The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-04-05
For he Port Gibson RsrsiRs.
a Sketch.
BY ToINETTE.


A tablet ofunutterable thoughts were traced.1
" Ny dear madam, il I am not impcrtinent
pray inform me the cause Of your grief.
have felt the tenderest sympathy fnr you in
your apparent distress. and would be too hap.
py, could l afford any relief" Thus spoke
an elegant-looking midlle-aged man, to an
Interesting, beautiful woman, who sat wrap
ped in the deepest gloom, the tears coursins
each other down her cheeks. The gentleman
spoke in tones Of sincerity. She looked up
thanked him for lis soliciiudc. and. encour.
aged by his kindness. freely condded to him
her SORROWS.
Sir, | have an only child. young man
Of eighteen. and my sole object in life has been
TO rear him according 10 the striciest princi.
pies Of honor and morality. Ihaye given him
an accomplished education, and every feeling
Of my heart, aud every thought Of my mind,
has been devoted 10 his pleasure and happi-
ness. lie was a noble youth. and promised
happy return for my laborand love. A year
ago. gave him the scanty pittance which |
had boarded through years Of hardship and
selfdcnial, and sent lin forth on his first er-
rand Of manly du'y, to carve ont his own fu-
ture. With promises of iaithfulncss, he left
ne; and Oh how my heart quickcned with
proud and happy emotions, as his graceful
form bounded of, waving me an adieu -
God be with him. feryeutly prayed, for full
we'll l knew the temptations aud evils that
would beset him; and which, to a youthful
mind, nothing but the EXTREMIST watehsulness
could Withstand.
Days. weeks. months passed mournfnlly
away, aud not word did hear from ms lost
child. Il were needless TO say that my cup
Of sorrow was drunk 10 tic dregs. I hal no
tidings of my son until a week ago, aud here
in this letter have fall confession Of hi,
sins--how he was mi,lcd and deceived, first
into game Of cards. which only ended vita
the last cent I had given him and. in fl Of
desperation. how he hal mad'y drained the
wine cup. lis poor mothers prayers were
heard 4 moment oe reflection came, aud
my loved one repcntel, and returned to the
path Of duty and love and now, thrice dear
is lie to me, that he has passed through this
f,ry ordeal. ren1thened with wisdom for a
future course. weep because my boy has
suffered 50 severely. and weep, too, for joy at
ihs victory he has gained over the world aud
himself"
When the willow ceased speaking, she
looked towards her companion, and found his
iace buried in hi, hands. and weeping bitter
II. When he could command himself suii-
eiently to speak, he replied:
PITY and forgive ne, madam was the
cause of your sons ruin. and Of your own IN
happiness! Itcmpted him 10 the card-tiLc,
aud airociously robbed the un-uspeciing boy
Of his an Ioferel the poisonous bowl which
has wrought his DOWNFALL All how many
mothers have I alone made wretched but
could never realize the wrong, until behcld
your erief.tricken countenance, and heard
vour sirrowful story. l. repentance, the iru.
est aud deepest. can atone for il; il iorsaking
tie vices. aud humbly begging forgiveness
can obtain pardon, now oasr it. May thi.
arm fail powerless if it IS ever raised to throw
another card. and this tongue become his
sing serpent, if it ever again tastes the cup
which has made, at my instiga.ion, 50 many
fa,es cherries. and so many hearts desolate
May God forgive me. IIenccforth, | viii en-
aoavor 10 undo all that l have done, aud shall
not sleep peacefully until my task is accom-
pli,hed, and have reformed the characters
that have tarnislcd." :"
Unfortunately, how few there are willing
70 make such a confession, and such amends
And alas how many who are going aboal
Ike rayenous wolves in mems clothing, seek
inc whom they may devour aud instead o.
shielding the unwary embryo man from tho
dangers which surround him. but lead him OF
d The destructive pitfalls in his path Of lie
and rejoice at, or profit By, his ruin Wher'
Is the phiIanthrOpis;. aud what Is hIs duiy
wba. object more worthy and what missor
moro benevolent, then one which oxeris a re
straining ami saving influence over the way
ward young map!
} Tur Pnoonrss-" How | travel !. sll' J.