The Shasta courier., 1866-02-17

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS after the brief excitement
is over.' The face of Charles was yerv
sober. True words were reaching him with
convictions. He saw in the light of another
mind that was helping him to clearer
vision. Vice looked more hideous in his
eyes and more to be dreaded than it had ever
done; and virtue more beautiful and more to
be desired
= Suppose you were on a Journey" SAID
Mrs. Elder, land were to miss your way
and get into u road that seemed at first
parallel with the right one, but gradually
turned until it ran in the opposite direction
when would the return be the easiest
After the first few steps had been taken? or
after you had moved onward for a great
while in the wrong direction ?''
g Easiest after the first few steps of
course, replied the young man.
''It is just so in the journey of life
Charles" said Mrs Elder, with impressive
earnestuess. The longer your feet abide
in the wrong way the harder it will be to re-
turn. The first steps may be easily retrac-
ed; but if you once get involved in the
mazes of an evil life you will find it hard
nay, almost impossible to extricate yourself.
See what difficulties you have already en-
countered.o
81 have encountered no difficulties, Mrs.
Elder" said the young man.
6 You forget" she answered. "When
the virtuous turn from us coldly, and refuse
to let us associate with them, is not that a
great hindrance? Does it not push us be-
yond the attractive power of good. and make
the attractive power of evil stronger You
must have felt this already. Charles, for l
know that more than one circle of the yir
tuous has closed against you"
TIE young mans face crimsoned.
sc do not wish to offend or hurt you,
Charles" continued Mrs. Elder. g am
only trying, as best as | can, to make you
see upon what dangerous ground your feet
are standing. When once you comprehend
this, | am certain you will start back with
shudder of fear. Already there is a shadow
on your good character. Even as your feet
stepped over the threshold of mankind, you
let stain appear on your garments, and it
has been made visible to many who will not
fail to point it out, unless speedily removed.
Wash it off, my dear young friend"
MY wise, good, true FRIEND" sad the
young man, catching at the hand of Mrs.
Elder, and showing emotion. Il seem to
hear in your voice the voice of my mother
And l will take heed to the warning words
you have spoken so kindly, even as my moth
er would have spoken them. 1t was a good
providence that sent you into that car to-day.
was hurt and indignant and growing hard
and desperate under the cold repulsion with
which the persons you saw there treated me.
Your face, smiling on me as of old; your
kind voice; the earnest pressure of your
hand the warmly urged invitation to visit
you reassured me to better feelings. 1t was
in Gods mercy that | promised for as
walked homeward this evening. tempta
ton came in my way, which, except for my
promise to you could not have been resisted
| team, | trust, have no power over me again,
for, through your clearer eyes, | see my
danger as | never saw it before, and stand
appalled, on the very brink of an abyss, into
which single step might at any moment
have plunged me-"
The young man wept, and in his tears
Mrs Elder saw rainbows of hope
6 Charles" said the employer of Tilden,
as the young man came into the counting
room where the latter was seated, the next
morning, Il think you are acquainted with
the young men who are so disgracefully ex-
posed in today's paper"
"What young men ?' asked Charles, with
an instantly blushing face.
Reed, Harrison. Cotton and John War
field" was answered.
81 have heard nothing of it, sir; what has
happened them ?'
" They were on drunken frolic last night,
when one of them insulted a lady, and was
knocked down by her husband. He was
knocked down in turn; but recovering him
self, he struck one of his assailants and broke
his arm. The final result was an arrest of
the four young men by the police, who will
have to give bail this morning for their good
behavior and appearance in Court. Two of
them, Cotton and Warfeld, will lose their
situations, | know and the same result will
follow, no doubt, in other cases. If either OF
them had been in my employment, we would
have parted company here"
The employer of Charles did not know why
his clerks face turned SO pale
You were not with them, I hope" he
said. as sudden suspicion crossed his mind
"No, sir" And Charles looked at him
steadily, Il spent the evening with Mrs
Elder.''
"Ahv' The employers countenance
lighted up again. You could not have been
in safer company"
She is true, good woman, sir, replied
Charles, speaking with more feeling and free
dom than usual "and the early friend OF
my mother"
Z" If she be your mothers friend. visit her
often," was kindly answered. Next to a
mother is a mothers friend"
"Ohl what an escape" said Charles,
speaking to himself, as he turned away,
shuddering inwardly. ''And it was kind
word that saved me. Had Mrs. Elder treated
me like the rest, would have been overta
ken in this evil and lost. But God helping
me, will get back into the good path, and
never leave it,"
Wilkes BoorH.-The following item, ta-
ken from the New York Sunday Times OF
May 10Th, 1861, has been handed us TOR PUB
lication:
Another victim of unrequited affection is
Miss Henrietta Irving, an actress OF some
celebrity in Buffalo and other western @ Tr G,fies' :
with whose feelings, it would appear, Mr. .;
Wilkes Booth has been trifing. In a mt OF
,.: sbo entered his room at StanwIx