Louisville messenger. (Louisville, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-06-17

sumo lohiH ago, 10 TIE morning Ol lbt
temperance reformation whicl
has 'lhte 30 siguHlIy and gl0riousl)
blessed our county aud the WORLD
md when 10 VS. persuaded by III,
united cnifeati0s of he parents and
friends 10 pledge himself to abstain
rom ardent spirits the smile Of hope
was seen on mothers fndcd cheek
land n mountain weight was removed
from his fathers heart.
There was a change in Charles
that all regarded with intense de-
light. II lasted for months. Again
he was the pride Of his parents and
the center oil thousand hopes.
The cup Of happiness seemed 10
his parents to be full when Charles
led to the altar, and brought home 10
their house, lovely bride, whom Of
lall others they had chosen as one
who would make him happy, ard
throw around him the restraints Of
love, should he ever be allurcd again
into the paths Of vice.
On the very evening Of his mar
riage, it was painfully evident, that
he was not beyond the reach Of the
destroyer. ] have said that this pc
Rod was at the opening Of the pre-
sent temperance reformation, and few
had then thought Of danger from the
use Of wine. But in the festivities Of
the marriage day, in the midst Of com
pany Of which young L--was the
life and soul, and called on again s
again to drink to his 'health and hap
piness;' (Oh! the mockcry Of such
words over the wine cup!) he lost
command of his appetite, and before
he suspected his danger he was over
come. Deadly mortified at this oc-
|currence, he determined to regain
his selfrespect by a rigid adherence
to entire abstinence from all means Of
ntoxication. But the appetite was
excited, and it would be grati6ed.-
The rest Of the story is soon told.
Months passed away, and the once
elegant, accomplished, fascinating
Charles L. was sinking deeper s
deeper into the abyss OF shameful
disgusting intemperance. The aPPe-
lite became a passion, the passion
became mania. The last hope OF
his recovery was now blasted. The
prospect Of wealth and honor, and
domestic bliss, had lost all charms in
his eye. The gross sensuality OF his
darling sins, the vile companions of
bis nightly debauch, the delirious ex-|
elements Of the theatre and gaming.l
table, again absorbed the desires oil
his depraved heart. In vain did pal
rental affection plead, in vain did a
young wife, with hel frst-born on her
breast, weep tears of bitter griefover
his fall; in vain did he hear the StrongI
appeals of religious truth; invain was
he admonished of the danger to his
soul, and the certainty of
his swift destruction, if he persisted
in his downward course;-he was in
the grasp Of the destroyer. Deafto
the cries Of affection, blind TO his own
guilt and shame, and dead TO all the
sweet sensibilities OF the soul, he was
lost and lost forever.
In the mean time he had plunged
deeper than ever into his destroying
indulgences, andthe terrible deIiriuna
that haunts the drunkard's brain, had
obtained the mastery. One wild
scene of unbridled excess had follow
/ d another in swift succession, till bel
was laid upon dying bed! No Wis
ion of angels awaiting TO convey him
to heaven, now foated before his eyes.
No dreams of pardon and peace byE
the blood of the dear Redeemer, shed
their soothing influence on his soul.
"Take them off! Oh! take them
off" he screamed as | came into his
chamber. "They have come for me
see them, / feel them; this is hell"
The scene was awful to me, heart
,ending to those who loved him as
none others could. Every object in
he room was demon ready to dart
lpon him. They leaped on the bed,
hey planted themselves on his breast,
hey laughed at his horrors, and re-
relied in his cries and groans. 1t was
With great difficulty that strong menk
:ould keep him on his couch Of an.
rush. He was determined to 6yk
rom the monsters that had gathered
II troops about him. Selling his OPP