Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-10-30
1aiIg Qnlon& Ameritan
The Temptation.

Ten years had wheeled their circling flight" " an
Mary was staying with friends in far distan
state. One evening, as twilight was stealing oe
the winter landscape her friend Frank Patten. en-
tered The room where she was seated, and said.
"Cousin Mary, viii you go out tonight? Their
is to be a Temperance Lecture in St. james, deliv
cred by Mr.-well, | have forgotten, his name, bn
somebody, they say, very eloquent"
Il shall be happy to hear him. replied Mary a,
she rose and gazed from the widow She was sad
for it was the anniversary of the too well remem
bered parting, and her heart was full of the past
Tears stood in her eyes and as she looked up to the
stars, that were fast appearing in the dark frma-
ment, their long rays came down, and made those
tears part of their efulgence.
1t had been raining. and the pure drops had con
geaed in million gems of every hue, upon the trees
that swayel and cracked in the light wind A
shower of diamonds came rqstling down at every
motion, and lay strewed on the snow-ead earth.--
Every post, fence and. wall was tasseed with bril-
iant5 and the dark buildings of tie great city
were rooted with SILVER.
As they threaded their way to the entrance of the
church, Mary lifted prayer of thanlSfuness to the
Author of the beautiful that she was still able to
worship him in his works
When they entered, ii was nearly filed. A food
of light danced and gttered on the walls, and threw
long, grotesque shadows among the dim arches, and
flashed back in rainbow hues from the gorgeously
stained windows 4 low hum of voices mingled
with the musical tnkIc of the pendants, that tren-
bed on the great chandeliers foot after foot sped
up The long aisles. ... as=
Scarcely noticing the assemblsge around her,
Mary seated herself, absorbed in deep reyerie of
the past A few moments, aud then the voices were
hushed, and silence reigned. The speaker had ris-
en-.
His first words, clear and deeptoned fell with
eleetrifying power, he proclaimed himself deyo-
ted heart and SOUL to the cause for which he labor
ed. That r0ioe Well might Mary Ellis gasp for
breath; well might check, lip and brow turn TO the
hue Of death. That voice had last fallen in curse
upon her ear. No one observed her agony. They
were spe-bound by the food of eloquenee that roll
ed over them. One moment a shout from a thou
sand tongues rent the air, and hOated away among
the high arches the next the stiffness of death per-
Yaded that vast assembly. Hour after hour few by
and they needed it not Their gaze riyeted on that
speaking eye, they drank in every worda delicious
draught, though TO many, sharper than a two-edged
sword.
lie paused moment, and then recommended in
e low voice, whose mournful cadence thrilled on
every hearer.
Il feel it painful duty, yet still duty owe this
glorious cause and the young, whose interests are
very dear to me- though it almost wrings the life
blood from my heart to relate to YOU portion of
my life; for, said he in an agitated voice. Il was
not once, what you now see me- and then he told,
in fine-touched language what we already know
OF Mary, he spoke tenderIy, 0 how tenderlv, of
her loveiuess her virtues; but she said he while
tears sparkled in his soullit eyes, as he looked on
the sad, sweet faces before him, my young friends
raised the poisoned chalice to my lips, and bid me
taste thoughtlessly liile dreaming She was pIung-
ing dagger in her own bosom sowing seed that
would waste al the sweet flowers of affection. o.
how she suffered. Too late, she sought to redeem
her error; too late! TOO Iafe' She agonzed to save
me. Life was to herno more than the dying zephyr
If by its sacrifice she could snatch me from the abvss
TO which ! was fast Fastening: but tranpled on
all those sweet blossoms of her love, and because
she then refused TO LUX her fate with mine. foul
wretch, fead that l was ] cursed her to her face
0 God forgive ms said he, lifting his eyes to hea
ven; "I can never forgive myself
Tortured with remorse / drank deeper and deep
er, and with rapid strides approached nearer and
nearer the unfathomable gulf, from which there is
no escape. Not ray of light shOne down into the
dark recesses of my soul Grief. and remorse with
its baleul fires. had scared every heartsring, when
the Angel Of Death stood by my pillow. 0, the
misery, the anguish of that night A fearful ret
respect stood behind in The dark dismal past A
fearful retribution brooded over the rayess waters
of futurity. Amy joys, my hopes of this life and
the life to come rose before me, eacha bleeding ly-
ing spectre.
at is in vain. l cannot portray the horrors of
that hour. My whole existence seemed wrapped in
that brief portion Of time l felt the breath OF the
death-angel on my cheek-his icy hand on my brow.
Was there no escape? I shrieked in my agony. /
vowed, if God would spare my life not one drop of
the aceursed poison should ever again moisten my
lips. Ny ali-mercifm Father heard the prayer Of
his ,rreicted child. Years have fed, and, by the
help of God have kept and will still keep that
vow. But Mary" and his voice again sunk almost
to sob, where is she? Perhaps long ago laid in
the grave onged-for place of rest or perhaps she
lives remembering that night but as dismal dream
and the being who cursed her, but with loathing."
lie ceased, when wild cry pierced the silence,
and smotc many stout heart with fear, and Mary
Ellis forgetu Of all the glorious being before
her, like one risen from the dead flew up the aisle
with the speed Of an arrow, and one moment more
was clasped in. the arms Of Harry Clare. a.s
Sobs and tears swept over that concourse of hu-
man hearts, and bowed was many head in humble
penitence.
Many poor inebriate who came to scof, went
to his miserable home with burning hope strug-
Cling for life--for dominion.
Many young man, who looked first on that
| speaker but to sneer, vowed to Danish the social
glass forever Many lovely girl, who had eonsd-
cred it beyond the sphere of woman to engage in
the cause of temperance now pledged her heart and
hand to the noble work
Daughters Of New England! Daughters of our
favored land! go and do likewise There is work
/ ror ,,,,, oil Gov not az cam do NOTHING Your