The Georgetown news., 1856-01-31
EVERARD GRAHAM.
BY WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK.

"Take back the bowl-take back the bowl
Reserve it for polluted lips;
l would bow a stainless soul
Beneath its dark and foul eclipse!"
There are evils on the earth, on which
the eloquence of the orator, the Tyre of the
poet, and the deep and overwrought touch
es of the pencil and the pen have dwelt al
most in vain. In their description, the
wealth of language is turned into penury,
the darkest dream OfanguiSh and distress
but family shadows forth the stern and mo-
wing reality. The strong and emphatic
language of Holy Writ; the burning words
of David and of Solomon, are almost impu-
issant when they are employed in painting
the horrors of infdel belief, and that des-
truction of body and soul which follows in
the train of PrOtean Drunkenness. They
are more dire than the fabled Furies; the
abysses they open are fercer than Cocytus
or Plethegon; their grasp is more powerful
than the serpents of LAGOON. The bnr-
thens which they impart are more weari-
some than the stone of Sysiphus or the
wheel of IxiOn; and their ascendancy is I'M
broken, until the understanding is bewil-
dered, and the clouGed eye becomes tear
less; until the heart becomes as adamant,
and the spirit is goaded and restless beneath
the dominion of remOrSe; till the ear tingles
with the adder Kisses of coward conscience
and the unnerved bosom writhes in the emo
tions of regret which pierce like scorpions
sting.
Infdelity and intemperance go hand il
hand They bid the spirit of youth bow
down at an unholy shrine; and the sweetest
affections, the dearest hopes and fondest Vi
sions of earth are offered up as incense to
the mysterious divinity of unbelief.
This is no ideal picture; the wide world
is full of the Affections that are summoned
up like clouds around the devious pathway
OF the blasphemer and the drunkard. The
red wine brightens alluringly in the goblet
the shadowy Illusions of the sceptic come
but for a little season with a soothing unc-
ton to his mind; but anon there steals to
the one, the wormWood dregs of bitter re-
gret; to the other, the clouds which OBJ
Scure the sunshine Of hope; which spread a
mournful curtain over the beautiful scenes
of human existence, and create unutterable
forebodings Of that undiscovered country
beyond the land of death.
have but little hope that the tale which
[ am about to relate will cause any to re
lease the delusionS which they have grasp
ed; but [ am never without hope. would
that my pen were dipped in the empyrea
fire of heaven, that L might show the light
which they reject who turn from the wore
of inspiration. | would | might gather up
on canvass the darkness of the midnight
cloud, and the fierce lightning of the TEN
pest; would form panorama of terr0rs
which should shadow forth to the mad vota-
ry of Bacchus, and the victim of unbelief
the abyss Of destruction upon which they
are rushing; which should say to them
Turn ye at my reproof, and heed not the
song of the charmer, charm he never SC
wisely"
1t was stormy evening in January
IS, when my friend Everard Graham and
myself were seated by our comfortable
CRATE, in the Seminary of c.. The
coal was reddening behind its prison bars
and the cheerfulness of our little room was
enhanced by the storm without. We had
but lately come up from recitations and
prayers in the chapel; and had for some
time been seated in silence, each indulging
in our respective thoughts. The snow came
pattering gently against the windows; anG
by way Of beguiling the time, L arose anc
breathed upon a pane, and wrote thereon
my humble initials. Without, the scene
was troublous and uninviting. The wide
stretching island was obscured by the thick
wing of the wintry tempest; the wild an
them of the night wind was loud and disso
nant; and soon found that the shadows O
the scene around me were gathering oyel
nay mind. Ny thoughts went forth amids
the curtained skies of evening; and mighty
ideas of infnity and boundless space-th'
mystery of the air-the distance whence
the little notes of snow had fallen-and
! was absorbed in meditation.