Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-11-02

UNIV WI my INC, saw faro bank. Wy com
ipnnlons commenced betting. and was Undue
ed TO ION them. Although | did not under
stand the game. again played with success
and, when we left the house, was more thnn
200 dollars the winner None Of my COM
panlons had been fortunate. and il was insist
ed that was the lucky man. and that must
treat We accordingly repaired to my room,
where ! ordered wine, aud before we broke
up we were all deeply intoxicated With me
/ IT was the first time, and the next day resov.
cd that would never play cards again. | adj
/ hcred TO the determination for nearly three
months. when | again yielded to .he enirooties
( OF my dlssipated associates.
"l now played with varied success, and in
NIL cases found an excuse for resorting TO the
VINE bottle. IL l lost, drank 10 drown sor-
row; II ! won, | treated my good fortune
nus ! progressed in my downward course,
until drinking and gambling became my chief
employmcnts. All my friends who were worth
preserving, abandoned me, until my only as
soclatcs were drunkards and gamblers when,
almost reduced TO want, (for had left off bust
ness received letter, informing me Of the
death of my iather--that father who watched
over my early years, who loved me so tender
! ly. And did act as an affectona,c child
No. Vice had DESTROYED the human feelings
OF my heart, and left onl, the animal passions
and appcttcs; as the letter contained n check
tor 5000, part Of my poor fathers hard earn
lngs, drowned my grief that night in Bach-
nnallan rcvcl and in few laws | was again
Ipennylcss. will not dwell gpon the every
day scenes Of my life, which we're such as may
| at all times be Witnessed al any of the two
hundred dram shops Of your city where
wrcichcd men squandcr the little pittanco that
] he, ,I, N 4
children
But to pass on For nearly three years
have been a drunken, wandering outcast. Six
months ago ! received letter from my dear
mother, enclosing 500, and informing me
that She was fast sinking with disease and en-
treating, with all mothers feeling. 10 come
home and sec her before she died. For time
( felt the appeal, and resolved TO comply with
her request; and accordingly took passage
on steamboat for that purpose. For two
days RETAINED from liquor, but my thirst be-
came insupporablc at length my appetite
overpowcrcd my better feelings, and ap.
preached the bar and demanded the liquid
fire. was soon intoxicated, and madly sought
the gamblers table; and before the boat
reached Louisville. was stripped Of every
ceAt Thus all hopes of seeing my dying mo-
thcr were cut of. | remained at Louisville
several weeks, in which time | learned that my
mother had died, and that her last breath was
spent in prayer for her wretched child
"From Louisville shipped on board the
steamer Brazil as deck hand and came 10
this place where was discharged for drunk
lenness. Let every young man reflect upon
this picture !, who had moved in the first
circles of society-had been the guest Of dis
tlngulshed public men. and a iavorite among
the llteraii OF our country, was now turned off
as unfit for deck hand on steamboat yet
intempcrancc had done this much
n 81 loltered about this city for several weeks,
and was sometimes engaged IN posting up the
books Of some dram shop, for which I was
paid in the liquid fire, kept for the accommo-
dallon Of customers. One evening fell in
company with man who has lately been lodg
ed IN jail for passing counterfeit money. We
played cards, and won from him the three
dollar bill IN question. The next day learn
ed that it was counterfeit, and did not offer to
pass il for several days But at last got out
of all employment | had no other money, I
could meet with no one who would ask me TO
E drink. My appetite was like a raging fire
within me. ! could not endure IT, | sought
dram shop, offered the bill, IT was accepted,
, and when found, few hours after, by the Of.
hcers OF justice, was beastly drunk.
"Thc evidence of guilt was conclusive -
and before my brain was clear Of the inloxi-
, eating fumes, ! was lodged 80 Jail % await my
, iusl. ] an moss done. ! have not detained
b the Court with an} hope or wish that clemcn-
q Cy Hoa.a He extended 90 my case. Bot 0itl
o % hope i.a' my example may be "a warming 20
a.ue, gegug ma1-t1at those vino hear me
u.as, HH-a asked 90 play yr.at 0Uae n cqr'
- er lrl. ..rU. s|aF tHHt If WY fate and o.