North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-02-23
o. l9. MCGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3d. 1870
VOLUME XIV---NO. l9.

| VULUME Alv---lNU !
strong. It was not the firm will that
saved him, but rather the charmed life
He had talisman, and by virtue OF thai
he was enabled to stand amid temptation
where so many fell.
A year of city life wrought changes in
our friend. He had grown manlier in ap
pearance, and moved with n frmer steE
and more confident air.
The experience Of that first year-tht
dangers and cscapcs-the new aspect o.
life it had revealed to our young friend
were lessons not to be unheeied.
One day during the first month of hit
second year in the city, our young
| friend was sitting alone in his proprietor
| office, late i'm the afternoon, when an ac'
| quaintance came in. He was about AL
fred's age, Il yo.th of superior talents
and like him had spent his earliest years
in the country. The city's allurements
had been too strong for him. He had
fallen into vices, and they had woven,
like busy spiders, their half invisible
cords about him, until he was held an al.
most powerless captive. He was pale
his eyes were congested from recent dis
sipation his hands was hot and tremb-
ling as he laid it on that of his friend.
"How are you p asked Alfred.
"Don't ask me; you see how / am
wretched," was the unhappy reply.
'Are you sick p
"Yes-in body and mind, Oh! I
wish were dead.'
"There is q better, braver, and man
lier wish than that" replied Alfred.
"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 ap>
petite like fame. How did you stand,
when /, and 80 many like me, went
down
"Not in my own strength replied Al
fred, his face growing serious.
"You moved against those evil allure
ments as if you were in armour against
them. All how often have Ienvied your
power to stop at the right moment. I
have seen you leave card table when
stake was proposed; l saw you push
aside the bottle when others were drswn-
ing reason and self-control; have seen
you turn your back shuddering when
siren voices sang in your ears, and others
went madly on to folly and disgrace.
How was it?"
II had talisman," said Alfred, "and
thought that was safe.'' .
"What is it?" The young man looked
up quite hopeful at his friend.
"Let me tell you about it," Alf-ed's
voice softcned, and his eye had tender
light. son the day before left home l
was lying on the sofa dreaming of the fu-
ture., My heart was full of grand antici.
pations; saw splendid career before
me. The picture that my fancy created
was full Of allurements. From this dream
was suddenly awakened. A warm kiss
touched my forehead again, and ! feel it
with strange distinctness. Then comes a
vision of that tender, loving face, and l
start back with q shudder. 1t seems for a
time as if mothers eyes was resting upon
me-"
Silence followed.
II have no mother" was answered in q
sad voice. "When l went out from my
home, no talismanic kiss was printed on
my forehead"
slave you a sister,"
A faint light flashed into the young
mans face. 80
"Yes,' he replied, and his Voice trem-
bled little. ~ have sister. Dear girl!
1t would break her heart to see me as /
am now !"
''Is not her pure kiss now on your lips
and cheeks?''
"Yes, yes!'' The voice shook, still
| more.
"Then be that sisters kiss your tails.
man."
.'God bless you !" cried the young man,
grasping Alfred's hand. ''My feet are
touching bottom! feel the com mence-
ment of resisting power. Oh! the food
shall not overwhelm me again. My sis-
| ter's kiss shall save me u
He trembled light warmed his pale
face; hope looked out of his eyes.
"Let it be talismanic to restrain al
we'll as protect" sid Alfred. "Let itl
sweet influence hold you back from dan
gerous ways and evil companionship. W.
often fall for going into slippery places
It is easier to keep away from temptation
than to resist its influence"
"Thank you, my friend, for that warm
ing" answered the young man. sit shall
be Needed" "Yes, YES" he added
speaking hopefully, almost cheerfully
"my talisman shall restrain"
You would hardly have known him 9
month after. The pale exhaustion of hi,
face was gone his mouth was firm and
confident, his eyes clear, his step elastic
'How well you are looking!" said AL
fred, meeting him one day.
"YoUkeep the talisman?''
"Ah! it is here," and he laid q fnge,