The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-10-26

the others shoulder, ard speaking with q
trembling voice and fearful eye, this once let
me speak, and l will trouble you no more
You may after this seek those who can fatter
you more fully, and speak more pleasing Ian
guage to your ear. Only God grant that
they MAJ not turn your mothers chiefest
hope from the path of manhood -a ~
Albert bowed his head, and was silent; and
Oliver continued, in the same touching, devot.
ed tone. ...f
'Albert-ggive me your Evenings and roill
gtre you peace and joy! Oh! listen to me
now. Lay down new rule. Make your eve
nings subservient TO your real good. Spend
them in your own home, over your books
Cast off the evil companions you have found,
and find better ones. Seek for good and true
men, and cultivate taste for knowledge
Look at him whose store we have just left
One year ago be started in that store with a
clear cash capital of thirty thousand dollars !!
| Now--noic-he is not worth one penny Aye
he is worse-he is deeply, deeply in debt !
You know what has done it,
| sIMe?'
80 Yes, Albert--you. :. First it was wine i;
then it was stronger drink; then it was eve-
nings abroad searching for pleasure in saloons
and on the street corners. And. finally, the
the gaming table finished the sDork! Am /,
not rightp ~s-.l-, -s~- -.a..-.4asH
How should know p 81 -4 - =
'Have you not seen him there = 3
Me p ....
| { Aye, Albert-have you not visited those
fearful dens with him ? Have you not lost
yoar substance at the gaming table p
Oliver, you've been dogging me r
Hush Speak not in that tone to me,
Albert. Speak not SO to the only man in all
this great wilderness of Humanity who has the
honesty to tell you the truth, and the love to
care for you, for yourself! I have watched
Iyou,-aye-with an aching heart !! But the
secret is locked up in the bosom of your friend.
Not even to my own mother would whisper
it. Beware, Albert, beware of the preci-
pice! You are upon its VERGE Turn and
be safe! If you want companionship will
introduce you into society at once genial and
| pure. What say you ......-..+.<-.
l-l-know you mean well, Oliver; but
you are entirely mistaken. 1 am as safe as
You are. / can let drink alone at any mo-
ment!'
Then do it while you have the power fol
do assure you that the power will soon leave
youi The very glass that You leave untasted
], Lii you please, is surely one more portion o.
power. if tasted, towards binding more firmly
the chains of your enslavement He who cal
let drink alone if he pleases may not see tha
be is gradually losing that very power upol
which he POUNDS his hope of safety. Come
Albert-come with mel, I--2..s
Not now. All, here comes some friends
They are searching for me-. Good night
4 Oliver s as-..z' r. i+.z7 '-
Thus speaking, the reckless youth turne,
away and Joined party of three like himself
and they went off after such pleasures as the,
: were in the habit of fnding-joyless, restles
= pleasures wthering in a highland leaving onl.
the dry, hard, sharp thorns, stark and piercing
Oliver watched his misguided friend until b.
had passed from sight, and then with sat
heart, he turned towards his own peaceful
home. -g.A .,a--s =
Time sped Oh, and finally Oliver Hudson be
lgan to grow unhappy. He had been advanc
ed from post to post, until he was now hea,
book-keeper, with a salary of three thousan'
Io11 NJ LII,
young mans detected manner. but for awhil
he said nothing. Emily had noticed it, too
and she asked him why he was SO sad an
thoughtful. he put her off many times, bu
at length she was determined to be put off n
more. She found Oliver alone one evenin
in the parlor. and she went to his side and plat
ed her arm about his neck.
G.. OLIVER she said, in low. earnest tone, ste
me what it is that has affected you so. Yo
have lost some near friend-some one whor
you loved well. Come-I will sympathiz
with you. Trust your secret to my keeping
You sympathize ? cried the youth, start
ing up from bis seat and gazing almost wild
ly upon the lovely girl. { You-you--
Emily Rushton Oh +? you know not my
He struggled moment--the tears burr
from his eyes-he caught the hand that glide
down his arm, and pressed it to his lips. An
then with deep groan, he hurried from tt
room Emily gazed after him in sstonish
ment; but gradually the light broke in upo
her, and with a sudden tremor she sank dow
upon the seat he had left. ,.al5 .4 ~
The maiden called to mind hundred lit
words and actions of the past-she refecte
upon the scene which had just transpred-
and then she bowed her head, and bright dro
> trickled down the long silken lashes and Fl
upon her bosom. -.-.-... .
Her father found her thus. He wound b
arm about her, and asked her why she weE
81 have discovered divers secretr she sal
But he knows it not
:. " n
d The wealthy merchant took his young boo
keeper by the hand and gazed into his face.
t sOliver he said, with look and tone
> firm purpose, Il wish to know why you are
r changed. Tell me, sir. IF you have one fe
j. ing of respect for me left. I wish you to t.
= me- ..
g The youth struggled with his emotio
J. awhile, and finally he answered in spasmod
= broken tone ta--'s=raa
Il will tell you, sir but, o, you must n
= think have broken faith with you. cor
n not help it :! But henceforth may redee
u all. I can stay beneath your roof no mo
l cannot remain where --
ss The young man broke down here, aud tut