The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-11-20
From the American Temperance Union.
AN ONLY SON.
"Man's inhumanlty to man,
Makes countless thousands mourn"

knew an only son, boy of rare promise $
he grew mp strong, bold and active, full of spirit
and full of enterprise His parents were opu-
lent and intelligent their views of life with all
its responsibilities were broad and deep gen
erous in their affection, they mingled extensive
ly in society, which was ennobed by their in
fluence. They were rich in their domestic joys !;
their son, their darling son, was source Of the
pnrest delight. There seemed no cause for soil
cude for him no weak points to watch over,
to guard and support he possessed n sound
constitution his intellect and his temper were
as fair, free from any defect were his physical
powers the leading object of his parents SEEM
ed 10 he to give to every faculty its most vigor-
Gus growth, and spread the whole character to
broadcast expanse. The youth passed through
his collegiate course honoraby TO himself and
his friends; and being inclined TO activity,
he Joined commercial house in one of
our largest cities. Here his prospects full
of promise he encircled 10y friends that
were in the full career of prosperity ; his natur
nj temper so fine-so pleasing was he i'm
his general intercourse with the world, that he
not only had no enemies, but all his associates
would have rejoiced in his greatest prosperity
lie was prosperous and apparently forming for
himself permanent home. All who had
known him from his youth expected to see him
standing foremost among our rich and honora-
BILE 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 ill il had
anassed solid wealth his partners, in no quail.
fcaon superior 10 himself, lived on in luxury,
pleasure, and all the charities of lie; embosou-
ed in friends, and eventually, in retired leisure
powers of their nature, while this young man,
the hope of his parents went away alone prey
20 the ravages Of alcohol the wine cup had
ruined him. He had strict integrity, he had
capacity for all business, but he fell as fortress
which had long been daily besieged till it is all
undermined whole garrison on the ramparts
cannot save it, t falls headong. and all is buried
i'm the common ruin. He went home to his
distressed parents, hut he had too much feeling
left to be willing to witness the misery he alone
had caused he fled from his home, and sought
a 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 Ivy a
stroke Of lightning, and his reason--he seemed
to have none, but at some lucid intervals it
would rise in its full strength goaded OH by con-
science; 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 bitter
ness he passed away, and no trace is left he
him deep burrows lie hidden in few hearts,
untold to that world which looked on and pas
sed by on the other side.