The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-06-28
70 tie gsbs Of tie 9ag, 9gritrltnre, gittratHrs,


resolved upon the question She saw the
sparkle Of my eye, and she was content
She made me promise for the twentieth
time not to fail Of seeing her, and then
left her.
81 rode along to the distant courthouse,
and on the way pondered over the subject
that L had in hand. I knew that my
course was dangerous one-I knew that
there was no safety for me while I tam
pered with the enemy. A hundred times
had firmly resolved that I would only
drink few social glasses with my friends,
and then stop; but almost as often had 1
drank on until sense and reason were gone.
brought up all the social pleasures, all
the joy and hilarity of the convivial circle,
and all the troubles should have to en-
counter in refusing to join in the revelry,
and then against these I put the safety of
myself, and the happiness and peace of
my mother. This last consideration car
ried the day, and before I reached my
journeys end, | had resolved that would
give my mother the pledge. Oh would
that I had thus made up my mind before
left her that morning! Would to God
l had taken the pledge then. But felt
not the danger which few short hours of
hesitation can beget. / had come to a
conclusion to do right on the following
morning. did not think how much bet
ter it might be to commence then.
'"The business of the day was done, and
In the evening we were assembled in the
parlor of the tavern. I had not drank
during the session, for 1 meant to see nv
mother with clear head. I did not feel
that was cut off yet by my resolution, for
though the die, was cast, there was term
of limit which had not expired. In short,
had only resolved that my mother should
have the pledge, and until that time I felt
that was my own master. ~ Il Ill.,.
s'The name of our presiding Judge was
Rowland He was an old man, much
honored and respected, and looked up to
by all the younger members of the bar
with respect and confidence. He was
present in the parlor, and as the weight Of
the woolsack was removed, he became
jolly and humorous.
S. Let cares and sorrows take care of
themselves, he said, at the same time toss
ing off glass of wine. shall never
forget his words, for caught them with
strange avidity, and the devil of appe-
tite within me kept them echoing in nv
ears. why should we make it night,
when we can make it day just as well?'
the old Judge added with smile. sGive
me jog solsale 1 Rue, and When mast be
sad, let me dse.' "A short hJe and a mer-
ry one before a long life and sad one
"Such were some of the thoughtless,
meaningless sentences that fell from his
| lips, but they had quick and deep i'm
preston upon me. caught the danger
GUS inspiration-my soul felt the old
fame-and l grasped the wine cup with
a strange enthusiasm. Those few words
from the lips Of one whose position I hon
ored, spoken at random as they were,
turned me about in my track. Gould I
have gone on till the next morning, and
given my mother that sacred promise, all
might have been well; but I joined in
the wassail with reckless zest--we drank
and played till late hour---drank till /
knew no reasondrank till I was helpless
and senseless. When I came, to myself
the night had passed, and another day
was far advanced. ] bathed my feyered
browswallowed glass Of spirits to bring
back my scattered energies--and then hur-
ried Oft to meet my mother. But was
too late The vessel had been gone three
hours when got there, and Twas inform
ed that the captain had waited an hour.
for me at that.
Ks 81 returned to my home, and never saw
Imy mother again She died in New
York from sudden sickness, and was
left alone. Oh | howmany times did
wish had only given her that promise,
for | should surely have kept It. There
lis q mystery in this appetite for wins, which
lcannot fathom. / was too weak to con
|quer it alone, and T sank. / sank till I
was poor and degraded, and there I re-
manned for years, an object Of pity to my
friends, and subject of scorn to those
who bad never known me before. You
oil know the sad story Of my degradation,
and I need not repeat it. can only shy
that help came at length. It came 70 mo
I'm dream, in which my mother appear
led, and I gave her the pledge. I bowed
my gray head and solemply promised her,
believing that hef spirit was near lne, that
I would Do 4 man once more. I have kept
the pledge, and 1 win keep Il while i've.