Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-18


he Is suspected (; CONVICT in flaming letters
is stamped upon his face, and he is compell-
ed 10 seek employment elsewhere. He tries,
tries with all the strength of mind and body
vet left him. With what success He is
arain suspected and turned away with scorn
and contempt. One lock Of forgiveness, one
kind word, would now restore him from his
loneliness, redeem, regenerate, and make
him the man that God intended him to be-
He is alone in the world without a sinrle
friend, without a roof to give him Shelter
For two days not even a crust of bread pass
ed his mouth. He is beginning to be point
ed at as a discharged convict, every one
turns out of his way in the street, or else
crosses over on the other side, as if his pres
ence was TO be avoided as an Infection
Starvation stares him in the face, the grim
monster, death, rises before him, he must Ell
Their perish or steal. He feels the devil again
at his heart, the fierce and deadly passion al
most chokes him, but with his clenched fist.
and firm set teeth, he resolves to die by inch
es, day by day, rather than plunge bis soul
deeper in guilt than it already is. Where
are all your philanthropists, Christian &C.
formists now Where are these good peo-
pie who send money and bibles to the heath
en- in foreign lands, while ignorance, sorrow,
| and shame are gnawing the vitals of thou
sands in our midst! Where are they now.
when such a chance Of doing good is before
theml Does any one step forward and take
Walter Manning by the hand as if he were a
brother? No, no, not one Yet although
he has sunk so low in vice, he is by retain
ing any thing of his original nature, ten
times better than those who see his condi-
ton, and will not hold forth an inducement.
one single hope to save him. Edward Man
ming is now a miserable wretch, in rags and
filth, deserted by all, befriended by nome
He roams the streets in all the squllor OF d.
sease and poverty, every one turns coldly
away when he approaches, and some say
that he is mad. We will follow him down
this narrow lane, and see where he goes.-
Stop, he enters the door of yonder low grog-
gerry, and calls for "a glass of brandy He
raises the decanter, and pours the glass half
full, his eyes brighten as it sits before him (;
he clasps it with his trembling fingers, and
with a laugh of savage delight pours the
liquor down his throat. The bar-keeper
looks wild with establishment, but he gives
him no time for refection-he throws the
tumbler upon the floor, and rushes madly
from the place. Fear and shame crowded on
his mind. The liquor reaches his brain, it
whirls round, hurrah his trouble is drawing
to a close, the curtain now will soon ring
down on the last act of his life. He passes
through court and alley, down one street and
up another, until at last he reaches the river
side. Hark there is a rustllng noise along
the wharf, some one is hiding from his view.
One plunge, and all is Overcome plunge,
that's all, why stop and think, why walk
back from the edge so fearfully, why shrink,
why ~lacerate your flesh, why call for help !
There, there, you are calm now; see, the
waves are reckoning you to their embrace.
Stop, for Gods sake, stop Manning! y ex.
claimed a man laying his hand tightly on his
arm. You know not what you are doing
you are mad =
'Mad y he shouted in. reply. SO be sure
larf! Look at my hollow cheeks, my sunkeu
REYES, my sniyermg iimbs-ma1, to be srrei
ami
DO you not know mel, said the strange
altering his voice somewhat. Il have track
ed you out and followed you for hours
Manning turned, and beheld his old asso
ciate, Jim Howard, but so altered that he
+ looked not like the same person.
Man or devil?' he shrieked, let loose
your hold
No, I'll not until you consent to leave
this place. answered Jim, and holding still
tighter on his arm.
You have been my evil genius, you have
brought ruin and degradation on my head,
almost yelled Manning.
Il have come now to atone for my pas
; conduct, to implore your forgiveness
, You have come too late-the hour is pas
: for that And as he spoke he struck him
l blow in the face with the %ferocity of a mad
1 man. Ha he totters and falls, but holding
1 tight on Manning's arm. They fight ant
a scuffle in the dirt, and now they approach
the edge of the wharf. Manning's hand il
r upon Jim's throat, a giant strength is in hi
e arm, and he feels as if he would like to stran
o gle him on the spot. Jim Towards fac
e grows black, his tongue is hanging upon hi
v cheek-one bold effort more or all is lost
Great Heaven they are now nearly over tn
n wharf! Manning strikes him another bloy
d with his fist, and the next moment they ar
Of both struggling together in the water. A loy
e murmuring sound is heard-now a curse dis
!; turbs the stiffness of the night, and no,o a.
is as quiet and peaceful as a few moment
d before. The moon darted out from undeI
is meath a cloud, and as it shed its mellow ligt
upon the waters, a few faint ripples alone II
Ie manned to tell of the terrible encounter.
! Visit of the HutChinSOnS
TO HARRIET MARTINEAU.