Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-08-05
,lten. and rs often broke the faith.

could not recover. For almost two
months was with my kind relative. at
tcntive 10 her every want, and doing al
could for her comfort. And did this
because loved her-bccause she was To
me as mother. Often during that time
felt the appetite for strong drink upon
mo, but put i! away. In the presence
of that kind, loving, dying woman easi
ly overcame tho temptcr.
One day the doctor was with my aunt
longer then usual, and when he came
out he told me that the end might be nigh
aL hand. went into her chamber, and
she received me with smile. She kissed
me, and said she did not think she should
live great while; and then she asked
mo il was sure had entirely conquered
my old enemy. did not mean to speak
lalsely-.I had no thought of dcceiving
her; but spoke with single idea TO her
peace and happiness, feeling then that ]
should never tamper with the evil again.
Her face boamod with JOY when she heard
my answer, and she breaihed n blessing
upon me. After this she Dire W 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
heir to all that she owned of earthly
wealth. was deeply affected, and wept
freely and be sure that whatever teel-
ings expressed were such only as came
gushing up from my full heart.
My aunts lawyer, whom she was in the
habit of consulting in matters Of import
ance, lived in large manufacturing town
fifteen miles distant; and when she had
made known to me her purpose. she re-
quested me to 90 in quest Of the lawyer.
Bring him back with you" she said.
''for would make my will before anoth.
cr night is gone"
| promised that would be expeditions
and that would bring the lawyer with
me when | returned. | went to the stable
and got a horse and carriage, ard drove
over to NJ, reaching there shortly af'
ter noon. called at the lawyers Office
and found that he was away, but was in
formed that he would return within an
hour. | went back to the tavern, where
| had put up my horse and there met a
party Of young men with whom | had
been wont 10 associate in other days
They had Just ordered bowl of hot
punch, in n private room, and they invit-
ell me to join them.
To one who has never been cursed with
the appetite cannot explain what pos
sessed me. And yet, with all my past
experience in store, told myself that |
would drink one or two glasses, and drink
no more. | told myself there could be
no danger | joined the company, and
the steaming liquor was passed around.
drank, and my senses were thrilled with
that fatal ecstacy which surmOunts reason
and lifts the spirits into regions of wild
and delicious frenzy-lilts it thus, alas !!
only to hurl it down, after time, into n
pit of desolation and remorse! drank,
and drank again, and ut length | lost
myself,-lost myself as thoroughly as
though the vast ocean had whelmed and
swallowed me.
When nv senses returned found my
self in bed, with my clothes on; and by
my side, upon = table. was bottle.
was weak and trembling, and my head
was rackcd with pain. a draught OF
brandy from the bottle served to restore
something of an equilibrium TO my senses,
and arose, and looked about me. And
then | remembered. | knew that | was
in the tavern. But there was sunlight in
nv room. The day had not done. l
might yet do my work.
went down to the bar-room and there
met one of those whom had called my
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
now almost noon OF the succeeding day J!
cannot clearly tell of the events OF the
next few hours. remember that went
to the office of The lawyer, and found that
he had gone to see my aunt. lie had
waited for me until this morning. and had
then come 10 the tavern and learned how
was situated; and deeming that busi-
ness of importance might be on the tapis,
he had set off alone. followed as quick
ly as possible. and when l reached home
they told me that my aunt was dead! She
had died during the night-had died with
. my name upon her lips-had died in ago.
, ny OF fear on my account-had died soon
Ell than she might had l been there to
comfort her. And when | entered the
, chamber OF death, and glzcd upon The
white. still face, saw the paiil-marks
mon it.-nol the marks Of physical suf-
fering, but such marks as tell of trial and
unrest to the struggling spirit. And The
lawyer went away rs Inc had come, know.
inp not for what hc had been called. lie
may have suspected the nature of the
work that had been required al his hands (;
but the lips that would have told him
ware silent for eyermore