The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Yale Literary Magazine.
The Mothers Grave.
(Conctuded. }

l. HO uLULuCl y NIuNC,
(Concluded.)
I" Silence, sir Speak not so of my moth-
er; one unkind word Of her ! will not listen
to-"
Nonsense who thought of saying any
thing disrespectlul Of the old lady? She
loves you, ! dare say but come once
more, and we will go,n and George would
drink it to the dregs
But all this could not be kept from watch
ful mother. She heard one night that he
had been seen entering the tavern, and her
fears took the alarm Immediately. Her an
guish was heightened when she perceived on
his return, from his excited eye and unsteady
walk, that he had been drinking.
"George, my son! can it be - she ex-
claimed, as she caught his arm frantically,
:. are you to become drunkard?''
"Come, mother, have only been drink
ing glass of wine with Frank, and it has
got into my head little--come, do not be
trightened;" for he was sobered in an in
stant, by her lrenzied look.
9And you, too, Georgep she exclaimed,
without needing his words, g have ! lived
SO long for this ? did endure all that misery
and live through it to see you drunkard
have my prayers by night and by day avail
ed me nothing father and son! both to be
---. Oh my God, let not be So" Then
turning wildly around, she cried, g George,
as you love-as you wish not to see me
broken hearted wretch in my grave-as you
hope for salvation, swear! swear nat you
will +ba l,,,,
again, never SO much as think of it with a
guilty wish, swear! say, or strike me down
here at your feet"
As she uttered the last word, her son sank
on his knee, and raising his hand exclaimed,
/" swear as | love you and hope for mercy,
! swearD' then rising, the mother and son
were locked in each others arms"
"God be praised," she said, g for my
poor heart would be broke if you too were
lost to me. Let not the tempter prevail
again, or you are lost, my son. know it,
George, for twas SO with him--him your la-
ther--he tasted, and the demon snatched
him away to drunkard's graven ~
g Pardon, mother, and this shall be my
first and only time of offence arhile lire"
s'Dear George you have it, but oh beware
avoid the tempter."
And where was he 2 AT the first sound
of that mothers voice his guilty con-
science smotc him, and he slipped without
the door, for he dared not meet her eye. His
dark and dangerous nature, delighted in do
ing evil, without thought for the misery of
| others--such a spirit as the Evil One might
well send upon earth to aid his own iniqui-
ties. At first, remorse may have touched
him. but when he heard her counsel to be-
ware of the tempter, rage and wounded pride
banished all other feelings LA ha say
you so, you swear? let us see, oaths are
easily taken and easily broken ha ha She
called me tempter, did she Did she? will
be tempter to some purpose !" and he laid
his head upon his pillow that night with
the intention of running one for whom he
profcssed the holy tie of friendship, and
Of bringing misery to the door of helpless
widow-his own auntn
The sun rose bright on the morrow, and
both George and Frank felt mutual hesita-
ton when they met at breakfast. The one
felt ashamed for sin commtted-the other
for sin in contemplation For few days
no mention was made between them of the
matter, butt was easy to perceive that George
was acting under some restraint which was
hard for him to bear. Alas there is but
one step, and that once taken, it is thou
sand steps back. He felt craving burning
appetite for excitement; the dccp-rooted de-
sire could not SO easily be eradicated. One
evening however, shortly afterwards, as they
were sitting alone after tea, Frank proposed
that they should take walk together and
light a cigar on their way past the tav-
ern.
"You forget, Frank, surely y