Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-04-27
a TEMPERANCE SKETCH.
DY CLARA AUGUSTA.

"Young man." said the late eminent Judge
Halliston, at fashionable party where wine
flowed in abundance--"youn man, put down
that glass there is death in itn'
Harry Gordon dropped the goblet upon the
table, startled by the abrupt exclamation OF
the Judge, and the ruby wine flowed in a
bright stream over the Persian carpet.
@Sir what mean you 2" he cried, his face
flushed, aud his eyes brilliant with excitement.
II mean," said the Judge calmly, and
drawing up his noble figure to its full height,
az mean to discountcnance always, in every
place, at every time, and in every available
manner, the use of Intoxicating drinks My
young friend, you were about, thoughtlessly,
to place an Internal poison to your lipS-you
were doing it gaily, carclessly Would you,
if you stood at the very gate OF Deaths do
main, dare, in the face of God and the angels,
to qualf the draught which but q moment
ago filled yonder shattered glass? Would
you?"
The young mans brow grew paler-he
shrauk before the solemn, penetrating gaze
fixed upon him, and his deep voice was slight
ly unsteady, as he spoke the single word
| How &"
"Sit down, my friends" said the Judge to
the gay company that had been smitten to
stiffness by his portentous words, sand to
you, Harry Gortlon-I have a little story to
relate to you, which will possess double in
terest when | tell you that know it to be
strictly true in every particular. Thirty-tive
wears ago there resided in the township Of
Milan happy family. There was father,
mother, and three children, two boys and a
girl. The father, whom choose to call John
Wood, was lawyer Of high repute-a man
of brilliant intellect and solid education
HIS wife was beautiful woman, richly gifted
by nature as we'll as art, and we'll worthy to
be the companion of her husband. said
they were happy family-it was true
Peace sat all day with folded wing by their
hearthstone, and happiness was contented to
abide there.
John Wood stood very high in the opinion
of his townsmen; and by-and-by his name
was whispered abroad for the nomination of
Senator from the Milan District. lie receiv-
ed the support Of his party, and the election
proved him the successful candidate. It
would have been difficult for him to have
been otherwise than pleased with this teSti-
lnonial of esteem and his hitherto quiet
home was thrown open for the reception OF
political friends. 1t was fashionable then-as
in some circles at the present day-for every
table to be freely supplied with wine, parti.
cularly if there was company and it requr-
ed great deal of moral courage to break in
upon the usage. Of course, the successful
candidate could not refuse to treat bis friends !;
and intoxicating liquors became and every
day accompaniment upon the dinner table Of
John Wood. At first he did not sanction
this; he only suffered t-but habit Accus-
toms us to all things-and in time he grew
to think that meal very insipid which lacked
the crowning chartn of 'oio.e!
"Time passed on, and having discharged
bis duties at Washington to the satisfaction
of his party, he was reelected for the ensuing
term. His talents fitted him for the highest
rank in society, and ut tho busy capitol no
party WAS deemed complete without the pre-
sence of the witty and accomplished Senator
from the Milan District. He drank the high
est favored champagne which was offered
hin-iirst, because it would not do to seem
oddh-aftcrwards from pure love of it.
Wine became almost necessary to his eXis-
tence; luxurious living had vitiatcd his tastes,
and enervated both mind and body, and to
prevent reaction and consequent remorse, lie
endeavored to cure the disease with the very
cause which had engendered it. How many
others have done the same, until the God
given intellect has set in blackness, and the
light of life been quenched in the eternal
night of drunkards grave!
John Wood, at the expiration of his term
of office, came home to his family confirmed
inebriate. Promise after promise he made to
leave forever the tempting poison, but appe-
tite always triumphed. The serpent was too
strong for the seed Of the woman. Friends
ntreated-temperance votaries did all in
their power to save him, but they produced,
at'best, but momentary feeling Of self-re-
proach in the breast of the miserable man.
John Wood was stayed once in his course of
sin by terrible discovery which made even
his bcsotted soul shrink with horror! His
wife-his beautiful and accomplished Mary,
bad yielded to the temptations of the spoilcr,
and following the example Of her husband,
was fast becoming that thing Of which no one
can speak without loathing-a female drank.
ard. For time, John Wood retreated in
alright from the yawning abyss of intemper-
ance which had opened at his feet he shun-
ned the tavern, and abstaired from the daily
glass; his footsteps left the slippery places
and took hold upon the adamantne path of
truth, but, alas ! it was for time No gen.
tie wife to keep him in the light of the Tenn
perance Star; but oaly creature, to add
her temptations example to the strength
g Ia h,,f
sist the double fascination, and so they drank
together until intoxicated Their youngest
child, the precious baby Mary, was quieted
by the mother with wine, and one day, when
the child had tried the patience Of her moth
CT, she bscame angry, and poured down the
infant girls throat large quantity Of brandy.
Mary was soon thrown into convul>ions from
which naught could save her, and in three
hours tho helpless child was taken home to
her heavenly Father
"The two huys Arthur and William, for
awhile stood aloof from their parents bane of
life-but at last the younger, William, got
the habit of tasting occasionally, "out of
curiosity" he said, to quiet his brothers ex-
pCstu!atior. By the goodness of Divine Provi-
dence, Arthur was enabled to resist the fas.
| SLildSiOh Va GuC oSSuloCo CUP oot w
went on and on, even unto death. After ten
months career at the gaming table (the in
separable companion of strong drink, } he was
shot by comrade of drunken brawl. To
the deadened faculties of the father and
mother this circumstance was not on atflic-
ton; they scarce looked upon it as anything
for which they should grieve, and when they
stood together over the silent coffin of that
dead boy, the cup was there to comfort them.
They went to that beverage which has been
strongly but not inaptly termed "the drink
of hell, for the comfort which is fleaven-born,
and tl.at cometh down from God alone!
"Their handsome property was long since
squandcred their beautiful house and furni-
ture passed under the hammer of the auc-
tioneer; and lowly hovel received the
drunken couple and their wretched son. Oh,
the scenes of horror which the eyes OF that
son were forced to witness A father-his
noble manhood prostituted to vile appetite,
his intellect rnincd his soul wandering in the
s. ;nG;1,,t;ty ond rost ont from fbp