The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-01-26


Frank was the leader, and ali sgr,.e.'
that in ready Invention and daring al
venture he that night eclipsed himself
II was near noon the following da,
before he awoke from his disturbed ans
feverish sleep. A Ioathi,ng sense ofguii
seemed weighing upon his soul, but hi.
good purposes were gone beyond re.
call.
Two years from the time of which
have been writing, John called at the
store where Frank was yet clerk, to
bid him farewell before he took his de-
parture for the south to seek lis fortune,
These years had peen apparently une-
venliul years in their lives, and vet j,
will be seen that their Influence had
been of vital importance in the for
nation Of their characters, Each had
become fixed and strengthened in the
different courses they had determined
to pursue John now departed Cor the
South with good trade, (lhe founda,
ton OF fortune to any yonng-m man OF
industrious babits) and mind better
stored with knowledge than thousands
OF young men who have triled away
their five or six years at College. His
wealth consisted Of small kit Of tools
and a little trunk which contained that
scanty library by means of shich the
humble apprentice had been enabled,
in his little attic, to hold The most init
mate converse with some ofthe noblest
minds that ever lived, and 10 feed his
mind with their richest thoughts.
A few days after Johns departure,
Frank was called to a private interview
with his employer and questioned re-
speeding various embezzlements from
the drawer, which had evidently been
continued and increased for several
months. His answers rather increasing
than allaying The suspicious Of the wor-
thy merchant, Frank was dismissed
from his employ though out of regard
for his friends and in hope of reform,
he forbore to expose his crime. The
unhappy young man. however, never
dared to Meet his friends-his consci-
Gus guilt made him moral coward
he fed, and the efforts made by his
unhappy parents to seek out and re-
claim him were unavailing.
must now ask my readers to pass
over period OF seven years, and will
again observe the change which they
have wrought in the relative situations
OF the two friends to whom you were
introduced in the commencement Of
my narrative.
One chill Afternoon in December,
miserable inebriate, noticeable even
among the crowd of vagabonds that
infest our cities: for his appearance of
-unmitigated wretchedness' stood lean
ing against lamp post in the principal
srr3et of our great commercial metrop-
oils; his breath was feted and deadly,
his countenance bloated and flushed
with the hue of the pit, and his limbs
ire nbled. partly from the cold but more
from premature old age, brought on
by vice and intemperance. But look
what has caught his ear and so fixed
his attention! Can it be!-yes! 1t is
the news boy crying "The speech of
the Hon: JOHN HENDERSON, on the
bill, in the Senate of the Y. States"
But what is there in that that should
cause this miserable creature TO betray
such agitation? Reader, you would
cease to wonder could you recognize
in the bloated countenance OF this mis-
cradle wretch the once noble and adj
nired Frank Gregor-and know more
over that something whispers 10 the in-
ebriate's ear that Mississippl's honored
Senator is the once humble apprentice
whom the enticements Of pleasure
could not> seduce from the pursuit OF
wisdom. What visions of the past now
hannt bis mind-whatg oadings OF con-
science for ruined talents now visit
him leave you kind reader to imagine
but stop, yonder goes a well Known
apostle of the Washingtonlan Retor-
nation, and look noble purpose Is
stirred in the drunkard's soul-he iol-
lows-he has gone to be cheered by
words of kindness and encouraged oy
becevoIence, to toll his way back, by
narient self-deDiaI, to the dignity OF
manhood--to see by the light OF ms
own bitter reflections the wisdom OF
f6nressing the impulses oil The moment
and living for the future. May he SO :,
learn the lesson a. 70 look beyond all
the Joys of time and labor in patience
and in hope for the enduring rewards
that virtue awards beyond the tomb
/ can scarcely leave you kind reader
without pointing you 70 that ,glorlous
| fruit Of our free institutions, shown I'm 70
The fortunes ofthe apprssise BOY 1g ,; nhS
s,ty acknowledge. % shs ,,s ,be ' gos
wiling to bestow her Ignss. 49, .a..a