The New Orleans crescent., 1868-09-06
HE DKINKs.
BY HENRI DE WERE.

For the Sunday Crescent-l
How omiDously that sentence falls! How wa
pause In the conversation and calculate, cit ia A
pi'y!" How his mother hopes that he will not
when he grows older, and his sisters persuade
themselves that it is only few wild oats he is
sowing. And yet old men shake their heads. and
feel sad, and look gloomy when they speak of il i.
Tor who ever stopped and did not at some time
again give way to temptation
Ii is dangerous to trihe with Pleasure Each
step that she leads US away from the path of rec.
titude leaves us less desire TO return. Each t;ua
that she induces us TO devate, we must 90 littIe
further to obtain the same enjoyment. Even n
with increased experience we resolve to walk in
tne pain OF duty, we follow il with more Difficulty
III we nave once allowed ourselves to wander
Pleasure stands at a gate ever open and she
invites us 10 enter her gardens. She tells us that
we need not fear, for we can return when we
cnoose. she calls to the pilgrim on the dusty
nlghway OF nie, and wsy.worn and weary as he
Is, sne invites him to enter. She points him 10
men that are again upon the road (; men who once
Whlleo away some time in her domipions hut ba va
now resumed their journey. He does not know
,he seH'Ieproach and the weakness they felt on
leavlng her bowers. nor the increased difficulty
with which they tread the path Of daily lie. He
wishes, and then turns, and then looks in. Ne
VIII enter Tor little way. But he is soon be viii
dered with enjoyment. His senses reveI in the
Ha IA
sure that he can return and thai he rim ra,,,a
after be has been little further; and vet with
every step he feels less desire to do so. or what
proht Is II to him now, that the gate stands onenp
as ne "sheeis along, the air becomes more exhiI.
srating ana the fruits more highly favored The
oreezes become warmer, the fragrance il more
pupgeht. and the flowers more aromatic His
senses are intoxicated, and his desires become
ILhsmed' Inc nowers that blossomed along his
morning path, the little, modest 10 wers that Opened
Their meek eyes sparkling with dew. and smiled
on MN as he set out upon his journey are forgot.
ten. The duties that he owes to himself 10 his
fthow-men, TO bis God, all are forgotten. and he
goes restlessly forward 10 eniov hotter hrsazas
more stimulating fruits and more narcotic odors'
what avaIls to him now, that the gate remains
ever openg
But already these pleasures have begun TO paIl
Hs fnds IA benumbing his senses.
ne mos apples with ashcs-rt-tiIe GORE <f1r-
Winds are hstering his flesh, but he feels no
wound. He has reached the marshes where the
garden OF pleasure borders on the yallsv and
OF qestn and he would fain take refuge in
OBLIVION de Sis down under the shade of the
aeonite and binds bis throbbing temples with
"reaths OF Its dull foliage, The night of despair
rs - last closing In upon him. Darkness. ike A
Dlanket, shuts out the light of heaven and the |
trembling madness fires his brain. Shiny serpents |
are IN attendance on him. They glide around /
n0iselessly and lull him in drowsy folds Worms |
are necessarily twisting in the seams Of bis cloh.
ing. Invisible 6ends are gathering around hirn
Ahey whh iupauently. de hears
tne fustllDg OF their skinny pini0ns, aud be feel.
the ar moved a little by them. Their ewes of dre
are shining on him from their viewiess bodies and
The air is thick with mutfering Out from The
asrkness comes the voice OF the worm. claiming
him as her brother, and the voice of corruotioo
calling him my son :" and with a chill he cnrsas
700, aDo oies. AT the last IL biteth like a ser
pent and stiDgeth like an adder.u
Young man, Just commencing life, buoyaut with
rope dont drink! You are freighted with pre-
,ious cargo. Inc hopes Of your old parents, of
: sld upon you. 10 you the sged live over again
nelr younger days; through you only can the
eaker ones attain position in society, and from
pc ~ Ievei on which You place them must your
nhdfen go INTO the great struggle of life.