The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-03-16
DON'T URGE HIM.

DUN / L IL u IL III LII
II was Saturday night. Another week Of
/ toll and anxiety had rolled away into the dark
chaSm of the Past. All over our city the din
1 of labor was hushed, and the streets were crow
/ ded with people hurrying homewards, thankful
! that the morrow was "dav of rest" We dear
| lv love Saturday night. 1t brings feeling OF
relief, consciousness that for one day, at least,
worldly cares and responsibilities can be laid a.
/ SIDE 1t brings feeling OF deep gratitude TO
/ Providence that we are very near the blessed
1 Sabbath, each one of which seetas like a brief
truce in the battle of life.
| Glad that one weeks duty was ended, we
walked slowly down the street, passing every
I few PAGES men and hoys, who with their tin DIM
ner buckets swinging lightly in their hands,
i thronged along The sidewalk 1t was just dusk.
F The stores and shops were all Illuminated, and
as we came TO the corner of Third and Vine
streets, pale, cadaverous little man was light
hing the street lamp. Lamp-lighters are curious
Cooking men-they have ghaStly, supernatur-
al appearance, and as they fit silently from
| lamp 70 lamp, one might aptly moralize upon
! their duty. We noticed, also, that the 'Ecofee
houses'' were thronged that evening. They do
a good business on Saturday night. Men who
| have been sober ali the week, are wont to drink
then. And facilities for getting drunk here
are very good We doubt whether there is a CITY
/ in the whole Union OF the same population that
has more or better patfonized grog-shops than
ours. "Cofee-houses" are on almost every cor
Iner, and two or three in each square 'sCofee-
houses,' indeed You can get everything
4 dIinkabe except coffee Call them by the old
fashioned, regular tItle-'"grog shops"--it's
more proper.
/ Well, then, every grog-shop that we passed
bad crowd about its s'bar," and the light fash
/ I'd gaily upon an array Of tempting and newly
4 filled decanters. Walking before us, there We're
three Young men-ioundry men, we Judged by
their dress As they came near a certain popu-
lar saloon, one of them said
/ 'sComp, boys. let's 90 in and take something"
'I'min," answered the Youngest ofthe party;
''come on, Bill"
/ But the man addressed as "BiIl' did not seem
willing to 90, though be glanced longngly TO-
wards the brilliant bar-room.
/ "NonsenSe! come along it's Saturday night,
yon know, +" urged his friend.
esNo, thank you, | won't drink tonight l
don't feel well.''
''But glass of old Bourbon Will do you
At this instant, the man who had accepted
/ the speakers invitation SO readily, approached
him, and whispered
/ ''Don't urge Bill; he's got a wife and family"
sBil'' did not hear him.
| "WelI,'' continued the tempter, esIf you don't
want anything, stay here until Tom and come
OUT And into the saloon they went.
! We paused few moments 10 notice the man
who had refused 10 Join his friends in social
/ glass of poison. He was young good-loobing
/ fellow, but one who had evidently seen many
! hard 'ssprpes" of drinking and carousing.-
"Now,'' we thought, ''he is trying to give up
/ his wretchpd habit, and be a sober, respectable,
nan2for "he's got "a rife and famiiy.''
! Yes, that was the mystic chain which bound
! him. il was the strong spell that hanished aleo-
1 ho with all It's terrors and lis troubles from his
( lips. He had others TO care for, now, and must
resist temptation Ii cost him All etiort-a
strong one, too There were his companions;
there was the gay saloon, the flaming decantprS.
/ He heard merriment, Jokes, and laughter. But
! then came vision OF his home: OF one whom
| be had promised to cherish, honor and love for
ever. OF little ones, perhaps, anxiousiy listen
| ing for their fathers step. He dare not yield a
| single glass, though bis old appetite pressed him
desperately. Between him and alcohol there
was but one barrier, one guard-''a scite and
tamily."
Even bis companion thought of this. He
must have known the appetite was strong and
not easily satisfied. He must have pictured to
himself the evil consequences of one Indulgence.
Else why did he whisper TO the trmpter-don't
urge him; she's got wife and family
Ifthere is any thing on earth capable of con-
trolling mans passions, il is the feeling that
helpless beings are dependent upon him. He
nav be reckless as to himself; careless of
! life even, hut for those he loves ne will be Pru-
dent and self-denyng. Not day passes but
| we see instances of this. The young man pau
sps in some rash act, not for his own sake, but
for his parents for his MOTHERS. The husband
denies himself Of old enjoymenis because bis
WIFE and children cannot participate IN them.
And he shuns deed of shame, lest disgrace
| rest upon their innocent heads.
What nerves man in action, cheers him in
toll, joins him in pleasure? What sheds halo
OF hope around bis path, and stimulates him in
every duty What more than allelse on earth,
constrans him to virtuous and honorable Patha
1t is the blessed influence of HOME, the smiles
1 of loved es,-ssthe wife and family"
Young man, you acted hero'sPart that night
the part of honor, maniness aud love. And