The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-19
A TRUE INCIDENT.
BY A poCToK's WIFE.

The stricken mother sat by the bedside,
stroking tenderly the brown siIken tresses of
the fair boy, who lay there all unconscious
OF the sad drama which was being enacted
BY her side, with her head buried in her lap,
kneeled the beautiful young sister, whose
life had been so suddenly, so ruthlessly 1ar-
kened.
Within that chamber of death, nothing
save the low sobbing of the heart-broken
mother broke the awful silence. The kind
friends and neighhors who bad gathered in,
with offers of sympathy or assistance, stood
with bated breath. The physicians, having
exhausted their skill in a vain attempt to
snatch the victim from the grave, could only
stand still and watch the gloom of death set
ting down on the palid face. As the clock
on the mantlepice ticked the speeding mo-
ments the Destroying Angel drew nearer
and nearer the smtten home. He clasped
the beating heart in his cold embrace. and it
quivered, stopped, and then stood still for
ever. The fair young being who had passed
50 suddenly away had entered life under pc
culiar favorable circumstances Gifted
above many, he had completed his education
and received the degree of NJ. D. on the eve
of his twenty first birthday. In less than
three years he had distinguished himself in
his chosen profession. His many gracious
qualities of head and heart had drawn
around him host of admiring friends. Yet
in the midst of such bright prospects he had
permitted himself to be enticed into the
tempter's snare. He not only loved the red
wine in the cup, but had become addicted to
the use of a most powerful drug-chloral
hydrate.
At first no doubt, this young man employ
ed it incidentally. He found its effects so
gratifying, that ere he was aware the occa-
siOnal practice had become habituaI Then
commenced hand to hand fight with the
monster who had bound him so pitilessly
with the chains he himself had been forging.
With all his bright dreams of life before
him; with his mothers prayers sounding iG
his ears, and his sisters tears still undried
upon cheeks, he went forth into unwilling
bondage. Time after time had he been res
cued from the jaws of death. onlyto begin the
terrible struggle in weakened strength
This last dose had brought sleep from
which there was no waking.
Amidst the falling of the autumn leaves
we laid him to rest beneath the cypress yet,
is glorious rift in the clouds that widens
and widens as it draws closer and closer to
the throne of the All-merciful. God be
thanked that there is One who judgeth not
as man judgeth; who holdeth evenly the
scales of justice; who weigheth against our
sins the whirlpool of our temptation. Let
US hope that, in tender mercy, the Great Rea-
per has gathered this tried and tempted one
into his sheltering arms of love.
With the clods that ratified on his coffin lid
still ringing in my ears, wish TO sound a
note Of alarm. But few are aware of the ex-
tent to which opium and chloral eating are
carried on in our midst. Men and women,
young men and maidens, are included in this
fearful catalogue. 1t has already assumed
dimensions second only to wine-drinkiDg.-
Throttle the giant ere it sweeps some of your
loved ones into the yawning abyss awaiting
them