Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-11-21
m IsC e LL A NJ Y.
From the American Temperance onion.
AN ONLY SON.


knew an only son, boy of rare prom
;.a: he grew up strong, bold and active, full
sofspirit and full orenterprise. Hisparents
I we're opulent and intelligent; their views
Of life with its responsibilities were broad
and deep;- generous IN their affection,
thew mingled extensively IN society, whic h
was ennobIed by their influence. They
were rich in their domestic joys; their son,
their darling son, was source OF the pu-
rest delight. there seemed no cause oil So
lcitude for him; no weak points to watch
over, to guard and support; he possessed a
sound constitution; his intellect and his
temper were as fair, free from any defect
rs we're his physical powers; the leading
object of his parents seemed TO be to give
10 every faculty its most vigorous growth,
and spread the whole character to It's
broadest expanse. The youth passed
through his collegiate course honorably
70 himself and his friends; and being ncl-
ned to active life, he joined a commercial
house in one of our largest cities. Here
his prospects were full ofpromse; be was
enclrcled by friends that were IN the full
career of prosperity; his natural temper
was 50 fne-so pleasing was he IN his gen
pral intercourse with the world, that he
not only had no enemies, but all his ASSOC
Gates would have rejoiced IN his greatest
prosperity. He was prosperous; and ap-
brently forming for himself permanent
lorne. All who had known him from his
Irouth expected TO see him standing fore
most among our rich and honorable mer-
GIANTS; when, suddenly, without any APP
aren't cause, his partnership was dlssoi-
led.
The house to which he belonged contin-
bed on in an honorable course ofbusincss
Ian it had amassed solid wealth his part
ners, in no qualification superorto himself
lived on in luxury, pleasure, and all the
charities oflife embosomed in friends, and
eventually, in retired 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 capacity
for all business, but he fell as fortress
which has long been daily besleged till 1t is
all undermined; a whole garrison on the
ramparts cannot save it, it falls headloDg,
and al! is buried in the common ruin. lie
went home to his distressed parents, but he
bad too much feeling left to be willing to
witness the misery he alone had caused
led from his home, and sought solitude
hi his own, and there yielded up all his
iopes.
He took the dreadful poison till his pow
ers were all destroyed: his memory was
broken, his affections were scorched and
uathed as by stroke oflightning, and his
eason-he seemed TO have none, but at
ome lucid intervals it would rise in its full
|hength, goaded on by conscience, that
yorm that never dies; and gladly would
have taken his hated life, his hand was
ten arrested by the fear OF coming wrath;
he died alone, apd the cloud of oblivion
|auled over his memory. His parents ne
lyer utter his name; they drank 10 the dregs
BE cup of bitterness hepassed away, and
Iotrace is left behind him ;-deep burrows
hidden in few hearts, untold to that
lgord which looks on and passes by on the
fher side.