American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-16

turned home, filled with many strange thoughts
and underlined sensations, that while they pleas
ed, alarmed her. She thought how much inn
proved James appeared. She wondered, now
that he had come to his freedom, if he would
marry! lie was now to be q man; and per-
haps would no longer be her play-felow! Poor
Elizabeth She was but seventeen. A thou
sand strange fancies crowded into her head; but
they took no pal pabIo and defined shape, and
bewldered her till she lost all presence of mind,
1t was the last night that James was to sleep
at Mr.. Smiths, and his sumbers were broken
and confused by dreams, which gave him no
pleasure. Scenes of death foated before him
At one time, he thought himself drowning,
when Elizabeth threw him rope, and saved
him At another, he thought he was attend
ing the funeral of his molher-and then, he
suddenly found himself in prison, under the
horrible charge of murder, all which was caused
by one dram, to which he was treated by Mr..
Smith, his master, as a JirelceU glass, Just be-
fore retiring to bed.
James arose the next morning, later than
usual, with a slight headache, and little fe-
vcrish--but Il copous draught of cold water,
and liberal ablutOn, soon restored him to his
wonted freshness of feeling, vvacity of spirits,
and elasticity of movement; SO that by the time
he had arIaycd himself in his freedom suit, he
began to realize all the proud feelings he had
anticipated, as peculiar to that eventual day.
His first visit was to his fond mother, who gaz-
ed on him with all the exutation of maternal
pride, as she clasped him 10 her bosom; in
wardy circulating to herselt-'the very inn
age of his father" The feast with his COM
panions, "the freedom SUPPER" as they termed
it, was the general topic Of DISCOURSE; the pre-
e., ,f
time that he could spare, between his calls to
see his friends, among whom Elizabeth and her
mother, were not forgotten. James took DIM
ner with his mother. The supper was to be
given at neghboring tavern; at which lie
had engaged to board, under the belief that he
would there be under no restraint, such as he
should feel in the presence Of his mother. Be-
sides he was Just free, and the taste of Liberty
was too sweet to be easily surrendered. He
felt himself man, and he resolved to exer-
else his high prcrogative, and be free in every
thing
h. The Freedom Supper was all that James and
his companions could desire The hilarity of
the evening was unbounded, and soon realized
the truth of the old maxim, that freedom in
duigcd 10 HcenLiousnesS is the lU0rSt Of slavery -
Free drinking was the order Of the night; and
what was only designed as a treat OF innocent
festivity, soon became debnuch, IN which poor
James proved the greatest sufferer; being car
| fieu insensble to his bed by his more sober
companions, who had made him the special
victim of the night;-while acting themselves
with more caution, they escaped to their homes
without serious Inconvenience, openly exult-
ing in the success of their arts to ntoXicate
their late fellow apprentice, on this memorable
day of his freedom!
On Weakening the next morning, James found
his mother at his bedside. The sun shone
high in the heavens. Confused. full of pam,
utterly bewildered, with but faint rccollec-
ton of the events of the past night, and burn
ing, feverish brow, as if a red-hot iron band
was pressing round his brain-he again closed
his eyes to endeavor to Tecollect himself; but
heaviness of heart amounting to agony,
weighed down his thoughts to utter stupetac-
ton. His mother was the first to break ST.
I lence.
1t was SO late in the day, James, that be-
came fearful you might be sick. Are you well,
my dear son?" asked his mother.
81 shall be, mother, in a few minutes Only
headache troubles me"
''Wel-wel-I will leave you. Will you
come soon, or do you go to work to-day"
"Not to-day, mother. will call soon"
"God bless you, my dear boy"
/ "Good bye, mother" She was gone.
! What pangs of remorse shot through the
heart of James, as lie heard his mothers God
bless you," accompanied by the words, good
! bye" All his early recollections of childhood
rushed upon his memory.
"Ah!" he exclaimed as he was dressing him
self, full of pans that seemed to threaten him
with sick bed-she knows not that was
| JooI Jr,,nly l., IL shall hn the In f.
What poor fool have been! And my friends
my fellow apprentices, who lured me on to
it. Yes, remember it all now. But have
done with them forever | will not disgrace
the gray hairs of my poor mother. Dear Eliza
beth! why did not follow the advice OF my
pretty cousin and Mr.. Chambers, by common
eng my freedom with temperance pledge!-
1t is not too late yet. | will do it while the
curse of drink is upon me; while my brain yet
throbs as if madness was to be my doom, and
every limb is racked with the torments OF
iends Oh! what a fool | have been, to think
| could escape what has destroyed so many
more firm, strong, and resolute men than am.
| will confess all to my poor mother, and then
take the pledge. AS to my drinking friends
of last night, now that know the danger of
had company, never more shall you be COM
panions ofmine."
Having drenched himself copiously with
cold water, internally and externally, he hur-
| red off to his mothers.
| As he entered, she took his hand-"My dear
James, fear you are i'll. Your hand is burn
ing hot. And your eyes too are bloodshot.-
Come, lay down, will make some warm tea
for you"
"No, mother, no. want nothing but cold
pater. | have disgraced you, mother-but it
is past Last night saw me drunkard for the
first, and trust ia God, the last time. lam
now going to take the Temperance Pledge, as
cousin Elizabeth advised me-"
81 thank God, my dear son, for your resolu-
ton. always had fear that Mr.. Smiths
example was not good one"
"No-nor that of his boys, either, mother. |
have done with them forever, mother. am