The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-03-31


had a glorious time. l wish you had
been there
At first l thought I would say no more;
but was it not my duty! knew his
nature better than he knew it himself
His appetite and pleasures bounded bis
own vision. knew how kind and gener.
Gus be was-alas! too kind-too gener.
Gus!
John. could you have seen Elen's face
last evening you would have trembled.-
Can you make her unhappy He stop
ped me with
Don't be fool! Why should she be
unhappy
Because she fears you are going doaca
I'LL, | told him. ..s --..
Did she say sO!' he asked, with flush
ing face.
MOI resd it in her looks
Perhaps a reflection of your own
thoughts, be suggested.
L surely thought SO when you came
home, replied.
Never can forget the look be gave
me then so full of reproOf, of surprise,
and of pain.
C, forgive you. for | know you
to be my FRIEND; but never speak to me a.
gain like that. | going down billl You
know better. That can never be. |
know my own power. l know my own
wants. Ny mother knows me better
than Ellen does
Ah-had that mother been as wise as
she was loving, she would have seen that
the wild oats which her son was sowing
would surely grow up and ripen, only to
furnish seed for re-sowiDg! But she low
ed him-loved him almost too well-or l
should say-too blindly. But | could
say no more. l only prayed that God
would guard him; aud then We conversed
upon other subjects. | could spend but
one day with him; but We promised to
correspond often.
Three years more passed, during which
John Anderson wrote to me at least once
a month, and sometimes oftener; but at
the end of that time his letters ceased
coming, and received no more for two
years, when l again found myself in his
native town. 1t was early in the after
noon when l arrived, and l took dinner
at the hotel.
l had finished my meal, and was loun-
ging in front of the hotel, when | saw a
funeral procession winding into distant
church -pard. l asked the landlord
whose funeral it was.
Mrs. Anderson's" be said, and as he
spoke, l noticed Slight dropping of the
head, as though it cut him to say so.
'Wbat--John Anderson's wifc?"
No, he replied. tits his mother; and
as he said this be turned away; but a
gentleman who stood near. and had over
heard our conversation, at once took up
the theme.
Our host don't seem inclined to con-
verse upon that susject,' be remarked,
with shrug of the shoulders. Did you
ever know John Anderson!'
He was uy school mate in boyhood. +.
and my bosom friend in youth, l told
him.
He led me one side and spoke as fol-
lows:
Poor John! He was the pride Of this
town six years ago. This man opened
his hotel at that time, and sought custom
by giving wine suppers. John vas pres
ent at most of them-the gayest of the
gay, and the most generous of the party
ID fact, he paid for nearly every one OF
them. Then be began to 60 down hill!
And be has been going down ever since
At times true friends have preVsled u.
pom him to stop; but his stops were OF
short duration. A short season Of sun
shine would CLEAN upon his home, and
then the night came, more dark and DIRE ar
than before. He said that he would new
er be drunk again; yet he would take q
glass Of qciHe aclth q Jraend! That glas,
of wine was but the gate that let 10 the
food. Six years ago he was worth Elk.
ty thousand dollars. Yesterday he Dor.
rowed fifty dollars to pay bis mothers
funeral expenses! That poor mother
bore up as long as she could. She saw
her son-her darling Boy she always
called him-brougtt home drunk many
times, and-she even bore blows from
him! But she's at rest now! Her Oar.
ling wore her life away, and brought hel
gray hairs in sorrow to the grave! Oh
| hope this may reform him?
But bis wife! asked.
Her heavenly love has held her UP
thus far, but she is only a shadow of the
wife tba. blessed bis home six years ago.
Nj informant was deeply affected, and
SO was |, and asked him DO mere.
During the remainder Of the afteraoor
I debated With myself whether to call u
pom John at all. But finally | resolved
to 60, though / waited till after tea.
found John and his wife alone. The,
had both been weeping. though coule
see at a glance that Ellens face wa
beaming with love and hope. But OBJ
she was changed-sadly, painfully So
They were glad to see NE, and my hans
was shaken warmly.
Dear c., don't say word of tn