Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-30
a TRUE STORY.
Hritfen for the ssRaflsman's Journal"
INTR OBJECTION.

INTRODUCTION.
NR. EDITOR Allow me to introduce my
self to you and your patrons as one who wish
es to write something for their instruction or
amusement. Who l am, it were better per-
haps not to say at present, and what l am, you
will be better able to judge than 1 to tell you.
Remember, do not write for fame, but if any
thing that my pen can produce may please, in
struct, or amuse your readers, shall have at
tanned my object. The illustration of the
principle, that the moral influence of woman
is the strongest restraining power, (apart from
Divine grace) which can be exercised over the
heart of erring man, is what the writer intends
in the following story. The story is a true one,
and took place within the limits of our own
State, and the most important personages were
all living few years ago. In real life we fire.
quently see proofs of the adage, that sstruth is
stranger than felton, and this simple narra-
tive is of the strongest that has ever come
under my notice. Under the circumstances
it is deemed necessary to suppress the names,
both of persons and places, and to use ficti-
tious ones instead. As it is fashionable, and
very convenient too, / shall arrange the story
in parts, or chapters under appropriate titles,
and as il must have a name will will just call il:
TIE REFoRMED, Or WoMAN's INFLUENCE.
CHAPTER 1.-THE INEBRIATE.
In the town of P, lived the wealthy Gen
cral O.. He had served with honor in the
army Of his country, and when his sword was
no longer required in her service he settled
down, and engaged in an extensive and profit
able business, by which, in the course of time,
he amassed great wealth. His wife was wo-
man Of eminent piety, and of great amiaDility
of character, possessing good Judgment, but
lacking energy to carry out her convictions.
She trained her children with all the care of a
devoted christian mother, whose only fault was
an oycr-indulgence. Those children who par
took of their fathers disposition, and deter
mined will, did not therefore profit as much
by her pious teachings as might have been the
case, had she possessed the irmness to
7nGnd, when necessary. The father being to-
tally absorbed in the acquisition of riches, had
no time to devote to the raising of his chill
dren, consequently that duty devolvcd solely
on the mother. He supposed that his duty
was fulfilled when he fed, clothed, and sent
them to the best schools, always furnishing
family grew up intelligent and respectable,
with exception. The oldest son, with
whom we have chiefly to do in this sketch, and
whom, for the sake of distinction, we shall call
John, had early shown Il disposition to disre-
gard the advice of his mother, and as he grew
older he manifested strong passions and an i'm
patience of restraint, which led him often,
while yet young, to the haunts Of dissipation.
Accordingly when John was placed at dis
tant college to finish his education, he felt en-
tirely free from restraint control, save what
he felt when in the presence OF the faculty OF
the school. Here his evil prOpensities soon
developed themselves, and he plunged into al
most every species OF vice. He chose for his
companions the most vile and dissipated of
the students, who, as they were all the sons OF
men who belonged to upper-tendom, felt them
selves privileged to do much as they pleased;
and it was only the fact of Johns father being
a millionaire that saved him from being dis
missed from the school in disgrace. Notwith-
standing his disspated habits, he possessed
talents of which he might justly have been
proud, and which, if properly cultivated ana
directed would have made him can ornament
to society.'' But alas his talents ana prl'i-
leges only seemed to facilitate his ruin. lie
graduated with honor, and came home, but no
persuasion on the part of his friends couid IN
duce him to abandon his vile course Neither
could his father prevail on him to enter MS
counting house, nor engage in business OF
choose profession. In short, he became "a
genteel loafer," frequenting the 'sdrlnklng sa-
loons,' the egambling hells,' and other places
where ssfast young men, frequently resort.
At length he began to be Stunned by the re-
spectacle portion of his associates. In VAN