The Hillsborough recorder., 1855-08-15

father closed his hands as though he would
hold upon the feelings he had tried to reprcss,
and thenhe fastened on. At length lie ereacll-
ed the tavern, and here he found his compan-
ions. The laugh aud the Joke commenced,
and ere long Malcolm forgot all about his
home. He sat in the bar-r0um, and his sharp
wit made food for much merriment.
Who says there's danger in the bowl. n
cried a young man, as he raised the glass TO
his lips.
" It's the raven croak," said another Of his
companions. g Here's confusion to the
idea"
" Good I" exclaimed Malcom Warren. poi-
sing his glass. 8 Poison in the bowl, non
sense Look At old Uncle Adam. now Hes
used it ali his lifetime. and here he is, the old
est man in town. Come, here's to Uncle Adj
am -
The person to whom Malcolm had thus al
iuded was an old, white haired man. who stood
at the bar with a glass of rum in his hand
His name was Adam Stanford, and almost
ninety years had rolled over his frosted head.
His form was bent, and his limbs trembled,
and still he lived aud his mind was yet clear.
lie heard the remark which the carpenter
made, and having set down bis untouched
liquor, he turned and gazed upon the youth
tul speaker. lie knew Malcom Warren
we'll.
Macom," he said, "Come alone, for
alone would speak with you. Come"
There was something very deep and mean
ing III tie old mans voice, and as he turned
towards the door, Malcolm arose to follow.
" Detain him not, said Adam, as some of
his companions sought to hinder him.
Why should 80 with you " he asked.
To please an old man. mean to do
you no harm, Malcon, come"
Passing out ol the door they moved across
the street. Near by was the village church
yard and thither he bent his steps. Arriving
at the gate be paused. When Malcom hes
itated 10 enter, the old man said:
''Come loInw me-"
Macoln went. and soon they stood within
the village churchyard And this white
haired guide vast he sexton, who for more
than sixty years had made those beds for the
Echildrcn ofimmortality. The pale moon shed
its beams upon the place. and the chilling air
sighed mourniully among the weeping will
lows that grew by the hedge. The grave
stones stood mp like spectres among the faded
grass, and here aud there arose monument,
like some more powerful spirit tia watched
the sancitity Of the place.
Malcom Warren" spoke the old man, in
a voice so deep that ii seemed almost to come
from cne Of the neighboring graves, I" not
lcng since you pointed to Inc as an example
how long man might live who smiled upon
the wine cup. You pointed to me as one
who had Uut-iyed all his companions, and
yet as one who had always quafied at the in>
toxicating bowl. Perhaps you spoke truly.
but YOU did not speak the whole truth, for
the whole truth you did not know, and have
brought you here to whisper that truth into
your ear"
Malcom Warren gazed up into the old
mans face, and as he saw how solemn was
the expression that rested there, he forgot
the bad company lie hal left behind at lie
tavern, and his thoughts became serious.
Malcom," resumed tie scxinl, {. can look
back now inlo The pss and see score Of young
men who commenced tile trade Of life with me.
We went 10 school and We sat in church ioreill.
er. We loved 1. learn the exriiemen, Of the
Intoxicating cup, and we Thought no, then of
Tile dangers We were cunring. Years passed
on and saw lose twenty men sink into Ihc
AIMS Of death. and buried them all here. Mai
com Warren, they III sIeepin drunkards' graves
0ne after another saw them fall and al Iene,l,
was left alone Of lie parly who we're wonl 10
assemble around the bar room fiIe.
A deep groan escaped from the young man !
lips. aud a shudler ran through his frame.
"All gone - he asked.
"les--illl" Tic Ill in,n uttered, "Bul Ills
is MI half. hlalfon. ] heir wives anil children
have died, aud they, too. lie here O how well
can remember The bright eyed, laughing. low
ing girls, who used q play with Us when We
were boys And how well ran | remembeI
when ] saw them standing at The altar and
when they turned away inan The place ihey
sere blushing brides. But few short wears,
and ! began 10 g,lher them into the folds oI
: death. They sank down with broken heart.
aud crushed hopes Some Of them lived 10 b.
g,sy headed, hnl lheir gray hairs came down ID
sorrow 10 The grave See that gave; The on,
; with the d.rk gray stone. IL who sleeps be.
meath tia; niDund was once the happesl you'll
~ lie village. lie was q cIrpenief by trade
and he built the house IN which you were born
lie used 10 laugh anal sing over The wine cup
. AMI he thought moi ilien ul harm. unce hear
. lis Young wife beg him 10 remain al home viii
! her, hul he refused her the boon. She told hin
] that she was cold and hungry, aud iha, hel
children needed clothing. bot he needed her noi
A few short wears afterwards that wiie's hear
I broke and she died. aud her children died. I'll,
{ husband aud the falher found one cold nigh
{ lying BY the road side, and he wa. dead Ties,
are their graves, for buried them all together
: You ran see The wile's gtaso next beyond III,
{ gfsy stone ol the husbands, and those two Il IL
! graves are where lie Tie frozen boy aud eitI.'
; The old man drew bis sleeves across his eve
c to wipe away Tie tears. snd while lie did )
! tlalccm bowed his head, and groaned noun,
+ fully.
e "Malcom Warren lie said. there was nnc
fall e.o,,nans If .t...e ...l.l....