The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-10-19

again'
Albert Ryder awoke on that same morning
with headache, too. But, alas he had an
evil adviser with him. 60
'One glass of brandy, AL, and you'll be all
right = -. 's-.7r ea2 ~
So Albert took the glass of brandy, and
under its stimulating influence he felt physic-
allv better.
| On the next evening Albert came around to
Rushton's store and asked Oliver to go to the
theatre with him. But Oliver said he had an
engagement be could not break.
And SO. evening, after evening, Albert came
alter his friend-now for the theatre-now
for stroll up Broadway-now for whist
party-or, mayhap fer game of billiards.
and alwas it was the same answer. Il am
engaged
Look We. Oliver cried Albert, as he came
one evening for his friend to go and see new
tcircus company, what do you mean? What
are all these engagements Aint there fe-
male in the question p p, "A a F.@s
Yes, Albert.-I must acknowledge that
there is a..
'Aha-l've. found you. have II A female,
eh? Oh, Oliver. didn't think that of you.
But who is she Come-out with it: Who
lis she p s. ..--s ~ fs-
My Mother, Albert = -
Eh ? your motherf' repeated the giddy
youth, with certain softness Of tone Il
d;dn,t Lr,rv that che. ,,,, :, ~. .;.,,
Nor is she. Al. But her noble prayerful
love is with me; and my sacred promise is
with her 7 7 -- s-s -=@-
But you used to go with MS, o.; you were
not thus month ago. .--..g ~ ..-- .-n
Because did not realize how surely was
falling away from my promise. replied Oliver
A promptly. You remember the last evening
we spent together. On the next morning ]
had a headache @
\ So did !, Oh; but soon got over it, -
And so did get over mine-and over my
headache too. | saw then, Albert. that was
not safe while spending my evenings abroad
1 saw how Twas departing from the precepts
of one who lives only for the good of hel
children. No. Albert-I cannot go with you
any more. have looked at the matter in al
its bearings, and know there is no safety fo,
US in spending our evenings abroad. The in
auences are all bad. In this great city the
good and pure influences of life are confined
to the home circle, and certain social assem-
blies of good people They are not found in
the streets, and much less are they found il
those saloons which we have sometimes visited
No. Let US break away from them. Come
to my room. Ny mother has sent NE money
r.: and / have bought some valuable books
Come to my room, and we'll read them to eacf
other. Come
No. no. Oliver--not now. Come you will
ME. Come this once,' i
'Ah-'this once is dangerous step, AL
One step from the edge of a precipice is death
One step from the path of Right is Wrong!
No,-if you will come with me- we will pas
our evenings together. Think, Albert, before
s. you make up your mind. You know you
mother loves you as well as my mother love-
me; and she would be equally sad to know
that you had fallen sr 5-t 1a -H5 e
'Pshaw Don't be fool. Oliver DE-
you suppose have no eyesl Don't you sup
pose | know what is safe. and what isn't p
Do you suppose I'm going to be shut up iu
store all day, and then shut myself up in
house all night? No not by long chalk
now-I tell youP fe;4 sss 20
You misunderstood me, Albert. / dom
shut myself up all night. frequently go tt
lectures and then for exercise walk dow
to the Battery every morning before the stor
is open.' -
sPoh ! That's the time when want t,
sleep. But you wont go with me, then p
sNo-I cannot -..., y-..+ .....
De- Well, then mast find somebody else-
And, mind you-one of these days we'll see
Iyou wont change your mind. -.-... .-
.tIf 1 find am wrong, most certainl
SHALL was divers reply. as his companies
turned away. ..i Fst II 80.
The two youths had supposed that thei
conversation was heard only by themselves
but they were mistaken in this. They had stoo
by the door of the counting room and MI
- Rushton was within, though he had not ye
= Lighted up the gas. He had just started N
for that purpose when the first request of Al
bert Ryder was made. A natural desire t.
= hear what would be his young clerks repl
induced him to listen. So he had heard th
u whole !; and he was not sorry =
Elisha Rushton was good and true MAJ
caring nothing for opinions which sound res
fson would not sustain, and ready to do all tn
tgood which lay in his power. Once he ha
been in the habit of trying to overlook tn
moral characters of his clerks, and of advisin
with them. and offering them assistance in tn
81 path of Right. But he I'D only received tn
title of meddler for his first efforts, and ha
been imposed upon in his second So now
n had established this one rule: He would Civ
no advice which was not asked, unless he So,
a youth in immediate danger and all hi
4 clerks knew that any extended irreguIarit
would be the sure signal for their discharge.
For three months after the conversatio
took place between Oliver and Albert th
former was watched by his employer very mai
rowly. There seemed to bea subject of NOR
than ordinary import occupying his thoughts
for sometimes when he could gaze unnotice
: upon the handsome, happy, healihful face {
, Oliver, he would sit for half an bour withor
once removing bis eyes from the object of il
terest. $500
a.