Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-08-25

There let me rest when the zcphyr's breath,
HeraIds the close of day
There lot me enclose these eyes in death,
For long TO be far away!
From the Dollar Newspaper.
THE HOUR or TE.MPEATxlvN.
I'm Incident Founded on Fact.
BIT JAMES REEFS,
AUruoa OF CONFESSIONS OF DRUNKARD," &c.
il is with no blush Ct shame that confess
that there was period Of my life, page Of
my history, hlackened and besmeared with
the foul stain Of dissipation. look back TO
it with adherence; but my resolutions to re-
form, and seventeen years of strictly temper.
ate habits, and in themselves virtues enough
TO counteract all the vice the indulgence en-
gendered. Why then should blush fol hav.
ing conquered the hydra-headed monster, in
temperance!
That was no common topper, a mere tavern
sot, but downright registering fellow, there
are many Of my good friends ready 10 bear
witness, and they will do it most willingly,
for it is rude established by universal Gus
tom. that TO tell the errors Of poor human ma
iure is the duty Of every man, woman and
child VINO may be SO fortunate as to possess
ahe knowledge. But, thank heaven, my good
resolves shook them all of, and became a
staid, steady, sober man Of business. Seven
teen years! How time passes my new ex.
istence seems but as day-yet las il been
pleasant one. But what have not seen IN
those seventeen years! have witnessed the
villany OF man in every grade Of society. !
have seen beauty pale and die before the sic
moon Of base seduction. have seen honest
worth cast into prison. and high.handed TO
query stalk abroad free and untramme:led.
have seen the moral law Of institutions upset,
and rascali'y prosper in its stead. have seea
men high in Office Sc, the example Of refari-
oas populations, and a whole nation follow in
their wake! have seen the foul ,empes,
sweep over the land from north to south, from
cast 10 west! Wese the people all mad Or
was it because drank not, and eould see ev-
cry thing differently from wha, did seven.
teen years ago! Perhaps so!
During that long pc .iod, what temptations
have not resisted! The hand Of beauty has
been turned aside, when il was proffered with
the vine cup. The syren-smile Of some fond
ene has been disregarded, when it rested on
the sparkling glass. The convivial board has
heen Stunned, and the companions Of my
youth left to themselves, when the CIV was
I" more wine, ''more wine." ], was offered
to my parched lips in a southern cline, when
death, they said, that was riotine in my veins
would fly before it. grasped and pushed it
back-yet death came not. live on Wine
why It Is deaths attendant, not the nurse Of
Hygeine. ]. was preferred me when the
ci'olera raged--l still refused, and lived on
was accused Of selfshness; nay, on one &C.
cas.on. brainless fool imagined had insult.
"a him by refusing TO drink. lie sworc, as
~ drunkards do-taIked Of revenge, and cha.
i7nged me to fight. Twas the very thing
1o8i desired-I was willing to fall martyr
- 'He cause OF Temperance, and for that pur-
sr accepted his challenge. Bu, liquor back
linking and g%ng latiaSdfes e asios hears Iom:
ing but waller. and mourning Ger frail NOR.
'4uty.
oeFeolee" years! Happy, happy years.
al least they were so to me. | could sleen a,
'i9hi, and arise in The morning refreshed. |,
required no artificial siimulants to allav that
nervous excitement liquid fire creates. Nv
room always looked The sober man, There
stood my nea, bookcase, and nv well select
cd volumes Of useful know ledge, and NV cen.
're table, tas,efully arranged, and covered
with the choice gems Of the day. There too
was my Collection ofeiama,c works. some Of
them two hundred years old: O, love these
old authors, they seem 10 me as the yerv nil.
lars Of the mimic world. There is a copv Of
Davenant, printed in his time, with a likeness
what fiat nose he has? | do not believe
the base story which purpor,s to give an &C.
count OF the cause. 1t is base libel on a
talented mantle god-son Of the immortal
bard! Over the mantel.piece is likeness Of
General Washington, painted BY Jarvis Of
New ork, companion OF William Dunlap.
and Hugh Reinagle; he is dead now. ana
himself ard cronies sleep together! On the
opposite side is Nagel's original portal, Of
Edmund kean, in the character, Of Richard
Ill. Then there is my bed, ali tina, cosey.
sober.sided looking bed and the old bureau,
an old family relic, there i. stood, in the DAYS
ofmy debauch. covered with gin bo,.les-ueh!
horsid recollections. There It stands vet: a
neat mirror graces its polished, top, and, in
stead OF rum bottles. is graced with Que Of eau
De Cologne, sweet delicious petfpme. Hook
around upon these things, and a smile lights
upon my countenance, and throw mvseif an
the rocking chair. apd indulge 10 one of ,hose
pleasing rcvevies, which are rendered aonhlv
so by making Us forget all present troubles.
Bnt to my subject:
1t was at friends house. in the
lovely month Of June. l. was his vedd;nn
nieht. The lights burned bright, but the
gances from many lovely eve, spanked
stu brighter. The ,sast-ths sonr-,he 70.
pat'ee-'he dance. were given in the fulness
and joyousness Of youih-all were Mann,
Could ! remain cold and ,igid amid such 'y =
CLEAN Of starlight beauties, SCATTERING ,hs; !.
'aps around with SO lavish favor, MOI !
gradually warmed into fellowship with them
but when the sparkling wine cup was present.
60, hesl'a!ed, gazed upon it's ruby bright.
"ess' and wildly rushed from the room! !