Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-01-31
RUNS VICTIM.
An OLD CIRCUIT RIDER,

| In the days OF my DoyhoOd, knew young maj
who was in the eighteenth year of his age, OIL
thereabouts. The healthy blood flowed in his veins
| and he bid fair to live many years. But although
nurtured by tender parents, and taught to avoid
evil practices, he mingled in evil company, and al
last he began to drink liquor His father who
kept a grog-shop, ascertaining that he drank tC
excess forbid the clerk from letting his son have
] any, on pain of being discharged. A few days af
ter this order. the young man entered his fathers
| shop. and demanded drink of brandy.
"Your father has positively forbade me letting
Won have any," said the goodnatured clerk.
Il don't care what he or you says either" shout
ed the young man; for his passion was becoming
! ungOvernabe.
you can't have any liquor from this place
sir"
Il cannot"
"Not drop"
"Then I'll have something else" and the young
man, fercely, drawing a pistol from his pocket and
presenting it at the frightened clerk.
'Gve me liquor"
an die first"
"Then de.-I'll have liquor
A report-and the clerk fell corpse on the
floor. The murderer was arrested Mad with the
effects of brandy, he ragged the more as those a.
round endeavored to pacify him. He became the
sole occupant of a dismal dungeOn-the felons
home, and too often the drunkards home. The
unfortunate youth was left alone; alone with his
own conscience, and with no eye to watch the ope-
retions of remorse, when he became sober, but the
eve of the Eternal
The awful day of his trial is at hand. He is
put upon his trial, and pleads "Not Guilty.
Counsel use every stratagem to clear him; but, af-
ter patient investigation, twelve honest and cap
able men pronounce him guilty of murder. The
Judge, with sad heart and unyielding sense of
duty, pronounces the dreadful sentence of death
IL 7 H.. I'LL i.
his dungeon-hOme, where, cut off from hope in this
world, he might prepare for eternity.
The revolving wheels of time bring the fatal
Friday; the crowds of men are gathering here and
there every pulse beating wildly. The law will
be enforced. But what grief-stricken group is this
who are vending their way to the Governors man.
sion? They are making another soulmOving APP
peal to the Governor. Seel they are kneeling at
his feet, and are pleading for the first pledge of
their early love. The wild screams of the heart
broken mother ring out clear upon the air, and
reach even the cell of their beloved son. But there
is voice far louder than the terrific wall of that
mother. Justice thunders to the officer "See tn
pardon him not. Blood for blood" Hope is fled;
all is lost
With the crowd we hasten to the prison. The
time has come to proceed to the place where the
horrible tragedy shall terminate. Behold him. 0
God! save me from a scene so overwhelmingly an
in the habiliments of the grave. His mother-his
once beloved mother--is there waiting to give him
one parting embrace. He kneels down and asks
her to forgive him for breaking her poor heart be-
coming drunkard, and consequently, murderer
Weep, we angels over a scene like this! Oh, youth
OF America be warned by his confession. 1t was !
rum that did it ALL The Sheriff proceeds to the fatal
by an agitated crowd. After
short prayer the criminal ascends the sCaff0d: the
rome and can are adjusted q short DaUsa and then /
dull heavy sound falls upon the air. and the still
ness of death comes over the assembled multitude |
Justice says, Il am satisfied" The victim was
slain. Ram aad done its work
A TRUE SKETcH-The following faithful picture
lrawn by JOhu II. Smith, Esq, associate editor of
he Wilmington Free Press, actually transpired in
,ur own city Of Raleigh. We well remember the
cries and narrowing Shrieks Of the
leart-broken mother. We stood near the gallows
IS the unfortunate victim was prepared for the IA
al drop, and warned the multitude around him to
'eware Of strong drink-the foul demon that had
reught him TO his fearful end AnXiouslv he
BOXED for, and seemed to expect the approach of
courier bearing the Governors reprieve: and
rithing under terror and suspense, he would cry
at is hard; it is hard for one so young to die
lions death! Oh! whiskey, whiskey, cursed whis-
cyl il has ruined me-, The last five minutes of
is time had Gomez the Sheriff adjusted the rope
nd death-cap; the fatal cord was cut; and poor
ADDISON johnson, hung between heaven and earth,
e disgraced and liieleSs victim of strong drink
Cd. Spirit of the Age.
THE Gail, TO PRAYER.-The Sound of Church |
the many beautiful illusions to the j
lemn and soothing sound of the "church-gong 1
H. as it rings out on the clear morning air of the
lbbath commend us to the following quaint, yet !