scruples of conscience, and he trea-
ted him in return to a glass of wine
In the hurry of the moment he did not |
stop the liquor properly. His master
came in; saw the neglect, and enquired
have you been at the
wine cask" 1t was an awful moment
to him, he dare not pause to think; he
Yielded to another temptation, and an
swered trembling-'No sir, have not"
The old gentleman looked at him
searchingly; then turned and stopped
the liquor tight himself.
The next morning the same young
gentleman stepped into the store and
asked Mr.. NJ. to sell him cask of such
vine as Montgomery had given him the
e vening before. Mr.. NJ looked at Mont
gomery again, as if to say, tell the truth
next time. The exposure was too hui
for the high. spirited youth to
bear. He saw his friend and entreated
him to tell Mr.. NJ. that he drew the wine
himself. His friend laughed and told
him he would for an oyster supper.
The bargain was struck.-he acquitted
Montgomery in Mr. Ms eyes, but the
poor boy was destitute of money. lie
had already taken some long steps aside.
He tok another; and resoried to bis
drawer for money to meet the
expen,e of the supper he had promised.
While they sat in the cellar to which
they had repaired, a gaining board was
asked oplay for a small sum The
thought struck him that there was
chance to win the money he had taken
from his master, and return it-He
played and lost. lie played again and
again, still he lost.
Ills error was now of an alarming
character lie became desperate he
took the further sum from the counter,
which was necessary to pay what he |
borrowed and lost. 1t was missed. he |
saw himself liable to be discovered and |
of course ruined, and resolved at a sim /,
nHn 10 l. a