The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-03-18

without saying word, aud never enter
ed il again.
Knowing glances passed around the
room.
whats upg" asked one.
Frightened !" said another.
80, you must excuse him he's just
from the country" said third.
Aud then the game went on.
Said u fellow student in the law Office
10 Alfred the next day: ~7 -'
~ wish had left with you last night;
but ! hadn't the courage to break away"
Then drawing out his purse he held
it up, adding, Every dollar gone you
see."
"What do you mean? ?" asked Alfred
lifting his brow in surprise.
I'm a plucked pigeon"
"And you knew that it was wrong to
gamble ?"
"Of course did, and wished myself
well out Of it when n stake was propos.
ed, but had't your manly courage. How
in the world did you muster up strength
of mind to brave that whole company?
l couldn't have done It,"
Because" was answered, ~ saw
things more to be dreaded than their
scorn of displeasure"
The days and weeks moved on. Our
young friend attracted strongly; he was
fasorite with every circle in which he
gained admission. Gradually some Of
the finer perceptions which he had thus
brought with him into the city lost their
delicate edge. lie was not SO quick to
perceive danger 4; was less on his guard;
many currents passed against him, bear
ing him often away from safe channels.
His head grew less strong against
wine; his ear less sensitive to uuseemly
speech his eyes became tempters. For.
hidden fruit was looked upon with de
sire, but sometimes plu:k and eaten,
leaving upon the taste its after bitter.
ness and disgust. And yet, among his
companions, he was noted for a large
degree Of selfcontroll for the ability to
stop at the point Of danger, andsgo res
olutely back, no matter who might take
offensc aud sneer.
"He bears charmed lie" said many
weak one, signing over his own de-
basement. "If 1 could only plant my
feet as he does, and say: "Not one step
further in that wrong direction"
But Of himself Alfrel was not so
strong. 1t was not the firm will that
saved him, but rather the charmed life.
He had a talisman, aud by virtue of
that he was enabled to stand amid temp.
tatiou where SO many Fill.
A year Of city life wrought changes
10 our friend. He had grown manlier
in appearance, aud moved with frmer
step and more confident air.
The experience Of that first year
the dangers and escapes--the new as.
pect Of life it had revealed to our young
frin1 were lessons not to be uuheeded.
One day, during the first month Of
his second year in the city, our young
friend was sitting alone in his propEie-
tors Office late 10 the afternoon, when
an acquaintance canie in. He was about
Alfred's age, youth ofsuperior talcnts,
and like him had spent his earliest years
in the country. The city's alluremoots
had been too strong him him. He had
fallen into many vices and they had
woven, like busy spiders, their half in
visible cords about him, until he was
held an almost powerless captive. He
was pale; his eyes were congcsted from
recent dissipation; his hand was hot
and trembling as he laid il in that of
his friend.
"How are your" asked Alfred. ;
"Don't ask me you see how l am
wretched," was the unhappy reply.
"Are you sick ?"
"Yes--in body aud miud. 0,Iwish
l we're deadp r
"There is better, brAver, aud a
manlier wish than that" replied AL
fred. HSN SO
"For one like you, perhaps, who have
gone through the FIRE unharmed, but
not for me, | have no will--no power.
My good resolutions are like fax, and
my appesite ike fame. How did you
stand, when I, aud so many like me,
went down.
HNot in my own strength replied
Alfred, his face growing serious.
"You moved against those evil al
luremcnss, as if you were 10 armor
against them. Ahl how often have l
envied your power, to stop at the right
moment, | have seen you leave card
table when stake was proposed; Isaw
YOU push aside the bottle when others