The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-04-16

glass of brandy in the other; for he had
arrived at that terrible condition in
Which reason could only reach him
through intoxication; not so fallen as
this, sunk deeply. The weary hours of
lonely watching brought no resource but
that which copious draughts of the liquid
could supply. Health was fast falling
away, the brightest years of life we're
past forever and as the dim future low
cred, he gazod upon it under the inAu-
ence of the demon which enthralled the
brilliant souls of Addison, of Sheridan,
of Charles Lamb; and which sont the
once stalwart form of Theodore Hook, a
miserable, wretched skeleton to the
grave"
The writer Of Passages from the His
tory of Wasted Life" relates sad
story Of this brilliant incbriate
"Maginn had daughter to whom he
was deeply aud tenderly attached. She
was about to be married, but hor father
had no portion to give her Suddenly
he determined to keep steady and work
lie did SO: abandoned drink, and soon
earned enough to enable him to furnish
house splendidly for the young couple.
who were accordingly united and set off
on the marriage tour. on their return
from which, they were to occupy the
pretty new dwelling
"On the evening after their marriage,
Mr. Maginn walked to the well furnish
ed Eouse-sat down on sofa. and after
wards walked over the apartments we'll
pleased.
"Ah!" said he. IL have some reason to
be proud all this is the work of my own
hand = Then he sent for friend to
come and admire it also; and after all
had been inspected, tho two sat down in
the drawing-room.
Now" sad Maginn to the old woman.
who was left il care of the house and
furniture, 90 and fetch bottle of bran
dy, and we'll drink the young couples
health
The spirit was fetched and drank and
then more was procured. Other persons
were also sent for, and tho beautiful
drawlng.room was soon converted into a
scene Of bacchanalian revclry. Songs
were sung, speeches were made healths
were drank and so it went on all night
The ball had now been set in motion and
on it went. The Doctors money was all
spent, SO article after article OF furnit ure
was pawned !
Then went the piano sofa beds-aU
but the chairs they sat on and the able
lngt Al
crs sat on the floor round a punch bowl |
Nor did they cease their rcvels until the
bride came home to house from which
every article of furniture had been swept
awayl'
There is scene of degradation such
as any in the slums of St. Giles could
not excel. And yet it was one in which
literary men were the chief actors Tru-
ly the pledge is needed in high life as
well as low life.
Here is one more sketch. Some years
ago there was young man who grew
famous as a public lecturer Crowds
went to hear him. He sat in the splendid
halls of'thc ri. b. Fame and wealth wait
cd upon bin. Smart, droll, energetic,
h;ahly educated. prond, and fine speak
or, he drove the world before him And
then lie fill and such aNall | found
him in a den OF filthy wretches himself
the low ;st, meanest, worst.
What are you doing iGr living ?"
Il recite in public houses. ant. when |
am not allowed to do that, | sing in tho
streets
What DO you sing2"
"The light of other days is faded was
his curiously appropriate reply.
What could say? lie had fully
described and rebuked himself
1t were easy to write commentary
upon these sketches, but none that
would render the warning Of Solomon
supcrhuious, Wine is n mocker strong
drink is raging and whosoever is de-
ceiyed thereby is not wise Who hath
woe ? Who hath sorrow2 Who hath con-
teniions Who hath babbliug Who
hath wounds without cause Who hath
redness of eycs2 They that tarry long
at wine Look not thou upon the wine
when it is red, when it give,h his color
III the cup when it moved itself Alright !;
at the last it bitcth like a serpent and
stneeth like an adder The sparkling
wine is death tho sparkling water is
life. Who, then, would drink wine
Who is wise in dcspising water Spring
up, O, we'll - British dd10c0te.