The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-04
From the New Englander.
TOM LONG;
OR,
The Inconveniencies Of Dissipation.
BY GEORGE w. BUNGAY.

"Will you trust me until tomorrow for
a glass Of rum?" inquired the wreck Of a
man, OF hard-hearted. hard.iaced, and
hard Listed dealer in the ardent article.
"No, Tom; 60 10 your old quarters, and
try your credit where you spend your mo.
ney. The sooner you leave my house the
better shall like it, for if you remain here,
strangers may conclude that you are one
ofmy customers"
Tom showered storm Of imprecatons
on the bald head OF Bonilace, the man who
had received hundreds of dollars from his
hands, but who now refused to trust him
for single glass ofliquor, and then direc-
ted his misguided feet TO a low porter.
house, where he met motley group OF men
and women, whose lips, unlike their boots
and shoes, were waterproof.
The crazy old rookery to which he went
looked as though it had been shaken from
sleepers to shingles with the mania-a.pOtu.
The chimney above the roof, like the Gus.
toners under it, appeared to be in danger
oftaking drop too much. The Plasterlng
fell in cakes from the smoke.stained walls
and was pulverized upon the dirty floor by
the feet Of those who irequented the cham.
ber of death.
= Behind the ricketry old counter, which
was covered with puddles of poison from
the glasses and decanters. stood bullet.
head, red faced, greasy old man, who had
grown grey at the bar-a bar where he did
not practice law nor the precepts of the
gospel.
This old sinner was thoroughly familiar
with the black letter literature of the day,
knew by heart the geography Of the "fve
points'' and the ''black sea-" was on init
mate terms with the bullies and black-legs
who migrate from cityto city, knew where
stolen goods were secreted, and was not
unacquainted with some light fingered gen.
tlemsn who stole them. He could utter
gentle streams or roaring cataracts ofoaths.
lie could tell more lies and obscene stories
than any of his associates. He was skill.
full in the art Of boxing, as many black
eyes and bleeding faces could testify. In
aword, he was great villain, accomplish
ed in all the arts OF wickedness.
Poor drunken Tom Long had seen bet.
ter times. His parents were in middling
circumstances, and gave him liberal ed.
ucation. After serving a few years as
clsrk in a mercantile house, he commenced
business on his own account, and his most
sanguine expectations were more than re.
alized. He courted and married a most
fashionable and beautiful young lady, and
the sunshine Of happiness seemed to be.
golden sky where there were no clouds to
betoken coming storms. "Thomas Long,
Esq.," as he was then called, frequently
took his wife to balls and parties, where
they unfortunately learned to love wine.
Tom became drunkard, neglected his
business, provoked his customers, lost his
credit, and was compelled to discontinue
business.
Tom, however, obtained employment as
aclerk, and continued in that situation un-
iii he exhausted the patience Of his employ
or. In spite ofthe remonstrances offriends,
tho labors Of philanthropists. and the LASH
O. Of conscience, he waxed worse and
worse, and continued drinking and sink
inR lower and lower in the ditch of degra.
dstion, until there was no hope in his ex-
pectation, no faith in his belief, and no
penitsnce in bis tears. His unhappy and