The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-01-20
5Al5rGlllng.
'E.a 0Gd Mans Sf0ry.
HY ERANN CLINTON.

Give ma the flowing bowl. sparkling in
ihe -un-lighi, OF the glorions, liteiuspir-
lus rcd wine. quaIfed with Jolly compau-
lons around the midnight table Iurrah
for lifc's pleasures, and away with it,
carus
Listen to me young man. Once /,
foo, was young, gay, dashin@ and thought
Jess. Once lived OILY to enjoy what Is
called the pleasures Of the rcyeIlcr's table,
pud to sin deep the n.addening cup. Once
was merry and free, as you now are.
And what harm has it done you, old
guam. Save few marks cf sorrow, your
face y calm and smooth as summer
lnoruine's sky; your white locks betoken
pgc, but your step Is firm and manly, If
a reyeiler's autumn be such Us yours, my
only fears are banished."
Young man, will you listen to the
story of my life? IT'S brief, but full Of
interest
" encrable patriarch, you have already
Interested me. | will listen, but be as
brief as possible"
The old man drew his chair closer to
his auditor His mind rolled back over
the long vista Of years, aid old remem-
brancca came looming in gauut shadows
from the past. \ tear weied up INTO the
old mans eye, but he brushed it away,
aud commenced:
Twenty years ago, no lighter hearted
youth ere danced in crowded ballroom,
joined in the chorus of morry song. Or
guaiied the bright juices Of the grapo-
Ny parents, aged and tottering doated on
me, and everything wished for was fur
ni,hcd me How did | repay that kind
ness Good God, forgive me but to
my story
:" married Ny wife was ono Of those
gems so seldom met with in scriety--uu-
assuming, modest and bcautilul-and /,
loved her, deep, true aud fcrgenty. and
she loved me- There might have been
in our home an earthly heaven, but low
ed the red wine, and itmade me- demon,
fcnd, and a--but why bctatc myself.
was happy for time, and might long
have continued 50.
AZ SOU was LJrn-a bright-eyed, fair
haired child, and my happiness was in
tensiicd, We had been married five
years, aud they were the happicst years
Ger enjoyed by man since an angry Gre
ator expelled them from Eden Five
years Of unaIIoycd bliss, -tinged with no
dark shadow, but finally blasted by my
own dark hand
The habits of my former life still
rIung to me. The sparkling bowl, the
Joyous laugh, and the merry song, still
had their charms for me. | sometimes
left the quiet happiness Of my own fire
side to participate IN the boisterous mirth
Of jovlal as,emblagos
by degrees, tho love of wine grew
strong upon me. Gradually, the charms
pf the jewellers board oycr-shudowed
those of my own iire>ide. My absent
evenings grew more frequent, and somc-
times when wcpded my way homeward,
tate at night my step was heavy, aud my
breath laden with the fumes Of the red
mocker In sort, ! was often drunk
bea,tIy drunk
My boy was Just beginning to talk
Ills innocent prattlc charmed my sober
moments, and ! resolved to abandon en-
girely the reyclIcrs table, and the de
bauchees bowl But twas too late
was in the co.'s of the serpent; the tyrant
bad ms chains upon me; and in vain /
sought to free myselt.
Young mau, It's true, only too true,
that Intcmpcrancc is the most dcSpotc
master to whom a man can b,w. Once
~ his clutch, escape is almost hopeless
ia vain you resolve to shake him oil, he
never relaXcs his grasp, but firmly holds
YOU rs his own discovered this, young
man, when | struggled against his power,
pnd invoke you, as you value your hap
pincss here and hereafter, earthly ana etcr-
iial, to never permit the demon to obtain
such sway over you. Had never yield
ed to him, would not Eow be the lonely,
widowed, cniIdlcSs being that | am. But
! should not complain. Twas my own
ftult, and mine alone. might nave long
been happy, but | dashed it aside for the
transient pleasures Of the intoxicating
cup"
The old man paused. Tears stood in
his eyes, and triokled down his cheeks.
Like vast panorama, the past stood be-
fore him, and he shuddered at the dark
picture it unfolded. Recovering himself,
he continued
Gone night | plunged deeper than ev-
rr, Wine aud excitement frenzicd me,
aud rose from the table, mad-mad from
the effects of the dehauch, | reeled
homeward, rNing, deirous. My wife
met me at the door She saw my wild
looks, and asked f"