Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-02-08
The FIRST Glass OF wine.

Ane SHl1As OF WIFE,
@One glass, said sweet voice, stake just
one glass with me" said the speaker, dark
eyed girl, as she looked bewitchingly at her
companion and gracefully profering him
goblet, filed with the rosy wine.
They were sitting at a richly laden din
ner table, and the choice liquors, which had
for years mellowed in the hosts cellar, were
circulating freely. Ladies and gentlemen,
young and old, even little children, were
drinking at the grand Christmas feast. Of
all the merry company gathered there only
one abstained from the Intoxicating bowl,
and that was he to who these wiani az words
were so musieally addressed. -
He glanced around at the guests, who
were watching him, and replied firmly, but
gently: 'a9 1 ~ sf
"No thank you, never drink wine.s ss
This was noble language from him, and
proved that he was not destitute of moral
courage which leads its poSsesser to brave
any thing rather than to make a sacrifice Of
pure and lofty principles. But nobody ap-
preciated the deed. Many gazed at him in
astonishment, and the lady's fine lips eurled
with the expression that told plainly enough
how seldom her slightest wish was thwarted.
"You surely viii not refuse me 50 small
a favor" she continued in a manner half
proud and naughty.
@Ask any thing but this, was the an
swer in low tone that was only audible to
hor for whom the answer was intended.--
any father died drunkard, and over bis
grave Imade asolemn promise thatI should
never taste the poison that ruined him. M
"But you are too particular, ;, rejoined the
light-hearted girl; %you can drink moder-
ately without any danger. For ney sake,
now, take this" and again she held up the
sparkling Madeira. &
For moment there was a terrible con-
fiiet in the young mans soul; duty, long
established habits, and desire to win the
regard of the temptress, waged strong
warfare. At length the latter conquered,
and he drank the first glass of agipe.
Do you say it was harmless act, readeri
1t was the first step in path that ended in
woes which no pen of ours can describe; the
germ of hayest of misery, which he reaped
ere time had silvered his hair or measured
OuIl HAIL Nll6 SDdu dlioebCl ~ AlJk tltlc. "A
year after that time of trial he stood at the
altar with that fair girl who had thrown
around him the spell of inebriation. She,
was pronounced his bride; and when the
friends crowded around to offer eongratula-
tions, his cheek wore the flush, his eye tho
fatal briliancy which the red wine had kin
died. But his hopes were bright; he was
gifted and wealthy, and none prophesied
that his star would soon set or be obscured
in fast gathering clouds.
Time went on, and he drank daily with
his brother lawyers in splendid saloons, and
at his own festal board. Fortune yet smiled,
business increased, honors and wealth poured
in upon him, but there were those who,
marked in the meteoric brightness of his in
tellect and the expression of fhiscountenance
that pernicious practice which was yet 70
prove the curse of his life. Years again.
rolled away, and his affairs began to assume
a changed aspect He had grown neglect
full of his profession, and his clients had lost
their confidence in his ability. Half his
estates had been sold, his library was mort
gagged, and even the old homestead, which
he bad 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 vivacity had fed, and you would
hardly have believed her the same girl who
urged him to drink the first glass of sCins-
Five years were past, and ne IS con-
frmed sot. His property has been wasted,
his intellect deadened: his lofty aims crush
ed. A mere hovel sheltered him and his
family. There was no fire there, no food,
none of the comforts which he had bartered
for strong drink.
In his bloated yisage and trembling frame
there was nothing to remind the beholder
of the elegant and intellectual young man
who once so nobly refused to partake ofthe
intoxicating draught, then yielded and sank
into the snare.