The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-02-18

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came accustomed 10 looking out for
myself bit also became accustomed
to the evil life OF the slums OF great
city. When was 10 years old my
great uncle who was the cause OF all
OF my fathers poverty. took the
strange molten Of bringing me up.
| And so | was transplanted to his
care. He was anything but kind
guardian. yet | was shrewd enough
to sec that was his heir at-lnw and
SO endured his abuse without much
show OF resentment
Il was placed in boys school. to
see as my great. said. IL it
would knock little OF the fool out OF
me- Here my behavior was what
might be expected from a motherless
boy who had already seen q great
deal OF sin. and who had a liberal
supply OF money l was no innocent
baby when l entered. but in two
years perfected my training in in
EQUITY. and was finally expelled.
This seemed TO raise me in the
estoem OF my great-uncle for he
treated me with civility for little
time. But our relations soon came
back TO their old conditions yet
dwelt IN his house for three years
more all the while becoming moro
and moro exasperated with the old
man. | never lacked money. and /
amused myself and kept we'll away
from him as much as possible. You
will perceive from all this that was
far different character from what /
am now; / cannot understand how l
became SO callous to all sense OF
wrong.
..At last however our associations
eliminated in a drunken alteration.
He received some bruises and had me
arrested on charge OF assault and l
was sent to Jail for month by my
grandfather's own brothor
when ] was released l came East
nursing my bitter resentment So
cured employment in this city. But
even now did not give up my bad
habits for was considerably under
the influence OF liquor one day when
l received q note from my employer
saying that he had no further need
OF my services aud telling mo that
my great uncle had written him
letter warning him that I was dan.
gerous character. | was ouraged al
most beyond endurance by this proof
of the further malignity OF the old
man. 4 However / controlled my an
ger until / went to my employer in
the hope OF getting another chance.
He showed mo my relatives letter.
which was so grossly libellous and.
to me. such good proof that he would
always endeavor to ruin me. that |
felt rather than formed. strong de.
termina, lion to take revenge for many
wrongs. piled myself with liquor
that might keep firm. and for a
week was nearly crazed with drink
found two desperate ruffians OF the
most hardened type and excited their
avarlco by telling them OF the old
mans wealth and how easily they
might obtain it also told them
that was the only heir and that 1t
would be very pleasing to me to come
into my inheritance very soon.
"One OF the villains. whose devilish
eye sickened me even then. asked me
in his vile dialect IL l would favor
him with loan OF 500 90 in case the
old man should meet with a mysteri.
Gus death.
The. room seemed to sway and
dance. but took a deep drink and
put out my hand saying. i agree to
it Then l hurried out for fear 1
should weaken.
las long rs the effect OF the liquor
lasted | was untroublcd by conscience
but when morning came aud my
nerves instead OF being reinforced by
alcohol. were far unsteadier than
usual. my crime seemed magnified u
hundredfold. | fastened TO find my
accomplices and take back my agree
mcnt but to my dismav. / could not
find them. They were started on
stop them. / cared not send tele.
gram. but ! sent anonymous letters
warning tho old sman OF his danger.
and then waited in sickening sus-
pense. cursed myself for my
drunkenness. Every thought and
sentiment seemed 10 be inverted by
this horrible overshGdowing fear
would have been more glad to see my
great uncle aiivo and we'll than to
meet any other person on earth. Vice
and intemperance seemed abominable
to me now. Every one whom saw
was an object OF envy and fear.
envied their freedom from care; l
feared that my story was written on
my face
Time passed and no news came OF
the old mans death; bu. not for
single instant was | free from the
fear that it was meroly postponed.
Sin then my life has been as
pure morally as any hormits and
while my prospects have grown
steadily better and no exciting
events have come into my life. yet
my existence has been one long fever.
ish excitement All OF this hap
pened moro than six years ago and
the effect Is that ! am an old and
broken man before have seen my
thirtieth year.