Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-26
A MELANCHOLY s1GHT---A WRECK.

Passing along the street our eve fell on
man sitting in front OF Il grog-cry. His coun-
tcnancc seemed familiar, and we turned tow
ard him for a moment, but seeing who he was,
We instnctiycly turned away, in the hope that
we might spare his feelings. This person we
often met few wears ago lie was then a
Young man III active business, with fine pros
poets ahead. lie was Il member Of the church,
and, far n We could Judge, his way wd>
open Ia u>cluluc,> and honor But, alas how
j. hc flllcn. How is the gold become dim
How is the most fine gold changrd' We
saw him, who u.iEht have sat among the elders
of the land, poor, supplied, bcsntttd drunk
ard. His face was covered with those signals
Of distress that proclaim Il >hipwrcck of al
character and happi:a>S-a shipwrcck intin-
itev more sad t. behold than when one stand,
on the beach to witness majestic vessel, laden
with the wealth OF India or China, dashed into
pieces upon the rocks. We could have wcpt
at the 81 GIT. How mouruful the fact, that
proud and noble cities can furnish hundreds.
nav thousands of such SpectarlcS.
How was this destruction wrought? How
was this temple, that might have rcSoundcd
with the prai>cs.Df God dclace and polluted:
All our readers can answer the question in
general way No doubt he became drunk-
ard by degrees. Perhaps only an occasional
glass was first taken for the sake Of good fell
lowShip; perhaps it was at the request OF some
fair friend who called him lover Little hv
little it grew upon him. KS sermon Or the
Sight of Il drunkard suggested to him his dan
grr. he was wont to persuade himself that he
could quit whenever he chose Bat inSrn>ihlv
III" habH was formed. which. like 4 boa con-
>trictor. now holds him within lis rc>i>tlc>S
coil While yet Il moderate drinkrr, he forged
the chain that now binds him down to the
rarth-a chain that he strives in vain to break.
jeremiah audrS in strong language to the
TREMENDOUS power Of evil habts-"Can the
Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his
SPOTS: then may we also do good Who are
ACCUSTOMED to do evil.
Have we the ear u( any one who niu'gc>
his appetite for strong drink only n h''. :.
Let us ask him to pause at once Now Is the
time while the marl>trom is atar Oft Ii you
wait until Won are once within its vortex YOU
will certainly be swallowed IN, unless byn
sort of miracle YOU ESCAPE. Had this poor
man stopped in time-rathcr had he never
hcgun-hc might have been leading man in
his calling, esteemed lay all. u>ctu! and happy.
AS it is, he is clothed with shame and feeds on
SurroW-
Inti' for earth. undoum,d fi Heaven;
narhness above, despair b'neAth.
Young man, what arc your habits? Do YOU
tanpcr with the cup: Doyou feel any desire
for it: DO you allow yourself to 60 to the
bar of the fashionable saloon or associate with
those who do: BeasSurcd YOU are in danger.
Why not stand on the safe ground as to this
most alarming wide spread sin: Remember
that. as he who goes not upon the water cam
not be drowned, 50 he who totally ab>tain>
from Intoxicating drinks as beverage cannot
live the drunkarls life nor die the drunkard' )
death. "Winc is mocker, and strong drink
is raging; and whatsoever is deceived thereby
is not wise" Look not thou upon the wine
when it is red, when it gveth its color in the
sup, when it moveth itself Alright
If dull weather affects you, marry warm
hearted girl. and make sunshine for yourself.
l. 1 l.