Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-12-25

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treaties Of my dIssipaed associates.
now played with varied success, and
in all cases found an excuse Tor resorting
to the wine bottle. III lost drank to
drown sorrow; if won Treated my good
fortune. Thus | progressed upon my
downward course, until drinking and gam.
bling became my chief employments. All
nay irents who were worth preserving a.
bandoned me, until my only associates
were drunkards and gamblers. When
almost reduced to want (for | had left off
5usness1 received letter informing me
OF the death Of my Elher-that father who
watched over my early years who loved
mc So enderly.-And did act as an af-
Cectlonale child? No. Vice had destroy.
ed the human feelings Of my heart, and
lett only the animal passions and appetites.
As lhe letter contained check for $500,
4 part OF my poor fathers hard earnings,
| drowned my greet that night in Bach.
aoaIlan reveI, and in a few days was a.
gam pcnny less. will no; dwell upon the
every day scenes of my life, which were
such as may at all times be Witnessed at
any of the two hundred dramshops Of your
clly, where wrelched men squander the
llule pttance that Justly belongs to their
suffering wives and children.
But, 10 pass on For nearly three wears
| had been druukard, wandering outcast
SIX months ago | received letter from
ny dear mother, enclosing Sl00, and in
corning me that she was iasl sinking with
disease, and enlreaIng with all a mothers
ceilings to cone home aud see her before
she died. For lime | felt the appeal,
and resolved 10 comply with her request;
aud accordingly took passage on a steam
boat for hat purpose. For two days re.
raInsd from liquor; but my thirst became
msupporlabIe. At length my appetite o.
verpowered my better feelings, aud APP
preached the bar and demanded the LIQUID
fire. was soon intoxicated when mad
" sought the gaming table; and before
Inc boat reached louisville, vas stripped
of every cent Thus all h" - the
. Inv diving mother was cut oil. | remain
ed at Louisville several weeks, in which
lime | learn d that my mother had died,
aad that her lasI breath was spent in
prayer lur her wretched child.
Ffom Louisville shipped on board
The steamer Brazil, as "A deck hand, and
caue to tins place, where | was dlscharg-
ed for drunkenness. Let every young
man reflect upon this picture. |. who had
moved IN the first circles Of society = had
been the guest Of distinguished public men
; and a f,Vorle among the herari Of our
country was now turned off as unfit for
= deck hand on a steam boat! yet Intem.
perance had done this much.
o.tered about this city for several
weeks, and was sometimes engaged in post.
Ing up the books Of some dram shop for
which WAS paid in the liquid FIRE, kept
for the accommodation Of customers. One
evening tell in company with a man
Who has lately been lodged.ln Jail for pass.
ing counterfeit money. We played cards
, and | won from him the three dollar bill
e in question. The next day | learned it
I vas counterfeit, and did not offer 10
pass it for some days. had no money
could meet no one VINO would ask me TO
drink. My appetite was like raging fire
5 within me. Icould not endure it, sought
! dram shop offered The biI--it was ac-
" cepted; and when found, a few hours after
J, by the officers of justice. was beastIy
= drunk.
The evidence of guilt was conclusive;
aud before my brain was clear OF the 10.
), Iloxira'ing tunes | was lodged in Jail to
! await my trial. am now done. have
: nor detained the court with any hope or
wish that clemency wouldhe extended TO
my case but with hope that my exam
: Pile NAV be warning 10 other young men
that those who hear me may, when ask.
: I'd 10 play a social game OF cards or drink
a social glass, think OF my fate and refrain
they may feel themselves secure they
may believe they can stop when they
please; but lie, them remember that |
argued thus until was lost. (Hsre the
defendant sunk down and appeared 10 DO
very much affected; and for few mo-
ments silence reigned throughout the court
hou-e) m
| Al length The Judge, who is us much
distinguished for The qualities Of his hear,
as he Is for learning, proceeded in a brief
bnl appropriate mannei to pass sentence
upon the defendant, putting his punish
ment in the penienliary down to the short.
esl time allowed by law.
TIME. = Man passes this life in reason.
ing on lbe past, 10 complaining Of the pre-
sent, and in Trembling for the future,