The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-04-24
An Effective Speech.

"a speech, a speech from Wilton =
cried the thoughtless fellows.
s'He can't make speech on cold wa
ter. l defy him, said one Of their num-
Der.
"My friends" began Wilton. M
CLEAR, hear he's really in for it now,
cried young man, whose flushed checks
gave pitiful signs Of his devotion to the
bottle. ''Wilton is ON his feet"
The comrade they called Wilton was a
young man, some twenty three years OF
age. Upon his face, within his eyes, a
settled melancholy rested. His manners
were as grave as those Of anold man. He
was often called Wilton the steady" on
account of his quiet adherence to prin
ciple.
The head partner in the firm in whose
employ Wilton was, gave great party
once year, and it was to this gathering
Wilton had been persuaded to come
| In vain his companions tempted him
with the wine that flowed freely. The
firm considered themselves good Christ
ians, as, indeed, did the world generally.
They gave largely to charities aud to then
church, where their seats were seldom
empty. They did a great deal Of good
with their money; Yet in placing this
iiery temptation before young men, some
OF whom were as yet without fixed pru-
ciples, they committed gross and al
most fatal error. Looking about him,
Wilton saw already many flushed, almost
to incbriatlon many eyes that, spite OF
their fash and sparkle moved with diff
Guilty, and that dire uIsteadiness that
marks the cipient stage OF drunkenness.
"My friends" he said, and then paused
as if to give greater emphasis to what
might follow, Il am going to make con
| iessloa."
Some Of the company smiled at this,
but by far the greater lumber were aweu
at the sad, yet earnest tones Of his voice.
live years ago | had a brother. !,
bright, beautiful lad, in whom the hopes
Of large family circle centered lie
was called a genius, and he was one
Sensitive, gentlehearted, and generous to
fault, he also gave promise Of extraordi
nary vigor Of mind. One night several
boys in the village where was born re
solved to have irollc. The party was to
be a secret one, and we were each to carry
from our homes, ii we could, provisions
and wine. 1t came off with success
There was good cheer, thore were bright
and flowing liquors we were all young
and buoyant. My brother had never
tasted VINE. Whether it was disiDcll-
nation caused by natural dislike, OF wheth-
Ell his intuitions led him to avoid it as
dangerous to him, | do not know. ! only
know-and the recollection is 1T this mo
ment burning in my brain-that we all
thought that live could get Herbertdruah.
it would be tine tun. Ileuds could not
have set themselves more ingeniously at
work to compass the object than We did
was foremost in the attempt | viii not
excuse myself, nor in aught palliate my
conduct l knew he had manuscript
poem at home, that had been pronounced
remarkable by competent critics; [ knew
he could lmprovise almost without mental
effort, and expected that, under the stin:~
fus of the fiery serpent-whote sting
| dread more than dread death-his brain
would be qaickeued, and we should be
charmed, perhaps amazed, at the exhibi-
lions of his rare gifts.
"At last we prevailed, but Instead o.
quickenlng the wine Supplied his iacul-
ties A few glasses reduced him to a state
Of utter inebrety.
The party broke up We were ali
wild with drunk and excitement ;; he alone
was immovable and quite insensible-
There was no rousing him from the state
OF deathIy sleep into which he had fallen.
dared not take him home that night.
teai ing that our frolic might be found outin
consequence OF the trouble VIC should
have in getting him to bis room. So we
LETT him there, lying as comfortable as we
could place him--his handsome la;ace flush.
ed and almost purple, his active brain,
for once. completely Supplied.
I'm the morning, was awakened by
the sounds Of sobs. A white, scared face
stood over me;a trembling, weak voice
cried out. @ Philip your poor brother!
Il sprang from my bed. My friends.
[ knew the truth soon enough Herbert
bad recovered consciousness in the night
sufficient to mislead him. lie had fallen
from the window, a height Of twenty feet
He was still living. In vain my prayers,
and tears, and anguish" lis voice ial
faltered.
young men, he is living yet, but On
incurabte idiot. Noav, will you ask me
to take the aecursed stuff? Yes, the
curse of the living God rests upon it, II
has burdened my life-it has ruined as
noble an intellect as ever was ready to do
battle with the faults and tollies of the
world. Do you still jeer and laugh, be-
cause | uW not be Joriai? | tell you if
it was living thing, would strans. it
and there is nothing upon earth l hate
with such deadly hatred"
There was deep silence. Not one in
all the company seemed inclined to drink
again Watchman and PeAeefyr.
| CHARACTER is PowER.-It is often
said that knowledge is power. and that is