Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-04-19
An Effective Speech.


th0ughtlcss fellows.
ale can't make a speech on cold wa
ter. l defy him." said one Of their num-
Der.
"My friends" began Wilton.
"Hear hear, he s really in for it now
cried young man whose flushed checks
gave pitiful signs of his devotion to the bot
tie. "Wilton is on his feet
The comrade they called Wilton, was
young man some twenty three years of
age. Upon his face, within bis eyes, a set
tied melancholy rested; his manners were
as grave as those of an old man. He was
often called Wilton the steady" on ac
count of his quiet adherancc to principle.
The head partners of the firm in whose
employ Wilton was, gave great party
once year, and it was to this gathering
Wilton had been pursuaded to come.
In vain his companions tempted him
with the wine that flowed freely. The firm
considered themselves good Christians, as,
indeed, did the world generally. They
gave largely to charities, and to their church
where their seats were seldom empty
They did great deal Of good with their
money. yet i'll placing this fiery temptation
before young men, some OF whom were As
yet without fixed principles, they commit
ted gross and fatal error. Looking
about him, Wilton saw already many faces
flushed almost to inebriatiOn many eyes
that. spite of their fash and sparkle, NOV
ed with difficulty, and that dire unsteadi-
ness that marks the incipient stage OF
drunkenness.
"My friends" he said, and then paused
to give greater emphasis to what might
follow, II am going to make confessions"
| Some of the company smiled at this, hut
! by far the greater number were awed at
the sad, yet earnest tones of his voice.
"Fiye yeare ago had brother. q
bright, beautiful lad in whom the hopes of
large family circle centered. He was
called genius, and he was one. Sens.
tive, gentle hearted, and generous to-
tau It, he also gave promise of cXtraordi-
nary vigor of mind. One night, several
BOYS in the village where | was born. re-
solved to have frolic. The party was to
be secret ne, and we were each to carry
from our homes. if we conld 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. Whether it was II disinclination
caused by natural dislike, or whether his
intuitiOns led him to avoid it as dangerous
to him, do not know. | only know-and
the recollection is at this moment burning
in my bran-that we all thought it we
could get II Herbert drink, it wonld be fine
fun. Friends could not have set themselves
more ingeniously at work to compass
this object, than we did. | was foremost
in the attempt. l will not excuse myself,
nor in ausht palliate my conduct. knew
he had manuscript poem at home. that
had been pronounced drcmarkable by eompc-
tent critics. knew he could iinproyisc
almost without mental effort, and expected
that under stimulus of the fiery serpamt
whose sting dread more than dread
death-his brain would he quickncd. per-
haps amazed, at the exhibition of rare gift
At least we prevailed, but instead of
quickenins, the wine stupcfcd his facul
tries. a few glasses reduced him to a
state of utter nchricty.
The party broke up. We were all wild
with drink and excitement hea lone was
immovehlc and quite inscnsible. There
was no rousing him from the state of death
ly sleep into which he had fallen. dared
not take him home that night, fearing that
our frolic might he found out in conse-
quence of the trouble we should have in
getting him to hi room. So we left him
, there, lying as comfortable as we could
place him-his handsome face flushed aud
almost purple, his active brain, for one,
completely stupeiied.
| In the morning | was awkened by the
sound of sohs, A white, scared face stood
over ME; a trembling, weak voice cried
OUT
80 Philip. your poor brothcr!"
| sprung from my bed, My friends,
knew the truth soon enough. Herbert had
recovered consciousness in the night, sulii-
cient to mislead him. He had falleu from
the window, a height of twenty feet. He
was still living. In vain my prayers and
tears, and anguish" His voice faltcred.
Young men, he is living yet but an IN
cmabic Wiot. Nom will you ask me to
take the accnrscd stuff! Yes, the curse of
the living God rests upon it. 1t has bur
dcned my lifc--it has ruined as noble an
intellect as ever was ready to do battle
with the faults and folies of the world.
Do you still jeer and laugh. because UiH
not be ,joriaU tell YOU if 1t was Il living
thing would stramgle it-and there is
nothing upon earth Ihate with such dead
ly hatred
There was deep silence. Not one in
again. IPatchman and Reflector.