The Press., 1883-11-08
fContributed.l
BY ROB ROY.

How lost young man was saved, would be something more grateful to tell, as well as to read. Unhappily the following story stops short of the, desired conclusion. It is told for the warning it contains. A gen. tleman passing out of city restaurant one cold morning, was accosted by shiver- ing drunkard on the steps.
 s.Please give me penny, sir. and I'll repeat chapter in the bible, I'm starv- ing:, claimed the gentleman in surprise at the request. ''Well," handing him penny, s1et me hear you"
 ssWhen the morning was"-the miser- able man began-ssa ssall the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away" /" Rapidly, and yet with perfect accuracy, as it seemed, he repeated the words, and the gentleman was so amazed that he let him go on, standing there in the cold, till he had finished the sixty verses of the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew-the while story of the cruciixtion.
 "Come in here with me want to give you breakfast" :" said the gentleman.
 He was religious man and benevo- lent one The sight of wretched fellow being was no novelty to him, but he had never met subject precisely like this. While the stranger ate, he sat at the table with him, enjoying 8 cup of coffee which he had ordered for himself, and chatting pleasant commonplace, meantime keeping his eyes busy and wondering who the poor fellow could be. He saw that he was young and had been good looking. The wreck of a once graceful frame showed 4 IL l. s,,k high forhead, marked with lines of vices eyes, sunken and infamed by dissipation the handsome nose, reddened by indul- gence in strong drink the mouth and chin grown heavy and gross from the in- diligence of animal appetite.
 My boy" said the gentleman, kindly, when he had seen the stranger warmed and fed, ''you do not look as if you had many friends. I did not bring you in here to let you go back to this desolate life. If you are to be saved flom it, I pledge myself to be the man to save you. One so familiar with the bible as you are must carry with him some elements of hope and recovery and cannot be with out memories that are sacred. Tell me frankly about yoursef.''
 And so he won the young man to re- late his history.
 'I am the son of clergyman, he said. But as he went on describing his happy childhood, he suddenly broke down. His. new friend waited while he gave way to his tears.. There were tears in his own eyes. At length he gently prompted him to resume his story.
 "And then, after the happy childhood, what ?" -
 40 h.. of my class, '" said the young map, drying his tears and steadying his voice. "f was popular, and chose for my companions clever fellows, but criminal and wicked. fell into dissipated habits, and finally, while intoxicated, did deed that led to my expulsion. I could not go home with my disgrace, and went to large city and found employment but my hab- its caused my discharge. Then drifted from place to place, picking up what em- ployment could, till my habits degraded me so low that no one would hire me Here am, acknowledge it, with health, character and ambition gone-a wretch and willing to remain so. Iswore would never enter my fathers house again, and never will. You can do nothing for me- Thank you for your kindness, for you mean well !; but 1t is too late.'
 He arose quickly from the table, hur- ried out of the door and was gone.
 It may be that the prodigal kept his des- perate resolve. Sef-destruction is always possible to one who is determined on it. Habits are letters forged on the anvil of life, and it is a fearful thing to deliberate. ly accept a course of evils, having clear view of its wickedness. Look ahead young man and steer the bark Of life clear of such l So1, 41,ir, oe to good influences is more terrible than the rending asunder of soul and body by what we call physical death.