The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-06-28

was as firm as rock in the way of Right,
and no power could move him to tempta-
ton.
"Judge Worthington," said Beekman,
in an earnest, solemn tone, tsyou do not
mean what you say"
"Yes-I mean exactly what f.say," re-
piled the judge. "Give me joy for to-
day."
"But you do not mean what your words
would seem to convey" persisted the old
lawyer, in the same earnest, serious tone.
"You are impressing the minds Of several
young men who are present, and I am
sure the lesson you have just let fall from
your lips is not one which you would give
to son whom you were about to send out
into the world"
At first Worthington seemed inclined to
be offended at this freedom, but gradually
lis good nature came back, and he asked
Beekman what he meant.
"Pll tell you what I mean," replied
the old man, "and I know you will pardon
me for the liberty take, when l assure
you that | do it for the good Of those
about me-" ~
All eyes were at once turned upon the
speaker, for his tones were solemn, and
there was gathering moisture in his eye,
which told Of feelings deep and powerful.
"Few men are aware" he said, "of the
vast influence which words, lightly spo-
ken, may sometimes have, especially when
they come from the lips of those who oc-
cupy stations of trust and honor. Every
man must exert some influence, and he
may make that influence good or bad, as
he will But it unfortunately happens
that most of the bad influence which comes
from those who are right at heart, pro-
ceeds from deeds of thoughtlessness, or
from words spoken without any real intent
or meaning. 1 will tell you the story Of
my first fatal fall, and you may then know
what [ mean"
"When I was twenty-five years of age,
l settled in Hanover county, and was do.
ing a good business. I was fattered on
all hands, and my circle of acquaintance
was as respectable as it was extensive
But in the midst of all those blooming
flowers and buds of promise of my youth,
there lurked one enemy. I did not fully
realize the power then, but there was one
that did.
"My widowed mothersaw my danger and
warned me Of it. Iemuel,' she said to me
and she said it many times-said it with
tears and prayers-'you are not safe while
you tamper with the wine-cup. You are not
like Others of your acquaintance. You
have a constitutional inability to use wine
moderately. You inherit it from your
father. If you do not cut off your habit
entirely and forever, it will surely work
your ruin And then she would beg Of
me to give her my pledge that I would
touch it no more. Had given my moth
or that pledge, should never have bro
ken it; but / could not do it then. I
could not meet my friends in the district,
and refuse the social glass. / told her I
would not carry it to excess, but she only
shook her head, and replied that I had
no power over an appetite which dared
dime went ON. and .cont;nnad 4 Il.
tend 10 INV business Int + nos heeon,; ~ \
more and more . slave to tba cnn I
could see II plainlv i often became Who'll
lv intoxicated 81 n;oht. after The CONT
session was over. bnt nv friends mt t ma
to bed and nd manv knew Of nv weak.
ness. NV mother saw Il boweyer and
She still plead with ma. FINALLY she made
arrangements 70 % On visit to New