Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-11-04
From the Mass. Life Boat.
THE TEMPTATION.
BY MAY MEADOWS.

Look not upon the wine when it is red.-At last
it biteth like serpent and stingeth like an adder
PROVERBS.
Mary, he stands upon fearful brink, said
Edith Werner, as she clasped the hand of her
friend. 4 cannot calmly see him pursue the
downward path, without one word to check
him in his career
Why, Edith, how serious you are, said
Mary Ellis, with light laugh, what effect
would all | can say have upon him ? and be-
sides, apprehend no danger in his taking a
/ little generous wine
Hewho raises the wine-cup to his lips once,
said Edith solemnly, is in danger However
cautiously he treads that may path, he will
find singing serpent amid the flowers
Gould YOU bear to see him going the way
of theinebriate, and at last lying in the drunk
ards loathsome grave? Oh, Mary, think Sc
riously of these things before it is too late
If could see the peril you fear Edith, |
confess it would give me great sorrow; but no.
said Mary with animation 'he will never de-
base his noble intellect in inebriety. He is
too generous to crush the high hopes of his
friends; too ambitious totrample all his bright
prospects in the dust; too good she contin-
ued blushing, to destroy the happiness Of those
that love him
Are they only the weak, the unambitious,
the unoyed,' said Edith, who are laid low by
the fell destroyer Alcohol! All. no; often,
oh, how often, the young,t the lovely, the good,
fall reckessly into the fatal snares. Look at
the foulest blot on our village life to him was
once all sunshine. Ny father knew him in
his youth, as man of great promise, esteemed
and beloved; but did his bright hopes save
him from the abyss in which he lies I! o.!
Mary, delay not.-Throw all your good infu-
ence around Harry; for alas | fear you do
not realize how heedlessly he his fastening
his own destruction
Il will ponder on what You say said Mary
thoughtfuly, as she rose to accompany her
friend to the door,
1t was a Respondent evening, and the two
friends seated themselves beneath the trees,
to enjoy for a few moments its beauties. But
few words passed their lips, for the remarks
Of Edith had made deep impression on the
heart of Mary, they had left weight there
not easily removed; and Edith had no wish
to disturb the thoughtful mood, that might
result in her own and Harry's good.
Well-known, familiar voices came waited
on the still nights air to their ears, IN earnest
conversation, as two young men passed along
the street.
"Clinton do realize my situation. ltstands
with all its attendant horrors. full before me.
With what fearful weight it presses on nv
soul. But am powertess, FASCINATED spel-
bomld irrecoyerably in the wiles of the tempter.
0 GOD! that should come to this. Clinton,
YOU, the untempted know not the torture OF
this longing. this burning, Unsuitable thirst,
which nothing will appease, but the accursed
wine! GOD qrant y0u may neper kno,0 :
You say, 'be a man, shake off these horrid tet-
ters." Clinton, cannot; hare not po"er.
am rs surely, as fatally drawn as by the
hateful rattlesnake; yes, to an object twice as
hateful, twice as fearful to my soul"
Harry" said Clinton, with deep emotion,
81 pity YOU, God knows how much; but do
not, do not despair. BY all your hopes of
time and eternity, do not say You cannot re-
lease yourself from these hclish chains For
her sake, rouse yourself for Mary's sake, who
loves YOU better than life
"For her sake" sand Harry, bitterly, as he
struck his clenched hands together; what
might | be but for her. If YOU, Mary, had
uttered but one ,oord to aid me in my good
resoIve-but 10, it was vou who placed with
your own hands. the fatal glass to my lips!
1t was yow fager that pointed out thesmooth
deceitful way! vou-O. God what am | say
inom he exclaimed vebomently. "Clinton, [
believe I am mad =,
Mari had hoard enough Those dreadful
words talI like burn;ro GOALS ON her writing
heart. and She fen almost senseless into the
arms of Edith,
Oh the terrible ofthat sleepless night,
She felt an awful retribution awaiting her for
bar SIN Tbot n;abf rose before her like an
,ccusinc, anneI yber She otfared the vine-cup
to HarT2's Inns.
MAR" said he with = smile. as he waved
il from him. Il shall never arain ouaff that
dangerous beverage. Help me to be firm in
nv discrimination
The thouobtless oirl wet her Inns in the
snarklinr foam. and aran proffered it to him.
/ !