Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-08-19
One of LIES Lessons.

About hiteen years ago, young man fu ii
of vigor, who had previously been, a journey
man carpenter, commenced business in this
city on his own account, in the second
story of an old building, on Vine. below
Third street. At that time steam was not
used to any considerable extent in mauufac-
turing building materials. Young men,
therefore, found it less difficult to work
themselves into business than in these DAYS,
when the inventive genius OF the country
has applied steam successfully in almost
every department of this branch of industry.
The subject of this notice did a very small
business, at frst-scarcely enough to keep
himself employed but being good work
man, with steady and industrious habits, he
grew in favor with those who patronzed
him, and his business increased steadily
Toward the close of the first year he found
it necessary to employ several iourneymen.
and in three or four years thereafter, he
ranked as frst-class master builder, and for
several years maintained this position. A
number OF edifces which now adorn the
city and country, stand as monuments to
his efficiency and taste as mechanic
Among these the Woodward High School
and Oxford Female Seminary are promi-
nent. But he did not bear prosperity well.
He was tempted to forsake his steady hab-
its. He yielded slightly at first, just as
every man yields when he steps aside into
the path that leads to destruction He took
a glass occasionally with friend. No harm
in that, he thought. But he progressed in
the evil way. Every day he found his
friends, with whom he wished to drink, in
creasing in number, until he finally became
a regular customer of the dram shops
But he was not a drunkard-not he
His friends demonstrated with him, and
warned him Of the consequences, but he
had no idea that he could be overcome with
liquor. He exercised complete control, as
he supposed, over his passions, and he
could maintain position on the right side
-nfIhe line that separates temperate drink
ers from druDkards. But he over-estimated
his moral strength, in this respect, as most
people do. He soon crossed the line on
the drunkard's side Then he became the
slave to his passions, and he gradually de-
scended from one degree'to another, in the
scale of degradation. He now lost the con-
fidence of the public. His property, of
which he had accumulated considerable
amount, began to disappear. His family,
too, suffered. The man who at one time
kind and faithful husband, and an Affection
ate father, became tyrant in the house.
hold. The wife and chaildren, who once
listened with impatience for his returning
footsteps, and made haste to greet him, as
he gathered round the happy freside, now
trembled when he entered the house, and
hid themselves from his presence. A year
or two ago death reduced the family circle,
which the demon OF iTtemperance had pre-
viously broken. One or two Of the little
ones were carried to the grave, and, subse-
quently, the remains of the broken-hearted
wife were placed by ,he side of the Depart
ed children. And what became of the un-
fortunate husband! Did the ravages of death
among the once dearly loved circle induce
him to pause in his mad. career! No! On
ward he pressed; every day sinking lower
an5 lower, under the influences of his un-
passion, until at length his rea- |
SON gave way, and on Friday last, as already
in this column, DA MEL LAvERY |
was, by order of the Probate Court. COM
mittet to the Hamilton County Lunatic
Asylum.
Here is solemn warning for young men,
who imagine that they can drink habtualy, !
without runirg the risk of becoming con-
firmed drunkards Let it be needed!
Cincinnati Gazette.