American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-10-03
Volume ".

spect from every class of society He possessed ma
turally strong and vigorous mind, became inti-
mately and minulely acquainted with the Latin,
Creek Hebrew, and French languages; and so
minutely and extensively with modern and ancient
history, and with authors and miscellaneous produce
ons, as TO attract the attention and admiration OF his
most literary friends. Indeed, such was his know
ledge OF books, that his acquantances unsuccessful
ly practised every art. TO discover book, SUBJ
]ect with which he was not intimately acquainted
and nothing but his modesty and sedenary habits
prevented him from arising on the wings OF tame,
to an eminence equal 20 his requirements. Whilst
yet young, and discovering his fortune TO be made
quate to support through life, numerous circle Of
helpless and afflicted relatives, for whom he enter
tanned great fondncss, he determined to engage in
the ma ,agement Of an extensive mercantile house.
This exposed him to company not OF the choicest
kind, and to temptations sup@rlaiiyey calculated to
lead him into the paths OF dissipation. ] almost
daily him in this pcrilous situation, and caution
ed him to shun the danger but his innocent and
unsuspectng mind although completely stored
with useful knowledge, could never be induced to
comprehend the danger; until, alas the disease
was firmly rooted in his nature He was now dis
missed by the proprietor, being Incompetent 10
duct his affairs. From this time | knew but little
of him, as he evidently shunned my company, and
studiously avoided meeting me in the streets.
however him, with heartfelt sorrow. rapidly di.
vcrging from the happy, handsome, neat and well
dressed young man, to the unhappy, negligent,
gross, sloveniy, ragged out-cast from society Beg
ging became his occupation, and the streets, lanes
stables, baros ahd other similar places his habaions
l. have seen him engaged for few cents, at the
nial employment of wheeling oysters in one of our
most public streets He was clad in ,attered cotton
garments, in many parts exposing his body and
limbs 10 the piercing blasts Of winter, and plas
tered with grease and filth, obscure their ORR
gina colours. His feet were entirely uncovered,
and exposed to the drifting snow. His face
bloa;ed to almost double its natural size and his
beard nearly an inch in length | thought, how
Iterriically altered is this young man. who was once
the pride Of his family; but now. monument os
shame TO himself and distress his relatives and
friends Soon after this he was found dead, with his
lace in small puddle Of water, where he had evil
IDENTIFY fallen III state of iutoxica,ion and suocat-
cd from inability TO turn over. and thus easily exlr-
cate himself from ,he grasp Of death Thus ended.
in the prime Of life, the cares Of this unfortunate
young man, who but two years before possessed all
that this world could give to ensure him happiness
and length Of days.
Now would ask seriously OF my reader, what
induced this young man TO continue in his dlsspat-
ed course, after he had discovered its runous erctsp
will it for moment be presumed, that he possessed
the power to restore himself to his former standing
in society, and neglected to use it? If then there
were no inducements pu, his 1issipated course,
and he possessed not the power TO avoid it, is not
the presumptiye evidence incontesblc, that he la
bored under disease either Of the body mind
Nothing else could have induced him to sacrifice
his happiness, friends and life in disgraceiul q
manner. RINALDO.