The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-07-04

ed nature, ID enable him to work mnre vigor
! ously after it. Then again he would think tha
if he erred from the straight paths of virtue
and morality in that one glas<.' for up to thai
time he had been strictly temperate, that the
Consequences might he awful to contemplate
and his mind shuddered Us the thought passed
before it. He had, before his apprenticeship
was finished, formed an acquaintance with a
Dung man about his own age, who had been
enticed from the way of sobrety by one whom
he considered friend; he had INDUCED in
that 'one, and first glass thinking that it would
d" him no harm; but that one glass was the
cause of his ruin He was fellow appren-
tice of West, and as in duty bound served out
his time, taking good care however to conceal
from his master hi1 daily and nightly visits to
the taver,'s of the City; his room mate and
bed fellow young West was the only person
that was acquainted with his habits which h:
ehed with sorrow growing ON him, and tried
by repeated conversations to turn him away
ON the evil path in which he WAS walking !;
but it was of no avail he still persisted in his
downward career, and when he attained his
majority had become n habtual drinker. His
former master took him into his employ and
gave him regular wages, whirh were all spent
at the tavcrnS and public houses. but did not
discover his had habits until he became more
open in them, aud frequently l,f his work 10
repair to some low drinking establishment. to
querch his thirst for liquor; then and not till
then did he discover the evil way sof his form
er apprentice. He euteavured to reform him,
but in vain, and was at last constrained to dis
charge him from his employ in consequence "f
the manner in which his own interests were
neglected. From that time be went on in the
way to drunkenness and degra,latou faster
than ever, and the last time that West had seen
him he was reelng from the door of some low
gr"g shop The image of that yonng man as
he was "hen first he knew him fitted before
hi mird he thought of the strictly sober,
m 'ral and upright character which he hore at
that time, and >luddered to think of him as
he was then, a drunken vagabund an outcast
from friends and soriety.
He knew that such might be the consequen.
ce> in his case The drank tina, 'one glass; hut
could not help thinking that h. had too much
command over himself 10 allow himself to he
led IF in such manner by jut taking one
slass occasionally Thus his thoughts were
engaged until the return flis c"nlpanion whom
he II" sooner saw enter the shop smiling and
>mackins his lips at the thought of the bever.
age which he had just drank, than he resolved
if again invited, to 20 and part,ke with him,
aud to take drink now and he; know ing, as
he thought that he could command his appe-
ttr sufficiently to keep from becoming drunk
ard.
On the next day West was again invited by
his companion to 90 and drink with him. He
did not Immediately consent or decline, and
when his tiiend noticed that he was waverng
and debating in his mind whether or not ;" 90,
he redoubied his solicitations, and finally per-
suaded him to step aside from the straight path
IN which he had hitherto walked. This was the
fist instance IN which he had done SO; how
serious the consequences were the sequel will
show.
Days, weeks aud even months went by. and
from the day that West had taken his first glass,
he was unable t" restrain his thirst for liquor,
and had heen regular visitor to The neghbor-
ing public houses, Mnnson's only excepted
lie still worked steadily. however, not neglect
ing the hest Interests of his employer, but it
was plain to Il close observer. that the change
in him had been great, that from the steady,
industrious and temperate mechanic that he had
been, he was fast changing TO confirmed in
ebriatc.
Hitherto his nights had been regularly spent
at home, in company with his wife and child,
but he now l"lgrd for the vile company which
he had heen accustomed to see at the taverns,
which he WAS in the habit of frequentng and
only wanted an invitation from some one in
nrdo m ul., a
them
was approached one DAY " mag in comi G; hp
friend VIM had euticed him off, ;::serk by the
as f,llnws:
West, my fine fellow said he, 'there is to
he Jolly good company at Munsons tonight,
several ft ow< with whom you are acquainted
will be there according to promise, and what is
wanting to make US spend pleasant evening"
is in your power to supply. | mean your very
agreeable company
Tndeed,' replied West.
sYes, answered his companion, L was IN
S,ructed IT, invite you to come, which you must
he sure to do the company assemblies ut o.
clock; shall expect you ltr,
i should he glad to come, Tom,' returned
West If it was any where else, but you know
the objection have to going to Munsons.
had rather not visit at his house.
Nonsense, man, you wrong Munson, he is"
perfert gentleman every inch OF him, you have
pre,udiced yourself against him unjustly, 'fy"u
will come around will introduce you t" him,
and take my word for it, before you have been
in his company one hour. you will acknowledge
that Won have formed wrong opinion of the
man. Will you GOMEZ
Il don't know, answered West, i think II