Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1853-11-10

drank in every word As delicious draft,
though 70 many, sharper than tEs edged
sword.
He paused nonsnt ssd then recon-
nsneed IN low vsice, whose neurnful Ca
dsAee thrilled every nearer
feel i my psinfHl duty, jet sill q duty
! eve to this glorious cause ana the ybaae.
whose interests are very dear to ne, thoueh
i almost Wrip9s the life bleed from nv
heart to relat6 T. yeua portion Of my life !;
fer said be in an agitated voice. I was nst
ente what you now see me- and then he
dy know
OF Mary, he spoke tendsrly, o hsw ten
aerly Of her loveliness, her virtues bat
she, said he, while tears sParkled il his
ssu..it eyes, Is he looked on the sad, sweet
faces before hin, my young friend raised
the poisoned chalice 70 ny lips, and BID me
: t.s,s- theeei.ti.s.s. 49, Sn.nirs ..tlin1zs
Piunging dagger IN her 0Rn bosom sewing
seed that would waste all the sweet flowers
Of affection; o, how she suffered Toe late
she sought to redeem her error. Shsago-
nizsd to save me Life was to her no mere
than the dying zephyr, if by its sacrifice,
abe should; snatch me from the abyss to
which was fast fastening bat trampled
on all those sweet blossoms Of her love, and
because she refused to link her fate with
mine, afeul wretch, fend that was, | cursed
her to her face. 0, God forgive me- said
he, lifting his eyes to heaven; / can
never forgive myself
Tortured with remose, I drank deeper
and deeper, and with rapid strides approaeh.
ed nearer and nearer the unfathom able sulf
from which there is no escape Ne ray Of
light shone down into the dark recess "a nv
seul. Grief and remorse, With their baleful
fires had scared every hsartstring, when the
angel Of death stood at my pillow. Oh.the
misery, the anguish of that night A fear.
ful retrospect stood behind in the dark and
dismal past A fearful retribution brooded
over the rayless waters Of futurity AlIlmy
joys, my hopes Of this life and the life to
come, rsse before me-each bleeding, Idy-
ing spectre
1t is vain. I cannst portray the her
rOrs Of that kour My whsle existence
seemed wrapped in that brief portion Of
time. / felt the breath Of the death angel
en- my cheek-his icy hand On my brow. =
Was there no escape9 / shrieked in my
agony | vowed if God would spare my
ffo, not one drop Of the accursea poison
should ever again mois en- my lips My all.
merciful father heard the prayer Of his
wretched child Years have fed, and by
the help Of Gsd have kept and will :on-
tinue to keep that vow. But Mary, and
his voice again sunk alnest to sob, Soh
where is she : Perhaps long ago laid in her
graye-a longsd fer place Of rest-or per
haps she lives, remembering that night but
as dismal dream, and the being who
cursed her, bat with leathing.'
lie ceased, when wild cry pierced the
ear eaT--'a6rdf 1 dsR9te many stou. heart With
the glorious being before her, like one risen
from the dead, flew up the aisle with the
speed Of an arrow, and in one moment more
was clasped in the arms Of Harry Clare.
Sobs and tears swept over that conceurse
Of human hearts, and bowed was many
head in humble penitencc.
Manga poor inebriate. who came to scot,
went to his miserable home with a burning
hope struggling for life-fsr dominion.
Many young man, who looked 6rst on
that speaker but to sheer, vowed to bauish
the social glass forever Many lovely girl,
who had considered it beyond the sphere Of
woman to engage in TEN perance, now pledged
her heart and hand to the noble werk 4
Daughters Of New England Daughters
Of cur favored land ! 90 and do likewise !
There is work for you all Say not i can
do nothing A little lea7en leaveneth the
whsle lamp. Your good influence will cir,
Gle on forever and forever
Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, pnd
levers labcr--ccase not rest not, until the
hydra-headed monster lies dead at your fact
Let him know that he who converteth the
sinner from the error Of his ways shall save
a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude
Of sins