The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-07-19

out. And they gathered around bis couch
to witness the departure of his pure SOU
to the eternal world.
They were, however, soon happily dis
appointed. After having lain for some
time in an apparently lifeless condition, the
dim spark of life slowly revived-his fe-
yer abated, and he began, moderately, tc
recover.
His physician, though anaged and skill
full man, was one of that class who seem
to think nothing so well adapted to streng'
then a convalescent person as some stimu
lating liquor. Accordingly he ordered
Edward to drink a small quantity of wine
every day, increasing the draught as he
became stronger. After several weeks
Edward was sufficiently recovered to be
removed home and soon SO strong as to
be permitted to visit bis dear Lille at bel
home and in the course of few months
as well as ever.
He did not, however, deem it expedient
to return to college, but completed the
course at home, and received his diploma
He then entered the Office of competent
lawyer in the same village where Lille re.
sided, and commenced the study of the
law. As might be expected, much of his
leisure time was spent with Lille in ram
bling through the verdant groves, and
strolling along stream. All went well.
They were as happy as two could be. And
if they ever wished for anything it was
only that the time would soon come when
they should stand at the hymenial altar,
and be bound by the bonds of wedlock.
But all this time storm was gathering
in Edwards breast which was not only
forever to ruin his happiness, but to mar
the comfort of all his friends, destroy the
peace of lovely Lille. The appetite for
strong drink had been awakened by what
the doctor had prescribed while he was re-
covering from illness, and administered to
the taste until he fell into the habitual use
of intoxicating liquors Then his study
was not only crowded with massy piles of
books, but contained bottles of the best
champagne, the most sparkling cherry,
and the choicest wines. He soon became
acquainted with new circle of friends !;
his appetite for drink at the same time in
creasing. He became profane, and finally
adesperate gambler. Frequently, when the
dark mantle of night was thrown over earth,
earth, and the church clock was tolling the
Of midnight, might the once noble Edward
be seen seated with his companions around
the card table, or lying on the floor beastly
drunk. His attachment for Lille had
much decreased. His warm and frequent
letters to his mother and sister had become
less frequent. But the cause was soon
evident to them. TO their great sorrow
they heard he Lad become drunkard and
his own department confirmed the rumor.
Once Or twice he had called upon Lille
while intoxicated She breathed too heav-
emily an atmosphere to be contaminated by
a drunkard's s breath. Her strong affection
for him which, like all true woman's love,
can never die, induced her to labor for his
restoration to virtue; and she did labor
she entreated him with all the feryency Of
female affection. On her knees before
him, with her eyes streaming with tears,
she bcsought him, for Gods sake, for his
own, for her sake, and the regard he had
for his friends, to renounce the disgrace
full course he was pursuing. Edward was
deeply affected. He made a solemn re-
solvc-he made strong efort-but alas
the taste was too deeply impregnated and
predominated Evil companions, too,
stood on every side, to drag him still deep,
er into vice. He finally bid adieu to vir-
tue-and lost to all sense of honor, un-
moved by the enteates of his loving
mother and afiectionate sister, and regard
less of the tears of his once loved and
cherished Lille, he pressed madly on il
vice. His noble and exalted intellect be
came but a barren wreck to float fora shor
time on the broad ocean of earthly exis
tence, and then be swallowed up in the
mplstrom of everlasting destruction.
But we will follow him no farther. Suf
fee it to say he went rapidly down, and
we fear, alas reached the end of his
course The drunkard' graue!
After Lille had seen all hope of reform
in Edward was vain, she could no longer
remain in the same village with him; ac'
cordingly she left to visit some relatives
at distance. She had loved him as none
but woman could love; and now, that he
was absent she could not Danish him from
her mind. She could have survived the
shock of his death, but the thought that
he was drunkard, and disagraced vaga-
bond was insupportable.
She passed many sleepless and weeping
nights, tossing her head restlessly on her
pillow in the most heartfelt grief. A dark
cloud of gloom continually overshadowed
her countenance, which neither the kind
ness nor ingenuity of her friends could
dispel. Atlength her slender constitution
began to give way, and, in few months, a
puImonic disease swept her from earth.
Thus fearful were the effects. The un-
conscious physician had been the cause Of
all. Better far would it have been had he
admin stored the most deadly poison--and
killed the. patient. Edward would then
have died an honorable death, and left a
name that would have been cherished by
all who knew him, and a character untarn-
ished by vice. The physician would not
then have caused pang of grief in the
hearts of Edwards friends, that will never
be healed, or brought to premature grave
as noble and lovely being as evergraced
the human form.