The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-13
oraliip Gitraiure, Arts, sritnfe Business anS asn
Rev. IL. WARD, Assistant E Editor.
PRICE ONE CENT.

MIN ecIious. Dut MS resolution was strong
to abandon his former habits. -'l
@You won't forget, James, = his wife
said, laying her hand upon his arm, and
looking him earnestly and with mosssnsd
eyes in the face, as he was aboutleavine the
house. 24t.~ atHlt
"No, Sally, Iwon'foTget. Take heart
my good girl. Let what's past 60 for no
thing. It's all in our lifetime" ttiohi
And 50 saying, Braddock turned sway,
and strobe off with resolute bearing. His
wife followed with her eyes the form other
husband until il was out Of sight, and then
closed the door with deep drawn sigh.
The way to Mr.. Jones's house was psst
Arnold's grog shop, and as Braddocki drew
nearer and nearer to his accustomsd haunt,
he felt "a desire growing stronger and strong
er every moment, to enter and join his old
associates over . glass Of liquor. To this
desire he opposed every rational objection
that he could find He brought up before
his mind his suffering wife and neglected
children, and thought Of his duty toI them.
He remembered that it was drink, and drink
alone, that had been the cause Of his down
fall. But with all these auxiliaries 10 aid
him in keeping his resolution, II seemed
weak, when opposed to desires, which long
continued indulgence had rendered inofdi-
nate. Onward he went with steady pace,
.fortifyng his mind all the while with ar
lguments against drinking, and. yet ready et
every moment to yield the contest he was
wagipg against habit and desire. At last
the grog shop was in sight, and in few
minutes he was almost at the door. L1..ia
'eHurrah Here's Jim Braddock, bright
and early cried one Of his old cronies,
from among two or three who were stand
ing in front Of the shop.
$50 the cold water men hav'nt got you
yet brought in another. 81 thought Jim
Brddock was made of better stuff ID 81
a"Old birds aint caught with chaff! % add
ed a third. Pasl ..H fAs a0o,
"Come! Halo! Where are you Otto
in such a hurry, with your tools on your
back 20 quickly cried the first speaker,
seeing that Braddock was going by without
showing any disposition to stop. s,is.
"l've got a job to do that's in hurry,
replied Braddock, pausing--" and have no
time TO stop. And, besides, I've sworn OF"
b" Sworn off! Ha ha. Have you taken
the pledge :" IS 81"
No, have not. I'm not going to bind
myself down not to drink any thing. I'll
be Zee man. But won't touch another
drop, see if do"
90 yes-we'll see. How long do you
expect to keep sober'"
"Alwaysp tsB aa
eYou'll be drunk by night"
''Why do you say SO ?" AsaaA n7.7
81 say so-that's all and ! know so."
"But why do you say so' Come, tell
me that"
go, I've seen too many swear of in my
time-and I've tried it too often myself.
It's no use. Not over one in hundred
ever sticks to it; and Pm sure, Jim Brad
docks not that exception" u1s4ms
"There are said to be hundred reform
ed men in this town now. am sure I
know dozen," Braddock replied. y 49,
go yes But they've signed the plsdes.D
aNonsense don't believe man can
keep sober any the better by signing the
pledge than by resolving never sgain to
drink drop" .llt I.st koe sv3.I Fa y.
I" Facts are stubborn things, you know.
But come, Jim, as you havnt signed the
pledge, you mightas well come in and take
a glass now, for you'll do il before night,
take my word for It." PEW a ta.u s
II was fact, that Brsddock began really
TO debate the question with himself, whsth-
er ne should or not 60 in and take single
glass, when he became suddenly conscious
OF his danger, turned away, and hurried on,
follow ed hv the loud ieerinU lsnOh az h;s