The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-11-17
The ALCHEMY eF Vice.

to mind the story OF the Italian aTtlet WnO
meeting with child Of exquisite beauty,
wished TO preserve its features, for fear
he should never rec such loveliness again.
So he painted the charming face upon
canvass and hung 1t upon the walls OfhiH
studio. In his som6erest hours that sweet
gentle cOuntenaDce was like an angel OF
light to him. Its presence filled his soul
with the purest aspirations. II ever ]
find" he said, "a perfect contrast to this
bcautcous lace, | will paint that also, and
hang them side by side, an idral Of
Heaven and He'll" Years passed. Al
length in distant land, he saw, in priS-
on he visited, the mort hide0uS object he
ever gazed upon-a fierce, hAggaTd fend,
with gIaring eyes and checks derPiy fur
rOwcd with lust and crime. The artist
remembered his vow. and Immediately
painted n picture Of this loathSome form,
to hang beside the portrait Of this lovely
boy. The contrast was Perfect. HiG
dream was realized. The two poles Of the
moral universe were before him. What
was the surprise of this artist, when, on
inquiry into the history Of this horrid
wretch, to find that he was once that love-
angel and the demon Of the same soul,
now hang >idcby side in Tuscan gallery.
Kind reader, you need not travel tO q
fore ign gallery to see the transforming
power "f vice upon the body. That
hIazcn faccd, wantOn-lOOkng wreck Of
wOnaIhOOd was once a sweet, modest
little girl, that biushcd Mt the slightest in
dclicatc alluSion. That obese, bluntcd,
brandy burnt viSagc, was once n joyous
boy. What strange alchemy has wrought
this hcStinl transformation They have
been in the hard battle Of appetite, and
carry the scars Of many campaigns. In
the basement cells Of inebriety and the
saloons Of licentiousness, many youthful
forms are sitting for their pnrtrnits. The
demon artist Of lust and intempcrance is
gradually moulding them into tiends.
YOu may, young reader, steal secretly
into these helIs Of inebriety and harlOtry.
Your kind parents and friends may little
suspect your wayward prOclivitics. But
I've assured your "sin will find you out"
Vice cannot long remain concealed. The
soul has no place to hide it. Soon the
foul flame, through some rent or fssure Of
the body, will find expression. The in
most loves, desires and af1inities OF the
soul will mould the plastic body into q
corresponding likeness The body IL
flesh and blood statue Of the spirit, and
the conntcnance the play ground Of
oueht-feeling
"FOr the soul the body doth take.
For the soul is form, and doth the body make"
----~SO~~
III
oIce went to visit young playmate
whose father was pious man. The day
alter she returned home, - tho family
sat down to the breakfast table, she turned
to her own father, and said in very grave
voice:
Papa, wont you ask blessing, like
Mr.. :. dOest"
Not now, dear" said Mr. IL; ~
am not in the habit Of it."
May ], papa1"
Certainly, if you wish to, my child"
Then Emma clasped her little hands,
and bowed her head, until her brown curl6
almost covered her face, and said, Tever-
emily:
''Our Father who art in Heaven, please
to bless this nice breakfast, and make
papa and mamma, and George and Ine,
very good people. for Christ's sake.
Amen"
Was not that sermon for Mr.. HI
Some months afterwards, little Emma
was taken very i'll, and the doctor said she
must die. Oh with what anxious solici.
tude did her parents hang over her couch,
listening To her short, laborcd breath,
smoothing her fevcrish pillow, and hold.
ing cooling drausltS to her parcEed lips
llow eagerly did they listen to the inco-
hcrcnt words she uttered, and watched
for the faintest symptoms Of returning
rraSon!
oh! if she will only speak to me once
more, how cOmfortcd | shall bel" cried
her weeping mother.
= ] cannot give you up. my d1rling!"
Snbhcd crpoor father, kissing her wasted
hands.
At this moment Emma openedhe eyes,
and looked up in his face with her own
natural expression.
d" Papa, said she, "I'm going TO heaven;
and want you tn cSEne ton, whom Jesus
CALI you. Say Our Father won't you,
papa 2"
Mr.. II. sank upon his knees, trembling.
Can't you say It, dear papa ~ urged
the weak voice. "I will help you, il
yon'll try;' and she began the familiar
words, her fathers broken voice joining
with her. But before the prayer was
closed, her strength failed she sighed
softly, and without struggle her happy
spirit assembled to the bosom Of her Sa-
vi0ur, there to DC blessed forever. Will
Elnma's father ever forget the prayer that
she loved, or the sermon her brief life
preached to him? No, no.
w
NAGARA.-Thc old cataract Is thunder
ing OH as usual. 1t may not be strictly
necessary to state the fact yet we believe
the first impression Of every one on seeing
the Falls after u long absence from them,
is n kind Of sUrpri'e that all that tumult
Of waters should still be rushing OF, una.
bated and unchanged. We, therefore,
repeat the statement, that Niagara is going
on this season just as it did while the
Egyptian pyramids were building, and
just as the geologiSts say it did q million
years before the pyramids were begun.
Man, however, continues to make improve