St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-03-25
THE TWO CLERKS.
4 LIFE SKETCH FOR YOUNG MEN.

"Show me how young man spends
his evenings" said wise and good
merchant, land will tell you at once
his future prospects,
There is much truth in this and an
incident of real life is now present in
my memory which may help point
out the moral therein contained
Oliver Hudson and Albert Ryder
were of the same age both were
reared in the same town they had
equal advantages in all social and
moral points, and the most acute OBJ
server Of human nature could not have
told which had the best mind. They
were as near alike as two youths
could be and even their parents oc-
cuplcd social and pecuniary positions
OF the same degree. They were good
honest boys, and generally respected
and beloved.
At the age of fifteen, these two boys
came to the great city. Their parents
had obtained good places for them,
and bright hopes lighted up their
paths. Oliver Hudson was placed in
the store of a merchant named Elisha
Rushton, and Albert Ryder took po-
sition exactly corresponding, in the
store of Hugh Buxton. Both the mcr-
chants were wealthy, both honorable
men, and both engaged in the same
kind Of business.
\ year passed away, and at the
-. hn 81 h., Ia, 4 H..
come pretty thoroughly acquainted
with city life and city manners and
both had formed habit of spending
their evenings either i'll the streets, or
at some place of amusement Their
companions did so, and they followed
the example.
/ One evening they were both pres
ent at party given by Il friend, and
they both partook rather freely of
wine. On the following morning Oh
ivcr Hudson awoke with a severe
headache, and with a wobegonc feel,
ing pervading his whole frame. 1t
was his first debauch. He had fre,
quently taken a glass of wine before,
and thought it no harm though he
knew that his mother would be very
unhappy were she to know it.
On the present occasion Oliver felt
badly The idea that he had commit
ted "A hcinous crime was not with him;
but he knew that he had done wrong
1t was the first touch of the barbed
point to his soul. Innocent in intent,
the result of his sin was heavy upon
hiM. Could he have continued on in
the same course, the next mornings
sorrow would not have been SO deer
the next lighter still-until, by and
by, familiarity with the feeling would
have blunted it to the soul, it could be
laughed off over a glass Of plain
soda
But this was the first fall, and the
youth was startled. The events OF
previous night were dim and indis
tlnct III his memory after ten o'clock
He had been intoxicated He had
been in social companionship with
those who were not good men. He
bowed his head and thought Of his
mother.
Angelic presence God surely sent
thee in this all important hour
There came u tap upon his door, and
the servant handed in letter. 1t was
from his mother 1t contained TWEEN
ty dollars in bank notes, with her
good counsel and love. She wrote
him all the news, and finally closed
her letter thus
And now, my dear boy, suffer me
to speak with you once more as of old.
/ Do not think for one moment that |
have any fears. ., no. Were there
no other Inducements to lead you in
the right path, | know your love for
your mother would guide you Alright.
And yet | cannot hep praying for you
continually. Every night am upon
my knees asking God to bless and
guide you. When you hear the clock
strike nine in the evening, you may
feel that you can join your prayers
with mine, for then am praying for
my first-born--my we'll beloved son.
Remember your mother, and You can
not go astray. No! you will not al
low another to usurp my place in your
confidence. You will not forget the
promise you gave me when you were
pure and virtuous. That promise,
well kept, must keep you as you were
then.
81 send you a small sum of money,
because | know your pay is not sutfi'
! ,,a~t &n ,,,,nnlx, x,,,, NTH ennor