The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-09-10

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not help praying for you continually. Every
night am upon INV knees asking God to bless
! and guide you. When you hear the clock
strike nine in the evening, YOU mRy feel that
you can join your prayers with mine for then
am praying for my frst-born-my well be-
| ~ ed son. Remember your mother, and you
cannot go sstray. Ohl you will not allow
another 10 uaurp my place i'll your confidence.
| You will not forget the promise you gave me
when you were pure and virtuous, That prom
is, well kept, must ever keep you rs sou were
| then.
II send you e stall sum Of money, because
+ know yoar pay is not sufficient to supply you
with many superfuities. This will purchase
books, so that your evenings may be profta-
bly, spent. | know that nv son will make a
good nss of his mothers token Of undxing
| love. BE sure that your books are OF Q true,
manly character and combine sound intel
lect with pleasure in your matter for reading.
! / know that in the daytime your business
keeps your mind occupied. 1t is that your
ersninys may be morally and proftably spent
that your mother most earnestly prays."
The angel cane at the right moment.
Oliver read these two paragraphs over Il
second time, and then fell to weeping
He knew that he was to his mother as
the apple Of her eye--as the very JOY
fount of her soul Had he done as he
promised her be would do? Had he
done rs his own good sense told him he
should have done? No. He knew that
beyond the bound of right, the single step
is wrong. He folded the letter carefully
up and put it away, and then pressed his
hands upon his brow. He stood so few
moments, and finally he turned his eyes
| homeward.
"MoTnER," he said, in deep heart
sent tone, II trW betray thy confidence
nercr again ;"
| Albert Ryder awoke on that same
morning with headache too. But,
alas Z. he had an evil adviser with him.
Gone glass of brandy, Al, and you'll
. be all right,
So .i..SeArt took the glass of brandy, and
under its stimulating influence he felt
physically better
On the next evening Albert came
around to Rushton's store and asked Oil
yer to 60 to the theatre with him. But
Oliver said he had an engagement he
could not break.
And so, evening after evening, Albert
came after his friend--nGw for the thea
tre-now for stroll up Broadway--now
for a whist party-or mayhap, fora game
of billiards, S,-and always it was the same
answer. Il am engaged
"Look We, Oliver" cried Albert, as he
came one evening for his friend to go and
see a new circus company, what do you
mean? Aint there female in the ques-
tom"
"Yes, Alter,-I must acknowledge
that there is.
"Aha-I've found you, huve [? A fe-
male eh Oh. Oliver, | didn't think that
of you. But who is she? Come--out
with it Who is She?
"Hy Mother, Albert
"Eh YOUR mother? :" repeated the gid
DIV youth, with sudden softness of tone.
| didn't know she was in the city"
Nor is she, Al But her noble prayer
! full love is with me and my sacred prom
ise is with her.
"But you used to go with us, Oh, you
were not thus q month ago
/ because / did not realize how surely
was falling away from my promise,
replied Oliver, promptly. "You relncm-
Der the last evening we spent together.
On the next morning | had headache "
$50 did l, Oh. but [ soon got over it. ."
"And so did get over mine-and over
my hcart-ache, too. saw then, Albert,
that ! was not safe while spending my
evenings abroad. ] saw how | was de-
parting from the prccepts of one who lives
only for the good of her children. No
Albert cannot go with you any more
| have looked at the matter in all Its
bearings, and know there is no safety
for us i'll spending our evenings abroad
The influences are all bad. In this great
city the good and pure influences of life
are confined to the home circle, and Ger
tain social assemblies of good people
They are not to be found in the streets
and much less are they found in those
saloons which We have sometimes visited
No. Let US break from them. Come tt
my room. My mother has sent me mon
ey, and | have bought some valuable
books Come to my room, and we'll reae
, them to each other Come"
"No, no, Oliver-not now. Come 20,
with me- Come this once.
"Ah-this once is dangerous step
Al. One step from the edge of preci
, pice is death One step from the path o
| Right is Wrong. No,-ifyou will COM
with me, we will pass our evenings to
+ gether. Think, Albert, before you max
up your mind. You know your mothe
, loves you as well as my mother loves me
: and ahe would be equally sad to kuo,
: that yaa hfA fallen
"Pshaw Don't be 4 fool, Oliver D
you suppose have IA eys=i Don
you suppose | know what is safe, an
= what isn't! Do you suppose I'm goiD