Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-05-19
Do Angels go with us into Haunts of
Dissipation?


The SIM IS setting behind the hills Of the
valley; the curtains of night are fast casting
their shadows over the land; the unseen hand
Of angels are shifting the scene from rosy twi-
light TO the sombre shades Of night; the Jets
/ are barning the blinds arc down: the chan
aelier Of that beautifully decorated bar-room is
shedding its light on the heavy tapestry that
hangs about the windows and carries in its
folds the secrets Of many horrid crime and
! the dazzling winccup. Footballs arc heard
in the streets, inends-conYiyial friends
greet each other. II Is now dark, when mems
appetites are kceuest, VIII the most favora-
rable opportunity for gratifying them IS offered
the hour at which the dark avenues that
/ those Of us, upon whom the demon drink has
fastened his iron grasp, 90 TO satiate thirst and
revcl in debauche!ics OF the darkest character
are open. 1t is then that conyivialiiy rms
/ higbest-congeLial spirits grayi,ate together.
! The old and young, father and son, friend aud
/ foe fall into ranks behind the blind that is
placed before the altar that is dedicated TO sin,
--one upon which arc sacrificed our dearest
/ friends, one from which is measured out poi
son Of the most virucns type 10 tho noblcst Of
all beings, the image Of Coil
The large mirror that hangs from the wall
/ reflects from It's face the forms Of noble men as
/ they move TO and fro about the room pleasant
/ Is greeting each other; an occasional one stag
ccriug under tic weight Of the damuing hcycr-
age; lust over in the corner is one fixed to
/ the floor as if hq wcro chior0f0rmed. Are we
/ fee from the sight of those who are on the out
sido-thoso who love uS most? Can no friend :
/ eve pierce the heavy curtain that hangs about
the door 70 exclude all possible detection OF the
victims by thoSo who are passing this, the cit
adel Of sin? Angels are there. They arc
! with rs always. Just now ono las crossed The
/ threshold aul passed in unobservei by the
/ welcome guests, who arc now in their widest
yagarics, and seated himself on q prominence
from which DO can SEQ every cup that is lifted
20 those lips that have so often received tho
| impress Of fond mothers kiss.
! Can the angels, the messengers Of God. wit
ness such scenes without un,-wiIhoUt
| grief? Can they see tho dagger lifted by the
assassin and ready % DO driven by this mighty
monster into the bosom Of a brother without
staying tho upliitcd hand and saying " this is
murder brother, defend myself ward of the
/ blow, aud again thou cAust DO a man ~ Ayj
| the angel docs morc-thToWs himself between
| the sparkling wine and tho fovorish lips, aud
whispers: Father, soC, brother, friend why
will you barO your bosom to the unofriag ain
/ Of an unfricndly archer.-ono who is swift
| hurting froJa the battlcments Of lutcmpcranco
arrows whose points are dipped in the poison
! Of the alluring wiuo-bowl into your very brain
| Why will You welcome into your veins the Sc
ductiyo demon that leads you step by step into
utter ruin. that which is SO difficult to orgd
| cato when it once fixes itself on your vitals
| Como with mo from this tho scene Of an old
haunt and go to your once happy home, and
wife. q mother or q sister will cool that heated
brow with soothing touch. Break those
shacklcs that are fast binding youl Cease the
! Indulgence that is surely poisoning you, dis
torting your features, wrockmg your talents and
| nature, dragging you into an recoverable con-
| domination Forget tho past and live for the
| future Blot ont from memory the iiendish
spirit that led you to ini.lct tho oi.-Icpcoted
! blow on q loving heart when yOu were under
tho effects Of nights dCbauch Blot out
| from memory that palc-accl vito, who SAT- so
often in tho cold room, trembling for fear her
dear husband was falling by tho waySidc and
! freezing in tho icy-cold suow Of winter; or, il
he should return - his home no would thrus,
her and little babes out into tho bowling winds.
! Remember no more tho anxious, bleeding heart
Of that fond mother who watches and prays
for her hayward boy blot from memory tho
tears that fall from Der oyos as tho idol Of her
| heart leaves the threshold % 90 out into tho
world, fearing that he would drink Of the vino
that carries on its bcad many mothers tear,
| its dtcgs the dust Of many blightcd talent
AMI wasted life and sparklcs with tho blood Of
many noble spirit; the wine that has tar
uishcd ulauy Jewel that tho Creator has i'm
| planted in the caskcs. and carries il down into
| the dark abyss Ct ruin that yawns for the
! Kings Of creation. Blot ont tho remembrance
| Of tho silent grief Of tho sister who loves you
and whose spirit follows you into tho dark
! dungeon that makes wreck of souls, whose
walls gather in upon them and bury them in
/ their ruins She follows you 20 tho very cup
| from which You sip tho wine-thc Wine that
| glistcns with tho poison that inilames tie mind
/ and pcrycrts the senses and causes It's victim
/ 70 iutiict the deadly How upon his dearest
! friend, upon himself upon that sister who, on
Bonded kucc ana with upiiftcl hands, pleads
with you to return 70 those days Of sobcrucSs
| Oh, my dear brother, return 20 me as you were
once and viii welcome you Us o ray of sun
| light into q heart that has Occn made dark and
drcary by badly spent lifo Come and spend
your evenings with me rs you once did with
mother around The old family hcarihstone, and
my life will he a day Of pleasure; if you DO
not, my heart must soon give way under this
weight Of sorrow.
Bury in oblivion the remembrance Of the
sorrow that your nights Of dcbauchcry have
caused that loving father, who stands on the
/ porch us ;lc home q your youth night alter
/ night locking auxiocsly Tor the return Of his
| boy. Tho night is cold; the wind whistles ts
( drclry notes as IL whips around the corner of
! tho house tho boughs Of the old oak wrCstlc
with each other; The Snow-iakcs ial. fast and
thick, and bis son Las not Us yet come home.
| lie looks in tie distance Tor bis form, but alas
/ be IS not in sight. lie grows moro and more
anxious about the son who is gone down % the
/ druukarl5 grave. IIo can no longer cn1ure
! the pain ofrEaitiug-scc him plOdJing In the
/ drifting snow, looking ahead as he advances
I with nervous tread, expecting to sec the frccz-
ing form Of his dear boy dying on the snow
| drii, on he ploGS, % every step is added anX
/ icty, ard every moment making his magma
! ton more and more vivid until 10 his fancy is
/ dashed tic conviction that bis son is pcrisling
/ iu the cold, and he reluctantly returns 10 bis
I home 20 spend q sleopless night aud mourn o.
yer an abScnt-and shall / say druuEari boy.
cannot Guish this dark picture uuti. have
placed upon the canvas the sad memories Of q
lrjcud.-onc dearest Of oil earthly ffouds,-
one whose spirit moves with you, ever hover