True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-29

"Ohl Mr.. Selvyn, how could you so
cruelty deceive us? You must have been
addicted to such courses before we knew
you. For | cannot suppose these derelic-
tions the first, and have no reason to oe-
lieve they will be the last. Your father,
too, whom l respected so highly must
speak plainly, MIR. Selvyn, in justice to my
own your father, when he sanctioned
the engagement, said you were all that the
fondest parent could desire. If my sus-
picions be correct, he must have known
his words were false"
"Spare my father, Mrs. Morris; he
spoke what he believed to be the truth"
"Then you acknowledge that you are
guilty"
"Yes--No-I have greatly erred,
Mrs. Morris, but am not wholly criminal;
for | have struggled against temptation.
How, | have wrestled with the tempter,
you can never know" lie shuddered as
he spoke-great drops Of prespiration stood
upon his brow and his lips were white as
death. ,,... ...,
"But Mr.. Selyyn, when you sought my
daughters hand, you said nothing Of this"
"To have done 50 would have been to
destroy my hopes at once. Emma Mrs.
Morris! will you listen to me, while go
back to the time when first left Cambridge
and entered on my professional career in
the City of Washington? Then it was
that became acquainted with some wild
young men, attorneys like myself, who, OBJ
tanning few briefs, had only the more time
to devote to pleasure. We became dissi-
pated and though perhaps the least so OF
any, l occasioned profound grief to my
family l promised reformation, again to
cause them the most poignant sorrow.
During some years, this was my state,
wher an excess laid me on bed of sick
ness. Reason was for time entirely de-
throned. On recovering, my physician
it was the last visit he paid me-address-
ed me in an impressive manner. His
warning words still ring in my ear. They
were :-"Young man, if you return to
your old courses you are lost ! Mark Inc
body and mind will both be destroyed.
| do not say this to alarm you unnecessa-
rily. You possess fine, nervous organi'
"a ton, that will not bear tampering with
and your only safety is in the total rennn
citation of stimulating drinks. For you
there is no middle course. You mus
either forswear the indulgence at once and
forever, or make up your mind one day tc
become the inmate of a lunatic asylum
| trembled while he spoke, and felt assur
ed of the truth of what he SAID; but how
break through the meshes which custom
had drawn around me ? He also spoke tt
my father, who soon found an oppcrtunit.
OF sending me abroad under the auspices
of an old friend Of my uucle's. This gen
tleman was of high character and grea
learning, and was besides, one of the best
t men l ever knew. He kindly consented
out of regard to my family, to be burden
ed with me, for was wretched burdel
l even to myself. 1 will pass over month
: of misery, when the sight Of glass
liquor revived in me an appetite almost to
, difficult to control, and say nothing of tn
nervous depression into which l frequent
S ly sank, feeling that fend was ever a
< my elbow, urging the guilty cup and wait
] ing to drag me down to unfathOmable mis-
$ cry. Through the kind reasoning and ter
: der forbearanCe of my invaluable fricnc
: I at length recovered; and when he LEI
s me in Germany, had but one engrossiu
| passion-that was, self-improvement. NJ
s early love for art revived, and my indu
t gent parents supplied the means for m
= long residence in Europe. Soon after
S joined my family in Cuba, whether it wi
s the enervating effect Of climate, or the al
|, sence of congenial employment, l kno
d not, but my old enemy returned, hauntin
r me like shadow. Twas afraid Of mysel
1 seemed beset by demon that was col
g stantly urging an indulgence that was
t. be my destruction. This was my stat
y when returning home from an excursiC
d in the interior, l was introduced to you
W self and family. The first glance at En-
ma decided my destiny. l felt that 81
;. was the angel, through whose purity ar
IS strength / should be enabled to triumE
IN over tho foe that had destroyed my peac