Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-01-23

mere :!
Sit down, John. and be calm. You
are III my house. Last night took Won
rom the gutter, too much intoxicated 10
helP yourself. Gou would have drowned
there III three inches of water, had not a
friendly hand been near to save YOU
Dreadful : calculated the young man,
striking his hand hard against his forehead.
while an expression of shame and ago
nlzing remorse passed over his face.
1T is, indeed, dreadful to think of. my
young friend = Mr. Gray remarked in a
sympathizing tone. How wretched YOU
must be =
'Wretched Alas sir, YOU cannot
imagine the horror of this dreadful mo-
ment. Surely | have been mad for the
past few days And enough has occurred
to drive me mad
so | should think, John. But that is
past now, and the future is still yours, and
lis bright page still unsullied by single
act of folly
Bat the past! The dreadful past.
That can never be recallcd-neycr be
atoned for Barclay replied, his counte-
nance bearing the strongest expression of
anguish and remorse. 10 think of all
have lost. To think how cruelty have
mocked the fondcst hopes, and crushed
the purest atfections-perhaps broken
loving heart by my folly. Q, sir it will
drive me madr
As The young man said this, he arose
to his feet, and commenced pacing the
room to and fro with agitated steps. Now
striking his hands against his forehead.
and now ringing them violently.
Since that accur5ed hour he resumed,
after few minutes thus spent, when |
nadly tempted myself, under the belief
that | had gained the mastery over de-
Praved appetite by an abstinence from all
kinds Of liquor for six months, have but
dim recollection Of events. do, indeed,
remember, with toierable dislinctness. that
| Went 10 claim the hand of Helen Wes-
ton, according 10 appointment. But from
the moment entered the house, all is to
me confusion or dead blank. Tell me,
then, MIR. Gray, and the Young mans
voice grew caImer-' the effect of nv
miserable conduct upon her whom love
purely and lendcrly. Let me know all,
/ ask no disguise.'
The effect, John, has been painful,
indeed. Since that dreadful night, she
has remained in 4 state Of partial delrium.
But her physician told me, yesterday, that
all her symptoms had become more favor
able.l
And how is her father, and friends p
conduct
And my sister! How is Alice ?
She keeps up with an effort. But oh,
how wreiched and broken-hearted she
looks Is it not dreadful, John, TO think,
how, by single act of folly. YOU have
Iacer2tcd the hearts that loved YOU most,
and imposed upon them burdens Of anguish,
almost TOO heavy to be borne p
1t Is dreadful dreadful? O, that /
had died, before became an accursed in
sIrumcul of evil 10 those love! But
what can do, Mr.. Gray, to atone, in some
degree, for the misery have wrought p
J Ou can do much, John, if YOU Will.
If | will, Mr.. Gray p
y es, John, if you will
There is nothing that am not ready
TO do, Mr.. Gray-eyen the cutting off of
my right hand, could ii be of any avail
You swore oil, as believe you called
it, for six months, did you not 2
Yes
Had you any desire to drink, during
that time ?
None
Sign pledge of perpetual total-absti-
nence, and YOU are safe from all future
temptations. Time will doubtless heal the
present painful wounds
And make slave of myself, Mr.
Gray. Surely | ought to have power
enough over myself TO abstain from ali in
toxicaling drinks, without binding myself
down by a written contract
That is true ; but, unfortunately, you
have not that control over yourself Your
only safety. then, lies in the pledge. Take
that, and you throw between yourself and
danger an insurmountabie barrier. You
talk about freedom and yet are slave
TO the most debasing appetite. Get free
from The influence OF that eager, Unsuitable
desire, and you are free, indeed. The
perpetual toLal-abstinence pledge will be
your declaration of independence. When
that is taken, you will be free, indeed.
And until it is taken, rest assured, that
none OF your friends will again have con-
fdence III you. For their sakes-for your
sisters sake, that peace may once more
be restored to her troubled heart--for the
sake OF her, from whose lip you dashed
the cup Of joy, sign the pledge
VIII slgu il, Mr. Gray. But name
not her whom | have SO deeply wronged.
| can never see Helen Weston again.
Time heals many wound, and closes
lnanA- 2 htaanh ny. .-nu.,1c Lrlnnd :,