Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-03-17


ed, skeleton hand, and smiling faint,
quivering: dying smile. 'Ah--pater pee
, cavl'
Alexander Lombcrg!' said Henry, gaz-
ing into the bloated, disfgured face before
him.
i You wouldn't have known me, Hal?
Good Heavens--nop
i L know 1 am altered. All, Hal, sac
. transit gloria mundiP
But, Alec cried Sea5urn, how is this?
Why are you here?
Rum, Hal RUM 1 am about done for.
But wanted to see you. They told me
: you lived not far away; and would look
upon one friend before | died.
But 1 heard you were practicing your
profession, and doing WE'LL
so did do well when practiced. Hal.
l have made some pleas, but I've given all
that
and your father, where is he?'
Don't mention him, Hal. He taught
me to drink! Aye, he taught me! and
then turned the cold shoulder upon me
: when | drank too much. But I am going,
Hail.
Henry Seaburn gazed into that horrible
face, and remembered what its owner had
been: the son Of wealthy parents; the idol
of fond mother; the favorite at school, at
play, and at college; light of intellect
and physical beauty; and noble, generous
friend. And now. alasl
ALEC. can help you?
Yes And the poor fellow started
higher up from his pillow, and something
of the old light struggled for moment in
his eye. Pray for me, Hal. Pray for
my SOUL Pray that may 60 where my
mother is! She wont disown her boy!
She couldn't have done it had she livedl
Oh! she was a good mother, Hal. Thank
God, she didn't live to see this! Pray fol
: me, pray. ,.pray! Let me go to her.
AS the wasted man sank back, he fell
to weeping, and in moment more one OF
the paroxysms came on, and he begal to
rave.
He thought Harry was his father, and
he cursed him, and cursed the habit that
had been fastened upon him under that
fathers influence. But Henry could not
stop to listen. With an achiug heart he
turned away, and left the hospital. He
could not 60 home to dinner then. He
walked down town, and got dinner there.
At night he went to the hospital again. He
/ would inquire after his poor friend, even
! If he did not go into the room 10 see him.
Poor fellow, said the physician, he
never came out of that fit He died in
less than half hour after you went out.
Itwas dark when Henry Seaburn reach.
ed home.
You have not told Bridget where to put
these demijohns, Henry, said his wife.
She bad not noticed his face, for the gas
was burning but dimly.
All forgot. Come down with me,
Cora, and we will find place for them.
His wife followed him down into the
basement; and, one by one, he took the
dimijons and carried them into the rear
yard. and there he emptied their contents
into the sewer. Then he broke the vessel
in pieces with his foot, and babe Bridget
have the dirt-man take the fragments away
in the morning.
Not one word had he spoken to his wife
all the while, nor did she speak to him.
He returned to the sitting room. where
his boys were at their books, and took
seat upon one of the tete-a tetes.
Henry then called his wife and children
about him and then he told them the story
of Alexander Lomberg.
And now, my loved ones, he added, lay
ing his hands upon the heads OF his boys,
have made solemn vow that, heneefortb
my children shall find no such influence
in their home. They shall never have oc-
casion to curse the example oftheir father
will touch the wine-c nomore forever
What say you, my boys-will you join me
in the sacred pledge? ~
They joined him. with glad, gushing
willingness; for their hearts were full, and
their sympathies all tuned by mothers
careful love to right af
And you, Cora. Baa5 a
Yes, vesl she cried. and may the
holy lesson of this hour be never forgotten.
0, God. let it rest as an angel of mercy.
upon my boysl Let it be light to their
feet in the time of temptation! And so
shall they bless. through life, tie influence
they carry with them from their Home.'
The fa;lings of good men are commonly
more published in the world than their goot
deeds; and one fault of a. well deserved
man shall meet with more reproaches than
all his virtues praise; such is the force of