Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-12-29


He'll soW them wild oats soon. Ny
darling can never be bad maa.'
God grant it, thought to myself; and
lwsll knew that the same prayer was up
on Ellsn's lips.
1t was late when retired, and We might
not bave done so even then had not John
fallen asleep 10 bis chair.
On the following morning | walked out
with my friend. / told him I waa sorry
to see him as / saw bin the night before.
OBJ said be, with q laugh, that waa
nothing. Only little wine party. We
had a glorious time. / only wish you h,d
been there
AT first thought / would say no more,
but was 1t not ny dutyf knew bis na>
ture better than he knew it himself. His
appetites and pleasures bounded bis own
visions. l knew how kind and generous
he was-alas! too kind, too generous?
John, could you have seen Ellen's face
last evening, you would have trsmbled-
Can yOn make her unhappy He stop.
ped ne With
Don't be q foOll Why should she be
Unhsppyr
Because she fears you are going down
hilL' l told him.
Did she say 80 be asked with flush.
ed face
No; | read It in her looks.'
perhaps 8 reflection Of her own tho'ts,'
be suggested.
4 surely thought so when you came
homs,' replied.
/ never can forget the look be gave me
thsn--so full cf reproOf, of surprise, and
Of pain.
C, I forgive you; for know
that you are my friend, but never speak
to ne again like that. l going down hill
You know better. That can never br. l
know my power. know my own wants
Ny mother knows me much better than
Ellen does,'
All, had that mother been as wise as
che was loving, Ihe would have ssen that
the wild oats which her sou was sowing
would surely grow up and ripen, snly to
furnish seed for resolving. But she loved
him, lo'ed him almost to well-or, AZ
should say, too blindly.
But could say no more. I only prays
ed that God would guard him, and we
convened upon other subjects. could
spend but one day with him, we promised
to correspond often.
Three years more passed, Outing which
John Anderson wrote TO me at least once
q month, aud sometimes oftener; but at
the end of that time bis letters ceased ROM
ing, and | received no mere for two years. |
when again found myself in bic native
town. 1t was early in the afternoon when
| arrived, and took Dime at the hotel.
I.had finished my meal, aud was loun>
ging in front Of the hotel, when I saw a
funeral procession winding into . distant
churchyard. than asked the landlord
whose funeral it was,
Mrs. Andenon's,' be said, and aS he
spoke noticed slight dropping Of the
head, IS though it cut him to say 50.
'What-John Anderson's wife?'
NO. be replied; 1T is bis Mother and
Is he said this be turned away; but gen.
Ilsman who stood near, and had overheard
bur conversation, immediately took the
theme himself.
Our host don't seem inclined to con.
Terse upon that subject be remarked with
shrug Of the shoulders. Did you ever
know John Aa1erson.'
He was my school mate ia bOyhood,
md my bosom friend 10 youth.'
He led me to one side, and then spoke
ls follows:
Poor Johnl He was the pride of this
own six years ago. This man opened 9
lotel at that time, and sought custom byI
irving vine suppep. John was present st l..
be most of them-the gayest If the gay / !
md the most generous Of the party. In
act, he paid for nearly every one Of them. !
hen be began to go down bill. Aud be j
Ias been going down ever since. At times
rue friends have prevailed upon him to
Top, but bis stops were of short duration.
short season Of sunshine would CLEAN =
poR bis home, and then the night came, :
nore dark and drear than before. He said &
. never would get drunk again, yet be
'ould take glass Of wine with FRIEND !
hat glass of wine was the gate to lei in I,
le flood. Six yeais ago be was worth !
xty thousand dollars. Yesterday be bor- :,
'wed fifty dollars to pay bis mothers fu. !, ],
eral expenses! That poor mother bore : !
p IS long as she could. She saw her :,
'p,-hsr darling boy,' ahs always called : :
i'm brought home drunk many times, Il
I'D she even bore blows from himl But y
ae's at rest now Her darling wore her :. :
fs away and brought her gray hain In 4,
'rrow to the gravel oh. I hope and ., a.
ust this may reform him! Il
'But bis wife!' asked, ~ -
Her heavenly love has held her up Thus "a
:, but she il only a shadow of the wife h;
at blessed bis home sig years ago. p
NY informant was deeply affected; and .t,
was ], and ] asxed him no more. h;
During the remainder Of The afternoon a,
debated with myself whether to call up. u !"
John q: all. But. fnally resolved to =, 81
!; though / waited till after tea. I found - y
hn and his wife alone. Thev had hotb =
en- weeping, though I could see at = =
'nce that Ellsn's was bssming with love !. !.
hnna Rni oh aha - - ak.l us