Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-03-02
A STORY FOR YOUNG MEN.

| had grown reckless after | moved to
M that is, | fell in with a crowd
of professed friends, who drank, swore,
and cared nothing for morality in gen.
eral
At first I 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 any Of their wicked acts, and by de-
grees became very reckless.
1t makes me shudder even now to
think of it.
had never been blessed with sis
ter's love.
resided with my mother in this vii
lage of about four hundred inhabitants.
Many night when | would go reeling
home from the shop at the north end of
the town, would find my dear mother
watching for her listening if per-
chance she could catch the sound of his
unsteady step.
Many time did | waken from my
drunken slumbers and hear that fond
mother sending up petition to God in
behalf of her Incorporate son.
Oh ! what wretch | was.
knew that was bringing down her
gray hairs in sorrow to the grave.
She began to look aged and careworn,
but kept on in my sinful ways until a
circumstance occurred to stop me in my
downward career.
was starting out one evening to the
grog-shop, when suddenly rendered
that | had spent all my money at that
place the evening before
remembered also that | had seen
mother put few pennies Cher hard earn
ings) in a cup that day.
was tempted tried to resist, but
my appetite was 100 strong.
| slipped cautiously to the cupboard,
removed the money from the cup, depos-
tied it in my pocket and was starting
from the house when my mother entered.
| did not turn my head, for felt
guilty-guilty of what | never was be-
fore-a theft
Ny mother called me there was some
thing in her voice that | could not resist.
"What is it, mother? p said [.
Oh, Willie do stay at home with
me tonight, she exclaimed, 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 telling her that
| would not stay long.
wendell my way to the grog-shop
but mothers words:
"Oh, Willie do stay at home with
me tonight" kept ringing in my ears
far louder than the druntco oaths, and
for once did not stay what called late
but when | reached home the bells in
the neighboring city were tolling the
midnight hour.
A strange feeling seized me as APP
preached my home. The light was
placed in the window as usual to guide
the wanderers steps went to the win
dow and looked in. There sat my moth
er in her easy-chair; her eyes we're closed
and | thought she slept Her face was
pale, but it was always that. | tried to
chase my fears away as went around to
the door my hand trembled when laid
it on the latch, and it thrilled my heart
when it rose with sharp click. | had
never such feeling before entered |
beheld in my mothers hand the very cup
from which | had removed the money.
/ laid my hand on mothers shoulder and
spoke to her She moved not, spoke
louder, still no answer | listened, but
could not hear her breathe laid her
gently on the bed, brought water and
bathed her white forehead. Reader, i'm
agine my joy when | saw that dear mo-
Their open her eyes.
ooh. mother!o cried I, forgive me,
Oh, forgive your erring boy"
II do was the answer.
A heavenly smile lit up her face.
"Meet me in heaven, Willie"
'By the grace of God, | will
And my mothers spirit had fed to
God who gave it,
1t is not necessary for me to prolotg
the description of the mournful scene. -
Suffice it to say that from that moment |
was a changed man--snatched as a brand
from the burning. Since that time not
one drop OF whiskey, wine, or anything
of the kind has passed my lips, and by
help and strength given me from above,
aeoer actH.