Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-06-04

Soon, however, was that widowed heart
to be shattered and bleeding, soon was ii
TO be overlooked with the gall of bitter.
ness. Fora week or more was peculiar
y unfortunate losing every night more
or less. II may be supposed that this con-
tlnued lll-luck affected me considerably,
and that my masters draw had to suffer
by 1t. This is not all. To drown the re.
greet experienced on account Of my los
SEES, had recourse to frequent and liberal
potatlons. The more lost, the more
drank. had often deceived my mother.
who frequently detected the smell of spir-
It's when entered the room, by telling her
had been working among liquors in the
store. For while this excuse answered.
But when every night on my entering the
room, brought with me the scent of spir-
ltuous liquors, her suspicious became
awakened. Neyer-never shall | forget
the hour--the terrible hour, when moth.
er's hopes were blasted, and her fond heart
plunged in wo returned from the ga.
ming table at late hour, long past mid
night. That night | had been unusually
unfortunate in consequence of which, I
drank freely and became excited. To
have seen me at the table, shouting, and
drinking, and singing, one would have
thought me the happiest fellow in the uni
verse. My purse was completely drained,
and | played on tck--But IN my then
frame Of mind, money was no object to
me /; SO played and lost, played and lost
occasionally raising the stake, until be-
came deeply involved in debt. | cared
not. kept on my riotous course of
shouting, swearing, and singing, until the
company broke up.
My mother was anxiousiy waiting for
me-and my dear son, how glad | am
you have come % went to my heart like a
burning arrow. My excitement had not
worn off, and she eyed me suspiciously !;
SO | hurried off TO bed as quick as posi-
bic. From the effects of the liquor had
swallowed, was soon asleep. How long
| remained asleep, know not, when was
awakened by something dropping on my
face. On looking up beheld my mother,
at the head of my bed, with her hands
clasped, and the big tears of agony rolling
down her time-worn cheeks. In n mo-
ment | suspes ted the worst, and hid my
head in the bed clothes. She had been
bending over me--and | was awakened
by mothers tear ! dared not lift my
face to meet her eye; but drew the bed
clothes closer around me. Oh, how my
heart struggled with shame Death !
Death how wished for you when heard
my mothers voice, trembling with age and
agony" George, George! that should
have lived 10 witness this hour! Would
to God | had followed you to your grave
in your infancy My chid' she family
screamed, would that in giving YOU
birth, death had taken us both! Wo is
me, that have lived 70 witnesses my sons
shame!" | strove to stop my ears, to
shut cut her voice, but in vain. The
words sounded in my ears with horrid EN-.
phasis; and so to my dying day will they
sound.-The discovery of her sons vile
ness, the sudden crushing of her hopes,
wcrese much for her she sank sense.
less on the bed.
it was a long time before she revived; ;
and heavily smote my conscience, as
gazed, by the dim light of the lamp, on her
pale face, and felt the GOODNESS of her
forehead as bathed it with vinegar.
was fearful life had entirely forsaken her,
, but at las she came too. | could not
, stand and meet her look, and was turning
/ to leave the room, when in a faint voice,
she requested me to stay by her. was
5 struck with the altered tone of her voice !;
: she did not speak reproachfully, but so
= calmly and tie DERBY, that the tears gushed
from my eyes in torrents; italmost broke
/ my heart to listen to her. and there was
5 something in her tone that thrilled fearful
t ly through me, so that every word she ut
/ tered, caused dead, sinking chill at my
; heart-it was SC hollow and unearthly.
2 Stay my son. said she, my hand between
her own, the iciness of which made me
: shudder-' wish not to chlde YOU. But,
: oh, George il you value your peace
= here, and your eternal happiness, leave off
h drinking taste not, touch not the occurs
: ed poison OH God ? she fervently
3 added strengthen him to resist tempta-
: tion-turn his footsteps from the path that
d leads TO the dark and dreadful pits of de-
n struction My son. she added, in a
e thicker voice, if you respect your moth
e er's memory-if you respect your own
: character remember and be guarded by
. her last words-taste-"
c " Mother mother what ails you? 2"
/ screamed, for | saw her countenance
c change suddenly. The blood began to
J. settle about her eyes, which became glas-
. sy, and pale streak encircled her mouth
n while her breath grew shorter. g swear
}. --mother-I swear never to touch anoth.
O er drop of the accused stuff" ] uttered
y in a hurried and trembling voice. A
y CLEAN Of satisfaction shot across her face
If for moment, as she with difficulty ar
!. ticulated, - George, remember your
v oath = These were her last words anC
v barely were they uttered ere ! was bend
IF ing over my mothers form, the one liv
is ing being in that still chamber.
,r EcONoMY.-A slight knowledge of hu
d man nature will show that when mar
/ gets on a little in the world, he is desirou:
= Of getting on little further. Such is tn,
!. growth of provident habits, that it ha
N been said, that if journeyman lay b.
w the first five shlings his fortune is made
= | ~