Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-12-07
A STORY OF THE wNE-CUP.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

Judge Halliston, at fashionable party
where wine flowed freely-"Y oung man.
put down that glass There is certain
death in it."
Harry Gordon dropped the crystal COB
let upon tho table, startled by the abrupt
exclamation Of the Judge and the ruby
wine flowed in a bright stream over the
Persian carpet.
"Sir, what mean you9" he cried, his face
flushed and his eyes were brilliant with ex-
,citement.
'I meau," said the Judge, calmly, draw
ing up his noble figure to its full height, al
mean to discountenauce, in every manner
possible, the use Of intoxicating drinks. My
young friend you were about to place to
your lips an internal poisonl You were
doing it gaiy, thoughtlessly, carelessly.-
Would you, if you stood at the very gate
of deaths dominion-would you dare, in
the face of God and his angels, quaff the
draught which but a moment ago, sparkled
in yonder shattered glass? Would yo63
The young mans brow grew pale-he
shrank before the solemn penetration of the
gaze fixed upon him, and his voice was
slightly unsteady, as he spoke the single
word, "How?"
"St down, my friends" said the Judge
to the gay company that had been smitten
to silence by the hidden meaning of his
words, "and you, too, Harry Gordon. l
have little story to relate to you, which
will possess double interest when tell you
that know it to be strictly true in every
particular.
Thirtv-fve years ago there resided in the
township of Milan a happy family. There
was father, mother, and three children;
two boys and girl. The father, whom
choose to call John Wood, was lawyer of
high repute; man of powerful intellect
and superior education. His wife was
most beautiful woman, highly gifted by ma
turc as we'll as art, and well worthy to be
the companion Of her husband. said they
were happy family-it was true. Peace
stayed all day with folded wing by their
hearthstone, and happiness was content to
abide there continually.
'John Wood stood very high in the esti-
nation of his townsmen; and by and by
his name was heralded abroad for nomina-
ton as Congressman from the Milan dis
trict. He received the support of his par
ty, and the election resulted in his elevation
to that important office. 1t would have
been difficult for him to have been other
wise than pleased with this testimonial of
esteem; and his hitherto quiet house was
thrown open for the reception of his polit-
ical friends. 1t was fashionable then, as in
some circles at the present, for every table
to be freely supplied with wine-paricu-
larly if there was company, and it required
a great deal of moral courage to break in
upon the usage. Of course the successful
candidate could not refuse TO treat his
friends, and so intoxicating liquors became
an everyday auxiliary upon the dinner Ia
bic of John Wood. At first he did not
sanction this-hc only suffered it-but
habit accustoms US to all things, and in
time he grew to think that meal very in
sipid which lacked the crowning charm of
wine.
Having discharged his duties at Wash
ingto to the satisfaction of his party, he vas
reelected for the ensuing term. His tai
onts fitted him for the highest rank in So
ciety, and at the gay Capital no party was
deemed complete without the presence of
the witty member from the Milan district.
He drank the highly favored champagne
which was offered him, first because it would
not do to seem odd; and afterward from
pure love of it. Wine became almost nee
essary to his existence; luxurious living had
vitiated his tastes and enervated both mind
and body, and to prevent reaction, and
consequent remorse, he eudeavored to cure
the disease with the very curse that had
engendered it. How many others have
done the same, until the God-given intellect
has set in backness and the light of life
been quenched in the eternal night Of
drunkard's grave.
John Wood, at the expiration of his
term of office, csme home to bis family
confirmed nebriate. Promise after prom
ise he had made to leave forever the tempt
ing poison but appetite always triumphed.
Friends entreated him-temperance vota-
ries did all in their power to save him; but
they produced at best, but a momentary
feeling of self-reproach in the breast of the
miserable man.
But John Wood was temporarily stayed
in his downward course by terrible dis
covery-a discovery which made even his
besotted soul shrink with horror His wife
his beautiful and accomplished wife--had
yielded to the ternptatiotions of tho spoiler,
and, following the example of her husband,
she was fast becoming that thing of which
no one could speak without loathing-G fs-
male druRkdrd!
For a time John retreated in affrightfrom
the yawning abyss Of intemperance which
had opened at his feet; he Stunned the
tavern and abstained from tho daily glass
his footsteps left the slippery places and
trod the adamantine path Of truth--but
alas! it was only for time! No gentle
home influence to keep him in the light of
the temperance star, but only creature to
add her temptation, her example, to the
strength of tho Wine Demon! He could
but lily resist the fascination, and so they
drank together, and together were intoxica-
ted. Their youngest child, the precious
baby, Mary, was quieted by her mother
with wine; and one day when tho fretful-
ness of the babe had tried the mothers pa
thence beyond its limits she poured down
its tbroata large quantity of brandy Mary
was thrown into convulsions from which