Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-19
VOL. v.

lead him into his one fault Noble, generous
to,the the half of his kingkom highly culti-
waited, and wealthy, he nearly shipwrecked his
fortune when abroad, brother tells me, by dissi-
pation-the effect of the same warm-hearted
generous nature. 1t is but very lately that he
has seen what moral and mental ruin threat
ened him, and has resolved to gain mastery
over the temptation. | knew of it by accident
and should not tell it, even to you, only that
it may prevent his being rallied by Mr. Rush
ton or yourself. Tonight was his first trial
| saw the struggle between custom, pride, and
good resolution. If he had yielded then, he
would have become disheartened on reflection,
and, perhaps, abandoned his new life alto
gether. | cannot tell-our fate in this world
is decided by such trivial events. At anv
rate, have spared him one stroke-he will
be much stronger next time to refuse for him
| self
81 should not have dreamed of all this i
| Why thoughtt was only his Partisan galan-
try that made him join with you; but, then,
if he has once been dissipated, the case is hope
less
'Oh no, Lucy, not hopeless; when strong
Judgment is once convinced, it is the absence of
reflection, or a little more courage that ruins so
many
Excellent, excellent, cried the lively Mrs
| Moore, who came up just in time to hear lsa-
| hol-s al, . -
turned temperance lecturer. come, ladies, let
her have numerous audience, while she is
about it. All, ! know you think 10 get into
Father Mathews good graces. Shall you call
on him when he arrives, and offer your services
as assistant
I'VE were discussing the possibility of entire
reformation said Isabel, calmly, quite unmov-
ed by Mrs. Moore's covert sarcasms. 10 the la
| dies who now gathered round the lounge on
which she sat. The reformation of a man " ho
has been once incorporate, mean
| 'Oh, intempcrancc, it is 50 shockinglv vul-
gar, my DEAR quavcred forth Mrs Bradford.
the stately aunt of the hostess. How can
You talk about such things. No, TO be sure.
when man is once dissipatcd, YOU might as
well give him up. He's lost to society, that's
| certain: besides. we women have nothing to do
with it,
4 beg your pardon, my dear madam but
think we have great deal TO do, though not in
the way of assisting Father Mathew to address
| Temperance Conventions. AS Mrs Moore kindly
suggests. Moreover, | have known a confirm
ed inebriate, so supposed, to give up all his old
associations, and became useful and honorable
member of society,"
Tell us about it, please, Miss Gray urged
Emily Bradford, deeply interested. There
will be plenty of time before the gentlemen come
in
And as the request seconded by many
voices, Isabel told her simple tale.
There is no romance about it, Miss Emily
but you remember those pretty habit shirts you
admired so much last fall-and you have seen
me wear them, Mrs. Moore. They were made
BY woman lady whom first saw years
ago, when passed by vacations at Milton, a
little town not far from Harrisburg Ny aunt
Gray was very domestic, and thought it no dis
grace to the wife ofa jndge, and one Of the most
prominent men in the state, TO see after her own
household
There was a piece of linen 10 be made up
one vacation; and remember going into my
aunts room and finding her surrounded by
sleeves, gussets and bands'-cutting out and
arranging them in the most exemplary patience.
Pray aunt, why do you bother yourself with
such things!' said, for was full of boarding
school notions on the dignity of idleness. 'Why
don't you leave it for seamstress'
If you will go with me this afternoon to see
my seamstress, you will find out | should like
YOU TO see her. And that afternoon our walk
ended at plain brown house, with nothing to
relieve its unsightliness but luxuriant morn
ing-glory vine, which covered one of the lower
windows
""How is Mrs Hall to-davt" aunt said to
a dirty little fellow who was making sand pies
on the front step"
''' She's in there" was all the answer we
received as he pointed to a door on the right of
the little hail..
"'Come in said faint and feeble voice :;
and, at first could hardly see who had spoken,
the room was so shaded by the leafy curtain
which had interlaced its fragile stems over the
front window. There was neat rug carpet on
the floor; a few plain chairs, a table and bu-
reau, ranged round the room but drawn near
the window, so that the light fell directly upon
it, was a bed, covered by well-worn counter
pane, though, like everything else, it was very
neat and clean-and here, supported in a sit
ting posture by pillows was my aunt's seam
stress do not think she had been naturally
beautiful-but her features, wasted by long i'll
ness, were very delicate, and her eyes were
large, and with the briliancy you sometimes
see in consumptives, yet a look of ineXpressi-
bic sadness. She was very pale in that soft
emerald light made. by the foliage, and this was
relieved by faint hectic that, if possible, in
creased the palor. She smiled as she saw aunt,
and welcomed us both very gratefully. As she
held out her long thin hand, you could see ev-
cry blue vein distinctly. | noticed that she
wore tumble, and around her, on the bed,
"ere scauered bits of linen and sewing imple-
ments' You cannot tell how strange it SEEM
ed 10 see hert take up awristband and bend over