The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-06-01


her house, and ihenceinrth her friends Sere
to know that the wine cup was replenished
| no more at her board And this she did for
my sake. She had borne much with me,
and she told me her heart would break il
were lost to her in the dread il,ed of intem-
pcrgnce. She took me 10 her bosom. and
kissed me- and bcggtd oi me tn reform;
and gave her my promise. lsi5
Il WAS then twenty, and ~hcn had gone
| six months witllou, tasting the cup. she
gave into my hands the care ut her New
York p-oprty In the great city tamper-
| ed with my enemy; and in this | betrayed
the confidence which my aunt had reposed
in me; but l did not fall-not yet. By an
effort of will, realizing how much depended
on my ability to attend to business, kept
| my head above absolute drunkenness But
l was not happy i knew that was living
a life of falsehood and deceit; and prom
ised myself that would reform IpromIs-
ed often. and as often broke the faith.
"At last my aunt sent for me- to come
home She was sick, and wanted to have
me near her. l found her confined tp her
chamber, and the doctor told me that she
could not recover. For almost two months
was with my kind relative, attentive to her
every want, and doing all / could for her
comfort. And did this because / loyed
her-bccauso she.was to me a mother Of
ten during that time felt the appetite for
strong drink upon me, but put it away.
In the presence of that kind, loving, dying
woman easily overcame the tempter.
" One day the doctor was with my aunt
longer than usual, and when he came out he
told ME that the end might be nigh at hand.
went into her chamber, and she received
me with smile. She kissed me, and said
she did not think she should live u great
while; and then she asked me if l was sure
had entirely conquered my old enemy.
did not mean to speak falsely-I had no
thought of dcceiving her; but spoke with
q single idea to her peace and happiness,
feeling then that Islould never tamper with
the evil again. Her face beamed with joy
when she heard my answer and she breath.
ed blessing upon me. After this she drew
me to her side, and told me that had much
to live for,-that she was about to place in
my hands that which would enable me to
do much good. Of all her relatives was
the only one that she had fully known and
loved, and she regarded me as her own child,
and she was going To make me her heir to
all that she owned of earthly wealth. was
deeply affected, and wept freely; and be
sure that whatever feelings expressed were
such only as came gushing up from my full
heart.
My aunt's lawyer, whom she was in the
habit of 0fconsulting upon matters of impor-
tance, lived in II large manufacturing town
fifteen miles distant; and when she had
made known TO me her purpose, she reques-
ted Inc to go in quest of the lawyer
Bring him back with you,' she said for
would make my will befprc another night is
gone . .r.....
Il promised that would be expeditions,
and that l would bring the lawyer with me
when returned. went to the stable and
GOT horse and carriage, and drove over to
M--, reaching there shortly after noon.
called Mt the lawyers office, and found
out that lie was away, but was informed
that ne would return within an hour |
went back to the tavern, where had put up
my morse, and there met party of Young
men with whom had been wont to asso-
ciate with In other days They had Just or
dered bowl of hot punch in private room
and they invited me to join them. 7
10 one who has never been cursed with |
the the appetite l cannot explain what pos
sessed me- And yet. with all my past expe-
1ence In store, | told myself that 1 would |
drink no more. told myself there could |
be no danger. joined the company, and
the steaming liquor was passed around l |
drank, and my senses were thrilled with |
that fatal ecstasy which surmounts reason,
and lifts the spirit intn regions of wild
and delicious frenZy-lifis it thus, alasi
only 10 hurl it down, after time into
The pit of desoiation and rciiiorset-I
drank again,-and at length
lost myself, lost myself as thoroughly as
though the vast ocean had whelmed and |
swallowed me.
when my senses returned l found ny
self in bed, with my clothes on; and by my
side, upun table, was bottle. Twas welk
and trembling, and my head was racked
with pain A draught of brandy from the
bottle served 20 restore something OF an
equilibrium to my senses, and arose. and
loukcd about me- And then remembered!
l knew that was in the tavern. But there
was sunlight in my room. The day had not
gone. might yet do my work.
Il went down to the bar room, and there
met one of those whom had called friends.
He laughed as he spoke of the jolly night
we had passed. - NIGHT ! PAssED!--
Yes,-I had spent nearly the whole of
the night in drinking, and it was nnw
almost noon of the succeeding day!
cannot clearly tell of the events IF the next
few hours | remember that went to the
office Of the lawyer, and found that he had
gone to see my aunt. He had waited for me
until this morning. and had then come to
the tavern and learned how was situated;
and dceming that business of importance
might be on the tapis, he had set off alone.
followed as quickly as possible, and when
l reached home they told me that my aunt
was dead She had died during the night
hal died with my name upon her ips-had
died in agony of fear ON my accOunt-had
died snone- than she might had been there
to comfort her! And when l entered the
chamber nf death and gazed upon that
white, still face, saw the pain marks upon
it,-not the marks OF physical suffering, but
such marks as tell of tria! and unrest to the
struggling spirit. And the lawyer went
away as he had come, knowing not for what
he had been called. He may have suspect
ed the nature of the work that had been re-
quiIed at his hands; but the lips that would
have told him were silent for evermore!
THE mortal remains of my aunt were
consigned to the tomb, and as no Will had
been left, other heirs came in and took the
property There had been brothers and sis
tiers who hai settled in tile West, and who
had large families; and as these heirs came
swarming in after their shares, crept away,
crushed and broken. Something came t.,
mc-someihing which the good lawyer had
saved for me in spiteof my neglect, = but it
did me- no good. The blow had fallen ton
heavily for me TO rally at once. and went
rCrJ IUu---rorJ,
very low went down until the lamp was
almost out But, thank God! the vital
spark was not extinguished. True friends
found me. and gave me the fraternal, help.
ing hand have come up from tho dark
valley, aud my feet are fixed upon the rock
of II resolution which am sure is strung
| unto salvation.
Il am saved,--I have gained buck my
lost manhood but all that is lost l shall
never regain. All! one of the sad penalties