The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-11-24
For The Cecil Wing.
The Fatal Delay.
RAMBLER.
A SKETCH.

"Well, I'm going to quit frolicklng, and
settle down. said Charley L, as we
met one bright morning in the early part
of June.
"Glad to hear it, replied. "But whcu
are you going to quit? From this hour"
80 no, YOU'RE in too great hurry. l
like to keep the day of my redemption
ahead" and Charley laughed ..
"But, delays you know are dangerous"
eyes," he replied, interrupting me, Gin
some cases | know they are--I don't think
they'll be in this, however"
"But why do you postpone your refor-
nation Why not resolve noau Is not the
present moment as favorable as any other"
go no. 1t would never do. pve promised
to make one of a sailing party to-day and
they are all to be real jovial fellows. We
have splendid lot of liquors for the occa-
sion, and intend having jolly time of it.
You know it would never do for me to be
along with the party, and not join in. No,
indeed, couldn't begin to think of saying
'from This hour II touch not, taste not,
handle not"
"When then7 You say you're going to
quit frolicking-when is it to be 2"
80, well, | don't know exactly-pretty
soon after this scrape.'
"Pretty soon! When is pretty soon ?"
"To-morrow, or next day.
"To-morrow, then let it be-"
"Agreed- then is the last spree I'm
going on. After tomorrow I'll be as So
Der as an old Judge"
81 doubt it. When tomorrow comes
you'll have some excuse for putting it off
till the next day, and SO on"
"No-- but won't"
"You had better resolve no,r-and stay
at home to-day" "No, no-that would
never do" and Charley turned and left
me.
Charley l. the hero of my sketch
was what the world called a clever, good
hearted, first rate young fellow. And he
was. If you wanted favor, Charley
would do anything in his power to ac-
comnodate you for there was not parti-
Gle of seIfshness in his composition. OF a
frank and generous disposition, he thought,
IN mlngling with the world, If he did not
conform to the habits ofthose with whom
he associated, he would be considered sci =
fish. And as drinking was quite fashion,
able among the young men of the same
age and pursuits, he naturally became ad-
dicted to the vice. We do not wish to be
understood as saying that Charley L
was incorporate. BY no means. True he
belonged to that class who occasionally
get, what is vulgarly called, spretty tight
but, taken all in all, he was young man
of remarkably steady habits, and gave fair
promise of some day being an ornament to
his country.
After parting from Charley, troubled
myself no more about HIM or the sailing
party either, thinking OF course 1t would
terminate as such affairs, where Rum flows
freely, generally do, viz: by all hand get
ting sloriously drunk, acting the fool, and
having an intolerable headache the next
day. And if it had not been for the prom
Use he had made, it should never in all hu-
man probability, have crossed my mind
again. Determining however to see what
his promise would amount to, | sauntered
out the next morning about eleven O'Clock
thinking he had by that time recovered
from the effects of the preceding days
debauch-in the expectation of meeting
him.
had not proceeded far in my ramble
however, till | was accosted by friend
who inquired if l had heard of the acct
dent.
"No," replied eagerly, "what aoci-
dent! What has happened9 Any thing
serious'"
"Serious! Yes. Charley l. is
drowned" g..
"Drownedn' I exclaimed in amaze
ment.
eyes, company of them were on a
sailing excursion and when returning the
boat was upset. and Charley, poor fellow !!
was drowned"
made no more inquiries. I knew
Charley was a good swimmer, and could,
if he had been in his sober senses, have