Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1858-08-14
Prom the relnplar's Mssasins,
A Sketch 4. ON Real Life.
By WM. GAsroN.

By WM. GAsroN.
There was once in the small but benutifu
town Of K, large and prosperous school
known as the Masonic Institute, and the tai
enied and kind hearted Mr.. H, was prin
cpal teacher Of it, He was man OF middle
age, nearly medium size, with small piercing
eyes and head that indicated highly culti'
waited intellect. His countenance, while in
the schooroom, was expressive OF command
and determination TO be obeyed; but he was
not cross, as some, who did not know him
thought, for all his pupils loved him, in COM
pany no one was more agreeable and enter
taning. His experience IN teaching, togelh-
cr with his native talent and iilerary aequiie'
menls, qualified him iof a sHzss~'i2n as
teacher Ar 49,, IN
He was also well skilled IN the INV, aad
few could plead more successfully a, the bar
than he. There is no doubt in my mind that,
had il not been for one thing, he would have
risen to high and honorable position among
his cou, trymen, and indeed, he might have
inscribed his name high on the temple of fame,
to have been read by nations yet unborn. But
alas he had one fault, and that was his ru.
in. He ,cas drunkard!
But here let me say, that, during the first
session of the school he seldom yielded 70 The
Intoxicating glass, and then it was on Satur-
days, SO that it did not seriously AFFECT the
school. But about the middle of the second
session, he came into the school-room, one af-
ternoon, in state of intoxcation, and thence
forward, he seemed to have lost entire control
of himself, for he frequently came in drunk
and sometimes the school was left in charge
of the assistant teacher. The patrons of the
school, who were his most intimate friends, ex-
postuated with HIM and entreated him to for
sake his ruinous habit, and he would frankly
acknowledge the wrong he was doing himself
and others, and, indeed, he could point out
more OF the evils of his habit th,n others, and
he would solemnly promise TO reform. My
father conversed with him one morning about
it, and | saw him grasp my fathers hand
warmly, and, looking up toward the throne Of
the Most High, while tears were courslng down
his cheeks, solemnly promise, calling God TO
witness, that he never would touch tie fiery
monster again. But, alas his resolutions,
when temptation came, were as chah driven
before the wind, and ere week he would be
drunk again. He no longer had the control of
his appette--he was no .ongetAa free man.
He was in the power Of merciless tyrant,
who regards not the wall of the orphan. the
weeping of the widow, the anguish of the bro
ken-hearted wife, nor the lruilless, though
bold resolves of iha stout-hearted man.
Week after week passed, aud the only
change that came over our teacher was for the
worse. Poor man! often has my hear: achcd
while beheld so much talent in so dear IL
friend led captive to ruin by the hellish NON
ster--the fend of hell And the more deep
ly were my sympathies moved when beheld
his mental struggles of resistance, and felt
that no human hand could rescue hun from
the tyrant's grasp. He was fast being hurried
to the brink of an awful precipice, over which,
in spite of his own resistance and that of his
friends, he would be hurled headlong INTO ir-
ruin.
Soon after the close of the second session he
made one more bold resolve butte no purpose
Soon he yielded to temptation and it proved
fatal. Early in the beginning of the new year
he was seized with delerium tremens, which
was attended with all its drefui effects. AZ
ter remaining for time in this condition, he
seemed partially to have recovered, and was
allowed by his attendant to go TO his trunk for
and there he procured a. razor,
which he carefully concealed till he returned
to his bed, covered himself, and in very
short time his attendant, who was near the
door of his room, saw the razor fall upon the
floor, and, Fastening to his bedside, found that
he had cut his throat He lived bu. short
time and passed into eternity.
stood by his bedside and, as gazed up.
on the dying features of my dear friend, my
beloved teacher, solemnly vowed that my op-
position to the murderer of my dear teacher
should end only with my lif,.
Years have passed away, but that death-b
scene is fresh in my memory still; and teel
more determined than ever to avenge, if pos
sible, by a war of determination, the death OF
so noble a man. And call upon all who
claim to be followers of the Savior who went
about doing good-all who haze SsEy friends
to love--all who. claim TO he ss.saf Of hu-
and female, & Rug-
to assist me in the high and lIsStiF. And
| care not what means you use, so they are
good. Only assist me in this blessed work,
and if we cannot be the means of retaining
all who have Welded to the subtle tempter, let
us, for our country's sake, for the sake of eve-
rvthing that is nea. and dear to US, let US save
the rising generation, the youth of our coun-
try, on whom all our hopes OF the future Sc
carity and prosperity of our beloved country
depend.
Kaufman, Teras.
James A Poage, Esq, formerly OF BastTop
county, has been published in the "startlii 6
disclosures" as one OF the band Of horse