Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1860-11-01
A STORY OF THE WINE CUP.
DY CLARA AUGUSTA.

wine noweo olreely-"young man, put down
that glass! There is certain death in it."
Harry Gordon dropped sthe crystal COB.
let upon the table, startled by the abrupt
exclamation of the Judge, and the ruby
wine flowed in bright stream over the
Persian carpet.
Sir, what mean you?" he cried. his face
flushed and his eye brilliant with excite
ment. -'-.-.-.
Il mean" said the Judge, calmly draw
ing up his noble figure 10 his full height;
81 mean said the Judge to discoutenance,
always, in every place, at every time, and
in every available manner. the use of in
tOxicating drinks. My yyouug friend, you
were about to place to your lips an internal
poison! You were doing it gaily. thought
lessly, 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. a moment ago,
sparkled in yOnder shattered glass? Would
you?"
The young mans brow grew epaler-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?"
"Sit down my FRIEND" 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 a
little story 10 relate 10 you, which will pos
sess double interest when tell you that /
know it 10 be strictly true in every partic-
ular.
. Thirty.fve years ago;
there resided in the township of Milan q
happy family. There was a father, a
mother and three children; two boys and a
girl. The father, whom choose TO call
John Wood, was lawyer of high repute,
a man of powerful lntellec. and superior
education. His wife was beautiful wo-
man, richly gifted by nature as we'll as ar,
and we'll worthy 10 be the companion of her
husband. / said they were a happy fami-
ly-it was true. Peace lay all day, with
folded wing, by their hearth-stone, and
Happiness was content to abide there con-
tinually.
"John Wood stood very high in the esti-
mation of his townsmen; and by-the.by, his
name was heralded abroad for nomination
as Senator from the Milan District. He
received the support Of his party, and the
election resulted in his elevation 10 tha. i'm
portant Office. 1t would have been diff.
cult 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. II.
II was fashionable then, as in some circle,
at the present day, for every table to be
freely supplied with wine-particularly, if
there was company; and it required great
deal Of moral courage to break it upon the
usage. Or course, the: successful candidate
could not refuse to ''treat" his friends; and
SO intoxicating liquors became an every
day auxiliary upon the dinner-tab!e of
John Wood. At first, he did not sanction
this he only suffered it-but habit accus-
toms us 10 all things, and in time. he grew
TO think that meal very insipid which
lacked the Growing charm of Uine.
Having discharged his duties at Wash
ington to the satisfaction of his party, he
was reelected 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 pres
ence of the witty and accomplished Sena.
tor from the Milan District. He drank
the highly favored champagne which was
offered him first, because it would not do
10 seem 'odd,' afterward from pure love of
it. Wine became almost necessary to his
existence; luxurious living had vitiated his
tasted, and enervated both body and mind,
and to prevent reaction and consequent re-
morse, he endeavored 10 cure the disease
with the very cause 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
gravel
"John Wood. at the expiration Of his
terms of Office, came home to his family a
confirmed inebriate. Promise after prom
ise he had made 10 leave forever the tempt
ing poison, but appetite always !riumphed.
The serpent was too strong for the seed Of
the woman. Friends entreated him--tem-
perance votaries did all in their power toI
save him, but they produced, at best, but q
momsntary feeling Of self-reproach in the
breast Of the miserable nan.
l.. a.