The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-11-28
g a Story Of the Wine Cup.
By CLARA AvstusTlA,

|
Roc s7' "a st.' a 81 taia-7s gaa1e f!ia
Harry Gordon dropped the crystal goblet
upon the table, startled by the abrupt excla.
nation of the Judge, and the ruby wine flow.
ed. in q Bright stream over the Persian car.
pet :, IN !. .,, n ' NV.
B" Sir, what mean7you :" he cried, bis face
flushed and his eyes were brillisnt with eKs
element. 1e. e kas5asl fsi
II ipesn. sssld lle Jadasss, Il sIy. a,slsise
up bis Rs6ls figure to ils full height, aTmsan
to discountenance, always, in every manner,
the use Of intoxicating drinks. My young
friend. you were about to place to your lips
on Internal poison! You were doing it gaily,
tbougbtlessly, -cnrelessly. Would you, if
you stood at the very gate of deaths domin-
ion-would you dare in the face OF God and
His angels, qudff the draugbt which, but a
moment ago, sparkled in yonder shattered
glass Would you g.
The young mans brow. grew pnlc-he
shrank before the solemn penetration of the
gaze Fixed upon him, and his, voice was
slightly unsteady ps he spoke the single
word-"How :"
.""Sit down my friends" said the Judge TO
the gay company that had been smitten to
silenceby the hidden meaning of his words,
sand you, too, Harry Gordon. have lit
tle. STORY 10 relate to you, which will possess
double interest when tell you tho, know
il TO be strictly true in every particular. 4
as" = Thirty.fve years ago
there resided in the township of Milan
happy family. There was father, mo.
ther and three childen /; 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 a most beautiful woman, high.
II gifted by nature as we'll as art, ard well
worthy to be the companion Of her husband
said they were happy fomily-it was
true. Peace stayed all day with folded wing
BY their hearth stone, and happiness was
content to abide there continually.
John Wood stood very high in the estima.
ton Of bis townsmen and by the.by, bis
name was hers ded abroad for nomination
as Congressman from the Milan disuct.-
He seceiyed the support Of bis party, aud the
e'ection resulted in his elevation to that i'm.
portant Office. 1t would have been difficult
for him to have been otherwise than pleased
with this testimonial OF esteem and his
hitherto quiet house was thrown open for the
reception of political friends. 1t was fash.
ionable !hen, as in some circles at the pres.
ent for every table to be freely supplied with
vine particularly ifthere was company
and It required great deal of moral Courag e
to break in upon the usage. Of course the
successful candidate could not refuse to treat
bis friends, and so intoxicating liquors be.
came an every day auxiliary upoa the dinner
table oi John Wood At first he did notI
sanction this-he only suffered it-but habit
accustons us to all things, and in time he
grew to think that meal very inspid which
lacked the crowning charm of wine.
Having discharged his duties at Washing.
ton TO the satisfaction of his party, he was
re elected for the ensuing term. His talents
fitted him for the highest rank in society,
and at the gay Capital no party was deemed
complete without the presence OF the witty
member from the Milan district. He drank
the highest favored champagne which was
offered him first, because it would not do to
seem 'odd,' and aherward from pure love Of
it. Wine became almost necessary to his
existence (; luxurious living had vitated his
tastes and enervated both mind and body,
and to prevent Reaction and consequent re.
morse. he endeavored to cure the disease !
with the very curse which had engendered
it. How many others have done the same,
until the God given intellect has set in
blackness, and the light OF life been quench
ed in the eternal night of drunkard's grave.
John Wood, at the expiration of bis term
of Office, came home to his family confirm
ed inebrate. Promise after promise he had
made to leave forever the tempting poison,
but appetite always triumphed. The ser.
pent was too strong for the seed Of TIE Vo
man. Friends enireaied him-temperanc
votaries did all in their power to save him,
but they produced at best, but a momentsry
feeling of selfreproach in the breast of the
miserable man. y. ssa.js. .i
And John Wood wac temporarily staid in
his downward course by terrible discovery
"a discovery which made even his besotted
soul shrink with horror His wife-his
beautiful and accomplished wife-had yield.
edato the temptations of the spoler, and,
following the example of her husband, she
was fast becoming that thing Of which no
one could speak without loathiDg-o female
a sttJ a9sioc g5
For time John retrested in fright from
the syawnibg abyss Of intemperusce which
had opened at hisfeet; be Stunned the tav.
err, and abstained from the daily glass !; his
footsteps left the slippery places and took
upon the adamaDtihe path of trOth-but,
alas it was only for atims! No gentle
homo influence to Keep him in the light Of
the Temperance Star, but only cresture to
add her tsmptstionj her example, to the
strength of the Wine Demon! bHs could
hut illv resist the fascination, and 80 othev