Daily globe., 1879-01-26
The First Drink and the Last.

The First Drink and the Last.
BY THE AUTHOR ssANDREW DOUGLAS"
The spring trade had been brisk that
year; merchants from the far West had
arrived in large numbers, and the prin-
cipal business streets Of the city OF s.
had been c:owded with purchasers, with
boxes, and with drays, s,making promenad-
ing rather difficult thing.
Harry Stcdman was more actively en-
gagged than he had ever been before, for
when he had entered Mr. Crofton's store
late in the preceding autumn it was after
the press Of work for the fall was over
Harry had promised his mother before
leaving his village home for the city that
he would put his whole heart and mind
into learning the business, that he would
not resort to the use Of stimulants under
any temptation. He little knew the
secret habits cf young men who were
outwardly active, industrious, and re.
spectacle members Of society.
One day the work in the store WIS, as
the boys said, tremendous" Box after
box was packed, nailed up, marked, and
turned out on the sidewalk, and still
country merchants were calling at the
door: MY goods shipped yet? Must
words Of like import. There was hurry
everywhere, bat it might have been OBJ
served that there was at all times q def
cheney in the force of clerks Of one or
two at time. Harry at length noticed
these absences, but just as he was about
| to ask his companion who was packing
the same box what it meant, when every
available man was needed, the lad ad-
dressed him.
"Harry," said he, IL can't stand this
any longer without drink. II don It
often indulge, but I'm getting tired out
with this day and night work. Just as
quick as this box is marked and turned
out you slip round the corner with me-"
"Where to?'' said Harry.
"h by, to Jerry's, up the alley. Don't
you know the place."
"Indeed do not" said Harry.
"You are green, Harry Stedman,' said
Joe. Isl guess you are the only fellow
here, then, that doesn't know It,"
"It is a soda-Water place." said Harry
81 should like drink Of soda-water."
"Fiddlesticks, Harry!" laughed Joe
contemptuously; "it's where you get beer
or anything stronger; and glass Of Ia
ger sets you up like good dinner"
Harry was enlightened, but he refused
to go this time; he thought of his mother
and Of his promise to her
Joe's patronizing ways and his laugh
aF F+or 4b, &c l,1
and made bin feel as if he had appeared
very foolish indeed in the sight of his
companion; how he appeared in the sight
Of God, alas he failed to consider.
The busy season was not yet over when
Harry at last yieled to Joc's temptations
and consented to go to Jerry's Just M5s
once.
He made his first entrance into "sa-
loon," gave his conscience Is first dead
ening 1.lcw, and he took has first dr5i,ak.
Years, passed, for at this time Harry
stedman was a youth of eighteen, tall,
straight and remarkably handsome and
sweet tempered.
It was only five years that passed, when
young man was brought by two of his
friends to an "asylum for the cure of
inebriates.'
No one who had known Harry Sted-
man at eighteen would have recognized
him now-stooping in the shoulders, un-
steady in his gait-fushed and bloated-
and yet the impress was on his altered
face OF having once possessed great man
ly beauty. 1t was his own wish that he
was brought to the asyIum--the one re-
deenling point of light in his dark and
sad career. He had made efforts to strike
off his chains; but the habit had gradu-
ally and surely become fixed, and ap-
parently could not be broken; and now
without just SO many drinks in day he
could not endure the mental anguish and
| nervous prostrati0l that overcame him.
Not feeling by any means certain that
ne could go through the terrible ordeal
OF having all stimulus suddenly taken
from him, Harry had ingeniously con-
trived to secrete about his person flat
bottle containing whisky.
The physician received him kindly,
praising him for his resolution to reform,
told him of the requirements of the place.
encouraged him to submit himself to
them, and thea Harry was left by his
friends, as they believed, soon to be re-
stored to them and his mother a sound
and thoroughly reformed man.
One night and one day were agonized
through. The second night physical and
mental strength began to give way, and
resolution rapidly wavered. Midnight
came; the light burned dim, a sense of
horror seized him, strange images were
before him.
1t would not be long now before the
attendant would be in his room to see
how he was progressing that he
might escape first.
Suddenly remembering the bottle he
had secrcted, Harry sprang from his bed,
found it, and with the frenzy brought on
by abstinence drained it to the last drop.
He regained his bed, but this was his
last drink; before morning he was raving
in delirium, and never regained his con-
sciousness, until death ended his suffer-
ings on the third day afterward.
The hoped for cure had been attempted
too late.
And his widowed mother? THROUGH
the few remaining years of her life the
sight Of her grief-stricken countenance.
her despairing eyes. was one that will
never fade from my memory.