The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-10-05

Over the sea of pink foaming bliss
She wickedly, witchingly waits him u kiss,
Then,over the glass she airily laughs
pledge which he eagerly catches and quaffs"
That was the story. A gay party, a
beautiful, thoughtless girl, saucily laugh
ing, "A Happy New Year" TO the fine
Mr.. Cushman, ''and success to the firm
Young & Cushman," as uncle Giles boy
explained in reply to careless question,
the process of tanning. Success to the
firm p was the pledge. The senior part
ner was. travelling in Europe. fully trust
ing the reformed youth with the bust
ness.
This girl had shown her power to win
over the ''poky youth afraid to taste a
harmless sip of wine," as she laughingly
boosted to friend.
Gould she have seen the result of her
victory. But no, she never knew the
midnight train of cars carried her back
to her home in distant city, and in
fashionable gaiety she forgot the petty
triumph.
So life goes. A thoughtless act will
quicken events that crowd to make or
mar forever our own and others features
Does God hold US responsible for our
thoughtless deeds? Let Him pity US
then.
This girl never suffered in knowing the
result of the thoughtless exercise of her
beauty and wit; but that night, while
the train sped her homeward, careless
and comfortable, three young girls, as
fair as she aud white haired old man,
sat over terrible grief that had walked
Its skeleton form into their lives once
more; sat with speechless grief and
clasped hands over drunken form.
And now an old story-the taste for
strong drink once more INDUCED, con-
slant indulgence alone seemed to appease
the terrible demon that again and again
laid its hideous hand upon this wretch
ed slave dragging him slowly. but surely
down, down to death and a dishonored
grave.
Forgotten, all the old time promises,
IN the fierce craving for the intoxicating,
maddening bowl, the sight ofhis patient,
much enduring father and the fearful
girls, only melted him on to deeper DO
tations; business was neglected entirely,
no thought was now given to paying off
the mortgage; thought had he only to
appease the demondrink.
Mr.. Young, the senior partner in the
tannery business, returned from Euroye,
found his business had been sadly neg
leoted in his absence and a valuable cargo
of hides then rotting In the tan-and as
the villagers tersely expressed them
selves-'.just kicked young Cushman
adrift.''
Uncle Giles had his mortgage to meet
In eighteen months time.
His son suddenly disappeared, none
knew whether. By common. though
unspoken consent, his name was dropped
from the household conversation.
Days passed away in the. dull, peace
ful routine Of former years. The oldest
daughter marriage to gentleman of
means, who took up the mortgage broke
up the monotony of days just for a sea-
son, and then again the days and months
peacefully, yet half painfully in unspok-
en- suspense for the household wander.
er, dragged their slow length into the
years.
The great southern rebellion shot its
iur1d hight of war over and I'D the north
ern horizon; men offered up their lives
on tne altar OF their country and passed
into their silent graves Men and bows
wounded and furnished, lay in pens, pris-
ons, so-called. Some gave up their gen
tie lives, to be recklessly shuffled into
nameless graves-nameless? nay there
is record: Better beneath His eve
than beneath stone;" others, exchang-
ed, half dead from diseas and starvation.
passed to their dear, northern homes,
crippled for life. Every southern breeze
that blew seemed but breath of horror
and death.
With all a quaker's peaceful shrinking
from war and its consequent terrors,
uncle Giles grew faint with sadden fear
June day when boy entered the door
with telegram from Washington, read
ing thus;
GILES CUsHMAN-Youl son, William,
exchanged prisoner, is sick, badly wound.
ed. Come immediately i. T.
Acting Surgeon.
Just recovering from spell of fever.
uncle Giles was totally unfit for the ner-
vous excitement consequent to an I'M
wonted journey, and such journey. So
his son-in-law, with the family physician,
started on the sad errand of bringing
back the wanderer, it might be living, it
might be dead-God only knew but
better dead than living they sadly felt If
he still trod in the drunkard's way.
So life took up once more the old tor
tuous suspense; hope and joy huttered
near with pale wings; family whispering
rejoice and pray, that now the lost is
found, God viii lead him back to the life
in Him, beside the still waters of temper-
ance and truth
Thus joy and hope whispered, and they
awaited for news from Washington.
1t was hot day in July, when ear
rage travelled along over the dusty
stretch of road leading toward Giles
Cushman s farmhouse for leaning back
against cushion and army blanket, hold
ing the old doctors hand, was all that
was left of William Cushman. A sad