Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-31


{" You know, Charles, we have otter
tod you that Squire johnson was ono,
very much esteemed, and might have
been great man, if he had not been
intemperate. If he had been sober
man, bis family had enjoyed the luxuries
OF life, and there had been no necessity
for him either to beg or steal. Intem-
perance did it all, my child.
:" san remember we'll when Sl;.:re
johnson drank spirits moderately, an il
any one had told him he would ever hare
become drunkard he would have hem
very angry. He is now not only drunk
ard, but thief. Let this be a war; lg
to you as long as you live, Charles, never
to get in the habit of drinking ardent
spirits. You will remember this, my
son."
Indeed, will, mother" answered
Charlie. '' don't see what men want
to get drunk for when it makes such bad
men of them"
BE always of that mind, my son !;
ana II you are ever tempted to drink,
think of Squire johnson, returned Mrs
Merwin.
1t was as Squire johnson had told Mr..
Janes-his family was indeed destitute.
Their distress had been known to but a.
lew near neighbors. For sever.l wears
the mother had teen the main support of
the family, assisted, as fares he was able
to assist her, by her oldest son, lad
about fourteen years of age.
Now the mother, worn out with sor-
row and fatigue, lay upon her couch,
unable to lift her head.
The Squire came home from the groy-
shop one evening, when the children had
eaten nothing for whole day, and one
of his daughters said to him, "We are
hungry; pa won't you get US something
Tie made her no answer, but went out,
ana acds locked up IN Mr.. Jane's cello-
1t was not the first time he had v:sitcS
it. Mr.. James lived in splendid ma, :
sion which had belonged to Squire job
son, and in which his family once dwc's.
The news of her husbands theft cou' 1
not be kept from Mrs. johnson. He told
her himself, and lefo his home never to
return-no trace Of him was ever received
by his family. Mrs. johnson died in a
few days aEter her husbands disappear
ance. The children were well cared for
the eldest boy went to live with Mr..
James.
Many years passed, and the boys whom
Charles Merwin was to have met at a
skating party, had grown to be men, AID
were engaged in business in various paris
OF the country. Some were men of inlu-
ence, some. were professional men, some
merchants, some mechanics but all did
not bear closely in mind the lesson which
Squire Johnson's exposure conveyed.
One, having delight in gay socie-
ty, IN spite of what he believed homes
intentions, firm resolves and determined
promises to himself and friends, had
learned to love the wine cup, as he loves
1T, who by its wild excitement, is lif.ed
above the plain realities of hfe-who
dWells in an atmosphere through which
rosy light is thrown around him that
stimulates the imagination to clothe with
many brilliant hues the qnick coming
fancies of crowding future first
1t dlspels the rosy light, leaves in its
stead the twilight of soberness, and then
brings on gloom, of which the ravless
gloom of deepest night is but faint
symbol.
Remorse and repentance hang to him
who emerges from this gloom. Some
times they hang not securely and some
times the victim, to escape their pancs
and his own shame, foolishly flies again
into the forget olness of an hour which
the wine cup may afford him, TO be onlv
more wretched and more desperate
each return of that gloom, from which
again he only escapes to sharper convic-
ton and more stinging remorse.
This disgraceful round one of those
boys had often taken who saw Squire
johnson bow beneath load of gilt and
shame which he did not survive. Wher'
intoxicated he was disposed to desperate
and dangerous exploits. He would be
sober, and sorrowful on account of his
disgrace, for months; then bis friends
would miss him, and when found it would
be in the midst of deepest disgrace He
had often strange and peculiar freaks
when the spell was on him.
He had been the confidential clerk in
an influential mercantile house of the citv
of Boston, but had been obliged to resign
his situation.
He had not been sober ormanv weeks.
1t was Sabbath morning, and he p-omel-
AIDED one of the principal streets of Sc
city, longing for means to procure dee =
draughts of the poison that had blasted
his prospects in life, and made him au
object of plying dread.
The church Eells had some time since
called the people to their respective places
of worship. The young man passed a
church, the doors of which were open.
The sound of the preachers voice came
to him, and, with one of his singular i'm
pulses, he entered at the principal aisle,
and, in view of the whole congregation,
walked deliberately to the pulpit, ascend
ed the steps, and, reaching out his hand,
interrupted the preacher by demanding
of him, in loud voice, Give me some
money, if you would save perishing sim
ner! must have some rum"
The scene was one of a startling and
exciting character gentlemen sprang
from their seats in all parts of the house
for the pursose of taking the sacreligious
intruder into custody; but the preacher,
.