Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-11-04

somebody's scrapes and making part and
parcel in every piece of mischief that was
going on
With all this promised. there is no need
to say that Harry was special favorite
with the ladies' in truth. it was a con-
fessed fact among his acquaintance that
whereas dozens of credible, respectable
well to do young men, might besiege te
male hearts with all proper formality.
waiting at the gates, and watching at the
I posts of the doors in vain, yet before him
+ all gates and passages seemed to fly open
of their own accord nevertheless there
was In his native village one quiet maiden,
who only held in her hand the key that
could unlock his heart in return, and car
ried silently in her heart the spell that
could fetter that brilliant restless spirit ;
and she it was of the thoughtful brow and
I down-cast eyes who we saw III our picture
J bending over the letter with his mother.
That mother Harry loved to idolatry.
I She was to his mind an impersonifcation
of all that was lovely in womanhood, hal
1 sorrow. and his love for her was a beauti-
/ ful union of protective tenderness, with
veneration, and to his Ellen it seemed the
! best and most sacred evidence of the no
bleness Of his nature, and Of the worth of
the heart which he had pledged to her.
Nevertheless. there was danger over
hanging the heads of the three little
cloud, no bigger than mans hand. rising
in the horizon of their hopes, yet destin-
ed TO burst upon them dark and dreadful
in a future day.
: In those scenes of college where Harry
I had been so indispensable. the bright po-
etic wine cup had freely circulated, and
/ often amid the fash of conversation and
/ the genial excitement of the hour. be had
drank freer and deeper than was best.
He said, it is true. that he cared moth
ing for 1t, that it was nothing to him. that
it never affected him. and all those things
that young men always say. when the cup
Of Circe is beginning its work with them
Friends were annoyed. became anxious,
demonstrated. but he laughed at their
fears, and insisted on knowing himself
best At last with a sudden start and
shiver of his mortal nature. he awoze to
a dreadful perception of his danger. and
resolved OH decided and determinate re-
sistance During this period he came to
[ Cincinnati to establish himself IN bust
ness, and as at this time the temperance
reformation was in the full tide Of success
there he found every thing to strengthen
his resolution temperance meetings and
speeches were all the mode-youug men
of the first standing were its patrons and
( supporters wine WAS quite in tie voca-
tive and seemed really III danger of being
voted out Of society In such a turn of
affairs to seize temperance pledge and
keep it became an easy thing temptation
was scarce presented or felt, he was offer
ed the glass in no circle, met its attrac-
tiou no where and 6attered himself that
he had escaped so great danger so east
~ and so completely.
His usual fortune Of social popularity
followed hun. aud his visiting circle be
came full as large. and importunate as a
young man with anything else to do need
desire He was delighted in his appii-
cation to business. began to be mentioned
with appreciation by the magnates as d
rising young man, and had prospects dai-
ly nearing Of competence and home, and
all that man desires visions, alas, never
TO be realized
For after while, the tide that had ris.
EN- SO high, began imperceptibly. to de-
cline Men that had made eloquent
speeches on temperance had now other
things to look to fastidious persons tho't
that matters had been carried too far. and
, ladies declared that it was old and thread
bare and getting to be cant and snuff. and
the ever ready wine cup was gliding back
into many circles, as If on sober second
thoughts the community was convinced
that it was friend unjustly belied.
- g
f form either in communities or indlvIdu
ais so dangerous as that where danger
seems entirely past As long as man
, thinks his health failing, he watches, be
5 diets and will undergo the most heroic
; self denial but let him once set himself
= down as cured aud how readily does hC
I fall back to one soft iudulgeut habit after
another, all tending to ruin every thing
that he has done before.
2 So in communities let intemperanct
rage aud young men 90 To ruin by dozens
: aud the very evil inspires the remedy
but when the trumpet has been sounded
and the battle set in array, the victory on
] ly said and sung in speeches and newspa
1 per paragraphs, and temperance odes anc
t professions. then comes the return wave
: people cry enough, tue community vastly
; satisfied. lies down to sleep on its laurels
5 and then comes tie hour Of danger
: But let not the man. who has once beer
swept down the stream of intemperanct
almost to the verge of ruin, dream Of any
point of security for him. He IS hk,
one who has awakened Ia tue rapids O
| Niagara, and with straining oar anC
mild prayers to heaven, forced bis boa
r upward Into smoother water, where tht
! drift of the current seems to cease. auC
] tie banks smile and all looks beautiful
E aud weary from rowing, lays by his oar.
2 to rest and dream he knows not that uu
r der that smooth water stIll glides a cur
rent that while he dreams, Is impercepti
: bly, but surely hurrying him back whenc'
5 there Is no return
= Harry was just in this perilous point
t he viewed danger as long past. his self
: confidence was fully restored, and in hi
security, he began to neglect those light