True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-11-25
THE RIFLE.
tConlinued from first Page

voluntarily rolleddown bis wrinkled and DO
low cheek
How, ia the name Of all that's holy, vii
liam, have you come TO this Where hav
you been during period Of ten years, sine
which time lhavenoI seen you2
With a voice chokod with griefhe answer
Cd,
Don't question menow, James-don't CUES
ton me now I'll feel better ina nonent2
Suffering his feelings 10 subsde little. /
drew lfom him his history from the period Of
his leaving Tennessee.o the time nj which he
spoke, which is in substance as follows:
After was refused by Miss wilkins, and
after the marriage Of my sister concluded
that there WIS nothing in Tennessee for me- 10
live for, so determined to so 10 the South.
Ny love for my rifle was 50 great that moth.
ing short ofthe constant use Of il would satisfy
tne; and determined 10 crafty mysellin this
respect, | commenced hunting foe a liveli.
hood and, so great was my success, owing to
my skill ia shooting and the abundance Of
game, that Iwas enabled TO furnish vcnson 10
The inhabitants Of neighboring village every
day. while the skins Of the deer and the bears
that caught furnished me- no inconsiderable
Income From these different sources Of prof
ita fortune offive hundred dollars was shortly
accumulated, which rendered me independent
Of immediate want now felt thatmy vaga-
bond MODE of life--always and ever in the
lonely forest-nlmost excluded me from with
in The pale Of civilization. A new ambition
arose within me; Iinvesttd my iule capital
in the purchase OF farm, and went to work
For two years did well; but my old desires
aud love for my rife returned with rtdoubled
force! sold my farm, and was again hunt
e.
Hitherto had contracted no bad habit but
that Of hunting but now having no other use
for my money, frequcnled the gfogshop, The
lowing -alley the shooting match, the race
ground, andthe card table Freqoemly was
reduced 10 the last ceLG but | never parted
from my rife; looked upon it as lhe last
friend / had upoR earth.
| went on thus, becoming more corrupt and
wicked, spending my moneyfor rum or gam.
bling il away in the dilferpi ways which
have mcnlioBed, until at last, from The effects
ofimmoderale drinking and drbaucbery, Ibe-
came 50 worthless thatI could not hunt, so
was reduced 10 strait aud when could,
by shooting at a match, via lrife, spent 1t
for rum, unlil my nervous sysie,a became so
much injured that could moi shoot | sod
my rife, and with il my last hope
The price 81 ny gun was soon consumed
and was at the point of slnrvation, when !
became delirous and wandered I knew and
cared not where. What passed afterwards
don't know; bu, was picked up one morn.
ing, senseless, near the house Of this yenera.
bic old mau'
Stopping a moment lor breath be family and
with difficulty said
Il have suffered much. and have now bn,
short time 90 live What | have been you
Know; what am-you see One false step,
one error 10 youth that aiafrst seemed trivial,
hssdnne il al. The rife stole fFom me my
time, more prescious than gold. and created
disposition 10 idleness, which has besn we'll
and truly .cahed the Mother Of Vice. Ahs
I behold my itiehIful error when Too late
But one precepl-a dearly learned pftcepi--
LEI u1e speak ere die AIy miserable lie fal.
" proves that INDUSTRY s THs PARENr o.
Wares
gazed IN pity upon the once noble form Of
William Upson, sDd thought, with bin. that
al bad been caased BY he passion lor bis ri-
he. Unused upont he pleasant alfnta Of tor
mer years which, Ike dfenns Of happiness.
were floating over 10y mind Bol uy mus
ings were Interrupted 81 quick gssp. us ioI
breath, and Light snneder. Started and
involun,any stretched iouh my bond ID Vs.
lieve The uulounnaie bui--he was deed
Here, ihoughll ~ gard upou ihe inrnl
mate clay from which ihs Almighty hea aiken
pulse aud tie 10 30 inslani. Is a lesson which
Ire youth or our 6unffg mig a pro6pblT leafn
aod ihen ieachl iheil alhefs
Some years have passed sinto nF lnr|f
James related this simple aory ~ ehs. II
feet i Bad upon Louis whefher any b none
en- enable % ssy Buihls sm thatIl .
Ssv. tbai he never rulrIed hinseIf b bfcone
enamorei wfb hd Uiae Heis nor siown1
20 promising maahooi, aai % 1ue r mors BIT
isfly opposed 70 wasting ums WITH ..l.t Nben
Il can Be- mofs profisblr ent|oTii nan ~
Should chance pcfma bin ptrntal AZ DO
lRiie f,ofg. lore he wiz 1reirs re az rir.
ing publicity 3 IS nlns ibs tkgie1 VII