Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-06-06
An Effective Speech.

y Spcecn, spcccn from W iltOn
cried the thoughtleSs fellows.
lie can't make speech on cold
water. defy him; said one of the
number.
My friends, began Wilton.
'I1car, hear. he's really i'm for it
now cried young man, whose flush
ed cheeks gave pitful signs of his de
votion 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 a grave rs those of
an old man. He WAS often called
Wilton the steady on account of his
quiet adherence % principle.
The head partner in the firn in
whose employ Wilton was, gave Il
great party once year, and it was to
this gathering Wilton had been pur-
suaded 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 their church, where
their seats were seldom empty. They
did a great deal of cOod with their
money; yet i'm placing this fiery temp
tation before young men some of
whom were as yet without fixed prin-
ciplcs, they committed Il gross and al
most fatal error. Looking about him,
Wilton saw already many flushed
faces almost to inebriation; many
eyes tha; spite of the flash and sparkle,
moving with difficulty. and that dire
unsteadiness that marks the incipient
stage of drunkenness.
MY friends said he, amlxt
paused as if to give greater emphasis
To what might follow, / am going to
make Il confcssion.'
Some of the company smiled at this,
but by far greater number were awed
at the sad yet earest tone of his voice.
Give years ago | had q brother, Il
bright, beautiful lad, in whom the
hopes of large family circ,c centcrcd.
He was called Il genius, and he was
one. Sensitive, gentle hearted, and
generous TO fault. nc also gave prom
i~c of extraordinary vigor of mind.
One night several boys in the village
where | was born, resolved to have 4
frolic. The party was To be Il secret
one and We were each To carry from
our homes, il we could, provisions and
wine. II came off with success. There
was good cheer, there rcrc bright and
flowing liquors; we were all young
and buoyant. Ny brother had never
tasted willie. Whether it was Il disin-
cliuatinn causcd 10y natural dislike, or
whether his intuition led him TO avoid
it as dangerous to him do not know.
| only Snow-and the recollection l.
at this moment burning in my brain
that we all thought if we could get
Herbert drunk ii would bc fine fun.
Friends could not have set themselves
more ingcniously at work to compass
this object than we did. ! wa fore
most in the attempt. will not excuse
myself nor in aught ralliatc my con-
duet. knew he had II manuscript
poem ut home, that had been pronoun-
ccd remarkable by competent critics.
knew he could improvisc almost
without mental effort, and expected
that under the stimulus of the fiery
serpent whose sting dread more
than / dread dcath-his would bo
quickcncd, and we should be charm
ed. perhaps amused, al the exhibition
af his rare gift.
At last we prevailed, but instead OF
quickcning, the wine Supplied his fac
ultics. \ few glasses reduced him 10 Il
state of utter inchricty.
The party broke up. We were wild
with drink and excitement; he alon,
was immovablc and quite inscnsihlc
There was no rousing him from tho
state of deadly sleep into which h'
had fallen. dare not take him HON,
that night, fearing that our froli'
might bc found out in consequence o
the trouble we should have In getting
him to his room. So we left him there
living as comfortable rs We could place
hin-hs handsome face flushed al''
almost purple, his active brain 70
once, completely stupifcd.
In the morning | was awakencd.h,
the sound Of sobs. A white, scare,
face stood over me, n trembling, veal
voice cried out; % Phillip, your poo
brother
sprnng from my bed. My friend
knew the TRUTH soon enough. Her
bert had recovered Consciousness il
the night. sufficient 10 mislcad him
He had fallen from the window,
. height of twenty feet. lie WAS I'll
living. I'm vain my prayers, and an
, ruish.' His voice ialtcred.
Young men, he is living yet, bl
? an incurablc idiot. Now will YOU n
me 10 take the accurscd stun? le
: the curse of the living God rests upo
it. II has hludencd my life it Ia
: ruined rs noble an intellect n eve
was ready TO do battle with the faul