The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-05-15
AN EFFEC five SPEECH.

AtHt rlInakt speech on cold va.
ter. defy him. said one Of their mum
Der.
!" My friends" began Wilson. +, !.
" Hear, hear he's really in for it now, /"
cried young man. whose flushed cheeks
gave plliful signs Of his devotion TO the bot
te. " Wilton IS on his teet."
Ihe comrade they called Wilton was a
young man, snne twenty three wears Of
age. Upon his face, within chs eyes, a
'ettled melancholy rested. His IN ,nners
we're as grave as those Of an old nan. He
was often called " Wilton the steady" on
account Of his quiet adherence 10 primer
pie.
Tue head partner of the firm in whose
employ Wilton was. gave great party
once year, aud il sas to this gathering
Wilton had been persuaded to come.
ln vain his companions tempted him with
the ~lEe that flowed freely. The firm con-
sidered themselves gund christians. as. ia.
deed. dad the world generally. They gave
iaIgslf 10 charlties and to their church,
where their seals were seldom empty. !.
They did great deal Of good with their
money yet IN placing this fiery temptation
before Young men. some Of wnom were a.
yet without liked principles, they Commit.
led gross aud almost fatal error.
Looking about him, Wilton saw already
many Aushed almost 10 inebria,ion-many
eyes that, spite Of their fash and sparkle.
moved with difficulty. aud that dire un-
siesdIness that marks the lnsipient stage of
drunkenness.
Wy friends" he said. and then paused
as 4 - give greater emphasis 10 what
night follow, aai going to make con-
fesslun."
Some Of The company smiled a. this, but
~ lar the greater number were awed az
the sad. yet earnest tones OF his voice.
five yeas x had brother, a bright,
beautiful l.G. 10 whom tie hopes ot large
iamily citcl. centered. lie vas called a
genius, aud he was one. Sensitive, gentle
hearted, and generous 10 iaull, he a so gave
promise Of extraordinary yispr .of mind
one night several boys in the village where
was born resolved 10 have irolc. The
party was 10 be secret one, and We were
each 10 carry from our homes, II we coulli
pISsislons aud wine. l,came of with sue
cess. There was gpud cheer. there were
bright aud flowing liquors We were all
Young aud buoyanl. Ny brother had never
lasted vine. Whrtllerit wasa disinclina.
ton caused my natural dislike, or whether
his intuitIons led him Ia avoid il a. DANCE
rous TO him, do not know. only know
and the recollection j. al this moment
burning IN my brain-.hat We all thought
that u We could get Herbert drunk, i, would
be tine fun. Firnd. could not have set
themselves mare ingeniOusly 10 work to ex
ecute this object than We did. | was fure-
most ~ the attempt. | will not excuse
myself. nor IN aught palliate my conduct.
! Knew he had manuscript purm at home
that had been pronounced remarkable by
competent critics. knew he could i'm
prosise almost without mental effort, and
expected that under the stimulus OF the fie-
~ serpent-whus- sting dnad more than
! dread deaih--hi. BRAN would be quick
ened, aud Wa should be charmed, perhaps
amazed, al the exhibition Of his rare giits.
AT last we prevailed but instead ~
quickening, The vine stupei,d his facul-
ties. A Few glasses reIuced him to state
of utter Inebrlety.
The patty broke Up. We were all
drunk with wine. and Wild with excite.
meut; he alone was immossble, and quite
insensihle. There was no rousing him from
the state Of deathly sleep into which he had
fallen. dared not take him hume that
night, fearing tha, our irolic might We found
out in consequence Of the trouble we should
have 10 getting him TO his room. 80 We
lett him there. lying as comfortable as we
cuuld place hIm--his handsome lace flush
ed and almost purple, his active brain. lor
once. completely stapehed.