The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-04-29

THE SON OF MY FRIEND.-A TRUE TALE,
Continued from April i5)
Alfred Denemar left his home, as did
thousands of other young men, with his
blood untouched by the fire of alcohol,
and returned from the war, as thousands
of other young men returned, with its
subtle poison in all his veins.
The dread of this very thing had haunt
ed his mother during all the years of his
absence in the army.
80 Agnes ~ she had often said to me,
with eyes full of tears, cit is not the dread
of his death that troubles me most.
have tried to adjust that sad event be-
tween myself and God. In our fearful
crisis, he belongs to his country. could
not withhold him, though my heart SEEM
ed breaking when let him go. l live in
the daily anticipation of telegram an
nouncing death or terrible wound. Yet
that is not the thing of fear I dread; but
something worse-his moral detection. |
would rather he fell in battle, than come
home to me with manhood wrecked.
What l most dread is intemperance.
There is so much drinking among officers.
1t Is the curse of our army. pray that
he may escape, yet weep and tremble,
and fear while pray. o my friend |
think his fall into this terrible vice would
kill me-"
Alas for my friend Her son came
home to her with tainted breath and few
cred blood. 1t did not kill her. Love
held her above despair and gave her heart
a new vitality. She must be a saviour,
not weak mourner over wrecked hopes.
with what loving care and wise des-
erection did she set herself to work, to
withdraw her son from the dangerous
path in which his feet were walking !!
And she would have been successful but
for one thing. The customs of society
were against her. She could not keep
him away from the parties and evening
entertainments of her friends; and here
all the good resolutions she had led him
to make, were as flax fibres in the fame
of a candle. He had no strength to resist
when wine sparkled and flashed all
around him, and bright eyes and ruby
lips, invited him to drink. 1t takes more
than ordinary firmness of principle to abb
stain in fashionable company of ladies
and gentlemen, whore wine and brandy
Denemar, two things were against him.
He was not strong enough to set himself
against any tide of custom, in the first
place; and, in the second, he had the al
lnrement of appetite. | knew all this,
when with my own hand, wrote on one
of our cards of invitation, "Mr and Mrs.
Denemar and family" but did not think
of it until the card was written. AS |
laid it aside with the rest, the truth fash
ed on me, and sent thrill of pain along
every nerve, my heart grew sick and my
head faint, as thoughts of the evil that
might come to the son of my friend, in
consequence of the temptation was about
to throw in his way, rushed through my
mind. My first idea was to recall the
card, and lifted it from the table with
half formed resolution to destroy it. But
moments reflection changed this pur-
pose. could not give a large entertain
ment, and leave out my nearest friend
and her family.
The pain and wild agitation of that mo-
ment we're dreadful. / think all good
spirits and angels that could get near my
conscious life strove with me, for the
sake of a soul in peril, to hold me back
from taking another step in the way l
wssggofng +; for it was not yet too late to
abandon the party.
When, after long struggle with right
convictions, resumed my work of filling
up the cards of invitation, had such a
binding headache, that l could scarcely
see the letters my pen was forming and,
when the task was finished went to bed,
unable to bear up against the double bur-
den of intense bodily and mental anguish
The cards went out, and the question
of the party was settled beyond recall
But that did not soothe the disquetude
of my spirit. felt the perpetual burden
of a great and troubling responsibility.
Do what would, there was for me no
ease of mind. Waking or sleeping, the
thought of Alfred Denemar and his
mother haunted me continually.
At last the evening came, and our
guests began to arrive in party dresses
and party faces, richly attired, smiling
and gracious. Among the earliest were
Mr.. and Mrs. Denemar, their son and
daughter. The light in my friends eyes,
as we clasped hands and looked into each
others faces, did not conceal the shadows
of anxious fear that rested on them. As
held Alfred's hand and gazed at him
for moment, a pang shot through my
heart. Would he go out as pure and
manly as he had come IMP Alas no /;
for had made provision for his fall.
The company was large and fashion
able. / shall not attempt description
of the dresses, nor venture an estimate
touching the value of diamonds. have
no heart for this. No doubt the guests
enjoyed themselves to the degree usual
on such occasions. cannot say as much
for at least one of the hosts. In the sup
per-room stood a table the sight of which
had smitten my eyes with pain. It's
image was perpetually before me. All
the evening, while my outward eyes look
ed Into happy faces, my inward gaze
rested gloomily on decanters of brandy
and bottles of wine crowding the supper.
table, to which l was soon to invite the
young men-mere boys, some of them
and maidens whose glad voices filled the
air ofmy drawing rooms.
/ tried to console myself by the argu-