Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-05-25
AN Eaterestina Storp.
From Arlhur's, "Ten Nights In Bar ROOM
SOWING THE WIND.

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"There was tavern here before
the Sickle and Sheaf was opened"
said 1.
ooh. yes. But it was badly kept,
and the bar-room visitors were Of the
lowest class. No respectable young
man in Cedarville. would have been
seen there. II offered no temptations
to one moving in WHY'S circle. But
the opening Of the Sickle and Sheaf,
formed n new era. Judge Hammond
himself not the purest man in the
world, / am afraid-gave his counte-
nance TO the es ablishment, and talked
of Simon Slade as an enterprising
man who ought to be encouraged
Judge Lyman and other men of posi-
ton in Cedarville, followed his exam
pie; and the bar-room Of the Sickle
and Sheaf was at once voted respecta-
BILE. At all times of the day and eve-
ming you could see the flower Of the
young men going in and out, sitting
III iIpub VI tut bhi-ibohht w s"thho ."
hand and glove with the landlord,
who from worthy miller, regarded as
well enough in his place, was suddenly
elevated into n man Of Importance,
whom the best in the village were de-
lighted to honor.
"In the beginning, Willy. went with
the tide, and, in an incredibly short
period was acquiring a fondness for
drink that startled and alarmed his
friends. In going through Slade's
open door, he entered the downward
way, and has been moving onward
with fleet footsteps ever since. The
fiery poison innamed his mind. at the
same time it dimmed his noble per-
ceptions. Fondness for mere pleasure
followed, and this led him into various
sensual indulgences. and exciting
modes Of passing the time. Every
one liked him-he was so free, so com
panionable, and so generous-and al
most every one encouraged. rather
than repressed, his dangerous prociv-
tiles. Even his father. for a time,
treated the matter lightly, as only the
flush of young life. 81 commenced
sowing my wild oats at quite an early
age" have heard him say. "He'll
cool off, and do well enough. Never
fear" But his mother was in q state
of painful alarm from the beginning.
Her truer instincts, made doubly acute
by her yearning love. perceived his
imminent danger, and in all possible
ways. did she seek to lure him from
the path in which no .-.- rn-~ir- n.
so rapid pace. Willy was always
very much attached to his mother.
and her influence over him was strong;
but in this case he regarded her fears
as chimerical. The way in which he
walked was, to him, so pleasant. and
the companions Of his journey. so de-
lightful, that he could not believe in
the prophesied evil; and when his
mother talked to him in her warning
voice. and with a sad countenance. he
smiled at her concern, and made light
of her fears.
"And so IL went on, month after
month. and year after year, until the
young mans sad declenslons were the
town talk. In order to throw his mind
into n new chanael-to awaken il pos
sible, anew and better interest in life
his father ventured upon the doubtful
experiment We spoke OF yesterday; that
of placing in his hands, and making
him an equal partner in the business OF
distilling and cotton-spinning. The dis
astrous-I might say disgraceful re-
suit, you know. The young man squan-
dered his own capital, and heavily en-
barrassed his fother.
"The effect of all this upon Mrs.
Hammond has been painful in the ex.
treme. We can only dimly imagine
the terrible suffering through which
she has passed. Her present abera'
tion was firstly visible after n long pc
riod Of sleeplessness, occasioned by
distress Of mind. Duiing the whole
two weeks, am told she did not close
her eyes; the most Of that time walk
ing the floor Of her chamber, and
weeping. Powerful anodynes, fire.
quently repeated. at length brought
relief. But, when she awole from a
prolonged period of Inconsistencies,
the brightness other reason was gone,
Since then, she has never been clearly
conscious of what was passing around
her, and well for her, have some
times thought it was, for even obscuri-
ty Of intellect is blessing in her case,
All me! always get the heart-ache
when think of her."
add not this event startle the
young man from his fatal dream, il
/ may so call his mad infatuation," i
asked.
mo. He loved his mother, and
was deeply afflicted by the calamity;
but, it seemed as if he could not stop.
Some terrible necessity appeared to
be impelling him onward. lfhe form
ed good resolutions-andI / doubt not
that he did-they were blown away
like threads of gossamer, the moment
he came within the sphere of old as.
sociations. His way to the mill was
by the Sickle and ohcaf:" and it was
not easy for him to pass there without
being drawn into the bar. either by bis
own desire for drink or through the in.
vitation of some pleasant companion,
who was lounging in front of the tav-
ern.
There may have been something
even more impelling than his love ol
drink" said |.
"What?''
Gambling"
"While he Vas yet speaking the ell
der Mr.. Hammond came in. He look
ed wretched. The redness and hu-
midity Of his eyes showed want OF
sleep, and the relaxed muscles of his
face exhausted from WEAKNESS and
suffering. He drew the person with
whom l had been talking aside, and
continued in earnest conversation with