The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-01

those deoantefs, glittsring aud Inviting
on the sidsboerd. Sometimes svo ,wesku
would pass without my touching . glass
aud then tho appetite would become in
controllable, as I would see them arrang-
cd on tho side board. No one knew
these fearful conflicts, none on tho plant.
alton suspected I drank, I had learned
to neutralise tho oder of my breath, aud
never staggered, unless after my last
drink upon going to bed, and this was
the :ime for my heaviest potion. DIy
case now began to grow desperate. Isaw
before me drunkards grave and a
druukard's hell, aud it seemed to me
that this must prove my inevitable doom,
About this time meeting was held at
our ueighborhood church, and I attend.
ed with the family. there determined
upon change Of life-gave my hand to
the Minister aud united myself with
the people of God and enjoyed the sweet
peace of pardon. Learning through q
friend of the religious character of the
College at A. aud the many pious stu
dents there, determined to enter, that
I might have safeguard against the
perils which beset mo. I entered, aud
for one year mJ life was happy, virtuous
and religious-during this whole poriod
I drank not drop, aud felt I was safe
and secure. I had no desire for liquor,
no taste for it, really detested the idea
of ever tasting it again-the victory was
complete, I thought.
I returned home to spend the vaca-
tion, aud never once thought of the
peril ofcoming in contact with the de-
canters. My father kept some fine
blooded horses, aud there wore some
favorite colts had not seen for year,
and having arrived home at night, I
had the painful suspense of waiting un-
til the morning to see the favorite yousg
horses. My sleep was broken, aud quite
early Iarose to see the fine blooded colts
1 ran down the stairs and never thought
of the decauters until they faced me in
all their bewitching power. I stopped !
unfortunate pause they seemed. to
draw me with magnetic power, and the
first thing I knew, I was at the side
board with my hand upon decanter.
I thought. will not drink, I will only
taste drop and pass on, knew not my
own weakness. AS soon as tasted a drop,
my appetite with the power of demon
seized me. 1 was shorn of my strength,
all power was gone, and I drank, and
continued to drink. 1t seemed to me as
though had fallen into fearful abyss
from which it was impossible for me to
escape, and Iyielded to my fate and
drank ou." Then raising his voice, as he
was wont to do upon tho stage in the
College. chapel, and with that peculiar
but graceful gesture of his left hand, he
said, "Boys some men say they do not
drink for the taste, aud others say, that
they can quit it when they please, but
drink for tho taste aud the feeling,
aud cannot quit. am lost to my pa
rents, to myself, to my country, to my
church, and to my God I expect to
live and die a drunkard, and fill a
drunkards grave. Reform with me is
impossible" shall never try again. l
imbibcd the taste so young, it has grown
so steadily, and developed itself with
such extraordinary power, that 1 am its
eternal victim. AS terrible serpent, it
holds me in its massive folds, and I am
powerless, escape is impossible. The
tears flowed from his eyes 10 a torrent,
and his young companions wept with him
They tried to inspire him with hope, but
their words only seemed to cast pail Of
blackcned gloom over his face.
His friend H. asked, what were his
plans for the future. He said, III expect
to go to Charleston and get aboard some
vessel of war in the United States SER
vice, and shall never see my parents
and friends again. They are all look
ing forward to my graduation with the
most pleasing hopes. They have NC
idea of,ny condition, and it will break
my mothers heart, aud bring down the
gray hairs Of my father with sorrow tc
tho grave" Then handing a letter to
his special friend H he begged him to
retain il until he should receive in
telligenoe, that he had succeeded in
getting place aboard vessel, and
then this letter was to be given to Pres
ident B. "Be sure said be to retain il
until you hear from mo-"
The three young friends saw hin
start and returned before day. Week,
passed away and nothing was heard from