Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-12-28
The Parting of the ways.
A Modern Apologize.
By REV. WILLIAM R. ALeER.

Our great cities contain many q
young man, just fairly starting in life,
but pausing q moment at the parting
of the way, where he is met by two
forms, each inviting him to follow in
the path where she leads. Those forms
are the seductress, Indulgence, with a
blushing goblet of wine, and the vir
gin, Temperance, with crystal cup of
water. Two youths approach and &C
cept the different invitations, one tax
ing the wine goblet, and the other the
water cup. Gazing in the opposed
glasses we trace, in a series of dis,
solving views, the contrasted fates of
the two choosers.
The first magic scene divides the
blushing fluid, and a young man,
weary from his days work, is seen 60
ing home. Indulgence meets him,
saying: Come, taste of my goblet,
and follow my guidance" He yields
and the picture fades into portentous
gloom.
1t is evening. The streets are light
ed. He strolls along, his brain and
blood excited by the draught. Apaiut
ed creature winds her Establishments
around him and leads him into her re
treat of shame and remorse. And so
vanishes the second act.
A place of business is thrown open
in the morning light He is there
The flush of fever and the palor of ex-
| haustion contend on his brow and
cheek. His eyes are red and blurred,
The marks of a degrading power are
visible all through. The vista recedes
and is lost.
Next a gambling saloon advances
and is unveiled. Midnight is the hour.
Tables are spread, mirrors CLEAN, de-
canters glitter, cards and dice and
wheels are in full operation, haggard
faces leaning eagerly over-his hag-
gardcst, intensest of all.
That tableau dislimns like dream
cloud, and is replaced by another,
now showing him, alone, bowed in
despair, convulscd with agony Ruin
stares him in the face with gorgon
frown. There is the resource" he
says, upsta: ting. His fingers clasp
the pen Of the forger. lis done, and
the dishonored 1elon disappears in
fading mist and air.
A hind background is thrust swiftly
forward. The officers of justice are
coming to seize him. In a fit of des-
peration he draws a dagger, stabs the
nearest man to the keart, and stands
above his victim, q shuddering muir
derer, as the luminson picture expires
in a darkness of blood.
Various scenes glimpse by in rapid
succession in the goblet. The cell OF
prison, he chained and groaning, his
head sunk upon his breast; the judi
cial bar, the Judge, jury, pleadels, spec
tators; finally the awful gallows loom
ing remote, a stiff figure clad in black
dangling from it in the moonlight.
But turn we now the other way, tc
the fairer and holier series Of views in
the crystal cup of Temperance, and
trace the life of the young man who
takes her for his guide.
a spacious public library fills the
foreground of the first picture thai
sewers the transparent liquid, and the
time is evening. In the illuminated
apartment lie sits at table, his ingen
uous face full of intelligence and graf
flied interest as he peruses the page
, of a review, and so passes out Of sight
Next it is Sunday. Heavenly inyi
tatiOns are Changing melodiousl
) down from the belfries. He is in hi
pew at church, his heart soaring ava,
, on the notes of the choir to WORSHIP
with the angels before the throne O
God. AS the minister reads the Scrip
:, ture lesson, he follows the words il
the leaves of the little pocket Bibl
his mother gave him.
\ Now youth, congregation, church
all are lost, and a new view opens
Years of business fidelity. intellectual
: culture and moral growth have passed
+ His employers have admitted him tt
] their firm. His name is on the sign
he sits in the elegant counting room
while his clerks are writing, and below
the parties are rolling in their bales
The block of warehouse, with it
}, busy routine, becomes indistinct, dim
= mer still, is gone. The capitol of til
{ country heayes in sight, the great fla
Il Il Of stars and stripes, unmutilated, III
N sullied, waving from its dome. Their
. he stands, amid his peers, the elector
= of the people. A crowd lean over tn
. galleries to listen while he speaks O
- subject that shall affect the vital in
" terests of his native land, perchanc
= of the world, for ages to come.
: Once more this mysterious life lanC
. scape changes, and the final view rusl
!, es through the clear medium into Wis
- ion. 1t is noon day, and the midd
;, of the week. What means the gene
:" al siicuco? Why are tho phases (
. business all closed What imposin
l and unwonted demonstration is this
- Ah! he, the hOnored, the beloved,
- dead /; and the people bury him to da,
u u, The bells are toiling. a long pr,
. cession of the gifted and the eminer
artists, merchants, authors, state
- men and the grateful multitude who
= - he eyer delighted to serve, follow h
~ bierih reverence and tears, while fro
~ the closing scene of q well-spent Hf
- angels near his soul to God.
af Young man, who hesitatest at Il
~ y parting Of the way, be warned Fc
" low not Indulgence, with the blus
~ ing goblet, who drags her sla
~ ~ through vice down to perdition! Fl
:" ~ low Temperance, with the crystal Gu
% for she leads her servant through V
tue up to immortal glory.
A new counterfeit fifty dollar gree
ce back, new issue, was passed at Lit
-er Rock Yesterday, by a man from t