American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-08
From the Alexandria Gazette.l
HE DEATH BED OF THE INEBRIATE.


1t was a cold, cherries evening in the month
of January, 1874, when, in compliance with
the request of friend, visited young man
of splendid abilities as a scholar, tortured by
the worst of all maladies that ever entered this
world of ours-''delrium tremens." The hol-
low winds sighed in the leafcss trees a requi-
EN- for the departed year-the torn clouds
which had battled with the furious winter
storm revealed their rugged edges as the sick
ly moonbeams fell upon them-ocCasionally a
little star peeped out from behind its sable cur
tain and then its soft bright eye withdrew its
light, as if unwilling to look upon world so
full of human misery and wo, and all nature
seemed to be in unison with the darkness and
gloom which, at that hour, overshadowed ma
ny human minds and hearts. Although Pc
riod like this seems only to wear dreary as
pect, yet it has its pleasures, for when the sun
''fades into the light Of heaven" and night
shadows gather i'll the sky, the toll and care of
business is laid aside, the wearcd mind reVes
in the delights Of social intercourse, and 'home,
sweet home," Gf sought throws its sweet as
sociatons around the human heart, prompting
it to forget the anxetics and perpleXities OF
the "busy WORLD and inviting its reposo upon
bed of roses, where turks no secret thorn to
pierce with many sorrows. Al! these clrcum-
stances remove the emu! of many an hour,
and even gid the raven wings OF night. But
when the gloom Of mental night comes on,
and that bright star, lighted up in that pure
world "beyond the flight of time and reign of
DEATH" shines NOT, death-lke darkness IS
spread all round, more dismal than that when
"man fell" and over this guilty world rested
the frown of an offended God. But before
proceeding further, perhaps, short sketch OF
the individuals history just referred to, is due
to the reader. He was young man OF supe-
ror abilities, graduated at one OF the first III
stitutions of learning in the world, was master
Of the ancient and modern languages, and his
towering mind and splendid education pre-
pared him to figure largely i'll scientific and
literary circles. Starting out in life with pros
poets SO tiattering, one would expect TO find
him now rising into meridian glory, and ad-
ding fresh laurels to his country's garland But
alas, how different tic scene! Behold the mo-
raj and intellectual man thrown into heap Of
ruins! and he, who but few years back, en-
joyed the pleasure of home, friends, and every
blessing within the gift of earth, now, that the
winter Of life has come, destitute of all these
comforts, and the miserable "out cast" about
to breathe away this life in lonely exile, ua-
Wept, mot unpiLleu} ana the memory OF ms
name to be blottcd out forever 1t was in this
destitute situation that found him this even
ing. The cause which led to such consum-
maton--crushed his manly heart--quenched
the star which might have lighted up the path
way Of coming ages and threw him out upon
life's stormy ocean to float awhile among It's
weeds, and then sink into its bosom to perish,
may be summed up in word-lNTEMrERANcE.
He was lying on the floor in one corner of
a small room provided for him by a few friends.
The faint light Of taper revealed to my gaze
his sorrow-stricken, frightful countenance; and,
oh! that CHASTITY grin-that fre-shot eye that
fendisl snile-those heart-rending and soul.
narrowing expressions continually gushing from
his lips, would have moved an adamantne
heart, and made an angel weep if tears are wep,
in heaven. The mental hurricane which had
so long swept over him now began to subside
The mighty ocean which had tossed him about
upon its rough pillows, was growing NOR,
calm and placid, owing to the prostration o
physical power, for sleep had not rested on hi
eyelids for many days. thought that hi
glussy eye, feeble, futtering pulse, and seem
ingly fixed attention, indicated speedy change