Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-07-01

snake Is saId 10 have, and as other vice
have. But 1 see you are in a hurry"
1T is time j was at the store-l'f
viii detain you but a Inomen
longer, Henry. Just answer me few
more questions. Now call to mind al
the families of your acquaintance; tbinl
of all the domestic circles you have
known from your school-boy days TO the
present; run your thoughts through the
various homes where you have been in.
timate-do this, and tell me, if in any
instance you ever knew a single joy tC
be planted by the hearth stone from the
wine-eup? Did you ever know one item
of good to flow to a family from its use p
=" No; L can notsay that ever did
not as you mean. - ss.e,. =. n, vi
And now answer me again. Think
Iof those homes once more-cali to mem
ory the play mates of your childhood
think of the homes they have made,
think Of other homes, think of the fire
sides where all you have known dwell
and tell me if you have seen any so7T oars
flow from the wine, cup? Have you
seen any great griefs planted by the in
toxicating bowl upon the hearth-stone
Henry Seaburn did not answer, for
there passed before him such grim spec
tres of sorrotc and grief that he shudder-
ed at the mental vision. He saw the
youth cut down in the hour of promise
he saw the gray head fall in dishonor ;
he saw hearts broken; he saw homes
made desolate; he saw affection wither
| up and die; and saw noble intellect
stricken down! Good heaven !1s1hat
sights he saw as he unrolled the canvas
of his memory. 20
Henry" whispered his wife, moving
L. 4 Il 81
abont his neck, I'VE have two boys
They are growing to be men. They are
noble, generous and tender-hearted.-
They love their hemes and honor their
parents. They are here to form those
characters, to receive those impressions
which shall be the basis upon which
their future veal or woe must rest
Think of them doing battle in the great
struggle before them. Shall they carry
out from their home our evil influence?
Shall they in the time to come fall by
the wayside cut down by the demon of
the cup, and in their dying hour curse
the example whence they derived the
appetite? oh! for our children-for
these two boys-for the men we hope to
see them-for the sweet memories we
would have them cherish of their home
for the good old age they may reap
let us castthis thing out now and for
ever p' !. sa Te
Cora kissed her husband as she ceased
speaking and then he arose to his feet;
but he made her no reply. ~
p Henry, you are not offended ?' = ff
No. he said. He returned her kiss,
and without another word leftthe house
and went TO his store. - &s=is-
How strangely did circumstances
work to keep the idea his wife had given
him alivel That very morning he met
youth, the son Of one of his wealthy
friends, in state of wild intoxication !;
and during the forenoon he heard that
young Aaron c. had died at sea-
He, knew that Aaron had been sent
away from home that he might be re-
claimed. --az.- E.s@
After the bank had closed, and as
Henry Seaburn was thinking of going
to his dinner, he received note through
the penny post. 1t was from a medical
friend, and contained request that he
would call at the hospital on his way
home. This hospital was not much out
of his way, and he stopped there.
There is q man in one of the lower
wards who wishes to see you," said the
doctor.
docs he know Ine?h said Seaburn.
He says hedoes. hsz1Era saaaFsxsl
"What is his name ?n sra- roo = ,
&c He won't tell US. He goes by the
name of Smith; but am satisfied that
is not his true name. He is in, the last.
stage of consumption and delirium. He
has lucid intervals, but they do not last
long. He was picked up in the street
and brought here. He heard your name,
and said he knew you once.n ri
Mr.. Seaburn went to the room where
the patient lay, and looked at him..
Surely Inever knew that man. There
must be some mistake,n he said. 80 q
The invalid heard him, and opened
his eyes-such blood-shot, unearthly
eyes! rssi' 91'- IT,. ID .se.,.'. ~. -,
- Harry he whispered, trying to lift
himself up on his elbow; "is this Henry
Seaburn.p ~ .-li4 ya4-n zsa1sfc---is5 "a
q That is nay name" x, - - : i or
=" And don't you know me ?yu o, 15T II
am sure do not.n And he would
havesaid that he did not wish to, only.
the man, seemed so utterly miserable that
he would not wound'what little feeling
he might have left.
Have you forgotten your old play
mate in boyhood, Harry-your friend in
other years, your ehum in college ?"
What r' grasped Seaburn, staring
acklagast, for a ghmmer of the truth
burst upon him. s" This is not Alec
Iomberg? ?p fs p
i" All that is left of him, my Hail. " re-
turned the poor fellow, putting forth his
wasted, skeleton hand, and smiling a
faint, dying, quivering smile.
" Alexander Lomberg ?' said Henry,
gazing into the bloated, ldisfigureds face
before him. 5ra .eIl.- eS s.7 \. nse- r,stI
=" Youwouldn'tha have known me, Hale''I
i'' Indeed, notp'. ---z,si.s ~ = = 4
+" I know am altered y p Dars
"But, Alec" cried Seaburn, ;" who is
this? Why are you here ?'' -
= r..'-l2atni, my Hal-RUM! I'm about
done for. But I wanted to see you
They teldme you lived not far away,
and | would look upon one friend before
I dieo." sr -.i-
But l heard you were practicing in
your profession, Alec, and doing well.ul
Hal. / have made some pleas, but /
have given up all that" -
s'And your father-where is he ?''
Don't mention him; he taught me
to drink! Ay, he taught mel and then
turning the cold shoulder upon me
when drank toomuch! But IN going,
Hal-going, going"
Henry Seaburn gazed into that terrible
face, and remembered what its owner
had been-the son of wealthy parents;
the idol of a fond mother the favorite
at schools, at play, and at college, light
of intellect. and physical beauty, and al
noble, generous friend. And now, alas!
/" Alec, can help you?"
Yes" And the poor fellow started
higher up from his pillow, and some
thing of the light struggled for mo-
meht in his eyes. Pray for me, Hal.
Pray fer my soul! Pray that I may 20
where my mother is! She won't dis
own her boy. She could not have done
it had she lived. Ohi sheywas,a good
mother, Hal. Thank God sheS didn't
live to see this! Pray for me-pray-I