Year: 1878

I from twenty-five To tWenty-elght


Six. years of married life-siz
years of blessing, so far as the outer
things of life can give blessing. In
the bank Arthur had assumed a
place very near to the head, and his
salary was muniticent.


From early youth, Arthur Grave,
ly had found the wine-cup among
the symbols of lifs's social chase
He had kept wine IN his own house,
he had used it on his side board and
upon his own table, and he had par
taken freely abroad. In the earlier
years 1t was wine, and only wine of
the best and purest. Later, strong
or liquors were required to keep up
the tone. At the age of eight-and-
twenty there had come an undue
flush upon Arthur's cheek, and there
were blotches in the eye which
ought not to have been there. He
now took brandy before breakfast,
aud through the day he was forced
to supply fuel &c feed fire which
else might have consumed all bodi,
ly comfort. As yet, he had never
been helplessly intoxicated. He
was confident in his own strength.


Alas, for man thus falling! He
knows not that his powers of un-
derstanding are dying out as the
body fades and perishes!


At length Mr.. Vanderlain called
Arthur into his private room, and
told him that he was going to give
up business.


| have money enough, said Mr..
Vanderlain, and l know that my
close application to business is wear
ing upon me. l am growing in
years, and need rest. l think of go
ing to settle in the country some
where.


And of closing your business?


Yes.


But, sir, there is no need of that.


If you will trust your bank under
the guidance of some capable and
responsible agent, with your name
at its head, it might go prosperous
ly on, and you could go and dwell
IN the country all the same.


A cloud came upon the bankers
face, and he shook his head.


1t is too late, he said. At some
other time l may tell you more.


Shortly after this, in process of
winding up his business, Mr.. Van
derlain sent Arthur to a distant
town to make some important settle
ments. Arrived at his destination,
the young man called upon the cor
respondents of the bank, and hav-
ing made preliminary arrangements,
he found himself with a few days
upon his hands which he might en-
ploy in pleasure. On the very eve
hing of his arrival he had fallen in
with John Hatton and William
Roberts, two friends and school
mates of earlier years. They were
evidently going down hill-were
drinking to excess. Yet they were
gentlemen, and Arthur joined them.
He spent a first and second night in
their company. On this second
night, for the first time in his life,
Arthur Gravely drank to a state of
helpless stupefaction. He awoke
the next day feeling sad and hu-
inflated. When he met his COM
panions in a private parlor connect
ed with their sleeping apartments,
he found them with a bowl of
punch between them. A spirit of
true friendlinsss came upon him
when he saw the marks of the de-
stroyer SO deeply fixed upon the
companions of his boyhood.


Boys, said he, this won't do. You
are going down.


They regarded him cunously, and
asked him what he meant.


He told them what he meant.
They were in a dangerous way.


You forget, old boy, said Hatton,
that you are in the same boat. If
we took passage before you it is no
less sure that our route is the same.
Don't preach, Arthur. Try a drop
of punch.


There are moments in lifetime
great crises-when the events of
the past flash before the mind as
upon a magic mirror-when man,
in brief instant. recalls every sail
snt point of his earthly career.
Such a moment was the present to
Arthur Gravely.


Let it alone, he said, solemnly. /
tell you, Jack, and you, Will, that
you are going down. You can't
last much longer at the rate you are
going.


Well, retorted Roberts, with an
attempt to laugh, it appears to me
that what is sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander. Hadn't you
better try to let it alone yourself?


If l will try it, will you try it? he
asked.


will, if you will join me.


Zone!


And they did it. They joined
hands, and promised one another
that they would be true and stead
fast.


A new surprise was in store for
Arthur Gravely. He found, upon
cutting off his spirituous liquors,
that his body weakened, and that
his hands shook as though with pal
sy. He applied to a physician for
help. Fortunately he applied to a
man of sense and understanding.


Can you give me something to
steady my nerves and restore my ap-
petite? Arthur asked, after he had
frankly stated his case.


This shows you, my dear sir, said
the physician, into what danger
Gus state you have fallen. | can
give you something to steady your
nerves, but it will not help you in
the end. If you will be brave and
true you will come out all right in
a few days.


Arthur said he would not go
back. He wanted no stimulant-no
more of that.


The trial was a severe one, and It
NAV have been a blessed thing for
Arthur Gravely that.i was so. He