Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-01-16
MY PROMISE BROKEN.

As / am sitting by my window this
morning aud as the sweet singing birds
chant their melody in yon apple-tree |
am forced to think what a great change
time has made as onward it rolls by, all
unheeded giving life and health to
many; woe and misery to others, and
the quiet sleep of death and the grave
to the fortunate few
With much regret, must say, have
broken my promise in regard to drink
ing. was getting along we'll but un-
fortunately l came in contact with Ii
quor and as a matter OF course l became
intoxicated in a very short time. If
ever a mortal longed and yearned for
one thing more than another in this un-
certain existence long for quiet and
peaceful evening of life for my beloved
father and mother
implore the Father OF all of US to
give me grace and strength enough to
keep sober until my parents are fully
and beyond question saved from the
curse which has driven me down to de-
gradation and we'll nigh sent my father
and mother to an untimelY grave.
o for strength which wonld forever
enable me to resist the power Of al
coholl Could do it and have my ia
thet and mother know this in their dy-
ing hour it would be full Of sweet
peace and Joy so shining that its light
would drive far Of the shadows of their
death agony.
In every step of my life l have dis
appointed them. May every man and
woman who sees this allow their hearts
to go out in an earnest prayer that l
may succeed in this one thing. 1t is
now too late for me to reach the bright
promises of other years. 1t is now too
late for me to regain all that has been
lost, but this I would do and 1T will
make me feel at the last that l have
not lived altogether to be = remorse and
shame to those who are bound to me
by ties that cannot be broken. God may
answer your prayer il not mine so that
from the throne of heavenly grace may
come the peace and rest for which
my weary soul has sought 80 long in
vain. haven't drank very much since
last Christmas morning and my hopo is
that will never in any way touch Ii
quor again.
Oh young man let me speak freely
to you. Never follow the road have
travelled You will not break your mo-
theirs heart will you? You for whom
she ch erished love that is priceless
and deatbless. You will not hasten her
into eternity by an act or word will
you?
Sometimes she goes to the portrait
Of your boyish face ond looks at it. At
other times she takes down some worn
and faded garment that you were wont
wear in those beautiful days of the past
and recalls how you used to look when
| you wore it. Then she goes to the
room where you used to sleep and looks
at the cradle in which she so often rock
ed you and after all is seen she returns
to her easy chair and waits to hear
tidings of you. What news Of yourself
can you send her? Think of it we'll.
viii you put your wayward foot on her
tender and feeble hearth. No l hope
you won't. If you do boys, the time
will come when the grass will seem to
wither from your feet, pain will stifie
your breath, remorse will gnaw your
heart and fill all your days and nights
with misery unspeakable; your dreams
will torture you in sleep and your wax
ing thoughts will be torments; your
path will lie in gloom and your bed will
be pillow of thorns.
1 will close my remarks by saying
respect my mother and she is the pures
altar have yet found.
JNO. HACKWORTH.