Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-30
ddtstharb tbs Course Of empire takes its 0olap.
COUNTY IOWA. THURSDAY july go 1863

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the race so much that, notwithstand
ing his fathers rcpria,and, he man
aged to pursue the same sport more
times than only that once ..
"As soon as the summer was ended
Mr.. Allen went to Europe for his health
and did not see his sonagain for three
years, till left the country and enter
ed the same college with him. Frank
commenced studying very earnestly
but before the first year was ended
the earncstncss bad all passed away
Friends would induce him TO spent
his evenings at their rooms, or at som.
public place Of amusement, and eacl
time Frank would try to satisfy hi.
conscience with 1t will be only this
once.' Thus by degrees his lessons
were neglected, and as study became
irksome. his love for excitement and
gayety increased, till one day over
heard gentleman, who knew him
well. remark that he feared Franks on
ly this once would prove his ruin.
A few years before, Frank would
have been shocked with the though,
of spending afternoons in racing, and
evenings in billiard saloons and suct
places |; nor did he at one time, ever
really intend to go to the latter more
than once, just to see for himself;
but there are very few who ever stop
in the course Of wrong doing, at only
this once.'
when the tidings of his fathers
death reached Frank, he seemed more
thoughtful for time but in an hour
Of temptation he yielded Before long
his old companions surrounded him
again. and Of them he soon learned
how to spend the large fortune lef,
him by his father, in most reckless
manner. .s
In vain his true friends tried tC
stop him in his wild career of sin ant
folly, and, five years ago, Harry, Franz
died drunkard." ... .........
"Oh father, how dreadful !" ant
Harry shuddered as he thought the
story over.
Yes, it is dreadful. my son but
there is countless untold stories as
dreadful as this one. If we should
visit a prison, and ask the wretched
Inmates how it was they were first led
into crimes, we should find that only
this once brought most of them there
One took something which did not be.
long to him, never intending to do il
more than that once but the crime
very soon grew into habit. Anoth,
er was once tempted to gamble, and
only that one game was the founda.
tion Of all his crimes.
Then learn, my son, to dread those
three little words. and when tempted
to use them, think of all they may
lead to, and ask for strength to resist
the temptation ; aud Harry, do you
wonder now at our refusing to let you,
even once, visit the billiard room I?
No, father. see now that you
were right. and | was wrong in suppo-
sing that it could not possibly do me
any harm to 60 only this once, and
il Jim does tell the boys some silly
story, to make them laugh at me, |
can tell them about Frank Allen, and
that will sober them soon.
Dear young reader, do you think it
ia trifling thing to do wrong" only
this once 2" II SO, stop and think OF
the countless stories many wretched
ones could tell you ofits ruining power.
Stop, and pray that God will change
that careless heart Of yours. and then
determine solemnly with his aid to re-
sist unto death temptations to do wrong
only this once" v