Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-05-17
THE OLD MANS LESSON.
A STORY FOR YOUNG MEN.

t'Malcom, / wouldn't go out tonight.
Come, stay with me this evening""
"Not this evening, Alice. l have
promised to meet some ofmy friends this
evening, and 1 must keep my word. l
will be at home in good season"
al had hoped that1 should have your
company this evening. Come, why
can't you try and see if 1 cannot make
you as happy as those companions whom
you are to meet? Just this once, Nal
colm o, this oncer"
'tNo, no, Alice, 1 am going OUT
What, cryingl Now what's the use of
that2 Cant a fellow 90 out once u .
while without leaving crying wife?"
81 can't help it, Malcolm-but here
Kiss me before you CO."
= Thus spoke Malcolm Warren and his
young wife. Malcolm was a young
man, twentY-seYen years Of age, and a
carpenter by trade. His wife was one
of the sweetest dispositioned girls in
town, and she made one of the best
wives. She loved her husband with
the whole energy of her pure soul, and
she knew that she was beloved in heart.
Her two children, boy and girl, Of
ten saw her shed tears when they were
alone with her, in the snug little sitting
room, and the little boy was old enough
to ask what made his mother cry, but
she dared not tell him.
Malcolm Warren owned the little cot
tage in which he lived, and he had paid
for it out of his own hard earnings,
while Alice had bourn her share of the
burden, by purchasing all the furniture.
Malcolm was stout and an excellent
workman, and he had never yet seen
the hour when he needed to lay idle for
want of work. A better-hearted youth
did not live in town, and when he took
the gentle Alice for his wife, there was
many fair maiden whose bosom gave
place to a kindly, wistful envy. They
would not have robbed Alice of her
prize, but they only hoped that their
own. lot would be as fortunate. Why,
. then, should cloud come upon that
house? Why should Alice weep? All,
for the same reason that thousands Of
our fairest daughters weep. For the
same reason that hot tears are ever cry
ing ont their silent appeals for mercy
tears that run until they make flood
that fairly shrieks as it rolls over our
land.
Malcolm Warren had high social
-nature-his society was priced by all
who could secnre it--and he had been
'indulging in the false smiles of the wine
cup. For the last year, he had been al
sowing his appetite to gain strength, at
first it was only an occasional glass;"
then ga glass or so in a while,"-and
and then zone or two glasses in day"
Butlately, he had gone so far as to spend
ais earnings away from home, and for
nearly two months past, he had spent
sail bis money with his joyial compan-
hons. His wife saw all this, and she
knew full well where it would end if it
was not stopped. She knew her hus-
bands nature, and she knew how sure
iy he was fallen. She had whispered
to him her fears, and he had tried to
laugh them off as idle whims. She had
prayed him to stop the fatal career while
yet he had strength, but he had been
offended because she could think that he
would ever become drunkard-so she
was afraid to speak all her fears. Yet
she saw with clear eye, all that was
coming. She saw the broad road upon
which her dear beloved once was trav-
cling. and her heart was aching. She
knew that even now want was staring
them in the face. 1t was autumn, and
she had asked Malcolm for money to
buy warm clothing for herself and chill
dren, and he had none to give her.
Only day before be had brought home
a bucket full of -four instead of sending
home barrel as he used to do. He