New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-27
GLIMPSES BY THE WAYSIDE.

The stage-horn was ringing in my ear its warning
thst like time AID tide it waited for no man or wo-
man either but as I hurried on through dim pss-
sage had glimpse through half open door at
scene that has impressed itself on my memory
indelibly.
"Wby didn't they hold me, were words uttered in
such ire and anguish, that they thrilled in my ear
when the stage had borne me far away from that
great city and its sins and sorows, and determined
To fling them alarum on the winds, until states
man ana people, mother and teacher, should set about
forging bapcs 10 hold those that follow in the foot
steps of that dreadful sufferer. halt dozen fine
locking men surrounded bis bed, the thrifty growth
of hair on their faces and the glitter OF eweiry about
their persons indicated as plainly as their hsggsrd
features and wary eyes the order to which they BE-
lorged. They were OF that mysterious order OF
kDiph hood who seem 10 have found the aIchemlsts
coveted power or at least to enjoy its coveted no
suits They live in frst.clzss hotels wear hrst-class
clothes, gold abounds with Them and yet they hold
labor, practically at least in supreme contempt.
knew u object OF their care was one OF their num-
Der, who the night before, in tit of delriu tre-
me ns had thrown bmself from the window in the
urgee story of tho hotel He did not toss from side
TO side as men do usually when burning fever RACES
on them, for head spine limbs had all been rendered
useless by that AL; bat his whole frame quigered
with agony, and from underneath the matted, steam
In mssses of hair that fell bis face, already wan
and wasted with suffering, bis eyes glared out ercey
as q wouI ded tigers.
"Why didn't they hold ME p he mutteredi and
with his groans he mingled roproaches and horid
curses on the careless watchers that had let him make
that terrible leap.
Why didn't they hold him Why they did not
aze the fesruDess Of the terror that enconpessed
him they have never had delirum tremens-not
yet. TIE feDd that brandished that naked sword
over his deenieless head was invisible to their eyes.
They did not hear the hiss Of the serpens that coed
and writbed their slimy folds about his shrinking
form. Oh no they did not see them, and twas such
rare sport to that staggering, clustering bully
cover and crouch before bis imaginary tormenters
So they Knocked and jeered, and melted him on TO
combat with his phantom foes, until the window
caught his eye as hope for escape, and 30, with
yell and bound, he made that desperate leap, and
the next moment there was taken up from amid the
mire and blood and shivered glass in the street,
briekDg and mangled wreck Of humanity.
Whether that reckless anc restless spirit has gone
up s awful account Of misspent time, or has yet TO
beat out its w airy life sgaint the prisonbar Of Grip
pied frame, know not. God be merciful. and heal,
if be fingers, both soul and body. Why did MT they
hold hint Not thoee careless hesrtless watchers Of
the other night the demon of drink was In him then
too strong for mortal control but long, long ago,
when be was bhtbe bright boy, a. remember bin,
then his mother might have held him in the bonds Of
good habits and trained him she did those fragrant
vines about her door and his virtues might have rem
dered another home as fair a. did those clustering
branches her own sweet cottage. ! remember that
household well. The father was Q Of high stand
Ing filing responsible and respectable Office The
mother, gay, indaIgent and sfsctonste, surrounded
by band Of rosy girls and rolIickDg boys Fashion
entered the holy circle rss With its bsnefal habits Of
ideness and extravaganza. With 1t came the custom
Of drinking became Of fog or Of fost because they
were merry or because they we're sad. The wind was
sown there; long years they have been resping the
whnlwind.
tsste for drinking rendered useful occupation die
tasteful gaming aoi ded at once excitement and the
promise Of living without labor. Tho boys drited
of into vsgrsncy, the father Was degraded from his
station and died in Disgrace and perjury. The girls
dropped like caDkered flowers and God, in pity, took
them. The Homestead has passed into ctr ansers hsods
and now the poor old mother sits alone in comfort
less cabin, beside the same stream which roheo "
the home Of her early happiness, and doubtless -
wsnders BY 1t often whispers Of the tine when enc
might have held them all beck BY her counsel ana
example from their ruin.
Whv did thew not bold him long, long ago, when q
escbsble trustul boy the nobest Of the group that
PLAYED in the grand old forest shade that sheltered our
lowly school house,
We were encompsssed With noble sssociations-the
Cumberland range lifted ito buepesks in the distance
and the winds bore the anthem Of its great cataract
An old fort was molderpg in ruins Decide u.s. and the
church and graveyard were close by. The teacher
often bsde Us heed how many fsds cbidrenS graves
were there and tod thrilling legends Of the Indians
and old pioneers who slumber now so dreamless in
their rest Why did be not tell ne We had all better Gil
little graves than grow up to manhood and be walk.
Ing pestilence In society," Why did they not tel ~
hst our fathers who 80 brsvsly defended this fort,