The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-02-03

al never possessed those principles VI
virtue and moral dignity, the eilectol when
has been SO conspicuous in your own cha
racter. Amidst the batteries and attentions
of those around me, and in the exciting pur-
suit of pleasure, the kindly voice of admo-
ni;ion was unheard and became the gay
est Of the gay-a leader in every scene OF
fashionable dissipation. The principles oil
my new companions were those of lnfdelI-
tv. and | embraced them with my whole |
soul. You know my former disposition to
doubt-that doubt was now changed into
settled unbelief, and bitter hatred towards
all which had once been taught to believe
sacred and holy.
"Yet amidst the baleful principles which |
| had imbibed, one honorable feeling still
fingered in my bosom, like beautiful an
rel in the companionship of demons
There was one being, young and lovely
creature, at whose shrine all the deep aflec-
tions of my heart were poured out, in the
sincerity Of early love. She was indeed
beautiful girl--a being TO bow down to and
worship-pure and high-thoughted as the
sainted ones of paradise, but coRhding and
artless as a child. She possessed every ad-
vantage of outward beauty-but it was not
that which gathered about her as with a
spell, the hearts of all who knew her. 1t
was the light Of her beautiful mind, which
lent the deep witching of soul to her fine
countenance--Aashing in her dark eye, and
playing like sunshine on her lip, and cross
ing her fair forehead with an intellectual
halo.
"Allston! l look back to that spring-time
Of love even at this awful crisis of my des-
tiny, with strange feeling ofjoy. It's the
only green spot in the wilderness Of the past
AN oasis in the desert Of being. She low
ed me Allston--and heart more precious
than the gems Of the east, was given up to
a wretsn unworthy Of its slightest regard.
|
"Hitherto pride rather than principle had
kept me above the lowest degradation of
sensual indulgence. But for one fatal error
/ might have been united to the lovely be-
ing of my affections and oh ii sinless pu-
rity and persuasive love could have had
power over mind darkened and perverted
as my own, might have been reclaimed
from the pathway Of ruin--I might have
been happy.
"But that fatal error came and came too
in the abhorrent shape of Ioathsome drunk
enness. shall never in time, or eternity
forget that scene; it is engraved on my
memory in letters of fire. 1t comes up be-
fore me like . terrible dream--but it Is a
dream of reality. 1t dashed from my lips
the cup of happiness, and fixed forever the
dark aspect of my destiny.
81 had been very gay fer there had been
happy spirits around me and drank free
ly and fearlessly for The first time. There
is something horrible in the first sensations
of drunkenness. For relief, | drank still
deeper-and | was drunkard, was delir-
ious, | was happy. | left inebriated as
sembly, and directed my steps, not to my
lodgings, but to the home of her, whom
loyed-nay, adOred above all others. Judge
of her surprize and CONSERVATION when
entered with a flushed countenance and un-
steady tread She was reading to her aged
parents, when with an idiots grimaceI ap-
/ preached her. She started from her seat
-one glance told her the fatal truth and
she shrunk from me-aye, from me to whom
her vows were plighted and her young af-
fections given-with fear, with loathing,
and undisguised adherence. Irritated at
her conduct, approached her rudely, and
snached from her hand the book she had
been reading. l cast it into the flames,
which rose brightly from the hearth. Ii
was the volume which you call sacred. ]
saw the smoke Of its consuming 90 upward
like a sacrifice to the demon of intemper-
ance, and there, even there, by that Chris.