The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-05-12


youth of The brightest promise stepped
confidently upwards, aud set his foot Oil
The firm earth Of manhood. lie bad educa-
,ion, talents, industry aud good principles.
Bat he was deficient in one element OF safe
lty,-he had not deeply fixed antagonlsm
toward all forms oi'inlempcrance:- Indeed.
| like the yoang man 10 whom have before
referred, he rather regarded the advocates
Of temperance as fanatics. And he was
not so much to blame on this account, for
his own father, in whom he conhded, kept
| liquors in his side board, used them himself,
md sci them out 10 mistaken hospitality
before his friends. Well, this young man
went on we'll for time; but, sad to relate,
4 change was apparent IN few years.
His frequent visits to taverns brought him
into contact with dangerous companions,
Drinking was followed by its usual conse-
qnence, ideness; and the two speedily un-
led in working his ruin.
NV friends The old man was again vs-
bly, excited, 'onc night, two years ago, J
was returning home from visit to neigh
Dor. 1t was dark, for heavy clouds fioated
above, and there were all the indications ot
| rapidly approaching storm. Presently
| lightning began 10 gleam out, aud thunder
10 roll in the distance. was, perhaps, ii
quarter Of mile from home, when the rain
came down in a fierce gust Of wind The
darkness nov was so intense, that c5ud
not see FIVE PAGES ahead; but, aided by the
| lightaing. obtained shelter beneath large
tree. | had been there ouly lew mo,
ments, when human groan came TO ms
ears, chilling my blood TO my very heart.
The next II Ssh enabled me to see, for an IN
slant, the PROSTATE form Of man. lie lay
close to my feet. ! was, for the time, par
alyzed. Al length, as fash after flash rem
dered the figure momentarlly visible, and
groan after groan stirred up humane feel
ings. spoke aloud. Bat the only answer
was that continued moan, as ii If one IN
mortal agony. drew nearer and bent
over the PROSTATE body. Then, By the
lahtnins's aid knew it too well. II was,
alas! that OF the unhappy Young man whom
have mentioned-my own son,
:! grasped him in my arms continued
he old man, in a taltering voice, after an
other pause, IN which the audience benl
forward with manifestations Of intense in
terest. 'and with a strength given at the
time. carried him home was, from the
moment of recognition, UNCONSCIOUS oi
storm and darkness. Alas! when | laid
him upon bis own bed, in his own room,
tnd looked eagerly down into bis face, thai
face was rigid in death. If am cold
water fanatic. friends, here is my apology.
Is it not sulIicieu,?'
Aud he sat down amid low murmurs Of
sympathy.
For time the silence Of expectation
reigned throughout the room. Then one
ofthe audience stood up in his seat, and
every eve was turned toward him. II was
the young man, Parker. Fixing his ewes
upon the still disturbed countenauce Of the
orator, he said slowly and distinctly:
'Yes, the apology is more thsn sufficient.
recall the words unwIseIy uttered. With
such an experience, man may well be
pardoned for enthusiasm. Thanks! my
venerable friend, not only for your rebuke.
bat for your reminscence. ! never saw
my danger as see it now; bat, like wise
| man ioresceing the evil, will hide myself,
rather than pass on, like fool, anl be pun.
ished. This night enlist in your cold wa
ter armv, and trust | will prove brave
soldier
Parker sat down, when instantly shout
wen, up that startled the far Oft, slamher
ing echoes Sturgess, yielding 10 the i'm,
pulse Of his feelings, sprung from the stage,
and grasping the young man's hand, sand,
| in voice not yet restored 10 calmness-
INV son!--born of love for this high and
holy cause; bless you! Stand firm! Be
faithful soldier! Oar enemies are named
legion; but We sha! yet prevail against
them
Here we drop the curtain of our nara
| tive. Parker. when the hour OF cool refiec
lion came, saw no reason to repent OF what
he had DONE He is now Il faithful soldier
in the cold water army.
If we knew all that some advocates OF
temperance have suffered, we might well
pardon an enthusiasm that, at times, seems
to verge on fana,icism. They have felt
the curse-they have endured the pain
Mcy know the monster vice in every phase
Of its hideous delormity. No, we need not
wonder at their enthusiasm; the wonder
should rather be, that it is not greater.
"Andrew Jackson Davis and others, propose Con
venion to the origin and inspiration OF III
Bible, at Hartford, on the s2l day of June"
There is, we see here, no Limit TO the as
surance of full blown spiritual rapper,
When man once gets inoculated with
that ism he is qualified fer almost any
mental enterprise under the sun, no matter
how obtruse, or profound, or far reaching
it may be. The ego,sm oflhe model spirit
rapper, is only equaled by his assurance
His erudlion is competent to the inves'i
CATION Of everythug in theology philosophy,
politics, &c. His unconquerable modesIy
suffers him TO stop at nothing. He is one
of the ''lools who rush in where angels fear
to tread" lie investigates so much, in
deed, that whatever Of reason and common
sense nature gave him originally, is soon
all away, and he has no other
resource left, to while away his useless life,
than to keep making noises, baby like. on
chairs and tables, with sundry other like
silly exercises that
please the grounilings and make the judicious