The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-09-14
RAvENNA, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER IA, 1853. .

Twenty-Five years prior to the opening of our
story, Harry Summers was an intelligent lad of
much promise. Gifted wife noble heart and
fine form and face, his friends predicted that, should
he live, he would form excellent stay upon
which his then widowed mother might lean in her
declining years. His education was such as the
town in which he lived afforded. At the age of
twenty he had become master of good trade.
by which he was making excellent living for
himself and mother. Unfortunately for him. the
times were not then so fully mbued with the idea
that moderate drinking leads to drunkenness as
they are now, and it was not deemed ungenteman-
~ or dangerous for young 10 indulge in
social glass, and occasionally to become somewhat
intoxicated. Young Summers was splendid sim
ger, and possessed fund of new and rich anec-
dote that always made him welcome companion
at all the sociabe meetings of the fashionable young
men in the town of w. At these meetings he
formed the habit Of drinking, and it was not till
some fifteen years prior to the scene with which
al alarm in reference to his, what were then term
ed, occasional sprees. His wife had for some time
fancied that he drank too much, and had, severol
times ventured kindly to demonstrate with him,
and warn him of the danger she felt he was court
ing. He laughed at her fears and chided her for
her anxiety, and bade her fear not. lie did not
fear, why should she? He must do as his assoc-
ates did, or else he would be deemed puritanical
ard niggardly. =-
| His payfulness and ardent attachment to her Of
ten led her to think that perhaps she was
! ad
| But as month after month passed away, and she
saw that the habit increased upon him, and that
his business neglected, and that all of his
nings were spent from home, she could not avoid
feeling uneasy; and when he became cross to her
and neglected his family, and spent at the liquor
shop and gambling saloon the money which should
have been appropriated to their wants, her fears
became fearful presence that haunted her day
and night-that robbed her cheeks of their rosy
hue, her step of its easticty-that stole the music
| from her heart and her tongue, and the Light and
peace from her hearth-stone.
When he had become SO much under the infu-
ence af liquor to neglect his business abuse his
family and find his chief delight in the pollutions
of the .coffse house, his downward course was
earfuly rapid. The approximations of friends the
demands of business the entreates of his patient,
ever kinduncomplaining wife, and the urgent wants
of his increasing family, had lost their power over
him. He seemed fully given up to life of drunk
enness and gambling. and most of his friends gave
p! him up as irrecaimabe.
Occasionally, in his less drunken hours, thoughts
of the past and its joys would within him and
torture him to madness, but the bowl would be his
| recourse, and more deeply than ever would he
plunge into life of dissipation, and thus strive
| drown what little conscience was left.
While almost every one gave him up, and ceas-
ed to struggle for his redemption. there were two
that faltered in their determination to save
him. All that the kndest attention and the mosl
devoted love could prompt, was done by his moth
ar and his wife. These two clung 10 him thought in
the eyes of the world shame and disgrace follow
ed.- They cared NOT, son, husband, was to be
loved and saved from life more terrible thar
death.
For years, amid the most cruel neglect and ir
the deepest sorrow, did these two struggle; but
time passed, hope after hope departed till despair
like death-shroud, enveloped their souls in its
coldness and gloom.
Thus year after year passed away. each one ad-
ding IFS weight of sorrow to that which had already
blanched the cheek and silvered the head of the
wife, bent the form and broken the heart of the
mother, and drawn around the daughters the 'deeI
damnation of drunkard's infamy.' And now in
small, unfurnished house, situated little off the
main street, uncared for by the vast throng tina
Iaily passed their door, the aged mother lay dy
ing.
'Tis nine O'Clock. In a low and filthy room nan
the center of the town, you will find the son. Al
day long has he been there, drinking all that wa
offered him, for he had no money 10 purchase
dram. But he was drunk, and now, side by sid'
with drunken negro, he and two others, as de
graded and beasty himself, sit playing cards.
The place, the presiding genius, the men and thu
| appliances of the room, would render it fit ante
chamber to hell. These four, at present the onl
occupants of this low sink, were intently engag
ed in game of cards, as if life and salvation de
pended upon the chances of the game. They di
not notice the approach ofa timid, half-clad girl
fifteen years. For an instant her face appeared q
. the open doorway, and then, startled at the rud
men and their bosterous language, she shran
back. The drunkards saw her not, but the ven
, der of the poison-the evil divinity of that hell
. saw her face, and half asleep as he was, it SCENE
: apparition him. He started and turned sIigh
:. y pale. Yes paradoxica as it may appear thi
rumseller of the present day turned pale and ren
bled! Whose face haG he seen? Was it the imag
: of some one whom he had murdered! 1t appear
" osain, and enters the room and in n hurried, fea
. full manner approaches the table. Still unseen
those around it, she hestates, apparently overpov
= cred by the poisonous effluva Of the room and til
wild emotions of her own heart. Beautiful, gel
q tie girl, thy presence might well resemble th
: of Mercy should she ever visit the regions of Il
81 lost Her hesitation was but for moment
= Summoning her resolution. she stepped forwar
u and placed her small, delicate hand upon the sllou
: der of one of those bloated drunkards--
y 'Father!'
'' That word, uttered by that voice, in that pac