The Van Buren press., 1875-01-12

suited when refused? Why was it,
knowing the circumstances connected
with my sickness, that those persons,
who claimed to be my friends, we're so
persistent in their efforts to drag mc
again into that gulf of horror, from the
awful depths Of which l had but just
emergedr Young men, is not this the
experience f some of you? Why is it ?
| can conceive Of no other reason than
that misery loves company" But to
resume my story.
No poor wretch needed more to pray,
Lead us not into temption,' than me
1t was the " iron fend" OF my existence,
that haunted NC end logged my foot
stops, as docs the spirit-shade Of the
murdered victim the footfalllngs of his
murderer Talk Of heroism upon the
field of battle, of the courage Of military
men, both living and dead, but they all
'pale their Intellectual fires" in the pres
ence Of that moral heroism which bids
defiance to that arch tempter. the nsatis
bic +" demon Of thirst'-that throws
down bcncsth his feet, and tramplcs upon
that ravenous viper, that in its serpent
folds has hitherto enwrapped him--that
wages relentless, uncompre missing bitter
warfare against the widest, and most in.
fernal passions Of mans nature, the dia
bolic love of liquor 1t blinds mans
reason, blunts his sensibilties, smothers
his love, and binds him in shackes harder
to unloose than the dreadful entwining Of
the boa constructor. To release the mind
from this dread Imprisonment, to let
light and freedom into the soul, dark.
ened by the shade Of this dread upas.
tree, and fettered with the manacles of
the 9" evil spirit of wine," requires
moral heroism that puts to the blush ev
cry other grade and species of courage,
and the few habtual drunkards that are
reclaimed from the fearful depths of the
vice, is sufficient to show how few pos.
sess this kind of bravery
AS soon as was able returned to
school, and successfully prosecuted my
studies to their close, bringing to the
task those powers Of my mind which, IN
the five years before, had been rendered
dormant by my disgracrful dissipation
| was through my school days, and now
| awaited the obtaining Of position in
which | might put to practical use the
knowledge which had acquired H.
About six months after my studies
had closed, my father succeeded in oh
tanning for me position as assistant
bookkecper in large mercantile house
in St. Louis, where, unless otherwise oc.
s. s.;..,An was : Ssi sss- y 'ns eapae''s 2
Af.h bidding my father and brothers
and sisters adicu, received the parting
injunction Of my mother, the sweet and
trembling words falling from her lips, as
she put plain gold ring on my finger:
"Willie, my son, God bless you. and
enable you to remember and fulfil your
promise"
" May He grant it, mother, and by
His help will" said |, leaving her wi,h
KISS Of love on my cheeks, and the
glttering band Of gold upon my finger,
a continual reminder Of my promise, new
or to see her more in this world. She
was subject to heart disease, and the aw.
fu crime with which had charged her,
materially hastened the elimination of ,
the disease
| arrived at ST. Louis, and was soon (
installed into my position as assistant
bookkeeper. 1t was large and exten
sive establishment, and the business WAS
so extraordinarily large that my services
were often required behind the counter
as salesman.
Three nights Of the week | was requir {
ed to remain at the store, and the remain.
ing four retired to the seclusion Of my {
room, or visited the Mercantile Library
reading rooms, to which, through the in
fuence Of IA friend, had gained adms.
sion, and where had access to the news {
papers and other reading matter Of the
association. BY this course l avoided !
the many temptations which gilded vice
holds up before the idle youth in the
great metropolis
Nature had intended mo for sales !
mau. Sho had not only conferred on s
me pleasing face but what was better, a I
ready, witty tongue All the hard Gus I
toners were sent to me, and rarely ever s
failed to sell them what they might want I
Every now and then some pretty girl |
happened To be my customer, and then, |
Of course, brought to the task all my i
powers OF entertainment, and | scarcely 4
ever failed TO make an impression. The
season was very gay one, and l receiv.
ed nnumerable invitations to parties. Z
did not accept them because had no de. '
sire for society. The thoughts OF home, O
and the dear ones left behind. were too /
fresh in my memory, to permit me to in v
dulge in much levty.
My frequent placing behind the ooun e
ter as salesman, had made me acquaint- Il
ed with large number Of ladies', and yet. $
had reached that mum o
ber of years in which my sex is the most
mellow and love sckish, had never re n
ceived a rt-bow from any of them. t
however boarded with widow-ady. who il
to take one or two OF us clerks h
She had iost her only child, and, although n
so Ear as fortune was con n
,erned, was glad 10 board US for the com a
pany we were to her Y
This lady, Mrs Lawrence, shall call Il
ler, came into the store, one day, bring n
ng with her beautiful young lady whom d
he brought to my place at the counter. n
After the usual courtesies, the widow in. a
reduced US to each other.
Mr.. Parker, allow me to intro luce
IT.. ia V;ll;anaO IL,