The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-30
THE FIRST GLASS.

| He who but TASTES shall find grave
| And make forevermore to weep. 0-.Mlf6rd Bard
| There is not an individual in any commune
| ty who has not either seen or felt the truth Of
the sentiment uttered by the poet Every
where we turn our attention the track of the
wild sirocco is visible, and we behold moral
and Intellectual death. There is not a heart
that has not been pierced by its arrows, or a
family casket that has not lost ONE jewel, and
every community throughout our world wears
gloomy aspect, like unto that which rolled
over the land Of Egypt, when the destroying
angel scattered death from its wings, and every
Egyptian mother put on sackcloth, and kept
her lonely vigils around the death couch Of her
first born. have seen the opening bud and
the mature full flower stricken to the earth to
die. Pve seen the light eye grow dim, the rosy
hue Of health tale from the cheek and the hec-
tic flush supply lis place. I've seen the proud
est hearts crushed, the most manly forms bent,
and more than once have wePt tear upon
the grave Of towering genius, riven, blasted,
by the mightyIthunderbolt intemperance. I've
seen the young man OF splendid mien and
spotess character lead the bushing bright
eyed girl to tie hymenia altar, and there, be-
fore the gaze Of Heaven and men, pledge him
self to /" love, honor, and cherish" I" the object
of his early lovet death, and then turn away
from that sacred place and 60 down to the
drunkard's grave before the bridal flowers ia
ded away from the brow of her who gave up
ALL for him. I've watched the young wife as
she planted some spring violets upon his bo-
som, but ere they opened into life, the hand
that planted them was cold, the eyes that had
so often watered them with the :" holiest dews
of funeral flowers, affections kindest tear, !"
were no longer bright, for death had smitten
with his talal wing the lovely flower, and
waiting angels then transplanted it, 10 bloom
forever in the garden of the skies.
And the broad deep river of disease and death
still marches forward; but men, disregarding
the many wrecks floating upon its bosom, still
consign to the fretled tempest and raging storm
all the rich pleasures of EARTH and dash out
upon the turbid bow those hopes which
make the cup Of life a palatable dranght too
bitter else" But 10 the narrative. Eighteen
months Of vcissitude have passed away into
the land of deepest shade" !" since young
man whose countenance although careworn
and haggard, shadowed forth the vestiges Of
what he once had been, entered my place OF
business and cRAvED glass of whiskey.
The poor unfortunate fellow excited my
sympathy and when looked at the tre-
mendous moral, Intellectual, and physical
wreck before me, and all the result of the first
glass, | resolved that would raise my voice
continually against the vice, and caution the
young against making this FIRsT.slep toward
ruin. | responded TO his question negatively,
and, mortified and chagrined, he hastily turned
around TO leave; but as | never allow the poor
drunkard 10 pass me without first trying to tear
away the heavy chains dragging him down to
temporal and eternal death, | called him back,
introduced conversation, principally on the
evils OF intemperance. Said he, Ppresume, sir,
that you are a" Teetotaer ~ ! answered yes
and quick as the lightning flash, his counte-
nance seemed lightened by the recollection Of
other days, when he said, oh that | had OBJ
served its requirements, for instead of standing
as now do on the brink Of an unhonored grave,
| should be in the enjoyment Of llie's best plea
sures. This sentiment made me anxious TO in
quire into his history this at first he refused to
give, for, said he, would fain conceal my dis
honor and shame from human knowledge !;
but, suppose it matters not for ere long
shall sleep in some grave yard, and the memo
ry of my name be boted out forever
commenced the world with prospects as
fair as any young man that has ever lived. My
parents were in anluent circumstances, and
early in life was sent to one OF the first col
leges in the land TO receive an education, and
OH | was then and there educated, as my
sub>pquenthslory shows, the art OF tdsh'ona-
bic drinkiag there received the FIRST GLASS
the first rudiments of this debaslng, damn
ing appetite, which exercises so much power
upon me now, that even when ! resolve
not to taste the poison, and all conscious oflm
pending ruin, shrink back with horror from
tine fatal precipice, it overrules me, and am
again dragged to the bachanalian altar to be-
come its sacrifice. aaduated and went back
to my home and while there, frequently IN
dulged my appetite to excess. so that, IN more
than one instance, became drunk; and oh !
now well recollect the tears ofmy anxious sor-
row w-stricken mother, and the warnings OF my
aged father, but all this was unavalling, and
my promises ofreiorm, like The morning cloud,
or early dew, !" for was driven along by an
under current which could not control. My
attention seemed directed TO mercantile pur-
suits accordingly removed to neighboring
city TO consummate my object but my business
was ephemeral for my habits were too lose to
sustain il: and visited the theatre, billiard ta-