Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-04-27

Truth by the light OF her Cnrlstlan coulse''
Worse than orphaned-the child Of shame
and contempt! Judge Of his life Men may
CRY out against the usage of strong language
in speaking of this demon which yearly lays
in the grave its thousands, but think you the
child Of those miserable parents would call
any expression too strong2 No; language is
too weak and inadequate to convey to you
the loathing, the utter detestation and hatren
which Arthur Wood bore in his heart tor In
toxicating drink. Would that every man,
woman and child throughou the length and
breadth of our land felt the same -
"But, to return. Five years passed away,
during which gaunt Poverty established him..
self at the fireside of Wood. Starvation
paused often before the door, and want and
suffering were the every day guests. Broils
and domestic strife began at sunrise, and
ceased not at going out Of day. Oh, tits q
black memory to the soul Of Arthur Wood !.
In fit of drunken fury, the miserable hus{
band struck down his wife with the fragments
of a chair which had previously fallen a
sacrifice to his rage. Sobered by the sight,
John Wood stopped over the body OF one
who was once dearer than all the world, and
sought by the long forgotten endearments Of
their early love to call her back again from from
Inconsistencies. In vain! she lay there
before him, and still and white-a dark stream;
of blood gushing from-her temple, and CLOTHING
the long, dark hair which fell in a neglected.
mass over her shoulder. She was dead;
murdered By her oaon husband
"Stung by remorse and fear, as he saw the;
cold pallor of death setting over her features,j
the wretched man drew razor across his
throat, and fell bleeding upon the floor be-
sides his lifeless victim. And there was only.
brief struggle, little calling out for mercy,l
aud John Wood had gone to his account j
And Arthur Wood, over the corpses Of his
murdered parents, took solemn oat,l-never,::
so long as the spark of life burned in his;
breast, to swallow one drop of aught that will;
intoxicate Could that son be blamed Tor
the VOW !
The Judge paused, and the awe-strieken.
company broke not the silence. lie went,
"Harry Gordon, have loved you as my
own son-you are soon to stand in that near;
relationship to me-and l wish to warn you.
against an enemy which walks the land alike.
at midnight and at MONDAY, an enemy that.
is found in the homes of tue rich as well as
the Door. Will you be admonished2 q will
you heed my counsel2 Shun more-nay, q
thousand times more than you would death,
the wine-cup. He'll itself turks in its depths,
and eternal torment burns in its crystal
brightness Harry Gordon beware |" !,
There was brief pause, during which the.
face of young Gordon alternately paled and
flushed. There was strong influence at:
work in his soul. Judge Halliston saw the
impression he had made, and bending to-
ward the company, he said
eff anything more is needed-know, then,,
that John Wood was my father, and the wife!
he murdered, while under the influence Of
ardent spirits. was the mother who barssHssa
7, Arthur Wood Halliston, was that son who,
beside tho dead bodies Of my parents, took
the oath which, by Gods grace, has never
been broken!"
Harry Gordon stepped forward, and took
the hand of the Judge reverentidlly in both
his own.
"It is enough" he said, while his noble
brow cleaned with new light; {" l solemn
ly declare, in the presence Of my Creator,
and these witnesses, that bcnceforth | will
shun everything that can intoxicate as l
would Satan hinlselC-and may my Great
Father deal with me as keep my vow!"
Judge Halliston threw his arms about the
young mans neck, and kissed him.
"Alay God sanctify your promise, Harry
and your life bear. testimony to your
truthr
Reader, it was even so. Wine was ban
ished from the home of Harry Gordon, and
pure, beautiful water, rich from the sweet
fountains of the earth, was his daily drink.
The fair face of young Ellen HalliSton never
had cause to blush for the conduct of he:
husband-and, when, in after years, the peo-
pie made him Governor Of his native State,
and his talents brought him abundant gold
be forgot not the lifc-experience Of bis step
father; and accursed to him forever was the
wine-cup!