Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-03-18
SsIsfteO Storn.
The First Glass.

had often noticed when we were iu
any party Of pleasure amongst our own
companions. hOw Cyru, Grcy>On avoided
liquor. IAr mrrfIc,t occasion. the hottest
dAy or the cpllr-t evening found him
strictly tcmPrrItc--a cold water man of
tile most rigid type. And yet he made no
strong profession, OF temperance. and in
H. life there Ma every temptation 10 mere
pleasure seeking.
lie was wealthy, an artist of no mean
stardiHg. a iayorite in society. and wo-ld
have been cninently handsome but tor an
EXPRESSION Of sadness thar never left hi,
dark eyes reserve that hung over ht,
spe, Oh on All occasions. But that he low
ed me. that we had become like brother,
IN five ytArs Of close, intimate friendship.
| should never have learned the secret OF
Of hi- sadness. or the cause OF hi. street
practical temperance habits.
remember well the morning when he
came into my studio early. 10 lind me lying
upon a lounge nursing a splitting headache.
instead OF finishing the picture upon mg
easel.
Il was but seldom | allowed a good
company or great occasion to lead me in
10 drinking. but my headache that day
was most certainly to be- attributed TO q
free flow of champagne on the previous ev-
euing. and Cyrus knew it. He made no
comment. passed about the room little
and then sitting near me, said in voice
that to ne proved that h had nerved him
self TO some great effort:
Well. old fellow | am going 10 make
you M father conf s>Or-t0 tell you the
soory OF my life"
His face was deadly pale, and hi. whole
appearance 20 shocked me tha' | cried
Not il it troubles You To tell il. ty."
Never mind that | want TO tell it, You
will respect my secret. VIII. know.
was a boy OF five years old. | think. when
my father suddenly disappeared irom our
home. | cannot tell you what his bu>ine>,
had been. dryer knew; but We had al
Ways lived in comfort, aud my vague
memory OF father only recalls kindness
and love for my mother and myself. the
only child.
After he left us. my mother sank into a
most despairlng sorrow, weeping convul-
-iyely al ali times. often praying fervently,
wasting away to "A mere shadow of herself
She was absent from home great deal.
and my grandmother came 10 care for me.
they would be gone for hours AT a time on
alternate days, always coming home
weeping and prostrated by sorrow. | can
not tell how long this lasted, but one day
they went out together. were gone till late
at night. leaving me with the servant.
When they camr. home, mother was carried
into the hoIse iBsensible, aud my grand
mother seemed scarcely more conscious
All night. from my little crib, could hear
them sObbing aud praying in what, even
my childish comprehension told me, was
the extreme agony OF despair and grief
| The next day my father was brought home
dead in his coffin, and kissed him for
| the last time.
Il remember a long illness of my moth
| er's and her death. Then We travelled,
| grandmother and |, a long distance to a
| city.
Here | was sent to school. and for the
/ first time / heard myself called by the
name | now bear, Cyrus Greyson. Iques-
| toned my grandmother about this, rem
embering my mother had always called me
'her darling Freddy but she told me sad
| lv | must try to forget my old life, my old
name. and something in her white face
and hushed voice compelled my awed sub
mission.
| These are my childish impressions OF