The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1891-12-09
Ne Shall Be Az Gods.

and author. Painful as is The subject
dealt with In this extract, the Rcveillc
has no apology TO make for iutr0duc-
ing II here. Against foul conversa-
ton, that moral plaguc-spot which
corrupts the whole nature to tho very
hearts core, every lad ought 20 be
warned; but 10 how few Is timely
word of counsel ever spoken. Let all
our young readers heed the solemn
admonition Of the nobIc-hearlcd Eng
lishman FROM whom we quote:
hull [onc Of the older b0ardcrsl had
tasted more largely OF the tree of
knowledge of evil than any other boy.
lie claimed his guilty experience so
often rs a ground OF superiority, that
at last tho claim was silently allowed.
lie spoke from the platform Of more
advanced iniquiiy, and the others list
ened first cautiously, then eagerly 10
his words.
"Ie shall be as gods, knowing good
and evil" such was the temptation
which assaiIod the fher boys In dor.
mitory No. z. Hull was The tcmpter.
Secretly, gradually, he dropped into
their too willing cars tho poison OF his
pOlluiing requirements.
The first time that Eric heard indie
cent wOrd- in dormitory No. z, he was
shocked beyond bound or measure.
Dark though II was, he felt himself
blushing scarlet TO the roots of his
hair, and then growing pale again,
while a hot dew was LEFT upon his Fore
head. Bull was The speaker; but this
time there was n silence and the sub
ject instantly dropped. The others
felt that "a new boy" was i'm the room !;
they did not know how he would take
%; they were uncOnsciOusly sbnshed.
Now, Eric, now or ncyerl Life and
doath, ruin and salvation, corruption
aud purity, arc perhaps In the balance
together, and the scale OF your destiny
may hang on a single word Of yours.
Speak out, bOyl Tell these fellows
that unscemly words wound your con-
scicnce; tell them that they arc ruin
GUS, sinful, dannable: speak out aud
save yourself aud the rest. Virtue Is
strong aud beautiful, Eric, and vice IL
dOwncast In her awful presence. Lose
your purity Of heart. Eric, and you
have lost a jewel which the whole
world, IL IL were Que entire and per-
feet chrysOlitc, can not replace.
Good spirits guard thar young boy,
and give him grace In this his hour of
trial. Open his eyes that he may sec
the fiery horses aud the fiery chari0ts
OF the angels who would defend him,
and the dark array of spiritual foes
who thr0ng around his bed. Point n
plying finger TO the yawning abyss of
shame, ruin, and despair, tina, even
now, perhaps, Is being cleft under his
feet. Show him the garlands of the
present and OF the past whitening at the
touch of the ErinnYs of the future. In
pity, show him the canker which he Is
Introducing Into the sap Of the tree of
life, which shall cause It's root TO be
hereafter rs bitterness, aud its bios
som 10 20 up as dust.
For halt an hour, IN an agony Of
struggle with himself, Eric lay silent.
Since Bulls last words nobody had
spoken. they were going TO sleep. II
was too late to speak now, Eric
thought. The moment passed by for
ever; Eric had listened without OBJ
jcctiOn to foul words, and the irrcpar-
able harm wss done.
How easy Il would have been 10
speak With The temptation God had
provided also a way To escape. Next
time II came, 1t was far harlcr to re-
sist, and Il soon became, TO mon, i'm
possible.
Ahl Eric. Eric. how little we know
the moments that decide the lcstinIcs
of life. We live on as usual. The
day is common day, the hour n conf
mon hour. We never thought twice
about the change Of intention which |
determined for good or evil, for hap
piness or misery, the color Of our re-
manning years. The stroke of The pen |
was done In a moment which led un-
consciously 20 our ruin; the word was
uttered quite hcedlcssly. and which
turned forever the decision Of our
veal or woe.
Eric lay silent. The darkness was
not broken by the flashing Of an am
gels wing, the stiffness was not sylla-
blcd by the sound of an angels voice
but 10 his dying day Eric never forgot
the moments which passed, until,
weary and self-rcproachful, bo fell
asleep.
IThc lad, uneasy In conscience, takes
counsel with friend on the following
day, and by his advice resolves to
speak out in manful protest the next
time his modcsty 10 offended by cor
rupting language. Tho opportunity
soon camel:
One evening, not long afterwards,
they were telling each other stories In
No. z. Bulls turn came. aud In his
story the vile element again appeared.
For a while Eric said nothing, bat rs
the strain grew worsc,hc made faint
ren0nstrancc.
aShut mp thcre," said Attlay, @and
don't spoil The story"
avery we'll. It's your own fault
aud | shall shut my cars"
lie did for a time, but a general
laugh awoko him. lie pretended to
be asleep, but he listened. Iniquity of
ibis kind was utterly new TO him; his
curiosity was awakened; ho no longer
foigncd indifference. and tho poison
lowed deep into his veins. Before
st..s rvn,.fusr swaa over Uric Wflliasna