The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-06-16
Sunshine and Shadow.
a TRUE SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF EDWARD ALLEN

Edward Allen and Mary Sommers plighted
their faith, in holy wedlock, in MAY, 1850
They were highly respected in the rural
neighborhoOd in which they lived and many
and sincere were the CONGRATULATIONS and
good wishes that greeted them at the bridal
altar, on that bright May day, when, IN the
village church, the man Of God Joined their
hands and pronounced them imam and wife"
Though IN comparatively humble circum-
stances, their prospects In life were by no
means devoid of promise Blessed with
health the husband the master of trade,
andpOssessing the confidence and esteem Of
all within their circle of acquaintance what
boon, Ordinarially enjoyed by mortals, might
not be made?
They prospered; pleasant little home
stead was purchased, enIivened and sweet
ened by blossoms of conjugal affection, and
! lighted and cheered by the sunny smiles and
merry prattle of little Willie a tender and
beautiful bud, sent by heaven to be the in-
dissoluble link of happy union
Edward said Mrs. Allen one evening,
/ to her husband, as she placed little Willie in
his cradle and tucked the clothing tenderly
around him-"1dward have you completed
| Mr.. Browns new store room p
! " We shall finish it tomorrow Mollie," re-
piled he, and, as 1 shall make good profit
on the job, if you wish, you can take the
| trip to town to see your aunt Jane of which
! you have spoken go frequently
"Thank you, dear; but can you spare so
much money, and yet be able to meet the
last payment on the house and lot? you know
| that it will soon be due"
Why, didn't tell you about taking up
| the mortgage last week p asked Edward
90! what good news I'm so glad" and
the face Of the happy wife seemed all agIow
with womanly pride and satisfaction as she
seated herself by the side of him she so
much loved and gaily chatted of her iuten-
ded visit Soon they would be able to pur-
chase, the long wished for furniture for their
little parlor and Edward could repIenish
his wardrobe, which, in his manly desire to
be free from debt, he had allowed to become
somewhat stinted.
! And thus they talked and planned for the
future, while the moments winged on un-
| needed; nor paused IN their gala fancies un-
til footsteps without and the pleasant tinkle
of the door bell announced an evening call
1t was the village pastor and his wife, and
most hearty was the welcome they received
from the happy Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Cheer
/ full and refreshing was the conversation that
ensued and the ties that bound the two fami-
/ lies together were mutually strengthened
At length Mr.. Hastings (for that was the
pastor name) remarked-"S So you're about
| done on Mr.. Brown new store-room, brother
Allen?
q Yes sir, we shall finish it tomorrow
d" wish you no harm" continued the
minister, but I'm sorry you, or any one else,
should have built that house for him
" Why so, Mr. Hastings ?' asked Mr.. Allen
in surprise
81 am informed" said their pastor, that
Brown is going to open a liquor establish
ment there and I'm afraid it will be the Occa-
sion of sin and ruin and woe to some of my
little flock. / greatly deprecate the intro
duction of the sale of this fearful poison in
our community"
The sentiments of ch one composing
that little group were in unison with those
expressed by the good pastor, and their re
grets at parting were as sincere and mutual
| as had been their congratulations at meet
ing; and ferVent were the responses of all,
when, in his parting prayer, Mr.. Hastings
asked on behalf of the loved ones present
and all his little fock, lead us not into
temptation but deliver rs from evil
! X
Come, Allen, take glass of wine =" said
Brown one day about six months after, as
the two had just completed a settlement of
their accounts, and Mr.. Allen was about de-
| posting two hundred dollars in gold, In his
purse-the last payment on contract for
building a dwelling house for Brown, ad
| joining his store.
mo, Brown, thank you; I got drunk one
/ day when about twenty years DID, and made
up my mind to let liquor alone from that
time. I like the taste and the effects as we'll
as any man, but do not consider IL safe to
indulge my appetite"
At this Brown laughed heartily, and
! iocosely insinuated that " neighbor Allen
was afflicted with moral cowardice, and be-
sides, 1t was unsocial not to accept the kind
invitation Of a friend who had given him
| several good Jobs, and who had always
promptly paid him. Well versed In human
nature, Brown had maneuvred skillfully;
touched the weak point and gained his OBJ
ject as the the reply of Allen Will show:
Well, Brown, there's no cowardice in me
and as l don't wish you to consider me un-
social and ungFateful, if you'll bring some
wine from the store, I'll take little with
| you just for friendships sake, but can go
to the store and drink publicly"
Little did Brown care about that; his OBJ
/ iect being to wake up the old appetite and
as be poured the sparkling LIQUID into the
| goblet Allen held in his hand, he was busy
| with the calculations Of the probable outlay
Of what seemed to be social politeness and
| friendship
Soon, another job was contrived for Allen,
and no remonstrance or apology would be
accepted by the afable Mr.. Brown; they
| took their social glasses together moro fre-
quentIy, until finally, Allen ceased altogether
to decline the proffered glass, though, in
spite of himself something would whisper
in his ear, look not thou upon the wine
when it is red.
-Four years have passed, but alas how
changed is the once happy home of Edward
Allen. Little by little the moral sensibili-
ties had become deadened by the stealthful
influence of the infatu2tinr poison until he,
who once refused to take a social glass Of
wine with the respectable Mr. Brown in his
new store, was not ashamed to lie beastly
drunk in the public streets and roads, the
Jest and byword of vulgar boys, and the
sickening object of pity or contempt of all
respectable people. Little by little had the
gold vanished from his purse and the arti-
cles Of household furniture and domestic
comfort disappeared from the once cheerful
homestead. Little by little had debt accu-
mulated at the liquor store, until, at last,
l that homestead was sacrificed under the