Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-08-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
UP FROM THE, DUST.
PART I.
A Temperance Story.

PART I.
Get up and shake the dust from you-get
up James Porter! Are you not ashamed to
be here
The speaker, middle-aged man of re-
spectacle appearance, rudely shook young
man who had fallen from bench at Union
square, and who lay prone upon the dusty
pathway.
"Why-what's the matter? What do you
shake me for E". stammered the young man, as
he staggered to his feet and looked wildly
around.
"You would shake yourself and feel wide
awake in moment if you had seen who
PASSED here minute ago, and heard the re-
mark which heard Do you know that Miss
Lille Rutger saw you there in your drunken
slumber THAT, passed here just now, with
Frank Bennett in her company, and you were
pointed out to her eyes? Z"
80, Heaven have come to this Have
lost all position in her eyes? l may as we'll
blow out my brains now," groaned the young
man.
"No, sir; you have no brains to spare that
way. You had better make up your mind to
forever quit the cause of degradation"
''But you say, sir, that Frank Bennett was
with her, and that he pointed me out in this
disgrGceful situation 2"
''Yes, L said So"
"Why, sir, it was he who this very morn
ing, before had breakfasted, induced me to
drink. He is ever tempting me to break reso-
lutions to be temperate, which form only to
break. He not only got me to drink fully a
dozen times during the early part of the day,
| but made an appointment to meet me here in
this very part at eleven. l came to meet him,
fell asleep, and you know the rest"
"Well, it was undoubtedly plan of his to
ruin you in the estimation of one of the purcst,
lovlest, young ladies in this great city"
eyes, see through it all. l will be even
with him yet, / will punish him fearfully,"
| 81 would, james Porter, [ would if | were
you And now you permit me, as true
friend, to show you how to do it 2"
"Yes. Will you be my second if call him
out?"
Il will'be your second if you accept my
plan"
"Of course I'll do that, TN be guided by
you entirely"
"Then pledge me your sacred honor, on this
spot whore she saw your degradation, never
again to touch wine or any alcoholic drink"
IL do SO promise and vow, even by her
spotless name and my hopes of future salVa>
| ton !'
"Allow me also tonight to present your
name as a candidate for admission to the di-
vision of Sons of Temperance to which l
belong"
why should l do that, when have al
ready promised not to drink %
"Irhat you may have fraternal sympathies
to strengthen you in your good resolutions
That one social, happy night each week, spent
with pure men and women working in the holy
cause of Temperance, will make you SO love
that work that you will never depart from 1t. y
"Then propose me, and l will join"
"Perhaps you did not know that Lille
Rutgcr is a Good Templar, belonging to the
United LodgeY
SIS she? May not become Good Tenn.
plar, also?"
''Yes, shall be too happy to propose you
there, too"
low shall 1 thank you? How reward
you for your goodness, Mr.. Tremper ?"
"By keeping your promise and never get
ting down In the dust again. Regenerated
into yourself once more, erect in your natura
manhood, you will win respect from those who
mourned over your fall, had begun to dcspist
YOU You will be able to command gooc
position in business and society"
"Heaven being my helper, l will try" sale
the young man.
"Then you will have punished your enemy
Frank Bennett, in the most efficient way HI
evidently has hoped to build up his fortune
ON your ruin. Rising from the dust he ha
drawn upon you, you will leave him owe
whelmed in his failure to ruin you"
"You are right. Mr. Tremper 1 see i
all, and from my heart 1 thank you. From
this hour mycourse is taken, it shall be up
ward and onward. The good temperance mai
and Christian shook hands with James Porter
and they parted.
A couple of hours afterward, refreshed will
bath, cleauly dressed, the young man pre-
sented himself before the proprietor of whole
sale store in Chambers street, from which h
had been dismissed for his neglect of bushes:
and general habits of dissipation.
81 come, sir to ask you once more to EN-
ploy me, he said, firmly, but modestly-
flames were it not for your drinkin;
habits 1 would. When you are yourself yoI
are an excellent salesman, and l really nee
you. But dare not trust you"
"Mr. Pembroke, l have taken the total ab
stinence pledge, and my name has gone in t
become member of both the Sons of Ten
Perance and good Templers.''
"My dear boy, is this really so ?"
"Then come right into your place at once
my boy-and mark you, for each month tina
you continue firm this year, 1 will add fv
dollars to your old salary, and as Mr.. Harknel
my head bookkeeper, enters this firm on tn
first of next January, you shall have his place
Only be firm and true to yourself, and 20