The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-04-15
From the New York San.l
Power of the Pledge.
By wM. oLaND BOURNE.

.As long as live,' said Eirnesf, as we
were conversing on one or two recent in,
cijents in The Temperance Reform, ! shall
never forget conversation had on par
iicalar occasion wi, one ofmy friends, and
the too painful fultilment Of my warnings
and fears
We were smiling up the Hudson River.
on one of the splendid floating palaces
which glide from ono terminus 10 anothel
of,heir CLASSY path il the majestic stream
The soi, wind Of mn autumn evening came
d.liciously across The scarcely rippled cur
rent, while the light Of tho reflected star,
ia The gentle undulaiions of tho surface.
seemed like gillering Of gems in the crys
,a blsom of the water. Along the dark
outline of the hills, the full moon rising
from its azure chamber threw broad hood
ofp'acid light on the river, and the scener,
lively as ever eve dwei, upon, attracted Us
as we snt reca!ling to mind incidents and
"reminiscences of The past.
ETaest was,-he is now mare than then
--sn enthusiastic lover Of everything that
tends to dry up the tear OF sorrow, or to
drive The cloud from the brow Of care, or 10
carry tho balm TO a single wounded heart
lie hid ever a very keen appreciation Of
the beautiful, and in high degree, Of tha,
spiritual beauty which makes the human
soul more exalted reflection of the holi
ness md beauty Of the sinless sphere be.
yond the vale Of tears. Ilc loved the
thought that there was time to come when
the elements Of strife and discord, Of wrong
and wreichedness nre 10 be known no
more; and when man. in the fullness Of q
purified worship, shall unite in song OF
universal praise to the Redeemer.
There had been pause in the converse
Ton, as we sata few minutes silently ad-
miring the loveliness Of tho scene, when he
made the remark with which our story com.
mences.
There was in the Office with me- said
he, a young man Of abou. my own nge,
who was possessed Of fine talents, and who
was Of tho most respectable connections
Ills parents were christians. They were
iahandsome circumstances; widely known,
aud highly respected. Their son, John,
had all the advantages Of fair education
and all the privileges Of the religious in.
s'ruc,ions Of his parents. lie had means,
opportunities and advantages, which, we're
they possessed by MANY others, would have
been the stepping stones TO an honorable,
perhaps distinguished position in society
ba' my friend had given away TO attrac-
tlons which led him to disregard the res.
'Iaini' Of finer religious and moral princl-
pies, and he fell into the associations Of
young men Of his own age, whom be had
me power, in a great measure, to mould to
as own will, We. he suffered himself TO be
governed by the influence Of his compan-
ions.
we were ono day speaking Of the tom
perancs reform, and Of the value of the
pledge in promoting strict observance oI
l,'principlcs, when my shopma'e answered
'Aat he did not care for the pledge; it might
aavery well for those who could not leave
ondrnking, without making slaves OF them
selves; as for himself, he could drink o.
eare Il alone, just as he pleased To this
robIscted, that the pledge had a purpose
a'tlerent from that Of slayery-it was free
com. Yes! it will make man free from
'ne worst Of tyrants--his own degrading
neppe,l,es and passions. II will free hin
from the contamination Of many vices
which find their birth in the intoxicating
oowl. II would make man conscious o.
h'sown MORA! power, and gave him strength
10 plan, his foot firmly upon principl
great and holy, from which he cannot be ST
easily moved.
"A man can have principles w'hou
signing his name TO pledge. II looks Al
'hongh man were obliged to depend upo,
a written promise, because he had no
strength 10 keep plcdge,' observed IN,
friend Morris.
That is just the case in great many
instances rejoined. "A man resolves Il