Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-09-29
STEPS TO RUIN.
A TRUTHFUL STORY.

Iou see the log hut here represented
reader? Well, it is very puch like other
log huts, you say nothing remarkable
about it--what OF it? That is just wha,
| am about to tell you. If you should 90
with me-which you probably will not do
through one Of the beautiful Pennsylvania
forests, could show you the original OF
this picture, and unfold tale about il
which would perhaps be worth your hear
ing. and which would convince you that
there are associations connected with the
edifice, little remarkable AS it seems, which
must render it deeply interesting to me
Shall l tell you the tale? 1t was FIRST
Transcribed from my portfolio into Mrs
kirkland's beautiful and excellent Maga-
zine of Literature and Art; and so | will
give it to you somewhat abridged, from
that magazine. The sketch is sad one
too sad, perhaps you will say. But i,
carries lesson along with it which is
worth learning, and if learned, is worthy
OF being engraved with the point of di-
almond on the memory of every one, aud
especially of every young man. II is .
sketch of tempted, struggling, falling
1t wa. in the spring Of ls3-, that | Wis
ted the graveyard OF the little village OF
C, some miles inland from one of the
most charming cities in Connecticut
love q country graveyard. | love read the
inscriptions. rude and uncouth as many o.
them are, upon the stones which mark the
resting place Of the departed. But love
this iuclosure more than any other. 1t i.
the graveyard of my native village. Here
rests the t.shes of a mother whom almost
worshipped and here, too, is the form OF
a CHERISHED sister, a flower cut down while
yet fair and lovely, aud transferred tt
heaven. Side by side they rest-all that
is earthly OF the mother and sister; suG
as sit near the mounds apovc them,
seem to hold closer and sweeter commu.
mon with the spirits.
While | was wandering among the grave
in this inelosure, during the visit to which
l have alluded, my attention was di-
rected to one evidently made but q few
months. The earth was fresh around it
and it was plain that the chisel Of the uu
tutored sculptor had just traced the word;
Of mourners love upon that head stone
| turned to read them: ''Charles Ran
dolph, died Feb. 22d, aged 81 years |
was the name of one whom once lovec
Is brother! Though somewhat my sen
ior in years, the closest intimacy ant
friendship existed between US during the
sunny period of boybood. We shared eacl
others little joys and sorrows. We sa
side by side In the village school w
L., l.l ha nlc al
gether. The sports OF one were ne 'er com
plete without the presence Of the other
And Charles WAS dead His sun had gon,
down while it was yet day. How did b,
fall? must tell you.
had not heard of my friend for sever.
al years preceding the time when | frs
saw his tombstone. | had not forgotten
him. But amid the cares of my PROBES
sion, gradually ceased to correspond with
him, and at length lost the place of hi.
residence. The last time saw him was "a
his wedding Charles married long alte
LETT c. for distant home. But
was summoned to witness bis happiness
The object Of his choice was one will
whom We had both been familiar from
childhood. She was a charming girl. OF
en- at school, have | looked silly at he
over the top OF my spelling-book, from m,
seat across the room, and thought thcr
was no face so beautiful, no form so grace
ful and iry>like, as Emma's l am bu
an Indifferent philosopher. never mad
any pretensions in that way. But since
ripper manhood has overtaken me, hay,
often stopped a moment Or two, with per.
chance a slight tluttering of the heart, al
my memory dageuerreotyped anew tn
scenes of my childhood, to inquire wha
vas the meaning OF some Of those earle
emotions.
Charles and Emma were young whe,
they met at the altar-young and happy
They were not rich. Their parents dl'
not entail on them the curse Of fortune
They gave them respectable "settin.
OUT TO use the stereotype expression cur
rent in our neghborhood gave then
that, and their blessing-nothing more. -
With that patrimony, Charles and hi
bride, coon after their union, catching th
enthusiasm Of the enterprising sons an,
daughters Of Conneclicu; left their pleas
ant home and emigrated westward, t.
seek their fortune in the wildnerness Q
northern Pennsylvania. At this point
lost sight Of them-with one Of them for
ever--with the other, till ! saw her
crushed and brok en-. hearted widow-a Ns
omi, returned to bury her husband, and /
die among er kindred. The importan
incidents in their history subsequent t
the period Of their emigration, l learne
| c-..,, N ro1a h1a unnrco - r.