Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-08-15
A THRILLING SKETCH.

waited for no man or woman either, but
as l hurried on through dim passage,
L had a glimpse through half open door
at scene that has impressed itself on
my memory indelibly.
"Why didn't they hold me ?" were
words uttered in such an anguish, that
they thrilled in my ear when the stage
had borne me far away from the great
city and lis sins and sorrows, and de-
termined 10 fling them as an alarum on
the winds, until the statesmen and peo-
pie, mother and teacher, should set
about forging bands to held those that
follow in the footsteps of that dreadful
sufferer.
a half dozen fine looking men sur
rounded his bed, the thrifty growth of
hair on heir faces, and the glitter of jew
elry about their persons, indicated as
plainly as their haggard features and
weary eyes the order to which they be-
longed. They We're of that mysterious
order of knighthood who seemed to have
found the alchemists coveted power, or
at least to enjoy its coveted results
They live in first class hotels, wear first
class clothes, gold abounds with them,
and yet they held labor, practically at
least, in supreme contempt. | knew the
object of their care WAS one of their
number, who the nj, hit before, in a ft of
delirium trcmens, had brown himself
flom the window in the upper story of
the hotel.
He did not toss from side to side as
men do usually when a burning fever is
raging on them, for head, spine, and
limbs had all been rendered useless by
that fall; but his own frame quivered
with agony, and and from under his
matted, streaming masses of hair fell
over his face, already wan and wasted
with suffering, his eyes glared out as
iercely as wounded tigers.
"Why didn't they hold me ~ he NUT
tered; and with his groanS he mingled
reproaches and horrid curses on the care
less watchers that had let him take that
terrible leap.
"Why didn't they hold him - Why,
they did not realize the fearfulness of
the lerrors that encompassed him (; they
never had the delrium tremens-not
yet.
The fend that brandisned that naked
sword over his defencelesS head was in
visible to their eyes. They did not hear
the hiss of the serpent that coiled and
writhed their Shiny folds about his shrink
ing form. Oh no (! they did not see
them, and it was such rare sport to see
the staggering, clustering clustering
bully cover and crouch before his imag-
mary tormentors, SO they mocked, Jeer-
ed, and melted him on 10 combat with
his imaginary foes, until the window
caught his eyes as hope of escape, and
su, with yell and bound. he made
the desperate leap, and the next moment
he was taken up from amid the mire
and mud and shivered glass in the street,
shrieking and mangled wreck of nu-
manity.
Whether thai wreckless and restless
spirit has gone up to lis awful account of
mlS-spent times, or has beat out its wea-
ry life against the prison bars of a Grip
pied frame, know not. God be mer-
ciful,. and heal, if he fingers, both soul
and body,
''Why didn't they hold him % Not
those careless, heartleSs watchers Of the
other night; the demon of drink was
within him then too strong for mortal
control, but long, long ago, when he was
blithe. bright boy, as | remember him;
then his mo,her might have held hun in
the bonds OF good habits, and trained
him as she did the fragrant vines about
her door. and thus virtue might havs
reulered another home as fair as did
those clustering branches, her own sweet
/ home.
l remember that household WE'LL
The father was a man Of high standing,
filling a responsible aud respectable Of
fee. The mother, gay, indulgent, and
aiIeclionnte, surrounded by band of
rosy girls and froicking boys. Fashion
entered the holy circle first, vi n lis
baneful habits OF idleness and exIava-
gance. With it came tie custom of
drinking, because OF fog or frost, be-
cause they were merry or because they
were sad
The wind was sopn there long
years they have been reaping the whirl'
wind.
y taste for drinking rendered useful
occupations distasteGul gaming afforded
at once excitement and the promise of
living without labor. The boys drifted
OF into vagraney, the father was de- ra-
ded from his station, ani died in disgrace
and penury. The girls dropped like
cankele flowers, and God in pity took
them.
The homestead has passed into stran-
gers hands, an now the poor old no h.
cr sits alone in a confor'less cabin, he