Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1869-10-21
A Warning from the Prison
Cell.

Charles Orme, recently executed for |
murder at StrOudsburg, Pa, attributed /
all his sufferings and crimes to the |
use of Intoxicating liquors. Prior to
his execution he sent the following
letter to the Philadelphia inquiries,
with a request that it be published in
that paper:
'sSTRoUDsBURe JAZZ write this,
in hope that it may be che means of
arresting the attention and saving
some young man from the path that
leads to hell-blights and ruins in this
world, and fixes destiny in the next,
amidst the darkness of eternal night;
for the sacred volume declares, No
drunkard shall inherit the Kingdom
of God.' Oh, that could portray the
horrors springing from the first glass,
you would shun it as you would shun
the road in which death, in its most
hideOus form, was lurking; would to
God I had died before l knew the love
or passion strong drink can bring up
on its poor deluded victims, for then
wauId have had kind friends to
weep and think kindly of me, as
they gaZed into my tomb but now
my earnest prayer to God is, that no
one who ever knew may ever hear
anything about me. May God in his
mercy, grant that no more innocent
people may suffer on my account"
ooh, young man by all you hold
dear, shun the cup, the fatal eup-if
not for your own sake, in Gods name
shun it for the sake of those you hold
so dear. You may think you are able
to take drink and leave it alone
when you wish; let me entreat you,
don't try the experiment, for when it
gets hold it rarely ever lets go. 1t not
only dCsIayes you but friends must
suffer also. It may bring kind and
loving mother to an early grave, make
an old man Of a kind and good father,
before r. tine-nOttO mention broth
ers and sisters, who must share in the
sorrow. Thethings are of daily occur
RANGES, aad this is not the worst for it
has melted the mother to murder her
innocent babe, tLehusband to imbrue
his hands in .he blood of his wife, for
whom he would willingly have laid
down his own life. Pause think well
before you touch the fatal cup
Remember, you not only venture your
own prospect and happiness, but all
you hold sacred is involved. Don't
say I can take drink and then
leave off; the chances are against
you; and even if it does not, is
it right? is it honorable to
risk the happiness of others to
crafty your own evil appetite
Would to God, that one year ago, /
could have seen strong drink as it
really is, stripped of all the ornaments
thrown over it by those engaged in
the traffic could only have seen it as
a sure road to my present unhappy
condition. in q felon's cell, with the
prospect of q shameful death; Is it
surprising that I should try to save
others from the same fate? know
that have not the talent or educa-
ton to plead the cause of temperance,
but I can tell what the use of intoxi-
eating drinks has done for me. Can
do less under the circumstances, than
give q word of advice to some thought
fesss ones? Praying ffsO great a sin
ner as I can pray that God may bless
it. and make its truthfullness do what
hearing could not, be the means of
saving some one from 6 drunkard's
end"
''FOr one short moment let your
fancy carry you to this call. You will
see me write this with my hands IRON
ed irons are on my limbs, and I'm
to the foot. Do you ask |
what brought ME here? I must say
whiskey. Is it strange that l should |
lift a warning voice agasnst that |
which has done me so much harm? /
Thank god have not lost all feeling. !
There are those on earth separated |
from me by the great waters who /
believe and trust that wherever I ami /
[ am honest and respected. God for |
bid that they should be undeceived. |
Oh, is it not hard to pray to God that |
your dear father and mother, brothers /
and sisters, your early pIaymates and /
friends may never hear aqOut you, or /
you from them, when one word would /
be more precious than untold treasur-
aFs.
"a kind word from a stranger is
up as something precious
Is God knows it is to me. TO keen
7Ou from such a condition, I write
his, hoping you will take it in the
pirit in which it Is given. / write it
earnestly and sincerely, trusting that
5Od may bless it to your use. If you
ire ever tempted to drink think of
his advice, and the circumstances
lnder which it is given, and may
Heaven help you to cast the accursed
up from you. Don't parley or you
lr6 lost. Say no! Stick to it. Once
n twice will be enough. Tempters
will see that you are firm, and respect
TOu the more for it. Don't be alarm
ID at being called q teetOtaller. You
nay be greeted with a laugh or a ieer.
20 matter you 0in respect. How
,ften I have wished I could say no,
nd stick to it, when asked 70 take a
rink, but my guess not, or think
lOt,i was always taken for yes, or if I /,
aid no, it was known that did not
.lways stick To it. A companion who
worked by my side was never asked
,ut once, for his mo- meant no! Try
he power of an emphatic no, when
.sked to do wrong, is the advice Of h
ne who has lost all for the want of
title firmness at first. If I only
.Ould tell you all that have lOst-lost
riends, home, character and all that
makes life dear, through drif1k, by
lot saying mo- when asked to do
] could have said it, knew
light from wrong, but flattered my
elf that could 60 so far and theU
eign up; now / am lost. God l.,
His mercy grant that this may k.eD
ONE young man from treadipg the
ame path. Taste not' touch not |
handle not is the only sac., course
DON'T believe in moderate drinkinC (
here is too much DANCE. IN it. TbeTe /
5 not a drunkard livisg, but tbongbf /
le could leave off when he wished. |
As 1 write l see a fond mothers face.
hear her last words to me. low and I
weet, as she baIe her boy God-speed I
md said; Be a good boy, shun bad I
AID don't drink.
| see a kind father, trying to keep
back the tears as he gave the same adj I
IIce, telling Inc at the same time to I
be mindful Of God, and he would not
orsake mel Alas! all was forgotten
and the result is felons cell. and
'Oon perhaps a shameful death. Is it I
any wonder should try to warn
others? Say you, that many drink
and do not do what T bOva done Al