Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-05
LOST N FOUND.
The Story OF One Recently Converted
at the Bethesda Mission Of the w. T.
IT,. CHICAGO.

u, Chicago.
In a little eastern town, in the state
of Massachusetts, lived a family con-
sisting of father, mother and four chill
dren. At the time Of which l write
the father had accumulated a sufficient
competence to enable him to give his
children a fair education; the oldest of
whom, a young man, was pointed out
and looked upon by the entire commu-
nifty as likely to succeed in life, and
even excel his companions OF the same
age. After graduating at one Of the
schools in the city of Boston, he secured
the position as book-keeper for a large
wholesale house in the city of Provi-
dence, r. l.. where by constant atten-
ton to business. he won the confidence
and esteem of his employers.
Time passed on. and yielding to the
solicitations Of his new acquaintances.
he was prevailed upon to accept the
winecup (mere]y out Of courtesy at
their social gatherings; from that he
commenced attending the theatres, bill
lizard halls, etc, and finally the gaming
table. where in the course of a few
months, he stepped beyond the limit Of
his means, and having recourse to the
firms money, used the same, hoping to
recover his own; but, alas for human
hopes, he lost heavily, and finding that
they would discover the same, took
what little he had left Of theirs, some
500, and started. he knew not where.
After arriving in the city Of Philadel-
phia he began to repent his rash act.
wrote home to his father for forgive
ness, and promised il he would straight
ten the matter with the firm, to never
again touch the Intoxicating cup. A
short time only elapsed before his faith
er succeeded in making an agreeable
settlement with the firm and theyoung
mar returned home, giving up. howev-
er, the ideao Of bookkeeping and accept
ing a place in the iHwelry factoryo of his
father to learn the engraver's trade.
Thus six or seven years Of hislife were
passed, the habit Of drink growing
worse and worse until he was finally
elected from his position in the factory
and advised to go west, where among
new companions he might be able to
redeem himself and become a temper
ate man. He accepted the advice, came
, west, formed the acquaintance of even
worse associates. and III a very short
time was led to commit a crime Which
sent him for two years to the peniten-
tlary. Here he had ample time Tor ret
rospection, the past seemed as il a
dream; shut out from the world as with
no consolation, constantly looking for
ward to the time Of release. and making
firm resolution to stand against his Old
enemy, intemperance.
The last day came and as he started
forth, defiant and trusting in his enor-
nous viii power to keep him firm, he
felt in his heart how foolish he had
been in the past, and q determination
to turn over q new leaf in the future
With these thoughts in his mind he
Dade goodbye to the old prison walls
and the officials, and started toward the
depot with the intention Of taking the
train for Detroit. On the way, howey-
er, he met two OF three old shop-mates.
men who had Iabored beside him inside
the prison walls, and of coursethey had
to chat together in regard to future
prospects, etc. In the meantime they
had wanderdered into a beer saloor.