St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-03-25
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Albert was silent Tor some moments
and when he spoke his voice was low
and faltcring
Z" If Stunned you, Oliver, it was
because | didn't want to hear your
lectures
"Well, my old mate-my compan-
ion of other days." said Oliver, pla-
cling his hand upon the others shoul-
der, and speaking with q trembling
voice and fearful eye, "ths once let
me speak, and will trouble you no
more. You may after this seek those
who can fatter you more fully, and
speak. more pleasing language to
your ear. Only God grant that they
may not turn your mothers chiefest
hope from the path of manhood.'
! Albert bowed his head, and was 81
lent; and Oliver continued in the
same touching, devoted tone.
Albert-give me your evenings,
and | will give you peace and Joy!
Oh listen to me now. Lay down
new rule. Make your evenings sub
scrvicnt to your real good. Spend
them in your own home over your
books. Cast off the evil companions
you have found, and find better ones.
Seek for good and true men, and cul-
tivatc taste for knowledge. Look
at him whose store we have Just left.
! One year ago he started in that store
with clear cash capital of thirty
thousand dollars Now-noar--he is
not worth penny! Aye-hc is worse
he is deeply, deeply in debt +! You
know what has done it,
'IM?'
"Ies, Albert-you. First, it was
wine, then it was q stronger drink
then it was evenings abroad, search
ing for pleasure in saloons, and on the
street corners. And, finally, the ga
ming table fRihei The acOrk! Am | not
right ?"
Glow should know?'
Have you not seen him there ?'
"lR?n
"Ayc, Albert, have you not visited
those fearful dens with him? Have
you not lost yoHr substance at the ga
ming -tablc?"
"Olivcr you've been dogging mel"
Hush . Speak not in that tone to-
me, Albert. Not so to the only man
in all this great wilderness of humani-
( ty who has the honesty to tell you the
truth, and the love to care for you, for
yourself! l have watched you,-ayc
with an aching heart. But the Sc
crct is locked up in the bosom of your
friend. Not even to my own mother
would l Whisper it. Beware, Albert,
beware Of the prccipice You arc
upon the verge. Turn and be safe.
! If you want companionsliip l will in
troducc you into society at once &C
NAL and pure: What say you?"
"l-l-know you mean well, Oil
yer; but you are entirely mistaken.
| am as safe as you are. | can let
drink alone at any moment! !"
Then do it, while You have the
power for | do assure You that the
power will soon leave you, The very
glass that You leave untasted, if yoIr
please, is surely one more portion OF
power, if tasted, towards binding more
firmly the chains of your cnslave-
ment. He who can let drink alone IL
he pleases, may not see that he is
gradually losing that very power up
on which he founds his hope of safety.
Come, Albert, come with me !,
Not now. All, here comes some
friends. They are searching for me.
Good night, Oliver
Thus speaking, the reckless youth
turned away and joined party Of
three like himself, and went off after
such pleasures as they were in the
habit Of finding joyous restless pleas
ures-wlthering in u night, and leay-
ing only the dry, hard, sharp thorns.
stark and piercing.
Oliver watched his unguided frienG
until he had passed from sight, and
then, with sad heart, he turned to-
wards his own peaceful home.
Time sped on, and finally Oliver
Hudson began to grow unhappy. He
had been advanced from post to post.
until he was now head book-keeper.
with salary of three thousand dollars
per annum. Mr.. Rushton noticed the
young mans detected manner, but fo,.
a while he said nothing. Emily no
ticcd it, too, and she asked him whv
he was SO sad and thoughtful. He
put her off many times, but at length
she was determined to be put off no
more. She found Oliver alone one
evening in the parlor, and she went t.
his side and placed her arm about his
neck.
OLIVER she said, in a low earness
tone, tell me what it is that has al.
fected You SO. You have lost somo
near friend some one whom YOU
loved well. Come-I will sympathizo
with you. Trust your secret to my
keeping"
" 70" sympathize ?" cried the youth
starting up from his seat, and gazing
almost wildly upon the lovely girl.
lou- Yon Emily Rushton! Oh.
you know not MY"
He struggled moment-the tears
burst from his eyes--he caught the
hand that glided down his arm, and
pressed it to his lips. And then with
a deep gruan, he hurried from the
room. Emily gazed after him in as
constituent ; but gradually the light
broke in upon her., and with sudden
tremor she sank down upon the seat
he had left. -
The maiden called to mind hun
dred little words and actions of the
past--she reflected upon the scene
which had just transpired-and then
bowed her head, and bright drops
tricklcd down the long silken lashes
and fell upon her bosom.
Her father had found her thus. He
wound his arm about her, and asked
her why she wept.
! 81 have discovered divers Sc
cret !" she said. "But he knows it
not"