Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02
For the lpmdlam County Democrat.
LIFE,s sCENEs-No. q.

Dear, gentle reader, another year has gone dow
to the tomb of time-gone with its radiant hopes an,
events of greatness-ts sunshine and flowers its sor
rows and its tears-1ed with the harvest of a thou
sand merry hearts with the signs of the weary breast
the light of the beahng eye the laugh of the rub,
lip the music of the tuneful voice--vanished witt
prizes won from the blessed shrines of home, will
household idols now shattered and desolato, the glo
ries of human life and human things -love-jov-
grief-bttcrness and woe. And while we thus dul,
consider the great lessons taught us would fain re-
late simple scene.
My eyes were filled with tears,
And my heart was sadly stirred;
For the sound was in my ears
That in those days were heard-.fnen.
Percy Melville is the son of a gentleman long
known of Lodale, state of Vermont, a merchant
of honor and integrity. His son, the death of his
father, found himself the sole possessor of ten thou
sand dollars, and about forming his plans for life.
Not having received even the rudimens of CLASH
cal educ5tion he was somewhat dt loss for enploy-
mcn, the never-failing souTte of happiness to the
poor. Soon after This state of affairs, and Percy
known TO be the possessOr of fortune, he intro
duced to club of gentlemen about town, who readi-
" perceived that they should derive an advantage
from his society. lie was gradually initiated into
their secret meetings. due being observed not to
shock his youthful feelings with the discovery of all
cd another till Percy was the boon companion of a
GLIB Of gentlemen gamblers not that they called them
selves so, are two-hrls of their acquaintances
aware that such is the fact and to their wives and
families thought is farther from them than the
idea associated with blackleg. AT home where
they are seldom found, all is smooth and fair and
the pang, which day must inevitably scald the
hearts of their relatives, when some accident shall
spring the secret mine of their vices, | shall not
attempt to describe. Our hero is initiated, and the
chosen companion of the set chosen because he free
ly contributes to their dssipatons, and is the early
prey of their designing wilcs. web has been care
fully wound round his mind, and habit has confirmed
his belief that there is nothing worth living for but
the disspated of the opposite SEX wine, and gaming.
With fortune ample enough to endow college
and educate vrtuous family, his time and money
all spent in dcbauchcry, gambling beastly in
temperance
Nightly meetings of the club take place, where
cards and wine, with oval song, beguilc their time
till near morn, which is slept off in cvcrsh dreams.
Breakfast at ten or eleven allows few hours
else before dime at the billiard table, where bet
Of bottle of wine or a few dollars, serves TO whet
the appetite for the evenings amusement. Perhaps
short ride for the purpose of displaying elegant
equpage, should the day be fine, may serve to vary
their round of amuscmcns.
What Is life made for II not for nobler occupations
than these! Was soul given TO to be used
for the mere purposes of dissipation! Are there not
nobler, higher grades of pleasure than drinking =
Can an immortal SOUL mimi but little inferior to an
angel, be satisfied with such occupations do they
yield permanent enjoyment! Is the aching void
filled Certainly not. Shun, then, the fatal, the
gilded poison Of the mind.
But will not preach u sermon instead of por-
traying life, and must leave our cav and dissipated
bur thoughtlcss & unhappy Percy, whose whole story
is told to reap the full reward of his i'll spent
life merely casting glance at his state about the age
of forty, when you shall him, the WORKOUT de-
bauchee, walking crutches, and seeking in vaia
from the healing art, that aid which the physician
has, in every age, failed to afford, with mind no
medicine can cure, and a rooted which rclec
ton only serves to increase.
Dover, Jan'y, SO. EDMuNDo.