The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-02

- nave lOlu YOU Only Tue SAD ana bOleml
= truth" was Martins answer; 'tand If had
is accepted your invitation, might now be
d lying at a depth of misery and degradation
?, the bare Thought Of which makes me shud
K deri"
l. The gentleman stood for little while a.
ifstunned.
This is frightful to think Of, he said
" and l saw him shivsr.
a '4t is the last time" he added, after o
pause-''the last time that any man shall
II go out of my house weaker and more de.
graded than when no came in. If my offer
If ing of wine causes my brother 10 offend,
n then will not offer it, again while the
b world stands"
"Ah. sirr answered Martin. 'If many,
many more of our good citizens would SO
: resolve, hundreds of young men now drift
IS ing out into the current of intemperance,
q might be drawn back into safer water; and
hundreds of others who are striving to
& make head against ii, saved from destruc-
1 ton I speak feelingly. for am one of
g those who are struggling for life in this
fatal current"
i The way of safely for a man like Martin,
: is very narrow and straight 1t he steps
aside into any Of the pleasant paths that
e open on the right hand and on the left, he
is in the midst of peril. II he grow con-
ident in his own strength, and less de-
pendent on that which is given from above,
the danger of falling becomes imminent.
( Martin fell again. Alasl that this should
have to be told.
''Was that Martin who passed us?" ask
ed friend with whom 1 was walking.
mo-" answered, in in positive voice:
and yet, as said the word my heart gave
throb of fear-the man was so like him.
at was, 1 am sure. Poor wretchl He
tries hard to reform; butthst cursed appe-
tite is too much for him. I'm afraid there
is no help. He'll diea dr1nkard-
l turned back quickly and without res
ponse, following the man we had passed
Just as came up to him he had stopped
at the dor of q drinking saloon, and was
holding brief parley With awakened sp-
petite.
"In Gods name, mo" said, laying my
hand upon him,
He started In frightened kind of way,
turning on me a hsggaId face and blood
shot eve drew my arm within his and
LED hI Il away, passive as child. Not
word was spoken by either until we were
in his Office, which was not far distant,
and the door shut and locked. he drop
ped into a chair with slight groan, his
head sinking upon his chest. He was the
picture of abject wretchedness.
HE leaveth the ninety and nine that are
safely folded" 1 said, speaking in a low,
tender voice, 'tand goeth out into the Wild
erUess to seek that which is estray."
de did not answer.
''You have looked to the strong for
strength, you have prayed to Him for sue
cor, and he has come very near TO you and
helped you. Because you again went out
of the fold. His love has not failed. He
has found you out in the wilderness and |
brought you back to a placeof safety
Only trust In Him and all will be we'll He |
is the friend that sticketh closer than a
brother. His is love that never fails"
I waited for him to reply. but he kept |
silence.
"It must have been no ordinary tempta-
ton, I" I said.
Still he was silent.
'sThe enemy must have come on you una |
ware, l added. after brief pause. "The |
bolt must have fallen ere you saw the warn
ing fash. "a
"I was taken at disadvantage, but l |
had time to know my enemy, and should |
have given battle in Gods namei instead |
of yielding like craven"
Such was lis reply. 1t gave me hope.
"Tell me the whole story" said.
he raised himself to firm attitude; and |
/ saw swift lights beginning to fash in his
dull eyes.
Wounded again in the house of
friend, he replied.
zone on whom God has laid the spe-
cial duty Of saving human souls Our min
isterT'
''Not Mr.. IL"
Tx,as oonfonnda5
81 went to him for help" continued
Martin, ''and instead of the counsel and
support then so much needed, for my old
enemy, appetite, WIS gathering up his
strength, and setting his host in battle ar
ray, I was tempted and betrayed should
have gone to God, and not to man. With
his Divine Word in my thought and pray
er il my heart 1 should have opposed the
awakening enticement of desire, as have
SO often done and prevailed
"Tell me how it happened" said.
GAS have just tod you," he replied,
81 was not feeling very strong. That old
restlessness of which have spoken, had
come back upon me, and knew what it
meant So. 1 said to my wife, i think,
Mary, that I'll step around and see Mr..
l.. I'd like 70 talk with him. She
looked at me with slight shadow Of con-
Germ in her face; for she has learned to
know the signs of coming hour of dark
ness. when the powers of hell renew their
dlreful assaults upon my soul Do she
answered; and weut.
81 found Mr.. L. in his library, but
not alone. E., the banker, had called
in to have talk with the minister about
q college for theological students, in which
both felt considerable interest. Funds
were wanted in order to give the Institu-
ton the required efficiency; and the ways
and means Of getting funds were earnestly
discussed by Mr. L. and the capitalist
After an hours talk, and the arrangement
OF plan for securing the object in view,
Mr.. L. rang a bell. To the servant
who came In he said something in low
voice, that / did not hear. The servant
retired, but came back in a few minutes
bearing to my surprise and momentary |,
CONSERVATION, tray with wine and glass
es. / saw pleased light in the bankers
eyes, as they rested on the amber-colcred
wine.
3" Some fine old sherry, said Mr.. L.,
sent me by friend abroad. / want you
to taste it And he filed the three glass
es that were on the tray, handed one to his
guest and another to me. In myself-my
poor weak selfi-I was not strong enough
ACiOocs IL i Aoa AcOhC4 up ~ oOus III
stantly, and prayed for strength to do the
right, strength would know have come.
But did not. took the glass, not mean
ing to drink, but to gain time for thought
To have refused would have been then
ielt, to set myself up as a rebuker of these
men and that I had not the courage to do.
No, did not mean 70 taste the wine. But,
as they lifted their glasses, drank and
praised the fruity juice, I, in kind of mes
meric lapse. of rational selt-control, raised
my glass also, and slipped. A wild fierce
thirst possessed me instantly, and drain
ed the glass to the bottoml
"a sudden ter-Vr and great darkness fell
upon me. I saw the awful gulf on whose
brink stood 81 will go home" said to
myself, raising, bade the two men an ab-
rupt good night and left them. But did
not 60 directly home, alas for mel There
were too many enticements by the way
Indeed, don't know how or when l got
home.
''Of the shame and anguish, the despair
of this morning cannot speak. You don't
know what it means; I have no plummet
by which to sound its depth of bitterness
I left bou1e for NV offica faahlv rasolved IN II