The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-01-27
1ElNP'IA 7 ION
THE FIRST GLASS,
Written for tho Winchester Home Journal.
by FINLEY JOHNSON.

by FINLEY JOHNSON.
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When first lmade the acquaintance
of Alice Bond, she was q beautiful
and elegant girl-Ahe pride Of her
friends, and the support of her aged
mother. Seventeen summers had
spread their golden blossoms around
her path, and as the atfianced bride of
Charles Price, hope doomed up before
her, giving fond and joyous anticipa.
tions Of u bright and glorious future.
Their marriage had been delayed on
account of tho absence of Charles in
the West, whittier he had gone on
business for his employers. Alice
loved him tondIy, truly, dovotedly, and
his absence preyed upon her spirits,
Bat this was not her only trial; diff
cultios came thick and fast upon her;
poverty, that stern and remorse!css
iyrant, seized them in his iron grasp,
bat still with that true heroism only
found in woman, she bore up nob,y
against the surging waves of misfor-
tune.
But in the wide and dcsoIatc waste
Ger which the storm had passed, there
was one bright spot. Charles still
loved her--he did not turn away be-
cause she was poor. or love her the
less on account Of her being obliged
to earn her own subSistancc--no. he
cherished her the more, and as soon
as circumstances would permit, he was
TO offer his protection. They bore
their trials no6ly, but her mind was
worn out in the strife. The excite
mcnt Of her profession which was that
OF drawing and painting, was il it.
self n task which weakened her Goa.
stituton. Her appetite grew unccr.
tain, her eye and step wero heavy,
her task Of teaching became bur.
then to har--her tcmre' grew chang
able, andher mother, becoming alaria-
ed, called in physician.
Miss Alice is only nervous 50
spoke the doctor. "yory nervous, her
system is too low, she wants bracinr
you must give her LITTLE stjmulont.'
Could the physician but have drawn
aside the veil Of futurity, he would
have shrunk back with terror TO have
seen the effect of his advice. Profess
sionaIly speaking, he might have been
right, but he knew not the tcmpera-
ment Of his patient. The warm, spi-
cy, glass Of wine which she drank
when she returned from her work
was so pleasant to the taste, so invig-
Grating to the frame, that the world
grew brighter us she drank, and fresh
strength and hope were added to her.
Again she drank, and again she work,
Ell, but all unconcious that she was
laying the foundation ola fearful hab-
it. She was Of that temperament,
tnat caused her to become tho slave
- not the master. The glass OF wine
gave her 50 much strength, that she
flew to it in every ease OF weakness.
No one suspected her of this terrible
propensity, no one thought that the
sparkling elOqucnce that flowed from
her lips was produced by aught but
natural genius, and no one dreamed
OF the awful ian9s that were feeding
upon her brain and body.
Her exertions produced an easier
state of circumstances, aud fortunes
gate was about opsling to their view.
Charles was returning, and then the
day would be fixed. At last Alice
received letter from him, he would
be with her on Thursday. What joy
to Alice, what delight to her mother!
Now her sacrifices would be rcwar-
ded, at lastshe would be happy. Fast
few the momentsin fond anticipations
the time drew near--ho would soon
be by her side. She grew restless,
nervous, unable to bear the long sus-
pense, and to strengthen her sys-
tenn, she had recourse to that stimu.
LIANT, which had 50 often braccd ler.
Charles come--he expected gianoes
of love, words Of endcarmcat, kisses
Of ailection--but found Alice pros
trato on the sofa in state ingcnsibil-
ity.
What meeting was that for a low
ing heart. Mrs. Bond in tears, and
she, his aGianccd, bis darling Alice,
steopod in liquor. Ho would not. could
not believe the horrid truth, his noble,
purc-m:nded Alice could not have
sunk SO far.
"What is thiSl" he cried, "Alice I'LL
Oh, what is this3 Good God, Mrs.
Bond!" his eye had rested on the half
empty tumhlcr.
"Alice has not been WELL" was the
reply; "she has over exerted herself