The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-08-06
AN EFFECTIVE sPKECH

eHe cant mako speech on cold
water ! defy him, said one 81 their
number
MY friends. began Wilton.
Hear, bear he's really in for isnow.
cried = young man whose flushed
checks gave pitiful agns oi bic devotion
o. TIE bottle. wilton is on his
I feet.
The oouarade they called Wilton was
a young man some twenty three years
Of age Upon his face, within his oyoa,
. settled melancholy rested, his man
ners we're as grave as those Of an old
man. He was often called Wilton the
steady. .pn account Of bis quiet adhe-
renee 10 principle.
The head partner in the firm in
whose employ Wilton was, gave great
party once year, and il was 10 this
gathering that Wilton had been porsua-
ded 10 come,
In vain hts companions tempted him
with the wine that flowed freely. The
"frm" considered themselves good
Christians, MS indeed, did the world
generally. They gave largely to chari-
ties and 10 the church, whore their
seats were seldom empty. They did
great deal Of good with their money,
yet in placing this fiery temptation be-
fore young men, some Of whom we're as
without fixed principles, they commit
ed gross and almost fatal error. Look
ing about him. Wilton saw already
many faces flushed to inebriation; many
eyes that, spite Of their fash and spar
kle, moved with difficulty, and that
dire unsteadiness that marks the ineipi-
ent stage Of drunkenness.
"My friends he said, and then
paused, as II TO give geater emphasis to
what might follow, II am going to make
a confession.
Some Of the company smiled al this,
but by far the greater number were aw-
ed at the sad yet earnest tones OF bis
voice
Give years ago / had hrother.
bright beautiful lad, in whom the hopes
OF large family circle centered. he
was called a genius, and he was one.
Sensitive, gentle-hearted, and generous
to fault, be also gave proaise of ex-
traordinary yigor Of mind. One night,
several boys in the village where was
born resolved to have a frolic. The
party was to be secret one, and we
each TO carry from our homes II we
could, provisions and wine 1t came
off with success. There was good cheer,
there were bright and flowing liquors.
we were all young and buoyant My
brother had never tasted wine Wheth-
er it was disinclinatien caused by nat
ural dislike, or whether it was intuition
that led him to avoid il as dangerous TO
him, do not know. / only know
and the recollection ut this moment Is
burning in my brain THAT we oil
thought that If we could get Herbert
drunk it would be fine fun. Fiends
could not have set themselves more in
geniously TO work to compass this OBJ
lect than we did / was foremost in
the attempt. will not excuse myself,
nor in aught palliate my conduct |
knew he had manuscript poem at
home, that had been pronounced re-
markable by competent critics; | knew
he could improvise almost without mem
tai effort, and expected under the slim
ulus Of the fiery serpent--whose sting
dread more than | dread death---his
brain would be quickensd, and we
should be charmed, perhaps amazed, at
the exhibitions Of bis rare gift
"At lastw prevailed, but instead Of
quickening, the wine stupifed his fac
ulties. A few glasses reduced ham to
state of utter inebriety.
"The party broke up. We were all
wild with excitement; he alone was inn
movable and quite insensible. There
was no arousing him from state Of
deathly sleep into which he had fallen.
/ dared not take him home that night,
fearing our frolic might be found out
in consequence Of the trouble we should
have in getting himte has room. So we
left him there, lying as comfortably as
we could place him m---his handsome face
flushed and almost purple, his active
brain for once completely stupefed
"In the morning | was awaked by
the sound OF sobs. A white, scared
face stood over me; q trembling, weak
voice, cried out:
80, Philip your poor brother"
Il sprung from my bed Ny friends,
knew the truth soon enough. Her
bert had recovered consciousness in the
night, sufficient TO mislead him, He
had fallen from the window, q height Of
twenty feet. He was still living. In
vain my prayers, and tears and an
lguish." His voice faltered
Young men, he is hving yet, but an
incurabie idlot, None will you ask me to
take the accursed stuf2 Yes, the
curse Of the living God rests upon it,
1t has burdened my Life lit hass ruined
as noble Ala intellect ~ ever was ready
to do battle with the faults aud follies
Of the world. Ip you still ieer and
laugh. because IuiH moi b. j0eiaif /
| tell You if it was living thing, | would
strangle it. and there IL nothing upon
earth hate with such deadly ha-
tired
There was deep silence. Not one
in all the company seemed inclined 10
drink again WoicAmGa and Reflector