The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-04-15


has taken step publicn!ly he has entered
into compact with others who have signed
The same instrument, and he foels the NOR
al power Of an obligation which involves
bis honor. Losing bis sense Of honor by a
public violation, he loses his sense Of self
respect, and hence proceeds one great part
Of the moral influence Of the pledge
oh, yes! that's just what | said! A mar
makes slave Of himself, when he signs o
way his liberty. believe in man being
Temperance man, but not throwing away
his liberty
'But,' said !, continuing my argument
the pledge serves another purpose-il
serves TO identify friends In the cause. A
temperance man has no reason for rot sign.
ing tho pledge, it he b one in practice
while there are strong reasons why he
should thus identify himself with the work
This combination and union makes the pow
er Of numbers and the influence Of vas
body Of men, united in The Accomplishment
Of one object gives to tho Temperance, 4,
to any other reform, its grandeur and III
energy
That replied John, is al! very well te
spout at Temperance Meetings; bu. il dom
alter my mind fraction. am IA Temper
ance man as we'll as you, and have sign
ed the pledge. Bu, for all that take q
gl,ss once iD a while with my young
friends. just TO let them see can drink 0,
let ii alone, as I choose"
looked at him, said Earnest, in aston
i.hment. ! could hardly believe him.
WHAT said shave you signed the
Plcdge?'
TO be sure have was Morris answer
'And you say you occasiona lily drink i
glass Of liquor?'
.Of course, do be said.
But, John, YOU are standing on danger
ous ground. You should never allow {
drop TO enter your lips
sOh, ho!' answered he with careless
swing Of the head and shoulders, 'neyel
fsnr for me, / can drink or not, as Ichoose
I Just do il once in while to show my
young friends that am not slave, when
they mako fun Of me for signing tht
pledge
But, John, you are not safe on thai
ground. Every time you drink you are
one step nearer your downla!l-you nr.
another degree weaker in your own mort
power--you have one more thread Of lht
cord thrown around you which will dras
you to ruin, beg you will never do SC
again.
.l'lI take care Of ihatn was his answer
You need not tell me Of going to ruin.
shalt never be in the road to drunkenness.
'Bnt,' said |. earnestly, you canno, tell
You may experiment go often TINT at lasl
the habit will be confirmed, and before yo,
are awnre e il, you may be swept away
Even supposing you have strength enough
to keep as you are, you have no right L
experiment with your moral any more thar
with your physical constitution. You may
90 Just so near the edge Of the precipice
that you will be destroyed beyond recov
cry
Don't tell me that! was the answer. Z
know better
VERY WE'LL said TO him; snow ! bes
Won TO remember this conversation Three
wears from this time will prove who was
r;oht. YOU or ]. first want TO tell you ar
anecdo,e, and we will lenve il there. A
gen,iemsn once advertised for coachman
Three men came to apply for the situation
The gentleman asked the frs, how near he
could drive to the edge Of a precipice with
ou, throwing him over. He answered, "A
foot, ant please your honor The SECOND
was called, and he answered, thinking Il
he ahead Of his rival, III drive within nr
inch, and niver hair Of your honor's head
shall be hurt The third lost his courage
on hearing this. but when he answered
very humbly, why, thin, sir, I'll be aftel
keeping as far off as i'm able'-the gentle
man told him, You're the mas for me- s.
now I say to you, 'Do not see how neal
you can drive TO the prccipice, but keep as
Ear off rs possible. II is your only safe
course. Total abstinence is your onl,
safety. Drink and you're lost'
We dropped the discussion here. But
the circumstances were deeply fixed in my
mind. John Morris was young man O
whom had formed great hopes. admir-
ed his talents, but ] deeply regretted the
influence which his associates had OBJ
,ained over him. lIe threw off the re-
s,raints ofthe Sabbath. He kept company
with young men who stood around. and j.
liquor stores on Sunday, entered in theil
designations. He was bright object ant
The adversary sought him for victim.
Time pnssed on, and the work on which
VIC were engaged being finished, We sepa
rated. We occasionally saw each othel
afterwards, and though never pressed hin
on the subject, yet felt uneasy, and de-
tcrmined to watch his course. Some three
years had measured their flight, when OF
asking for him al the office where we hat
been employed al the time Of our interview
was told that he had recently becom'
very unsteady, and great grief 10 hi
friends. Some few months atter. on ngnil
visiting the Same Office, our old employer
said 10 me
Earnest, are you going to Morris funer
alp
.What?' I said, shocked a. the question
SIS Morris dead"
.Yes; he died yesterday, md will be bur
led to-morrow.'
What wns tho matter!
sOh, he had for long time been muci
dissipnted. For six months he has scarce