Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-12-21
From the National Intelligencer.
a bad story Well Told.

Sunday nght--for what law OF God and man
will not he, who is beginning TO yield to the
power of temptation, make subordinate to the
law of his appctites! 1t was on Sunday night
that was decoyed into tavern, and there
first, when was at the tender age of fifteen,
with intellectual promise us fair as ever made
parents heart bound with joy. my friend, who
was the most detestcd enemy ever had, though
but dust now, handed me the cup. remember
the light and Joyous sensations which bounded
through my brain. felt delicious delirium-
was pleased with every body around mc-felt
brave enough to march to the cannon's mouth.
All this however, passed off with TIE first sleep,
and would never have been thought of again,
but Tor the dreadful fact that then and there |
got taste for that Circean cup which has all
but poisoned me to death and will soon finish
| me. That was the first step in a series of STEPS
downward. went home every night with l.
IDEAS, and when in the morning arose, it soon
| became necessary, after kind Of waking giddy
dozc through the forenoon, to 90 TO the side
board. This alarmed my mother and sisters.
They thought it strange and demonstrated, but
! | dcspised the idea OF being a tpler, and was
angry because they expressed their fears, after
| they had seen me do it few times, that would
form the habit of drinking.
Had been just to those fears then, should
not be what nm now. Let The young man
who is Just acquiring the taste not disregard
these gentle admonitions, they are the suggest.
| ions of guardian angels, which, if obeyed, will
open 10 them the path of peace, health, content
ment aud honor. If disobeyed, he is destined
to trouble, discomfort, disgrace, sickness and
death. Icould 90 now and call for my glass,
treat and be treated. 1t was called gentleman
| ", and why must not be gentlemen | was
getting mp in lie and must be able TO master
glass of brandy, gin or whatever the iashiona-
| bic drink was.
When at length began 10 be somewhat a.
Iarmcd at this surprising progress in di 'sipation
! resolved to abstain tor a limited period. Then
my ambition would kinde up, tor wished ar
Gently TO hCcoMe a great man; and studied
earnestly Tor time the science of law and po-
lics but when the allotted period expired, for
ward would rush again into the old channel,
like current that having been damned up
breaks over the tla barriers with fresh Impetu-
osity.
got marred--for woman, afGctionste wo.
mau, will not hear OF faults in him she loves
lie viii soon reform. lie loves me too well t,
make me unhappy-hc knows shall no, like
II. lie promises 10 abstain All, deceive,
woman! Love may be stronger than death
hnt the power Of the cup is stronger than both
! What a drinking mau---a man that can drinl
five glasses oI brandy, with pleasure, is not "a
from that point when he will sacrifice health
wealth pride, patriotism, reputation, love, life
everything for iha, damnable thirst. | loved
my wife as much as man could love and wa
a' sensitive to honor and reputation as any bu
| could, when the habit of drinking was formed
have sacrificed anything. Ihave often com,
home and found my wife weeping in silence
a silence that at first used to gore my soul-bu
liquor soon hardened anything that looked like
tenderness. She has told me the children
l. Il want my drink, aud will have it, One
night stayed till . O'Clock at the tavern play
iug cards, and who should come in at that dreat
hour Of the night, 5ul my wife with her infant
m her arm. ! (This iSa fect.) My God il
my hlood dlu'ut run cold and crude nt my heart
Is lh,s woman is this my wife | exclaimed
Never before did realize the full power Of fe.
male virtue. Ny protdne companions and my.
self were completely shashnd, ! cursed her
aud told her with severe threats to 30 home.
No, thGr VIII not, said she, rising IN the dig,
n,'y Of injured iunocence, though with trepi'
Gatou that shook hcr whole frame Ike an aspen
and holding her trembling infant out To me,
this is your child, and | will not stir one step
from this spot i you take it and 90 home with
me- She then turned to my companions. and
uphraidcd them as my dcstroyers, in strain OF
nvcctve that made them feel like SO many dis.
covered and disaracd assassins before the mes.
scngcr of reIributivc justice. We separated, a.
shamed ofeach Other, and our deeds of dark.
ness, and almost sobercd by this strange and as.
founding Oppari,ion.
obcyed implicitly, for nothing makes Il man
more mean spirited than the habit of drinking
We went home and retired to ret; but waking
up in the nigh, with a horrible thirst, toltered
TO the bottle and drank went To sleep again,
slept ull 40 o'clock aud NLeu arose, tell
dl2ay aud bewlldcred, wietchcd and hapess