The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-01
T" Gou-aarn oelr 0attne Naa1D."



hear of the continued good conduct
and sobricty of Allen, who had re.
moved n few miles distant; had even
began to flatter myself that SO crafty.
ing change would be permanent, and
that my old friend, the elder, might
yet be called to rejoice over him rs
one worthy to walk in his footsteps,
when the heartstrickening rumor reach
cd me that his old habits had returned
upon him with increased power.
was unwillicg to credit so painful
n report, even though l ever doubted
the permanent continuance of his
change of habits, for did not dare,
even when the change seemed the most
complete, by sad misappIicaton of
terms to style the mere, abandonment
OF evil habits, reformation of char
acter.
was not long left in doubt as to
the truth Of the sad rumors that had
reached me. a few days after heard
the distressing news, as | sat in my
office mournfully pondering upon the
history of this unhappy man from the
early promise ofhis youth up to the
present time, a messenger wh.Ih had
been dispatched in great has c. gaIIoped
up to my gate and begged me to ride
with all speed to visit Allen Morton,
who was dangerously i'll, and required
my services without loss Of time
Without waiting to be questioned, he
rode off III the direction of old Jacob
Morton's to convey to him intelligence
of the situation Of his son. There was
terror and haste in the face of The ri.
der and feeling that the case must needs
be an urgent one, | ordered my horse
at once, and leaping into the saddle,
rode to the house of poor Allen, with
all convenient speed.
The house was some ten miles dis.
tant, and rs hurried along | could not
shake from my mind fearful fore
boding, that strong drink was in some
manner or other ut the buttomfof the
ha-ty summons had received.
When | reached the house where
arrived about dusk a fcariu! scene
met III" eye, and caused me to shud-
der Without coat or waistcoat and
barefoot, ana with his shirt torn and
bloody, Allen Morton was violcntly
struggling IN the piazza in the hands of
two negro men, who could with diff.
Guilty, prevent his escaping and doing
violence to himself. lie Was the most
frisll'iul and shocking object had be.
held in some thirty years Of practice.
t"aming at the mouth and shaking
convulsve!y, his wild and excited eye
famed with terror and rage. My first
glance at him as | aiighted at the gate
was almost enough to convince me
that he WAS beyond the reach of mcdi-
cal aid. lie WAS indeed suffering
from Il triyhttul attack of nanapotl
brought ON by his cxccsScs during tn,
last week and felt convinced that his
attack must either terminate in confirm
cd and inc,iriblc madness, or in Il spec
dy death too horrible to be witnessed.
Wits great difficulty had him
borne into the house and placed upon
his bed and employed such remedies
rs his case seemed to require. In his
madncSs he conceived violent tcal
of me, and covered aud covered his
head with his bed clothes, while his
screams and imprccations filled til,
house.
Abou, an hour after my arrival,
WAS called into an adjoining apartment
to attend to The wife Of Morton, who
had but Il few hours before been dcliv
cred OF an infant
Pale aud trembling With anxiety
the young mother lay with her intapt
clasprd with Il nervous hand TO her
breast, her breath starting mildly as
tho narrowing screams and cries of he,
husband reached her car. Her hail
lay wildly and in disorder upon her
pillow. and the quick restless turn OF
her head, her lircry eye, parchcd liz
and the almost audible beating of hcl
heart, told me that she Was the prey OF
an intense excitement that would hur
ry her into an unmanagcabIe and fata
fever, if not into commissions, unless it
could he checked at once, and her irrita
ted nervous system soothcd into quiet
Calm yourself Mrs. Morton" re-
piled ! as she started mildly abound a,
my entrance, and asked after her hus
band.
Calm yourself, and leave poor AL
len to me, am surc," and nvcrtcd
my face from her earnest and search
ing gaze IS uttered the untrulh, 81
am sure with the remedies shall en-
ploy, he will soon be cured ofhs mala
dy, and then when he secs what a love
ly infant he has to watch over, he vii
80 cstray no more. No believe me, he
will not-bless me what u beautiful
child you havcw continued raising
the connterpanc slightly SO rs to gaz(
into the face Of the little strang er ant
Il l