Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-01-26
MISCELLA
An Impressive Lesson.

Will the Editors of the lntelllgencer
obllse one of their oldest subscribers by al
loving the enclosed (from the Boston o.
I've Branch) place in their paper?
THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE.
Zone glass;" said sweet voice "take
lust one glass with me-" said the speaker,
a dark eyed g.rl, looking Overwhelmingly at
her companion and gracefully profering
him goblet. flushed with the rosy wine.
They were sitting at richly. laden din
ner table, and the choice liquors. which
for many years had mellowed in the hosts
celler, were circulating freely. Ladies and
gentlemen, the young aud the old, even lit
tie children, were drinking at that grand
Christmas feast. OF all the merry compa.
ny gathered there only one abstaiaed from
the in:ox ica,ing bowl, and that was he TO
whom these winning words OF persuasion
were so musicalIy aaressed.
lie glanced around at the guests who
were watching him, and replied firmly, but
gently.
no thank you; nsrer drink wine."
This was NOBLE language loI him. and
proved that he was not destitute of that
moral courage which leads its possessor to
brave any thing rather than make sacrl-
flee of pure and lofty principles. But nobody
appreciated the deed. Many gazed at him
in astonishment, aud the lady's lips curled
with an expression that told plainly
enough how seldom the slightest wish was
thwalied.
"You surely will not refuse me SO small
e, ~ oh cd in hal
proud and naughty.
"Ask any thing but this" Was the re-
ply in low tone, which was only audible
to he: for whom the answer was IN
tended. "My father died drunkard, and
over his grave made solemn promise
that would never taste the poison that ru.
ined him."
"Bus GU are too particular. +" rejoined
the light-hearted girl; "you can drink
moderately without any danger. For my
sake, now, take this" and she again hello
up the sparkling Madeira.
For moment there =" as terrible con-
fict in the young mans soul; duty. long
established habits, and desire to win the
regard of the templress waged stern ware
fare. But at length the latter conquered,
and he drank the first glass Of pine.
Do you say it was harmless act, read
er? 1t was the fist step in path which
ended in woes that no pen of ours can de-
scribe the gem of a harvest OF misery,
which he reaped ere time had sllvered his
hair OF measured out half the span allolted
10 mortalS
A year after that hour of trial he stood
at the alter with the fair girl who had
throw around him the spell ofinebrat'on
She was pronounced his bride; and when
friends crowded around them to offer con-
gra,uIations his cheek wore the flush, his
eyes the fatal brlliancy which the red
wine had kindled. But his hopes were
bright; he was gifted and wealthy. and
none prophesied that his star would soon
set OF be obscured in fast gathering clouds
Time went on, and he drank daily with
his brother lawyers insplendid saloons and
at his own feast board. Fortune yet smil-
ed business Increased, honors and wealth
poured IN upon him; But there were those
who marked in the meteorc brightness OF
his intellect and the expression o! his coun-
teLance tia. perncious practice which vas
yet to prove the curse of his life. Years
again rolled away, and his affairs began to
assume changed aspect. He had grown
neglected. of his profession, and his OLD eli.
EMS had lost their confidence in his ability.
Half his estate had been sold, his library
mortgage d, and even the old homestead,
which he had resolved to keep as long as
he lived, had passed into the hands Of
strangers.
HIS wife had grown pale and care-worn
all her yivaci:y had fled, and you would
scarcely have believed her the same gay
Girl who urged him to drink his first glass
Of wine.
Five years were passed, and he was
confirmed sot. His property had been
wasted his intellect deadened; his lofty
aims crushed. A mere howell sheltered
him and his destitute family. There was
no fire there; no food none of the COM
forts which he had battered for strong
In his bloated ylsage and trembling frame
tb ar, W. little 70 renisd the beholder Of