The Columbian fountain., 1846-09-22
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Rev. J. 1. WARD, Assistant Editor.
PRICE. ON ONE B v(5,5Izi CENT. Il

One man, who was an inhabitaut Of the
village, particularly interested ame The
.frosts Of near threescore and ten winters
had silvered his thin locks, and his appear
ance plainly showed that bis sojourn upon
this earth, at longest would be short, Yet
he, like many others, was continually
chafing the bitter thread Of existence, and
to appearance would soon wear il asun-
der, by daily slipping at the inebriatipg
cup. In his youth he did as others Of that,
day did-drank a social glass with friend,
or on gala days partook Of the sparkling
wine--that he might not deviate from the
He bad arisen to the rank of Colonel in
the militia, and at each promotion he was
expected to 'treat the company as a mat
ter of course; the neglect Of which was not.
to be thought Of, Often, too, at other times,
to avoid the charge of parsimony, he was
under tbs necessity offnrnishing freely the
exhilirating draught. He himself paItook
literally al such times, yet no one then
thought he was in danger of becoming a.
drunkard, or that he was pursuing course
at all disgraceful, or one that his circum-
stances did not absolutely require. He i
commenced business as. a merchant, and
like other country merchants, sold ardent 4
spirits. This was one of the most indispen-
sable articles Of trade, without which his
Of success in this business would
have been small, and the probability Of pro- !
fit less ti5u1isit }eti 's sVh fsd aa" seos'
Each customer was furnished with any Z
quantity his wants suggested, or his purse II
permitted from the single glass to the bar
rel. Wealth flowed in upon him; he was /
distinguished for his honesty and liberali- I.
ty, and few stood higher in the estimation
OF the public than Ralph Stanley, Was
any office Of trust in the town TO be filled,
Mr.. Stanley, from his known probity,
sound Judgment, and careful attention to
business, was usually the successful can
didate. As natural consequence, the ffe- 4
quepcy with which he drank Increased,
and the desire forsomething stimulating in
creased proportionably. ,..a5fr .asl eaF
At length, after a day spent in attending !.
TO the business Of the town, or after any
public occasion, he would return home
with an elevation Of spirits distressing in I
the extreme to his family, who looked for
ward with fearful forebodings to the future. ".
When my acquaintance with him COM z
his appetite had increased to such !
a degree that he found Unnecessary to take
his glass several times each day. Each 4,
morning he arose with burning tantaliz-
ing thirst, and each eve saw him deprived
of the right use of his faculties--his power
of reasoning weakened, and the whole cur
rent of his thoughts changed. No one ever
saw him in state of absolute intoxication;
yet, as it is difficult to tell when spring
merges into summer, so coutd it hardly be
told how far he was from it. Some diff
culties that had arisen in the neighborhood, 4
greatly disquieted him, and for consolation,
10 drown the remembrance of his troubles,
he resorted to the wine cup.
s numerous family had grown up around
him, and, strange to say, without having
followed the example of their father, in be-
coming incorporate. His sons were "tho- z.
rough going temperance men," and they I
often, respectfully yet earnestly urged upon i
heir father the necessity of abandoning his
oernicious habits-.of abstaining wholly
rom the use Of intoxicating drinks; and
hey set before him the ruin which he must 4
Inevitably bring upon himself if he disre-
,arded their entreaties. aaA ha If Is.
His daughters besonght him with tears
0 restore them and their mother to happi-
less-to bring joy once more to their un-
happy family circle, and cause gladness to
'esume its wonted place by their melancho-
y freside. Now; whenever they gather
round it, sorrow seemed to be bloodi
ng over them, and grief, like an in
,ubus, to weigh down each bosom. Espe-
,ially did Kate, the yougest Of the family,
exert herself TO lead her father back to the
paths of sobriety. She was his pet, and
had an influence over him
which no other member of the family pos
sessed. After the labors and fatigues of the
lay wefe past, when Mr.. Stanley returned
to his home, he always expected Kate 10
prepare his easy chair for him, bring his
slippers, procure the paper; and then he
ever enjoyed his reading much better if she
sat down near him, so that he could con-
verse with her on what he read, and listen
10 her sensible replies If he became weary
she would, with the greatest good bumor,