The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-05-13
A Sketch.


bright astral lamps reflected golden
rays upon flowers Of dazzling beauty!
-Ottomans and divans of the most ex
quisite workmanship, were arraigned
with unequaled taste, on which were
seated groups of the fair and the
brave, willing away the hours in ami
mated conversation, or in various fash
ionable amusementS. kI} GtLi
Partly concealed by screen, is
group we heard not, yet observed it
consists of a gentleman and lady, both
of exquisite beauty, but Of a different
kind. She was fair and slender girl
Of sweet eighteen, her auburn curls
flowed in graceful profusion, over a
neck Of snowy whiteness, and her pol
ished brow, and deep blue eyes, re-
Aected a mind Of superior beauty.
The gentleman was tall, command
ing in form, and his intellectual fore
head was shaded by locks that might
have We'd with the ravens wing, and
his dark flashing eyes spoke of proud
unconquerable soul within.
They were specimens of the skill of
nature as an artist. Music, by unseen
musicians, greets the ear. The lady
advanced to table, and taking a glass
filed with bright and sparkling liquid,
presented it to her companion, which
he received with gracious smile, and
drank its contents, then stepping light
ly forward, they were soon lost in the
gay dance. ~
Time flies swiftly, and again beauty
and fashion have assembled for recre-
alton, but we will not enter this gay
scene, for the voice of mercy calls me
to far different sphere; she leads me
to a cottage in the distant part of the
city; even before we enter, we shud-
der at the degradation ofits occupants,
which was plainly depicted in the weed
grown garden, and shattered windows,
which told that all attention to comfort,
had long since banished.
But if the desolate appearance of
the exterior excited our sympathy, who .
can describe our feelinaS on enterinaa
dhsse vas aiSlshti9s 'a0sehcs of every
ching that contributed to comfort or
happiness. Upon our first entering,
we were unable to distinguish by sight,
the presence Of any object, but our
ears caught sound, which must ever
act on a humane heart, with untold
force, awakening its most dormant en-
ergies. 1t was the voice of one in ex-
treme distress. We advanced, for we
had become more accustomed to the
darkness in this abode of misery.
Lying, not upon couch, but upon
an apology for one in the form Of a
few handlulls of straw, upon which a
filthy blanket was thrown, was the OBJ
ject of our search, seated by his side
was one, who seemed weighed down
with the cares and sorrows of many
years, causing her once bright and
waving hair, to become prematureIy
gray, and her form once of symmetri.
cal beauty, now bowed with care and
disease, and naught was left of her for
mer beauty, but her expressive eyes.
But the miserable occupant of that
miserable couch, retained no traces of
his former greatness, his damp hair
hung in matted locks, shading his once
beautiful forehead, and naUght was
there remaining, which possessed suf-
fcient power to inform the beholder
that this degraded being was once the
talented Herbert Franklin and his COM
panion, the once lovely EIenora Dur
relle, who by uniting her fate with his,
had shared his misery
Perhaps you wish to knowthe cause
of this sad wreck of human greatness?
Go back with me into the past ten
years, and again enter that mansion
of pleasure, mark that beautiful girl as