The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-23
II Story for Young Men.

vi L
crowd Of professed friends, who drank,
swore and cared nothing for morality
in general At first | held back, | had
not been used to it; but | could not
withstand the sneering laugh Of my
companions which always greeted me
when | refused to Join in amy Of their
wicked acts. and by degrees | became
very reckless. 1t makes me shudder
even now when | think of it. | had
never been blessed with a sisters love.
| resided with my mother in this vii
lagc of about four hundred inhabit-
ants. Many night when l would 90
rceling home from the shop at the
north end Of the town, | would find
my dear mother watching for her son
listening if perchance she could
catch the sound of his unsteady step
Many a time did l wakcn from my
drunken slUmbers and hear that fond
mother sending up petition to God
i'll behalf of hcrintcmperate son. Oh!
what a wretch | was, bringing down her
gray hairs in sorrow to the grave. She
began to look aged and carewOrn; hut
! kept Oh in my sinful ways until q
my downward career.
| was starting out one evening to
the grog-shOp, when l suddenly To-
membered that ! had spent all my
money at that place the evening be
fore. | remembered also that | had
seen my mother put few pennies
cher hard earnings) in cup that day.
/ 7caS temDtoGt l tried to resist but
my appetite was too strong. | slipped
cautiously to the cupboard, removed
the money from the cup, deposited it
in my pocket, and was starting from
the house when my mother entered. l
did not turn my head, for / felt guilty
guilty Of what | never was before
n thief My mother called me there
was something in her voice which l
could not resist.
What is it mother?" said l.
ooh, Willie! do stay at home with
me tonight" said she, grasping my
hand in both of hers Don't drink
tonight; take my advice just once"
Oh. how many times since have !
wished that | had taken her advice
that night. But ! consoled her by tell
ing her that | would not stay long. |
wended my way to the grogshop; but
my mothers words; "Oh, Willie, do
stay at home with me tonight" kept
ringing in my ears far louder than the
drunken Oaths, and for once | did not
stay what | called late; but when |
reached home the bells in the neigh
boring city were tolling the midnight
/ hour
| A strange feeling seized me as l ap-
! preached my home. The light was
! placed in the window as usual to guide
the wanderers steps | went to the
window and looked in. There sat my
mother in her easy chair; her eyes
were closed and | thought she slept.
tried to chase my fears away as |
went around to the door; my hand
trembled when I laid it on the latch.
and it thrilled my very heart when ii
arose with a sharp click
l had never known such feelings
before. | entered | beheld in nv
mothers hand the very cup from which
| had removed the money. / laid nv
hand on my mothers shoulder and
spOketO her. She moved not; spoke
| louder; still no answer l listened
but could not hear her breathe / laid
her gently on the bed, brought water
and bathed her white forehead. Rea.
der imagine my JOY when saw that
dear mother open her eyes.
"Oh, mother ~ cried |, forgive me
Oh forgive your erring boy"
81 do" was the answer, and q hea
veLly smile lit up her face.
Meet me in Heaven, Willie"
by the grace Of God 1 will"
And my mothers spirit has fled tc
the God who gave it.
at is not necessary for me to pro
long the description of the mournfu
scene. Suffice it to say that from tha
moment | was a changed man-snatch
ed as brand from the burning. Sine,
that time not one drop of whisky, wine
or anything of the kind has passed m,
:, lips, and by help and strength givel
me from above. NEVER WILL.