Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-06-18

and yet that | should yoluntar;lv rush
win open eyes, towards the abyss An
everything Providence interposed. and
my career OF vice was arrested by the
arm ofcivil authority.
The destiny which denied me the ar.
customed stimulus, was, at the first in
expressIbly painful; the separation from
the bottle seemed like the separation Of
the Joints and marrow" Az artificial
and vlt'ated appetite had predomins.ed
over every other feeling; overpowered
the entreaties of friendship, the Undue
tons OF reason, the monitions of eonsci
ence. No dissuasive from my vice was
ehectual, whether drawn from that
which is desirable in life, or from what
IS repugnant IN the prospect Of vaga-
pond degradation and premature death.
Heaven bad not sufficient charms to al
lure me, nor He'll sufficient terrors to
deter. The will was enchained to a ~.
rent who never said, enough But in
Imprisonment, the manacles which
bound my body set my spirit free. The
unnatural cravings ofthe stomach grad
ually subsidized with the disuse Of spirit.
La the haunis of dissipation, the mind
may be banished from itself; but in the
cell Of prison, who can avoid reyoly.
ing in bis mind the variety Of causes
which conspired to rivet his fettersi
VINO will not inquire-At what period Of
lite did commence the construction of
this gloomy abodei When did Law the
first foundationi On what anvil did |
forge the bolts and barsl From what
quarries did | obtain materials for the
WALTZ Through what means did bro.
vide and adapt the various materials of
the building, until, at length came for
ward with the last key stone TO the arch,
WHY am doomed, like the OK, to toll
for ano,hers Was not "born free as
Casar~ Why. then, have sold N.Y.
self for noughti" Alas! while I can
trace the source of my present wretch
edness 4 ruin to the infatuating effects
OF ardent spirits, | am constrained TO
add that it has blasted the fairest hopes
entered upon the active scenes of
lie, without friends, patrmony, or con.
nexions. at the age of sixteen; s. though
the four years Immediately preceding
were passed in active labour, yet works
ofiiterature and philosophy were my
companions in the field; and, at that
early period, anticipated literary ca
reer. When parental protc ction was
removed. exchanged the axe for the
pen. My first essays were published in
an obscure village paper, and had the
gratIhcation OF seeing them reprinted in
popular journals. At seventeen | re.
moved to one of our Atlantic cities
where the editorial department Of dali
~ paper was committed temporarily to
'ay charge, during the sickness OF its
proprietor. There, although an entire
stranger, and almost without resources,
succeeded in acquiring the friendship
OF some literary men. Perhaps they
were willing to accept my homage to
science. in the place of profound knowl.
edge. The friendship of such men was
worth more than the patronage of the
rich. 1t opened wilder sphere Of &C.
ton, and, at twenty three, having visited
Europe, Hound myselfthe proprietor of
an ample fortune, exclusively the pro.
duction OF the pen But before this pc.
Rod the seeds of destruction had been
sown, and they now began to take root.
Shortly after entering the city of -,
l attached myself to several clubs of
wits, "free and easy" associations: but
soon found that a connivial evening
drew heavily upon the morning of the
succeeding day. AL length the morning
bitter was called for, to chase away the
ennui arising from the midnightdebaucb.
This impaired the relish for breakfast.
Coffee becsme insipid--appetile for
TODD diminished. Bitters in the morn.
ing required rejoipder at eleven, and
sure rejoinder at one And il was not
until frequently found my self in state
OF intoxication, and some of my friends
began to whisper, "this is the road to
RUM that first suspected myself of
being reprehensibly incorporate. had
completely entered the camp of tie en-
envy, before | discovered the presence
of danger Every effort to retrace my
steps proved vain; the only avenue of
escape was barred as by a giant,-by
burnings and cravings, Unsuitable as the
grave. Every fit of intemperance OPP
Grated upon nv constitution with more
than ordinary force; il led to distracting
frenzy, aud extIavagant excess My
L. Il. -