Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-15

in solemn mockery-the form of a prayer was
offered by the o.called minister, but before the
conclusion of the prayer, and while all were yet
in the attitude of worshippers, one of the young
men sprang to his feet, and cried at the top o
bis voice Now d-n it boys, theirs enough Of
this-let's have q turn now at Old Sledge"-
throwing down, at the same time, a pack Of
cards on the table. This was an interruption
expected by all except our young friend, who
was overwhelmed with surprise, and unmistaka.
BILE disgust was depicted on his face, as they all
resumed their seats-some laughing Others
talking and swearing, and exclaiming, directing
their attention to the young man, "Sold sold ]
soldl!l @
They were soon arranged at the table-part-
ners selected, and all prepared for game at
cards. The minister on being asked to unite
with them in game, was seemingly much Of
tended and indignant; but they pressing him
more earnestly, and arguing at the same time,
that they had never been able to see the mpro-
priety or harm of card playing in social circles
such as that, he was finally induced to take his
place at the table.
They were soon absorbed in the excitement Oi
the game-the bottle occupying its accustomed
place in the centre. Our young friend couldn't
be persuaded to take part in the reveries of that
night. He returned to his room, there to think
of the parting words of his mother-"be a good
boy and read your Bible every day."
others of the students, who had heard OF the
transactions of the night betore-caled straight
Jacket" "bue-stockings," "green horn," &C.
affirming that they never had known any poor
fellow so completely 'sod."
I'M II - h. fra-a nj II.
ers. and all manner of offensive smelling missiles
were sent into his room, the door of which hav'
ing been previously securely fastened from with
out This was carried to such an extent as te
greatly exasperate the unoffending Young man
He was conquered-he yelded--he determined
to be no longer laughing stock and object O
reproach. His good resolves failed-he dlsre
garded the advice and admonition OF his fond
mother; and his Bible, that parting gift OF he'
whose prayers had ascended daily for her absent
son, was laid aside, and the dust suffered to &C
cumulate on its glossy covering. From this
time dated his downward career-he became
one of the most reckless boys of the school.
| He was dismissed, few weeks before the
close of the session, and sent home to bis pa
rents, type of recklessness and dissipation
disgraced child!
After repeated promises of amendment his
father was at last, though reluctantly, persuaded
to let him attend the University of the State, the
following year, to enter upon the study OF medi
cine, to which he had been inclined for years.
But finding there much wider field for the
qualification OF his propensities to dissipation,
and many more to allure him on TO evil prac'
tices, lie soon attained the unenviable reputation
of being one of the widest and most reckles;
students at the University. There was No
scheme of insubordination and wrong doing that
he did not second; and when agreed upon by
others, who thought as he, he never hesltated to
perform.
AT last knowledge of these things reached
the Professors, and by unanimous vote OF the
Faculty he was expelled from the institution
A dav was fixed for his departure for home, but
before the time arrived ne had fallen O Vlctlul
to malignant fever, and after several weeks OF
suffering he passed from earth; and with him,
all the bright hopes and fond anticlpatlons Of
his parents were blasted forever.
During visit to that State, and to the old
Academy few years since, met with one OF
those who had been in that prayer meeting, and
who had been instrumental in leading him a.
stray-and from him had the above account
of the young mans sad end. DE had become a
pious mana member of the church, and accl-
dentaly happened to be at the University at the
time of his friends DEATH He visited him as he
lay on his death bed in his room at College; lie
was not recognized, however, by the SICK SUI
dent, who was in state of delirium, in which
he continued, raving furiously at times, to the
hour of his death.
He had learned from those who attended him,
some expressions that fell from him in the early
stages of his Illness when minister OF the gos-
pel had called to see him. "The time was when
/ read my Bible," said he, "when | felt like
praying, but on leaving home for school at
distance, / was bsset by evil associates, and oy
them | was ruined-there is no hope now for
me-God forgive them. but forgive me-He
cannotl"
Ny friend was much affected as he spoke, and
he said he had never forgiven himself ior the
part he took in that prayer meeting, and thai
his course at that "Hgh School" had been tc
him the source of deepest regret.
AS to others of the young men, heard moth
ing of them, except one, and he had gone lew
wears previous to a Western State, and there hao
died in drunken debauch Young man at Col
lege, beware how you lead astray and entice tt
evil your unsuspecting, uninitiated fellow stu
dent! If you have none of that spirit which
will cause you TO take him by the hand and as
sist him in his resolves of study and society
oh may you have none of that other spirit
which will drag him down 10 your own level
to disgrace and ruin "ALUMNUs."
MATCH SAFEs.-Were an insurance agent,
would make it an imperativerule thatevery house
insured by me should BIZ provided with metal OF
earthern boxes in which matches should b'
kept. They are often seen lying loosely upol
the shelf or in the closet, where q careless Ser
want, an unthinking child, or even mischevou'
mouse, may produce DISASTROUS results with them
A little incident has made me very careful II
this matter. One day, when about closing my
room, hastily threw key into drawer witt
some loose papers and miscellaneous articles, ant
closed it (; but just as it was closed there was {
glimmer of light within the drawer which at
tracted my attention from its novelty. Open
ing it, found that the key had struck the enc
of friction match, fired it, and, if undiscovered
the building, worth many thousand dollars, would
probably have been consumed, and no one coult
have guessed how it took fire. 1t is unquestion
ably true that many fires have originated from
mice nibbng the ends of matches and we know
that many children have been poisoned by bit
ing matches carelessly left within their reach
Buy or make metallic or earthern match safe
and keep it in a safe place.--American Agricut
turist.
IMPORTANCE OF MARRIAGE LICENSE AP
pREoIATED.-A few evenings SINCE "a gentleman
of color inquired of the Probate Judge if Samuel
Ebenezer Morris had obtained license to marry
Miss Sarah Elizabeth Malton9 Upon being
informed that no such license had been issued
he said: "You are sartain about dat, Judge, i: