The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the American Temperance Union.
AN ONLY SON.
"Man's inhumsnity TO man,
Makes countless thousands mourn"


"Man's inhumanity TO man,
Makes countless thousands mourn"
knew an only son, boy Of rare promise /;
he grew up strong, bold and active, full OF
spirit and full Of enterprise. His parents were
opulent and intelligent; their views Of life
with all its responsibilities were broad and
deep ;-generous in their. affection, they min
gled extensively in society, which was emo
bled by their influence. They were rich in
their domestic joys; their son, their darling
sen, was a source of the purest delight. There
seemed no cause for solicitude for him; no
weak points to watch over, to guard and sup
port; he possessed sound constitution his
intellect and his temper were as fair, free from
any defect as were his physical powers; the
leading object of his parents seemed to be 10
give to every faculty its most vigorous growth,
and spread the whole character TO its broadcast
expanse. The youth passed through his col
legiate course honorably to himself and his
friends; and being inclined to active life, he
joined a commercial house in one Of our
largest cities. Here his prospects were full
Of promise he was encircled by friends that
were in the full career of prosperity his ma
tural temper was SO fne-so pleasing was he
in his general intercourse with the world, that
he not only had no enemies, but all his asso
ciates would have rejoiced in his greatest
prosperity. He teas prosperous and appa-
rently forming for himself permanent home.
All who had known him from his youth ex-
pected to see him standing foremost among
our rich and honorable merchants; when,
suddenly, without any apparent cause, his
partnership was dissolved
The house to which he belonged continued
on in an honorable course of business till it
had amassed solid wealth; his partners, in no
qualification superior to himself, lived on in
luxury, pleasure, and all the charities of life !;
embosomed in friends, and eventually, in re-
tired leisure to cultivate the higher powers Of
their nature, while this young man, the hope
Of his parents, went away alone, prey to the
ravages of alcohol the wine cup had ruined
him. He had strict integrity, he had capa-
city for all business, but he fell as fortress
which has long been daily besieged till it is all
undermined whole garrison on the ram
parts cannot save it, It falls headlong, and all
is buried in the common ruin. He went home
to his distressed parents, but he had too much
feeling left to be willing to witness the misery
he alone had caused he fled from his home,
and.sought solitude of his own, and there
yielded up all his hopes.
He took the dreadful poison till his powers
were all destroyed; his memory was broken,
his affections were scorched and scathed as by
a stroke Of lightning, and his reason-he
seemed to have none, but at some lucid inter-
walls it would rise in its full strength, goaded on
by conscience that worm that never dies;
and gladly would he have taken his hated life,
his hand was often arrested by the fear Of
coming wrath he died alone, and the cloud of
oblivion settled over his memory. His parents
never utter his name they drank to the dregs
the cup of bitterness he passed away, and
no trace is left behind him ;-deep burrows lie
hidden in a few hearts, untold to that world
which looks on and passed by on the other
side. X.