The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-09-24

down, with fearfully accelerated motion like the
mountain stream when it leaps over it's rocky bar
rier. Public confidence was gradually Withdraw
ing, clients and friends forsook him. and ruin trod
rapidly on the steps of shame.
Harry Blake cIung to him, till he saw his once
powerful mind partakig so far of the degradation
OF his body, as to be incapable Of impartina light
to his He now felt il due to himself to dissolve
the connection sobssting between them-and he
called, though reluctantly, 10 bid him FAREWELL
Mr. Franklin seemed much agitated when Harry
informed MIN Of his intended departure. He knew
inc cause, and 1t seemed if the last link was n
bout to be severed that bound him to the good and
honorable. Harry had been to him deIigbtful
companion and in the days of his most interest
ing tasks to direct mind so buoyant and aspiring,
and which owned, with much Difference the
ovormnstering influence his own
no not go yet, Harry, said he; al have much
10 say TO you,and may never have another Cd Dor
lunity' have anticipated this moment. 1t is pain
inI but justice to yourself demanded it, i-
Harry seated himself, pale from suppressed emo
ton, while Mr. Franklin continued speaking walk
ing up and down the room, every feature expires
sive of violent agitation.
81 have never yet 10 a human being introduced
the subject oc which am about'to speak NOT even
to my wife and daughter, have never rolled back
The current Of time, and revealed the spot where,
standing on the quick sands Of youth, the first wave
OF temptation washed over me. Icoud not bear
TO aliude to the history of my degradation But
you, Harry, are going among strangers, amid un
tried scenes and | would warn YOU now with
the solemnty of man who kno WIS he has sealed
his own everlasting Yin, to beware of the first
downward stop. You do not know me ,sir-no one
knows me; they know not my parentage, or the
accursed stream that runs in my veins"
"Hiy father called the King of the Drunk.
ards. He drank till he was transformed, breath,
bone and snew, into flame, ard then he died
the most horrible of all deaths---of spontaneous
combustion. Yes, he the King of the drunk.
ards! | remember when little boy, ] saw him
walking at the head ofa long procession, with
banner flying, as ifin triumph, and barrel of
whiskey rolling before, on which the drummer
made music as they walk ed.-And shouts went up
in the air, and people appIauded from the windows
and the doors-Cnd thought the drunkard's was
merry life. But when grew older, and saw
my mothers cheek grow paier and paler, and
knew that my fathers and threats, and bru
taI treatment the cause-when saw her at
length die ola broken heart, and heard the eigh-
bors say that my father had killed her. and that he
bar Of Haven't began to feel an ndescribabe
dread and horror, and looked upon my father
with loathing and adherence! And when he died
when his BODY consumed by lames which
seemed 10 me omb'ematical of the winding sheet
in which his soul was wra2ped--i fled from my
native town, my native state; begged my bread
from door to door At length childless stranger
took me in. lie pitied my forlorn condition
clothed, fed and educated ne. Nature had given
me talents, and now opportunity untoded them.
became proud and ambitious and | wanted to
convince my benefactor that was vulgar boy.
Concious Of the dregs from which had been ex>
tracted, was resolved to make myself name,
and fnme-and have done it. You know it, Har
ry-l have taken my station in the high places of
the land; and the time has been, when but an
nounce yourself as my student, would have been
your passport TO distinction. Well do you want
to know wbat made me what am?--what when
such burning beacon was forever blazing before
my Memory, hurried me TO throw my own
blasted fame INTO drunkards dishonored grave!
] will tell you, young man-t was the toine- cup--
the ass offered by the hand of beauty with smiles
and adulaton! had made oyer my MOTH
er's ashes that would drink. | prayed
God TO destroy me, body and soul, if i ever became
drunkard' But ao'ne they said, was one of Gods
best gifts, and it eei:11dlened without inebriatinp-
II was ingreitude to turn from its gracious infu
ence, believed them, for 1t was alcohol that
consumed my father And drank wine at the
banquet and the board-and drank porter and
ale. and the rich scented cordal--snd believed
mysel! to be temperate man. thought i grow
more intellectual; could plead more eloquent
Iy, and my tongue made music the con
viviai feast. But when the excitement Of the
scene over, felt languid and depressed
My head ached, and my nerves seemed unsheath
ed a thirst was enkindled within me, that wine
could no longer quench. hereditary fire was
burning in my veins ] had lighted up the smoul
dering spark, and it now blazed, and biazed L
knew was destroying myself, but the bower of re
sisance was gone. When first tasted, was un
done! Beware, Harry, beware, To save GU from
temptation, have lifted the veIl and laid bare
before you the hell og a drunkard's bosom. But
no! that cannot be. The Invisible alone can wit
ness the agonses of remorse, tho corroding mem