Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-06-22

But the appetite was excited aud II would b. gfat
ihei The re~i oi the story is soon told.
Months passed away, and the once elegant, ac-
eomplIshcd, fascinating Charles l. was sink.
ing deeper and deeper into the abyss Of shameful.
disgusting nicmpcrance. The appetite became n
passion, the passion became a mama. The las,
hope Of his recovery was now blasted The pros
poets Of wealth and honor, and domestic bliss had
lost all charms in bis eye The gross scnsuality
Of his darling sins, the ule companions Of his
nightly debauch the dcliriou. cxciemcnis Of the
theatre aud gaming table again absorbed the de-
sircs of his depraved heart In vain did parental
affection plead, in vain did young wife, with her
hraborn on her breast, weep tears OF bitter grief
over his lall in vain did he hear the strong ap.
peas OF religis1s truth; ir sr,p was he adspon.
lshed OF the danger TO his immortal soul, and the
certainty OF his swift destruction if he persisted in
his downward course he was in the grasp Of the
destroyer Deaf TO the cries Of affection, blind to
his own guilt and shame, and dead to all the sweet
sensiblties Of the soul he was lost and lost iorey.
err
In the mean time he had plunged deeper than
ever into his destroying indulgence-and terrible
deltrtHm that haunts the drunkard's BRAIN had OBJ.
tanned the mastery. One wild scene of unbrdled
excess had followed another in swift succession,
till he was laid upon his dying bed No visions
of angels awaiting TO convey him TO heaven, now
foated before his eyes No dreams of pardon and
peace by the blood of the dear Redcemer, shed
their soothing influence on his soul.
Take them off. Oh, take them off, he scream.
ed as | came into his chamber They have come
for me; | see them feel them this is hell!'
The scene was awful to me, hcart-ronding to
those who loved him as none others could Eve
ry object in the room was demon ready TO dart
upon him. They leaped on the bed, they planted
themselves on his breast, they laughed at his hor-
rors, and revealed in his cries and groans 1t was
with grea, difficulty that strong men could keep
him on his couch of anguish. He was determin.
ed TO fly from the monsters tina, had gathered in
troops around him Selling his opportunity when
their attention was for moment diverted he leap.
ed from the bed. by the side of which sat his par
ents wrlnhied and gray, but not with age, and his
own young wife withtheir only child in her arms
he broke away from the attendants who vainly
strove to hold him back he rushed from his
chamber into the streets of the CITY, there in his
nakedness and Madness raved like a devil escaped
from hell. They caught him and forced him into
the house, but could not compel him to lie down.
He stood in the middle of his chamber, struggling
fearfully with friends who gathered around him
TO pacify his maniac frenzy. His wife fell Oh his
neck, and impored him by his love to her and
his darling boy, to lie down and be still ill the
storm that ragged in his brain sho nd pass by. But
no tears, no prayers, no force would quiet him in
that wild hour He stood and struggled Gerceiy
with phantoms, and raved Of devils and the damn
ed An unearthly brightness lighted up his face,
as he exclaimed, Il am ready now; rllgo, I'll go ;
and he stood-a corpse They laid him on the
bed, and closed his eyes for ever.
Such was the career and fate OF one whom |
knew and loved lie was prodigal Son How
many fall like him perish like him, in the very
morning oflheir days.