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PEOPLE'S
VOLUME 1.)
TIE PEOPLE S FRIEND.
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
BY
A. 8. 8. MOSELEY,
ROME, GA.
JSTJBSCTIIJE’TION,
Ohe year in advance ------- $2.00
A JD VERT IS INGr,
One square, first insertion - - - - SI.OO
Subsequent insertion, each - . - • 50
Liberal contracts made for six or twelve months ad
yertlsements.
TO DRINK;
OR, .
NOT TO DRINK.
EY MARGIE P. MOSELEY.
To the author of “Soundings,” Mrs. Lide
Meriwether, as a slight token of love
for her disinterested, womanly sympa
thy and her unswerving truthfulness,
and in admiration of her brilliant ge
nius, this story is dedicated.
CHAPTER XIII.
f J MT EVEBAL weeks
f ,^'Jw had parsed since Ed
ward introduced Rich
ard Steel to his betrothed. Not a
week had elapsed in which the two
young men had failed to call at Gray’s
mansion. And although Edward was
not aware of itJdr'hard St'cl was there
.HiiM'nijliiiWWr-
voted by both, to that pleasure. Need
we tell the reader that young Steel
was deeply enamored of Alice. He
had told her so many times, and press
ed his wuit with an ardor in keeping
with his character. Alice quietly
laughed at him, for she disliked the
“formal dismissal,” which would hence
forth render them unfriendly; hence
Steel, pratendod to believe himself,
and was hopeful of suc
cess crowning his wishes, when, as he
expressed it, “hei’ vanity was satisfied
with coqueting.” Was it so? Did
she hold , .Ipm at a distance only
to make him moYo afdent, or was she
true to her vows spoken bemde the
river? Steel knew of Edwards en
gagement to Alice, and was careful to
say nothing before him, which might
be calculated to awaken a suspicion of
his own feelings for the heiress. This
was treachery to his friend, injustice he
knew, but then, he was accustomed to
satisfy his conscience with the old ad
age: “All things are fair in love and
war.” It is an adage, which like a
thousand others, has falsehood for its
foundation, and Steel knew it; yet he
practised it to the farthest extent. He
had commenced business, immcdiate
ately after he graduated in the city
where Alice lived. He bought out
a fine drug store which had an old es
tablished run of custom, and com
menced with every prospect of suc
cess. Edward went halves in the pur
chase, and they were to be partners.
Mrs. Clayton remonstrated at first, but
Edward insisted, and Steel laughed at
his being ‘led about by the nose by a wo
man,* as he sneeringly expressed his no
tions of Mrs. Clayton’s solicitude, until
Edward told his adopted mother, that
if she refused his wishes on the subject,
he would “take bis valise and go
West"
To say that Mrs. Clayton was “shock -
ed” at this announcement, would by
no means express her feelings. The
ROME, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1873.
conversation occurred shortly after
Edward’s return from college, as he
sat on the verandah, talking with her,
after tea. Steel, who was spending
the holidays with Edward, had gone
down town, and left his schoolmate
well posted as to the role he was to
play. Edward felt he was doing
wrong, but with an assumed earnest
ness, he went over the whole conversa
tion, until the threat about the ‘west’
came in. His heart beat very fast as
he assumed, for the first time to play
dictator to the woman who had raised
and educated him, and whom he knew
to be be as far above himself, and the
man he was obeying, in intellect and
morals, as the heavens above the earth,
yet he did as he was bidden, insulted
her, by this threat. She was “only a
woman,” what right had she to be
bringing him under subjection ? Ho
would not submit any longer to be the
sneer, and laughing stock of all men! ”
Thus thought thd youth as he closed
his lips after his threat had been spo
ken, and with the reflection, attempt
ed to nerve himself to combat any ar
gument which Mrs. Clayton might
advance. 5
Several minutes of Silence followed
Edward)* threat. The sad gray
eyes of the mother looked searchingly
into the averted face of the son. Then
she said: “Edwayd, are you ehtirely
aware of the full import of your words,
and do you really mean what you say?”
“Roth madjm,” he answered, hanght
ily, “if I am a man, let me go among
men, and 1 as men do; not be forever
wasting my time away geminate
pursuits! I im s!ck of forever
under survilian.ee like •• a gm; I am a
man. and know Imv. '
Ti I’m L halo any money, I want it,
to invest how and where I please; of
course, I w ould, rather you approved!”
he added, glancing at the noble face
which was pale and quivering with
feeling.
Mrs. Clayton did not speak immedi
ately. She was struggling for compos
ure, for a full comprehension of the
situation. Was this the boy she had
taken from the streets, the youth she
had educated, the companion, who
sought no higher enjoyment than the
pleasures of his mother’s home, and
sooiety, the young man whom she had
recommended so highlp to Alice Gray,
as the “most perfect man she had ever
known?” Alas, for human expecta
tions! The mother had found her idol
was of base clay, and her heart was
paralyzed. She arose from her chair,
placed her hand upon his head, her
other hand under his chin, and raising
the face, looked steadily into his eyes
and said:
“Is this my son, who speaks?”
“Oh, pshaw! I want to know* what
you’re going to do about that money;”
he said pushing her hand from his
brow. I can’t stay here much longer;
I have an engagement down town, and
should like to know before I go.”
This was too much. Mrs. Clayton
was a proud woman, as well as a loving
and tender mother; stepping back she
said: “Edward, I have warned you
of that young man Steel. In colletre
you have lost much of that loftiness,
and purity of character upon which
you were want to pride yourself; you
might regain it by associidiou with
good young men, but Richard Steel is
not of that tyjx*. I h.-uj, jit that
with the training which I gave you, I
might trust you among the vicious,
without fear; hut the hope was
1 delusive. Still there -ie a ohanc
, tor you my son;* will you
my adJMe, ulvindbh that fixing
man’s *Deiety and go into another
kind us business; or rather take the
money which I will give you; invest it
in real estate; consumaie your mar
riage, and go to practicing medicine?”
“No madam, I cannot do as you ad
vise, because I am already committed
to the purchase of this property, and
I cannot get out of it.”
“This commital can be easily done
away with, and no hard feelings eith
er, if I only tell Mr. Dolgreen my rea
sons,” said Mrs. Clayton earnestly;”
and to save you Edward, I will go and
do it to-morrow.”
“I have given my word to Steel, and
when a man gives his word, he likes to
stand to it like a man!” said Edward
angrily '
“Then you refuse to me?”
I only refuse to break my
Steel. If you see proper to
withhold the funds, I shall, ™ I said
go west to seek my for turn-. I have
an engagement. I hope 4 you will excuse
my non-appearanco in the mtp ic-room
this evening!” and seizing I.ls hat, he
bowed, and left the house.
’Tis useless to try to depict Mrs.
Clayton’s feelings upon the denounce
ment of the conversation. Thousands
of mothers have endured similar ones,
they can picture without my aid, and
others would only think the picture
overdrawn, if it were drawn at all;
therefore, I leave it to the imagination,
and give a glimpse of the yom_g man
who was chafiing under the rule of his ,
pqre mother, a rule bought
him only good and honor, but which
Steel had taught him to hate and to
denominate “petycoat government.”
He was emancipating himself from
but -was he aware that he was \uled
by the man who was always pr dj/jg
rM offreeA,m?. Edward wJhld have
resented such an insinuation, as an
insult; yet it was the ti uth.
When he reached the hotel where
Steel promised to await the result of
his conversation with his mother, the
youth saluted him with “well old fellow
all’s right, I suppose, step down here,
and let us talk it over,” he seized Ed
ward’s arm, and they walked on to
gether. “I say,” he continued, “she
didn’t refuse you?”
“Well, no!”
“That’s good, I thought the going
west’ would bring her to terms. When
do you get the money ?”
“I can’t say exactly!”
“Can’t say,” exclaimed Steel stop
ping short and looking surprised and
disgusted. “I thought that was what
you stayed for.” “It was,” responded
Edward depreciatingly, “and I carried
out the programme to the letter, but it
is uncertain how she will decide; that
however is not my fault, I; did my
best.”
“Best, indeed, what does tiiat
amount to, unless we succeed? But;”
he add*' 1, (noticing that his friend
would hot hear much more) ‘“come,
let us go down to the Diamond and
talk it over!”
“The Diamond! I can’t, and I will
not visit such a place, Steel! I have
been raised in this city, and it has
i been a proud boast of mine, and of
mother’s, that I have never entered a
i saloon, or any other building, to which
; I would, not carry my mother or a
young lady, and pardon mes, I intend
to keep to my past in this respect! I
did go astray at college, and am suffi
ciently lowered, in my own opinion
by it, but I can’t afford to do so here
where my mother and the woman who
is to be my wife, both reside! It would
be an unpardonable insult to them 1”
“Ha! ha! hahpetty-coat government!
well Clayton, any boarding school
miss, any bread-and-butter ih-molseile
of the period is less old-mtudiwh than
you are! If this is your programme,
it is useless for us to go into business
or anywhere else together! Why, I
want a comrade who is a mtm, one
who has a little dash and vim about
him, one who can interest me, you are
too pious, too pious entirely! I advise
you to put on corsets and petty coats
at once! if you won’t go, good night.
Yonder comes a crowd of boys bound
for the diamond, and I will go with
them, for I know there’s fun up as
sure as you’re born!”
Edward’s face was confused and
doubtful. Steel saw it, and said: “I
see some fellows of bad repute in that
crowd, so if you are too immaculate
to be seen with them, and will go, we
can go alone, and have a table, or roor
by ourselves, where we can spend a
pleasant evening, talk over our affairs,
and still not be caught in had compa
ny. Come Ed. old fellow, I like you
and I don’t want you to do anything
wrong, but I would like to see you
enjoy innocent and harmless pleasures.
You can do this without any harm to
your mother, your sweetheart or your
self, aud if I were you, I would not let
any woman make a slave of me, and
it is slavery, for to deny yourself every
manly pleasure for the whims of the
other sex!”
Edward was not convinced, but he
whs silenced, and taking the arm of
his companion, he said; “come along,
bnt reiaeiviber, I am pvrns><wd to drink-
.‘ * •
mg.
‘‘And I respect your views;” an
sw ered Steel with a glance of admira
tion on his face, “I too, am opposed
to any thing like excess, in any pleas
ure; but at the same time, lam an
advocate of innooe' fyul degajd
pleasures!”
As they entered the saloon, they
were greeted by the “best young men”
of the city. There seemed to be a
kind of festival in one of the back
rooms, and to this, Edward and Steel
were immediately invited by a minis
ter’s son, one of the moral young men
of the city.
Clayton looked enquiringly at Steel,
and the latter said; “All right here
he is a preachers son, of course we will
accept!”
“Thank you Rush, we had a little
business on hand, but we will sacrifice
it for. the pleasure of your society,”
saidjEdward, recovering hisfusual equa
nimity. Rush then turned and pre
sented the two to the twelve young
men who were his companions. After
the usual compliments upon such oc
casions, Rush turned and led his party
to the room which had been prepared
for the occasion, and here we leave
Edwurd fearing that he will be called
on before the night is over, to decide
whether it is best ‘to drink, or not’to
drink!’
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
a—— - -
Senator Scott was talking to a Penn
sylvania Sunday School a /Sunday or
two ago, and asked the scholars why
I Simon was kept in prisin. < )n® of the
; teachers quietly prompted a boy to say
lit was for hostage, and the youth, not
I qu te catching the words, piped out:
i “He was detained for postage.” ‘
An exchange says: The Turks have
i ,; tt!e need of newspapers. When uny
thieg happeift* it to the worn*
and circulates like air in a gale of wind.
. The Turks are behind the Westerti na
i ons in many tilings, but certainly
I they have the most beautiful circula
. : “g medium in the world.*
Practically disregarding an avowed
• most effectual way of tte
deimining it
FRIEND.
Tlie Duty of Good Template
Messrs. Editors: —Will you permit
me to make a few suggestions relative
to the duties of Good Templars ?
1. In some lodges it seems from all
appearances that some of the mem
bers act as if there was nothing to do
except to meet and adjourn, and after
that there is nothing more. Now to
my own mind this is a very great mis
take, and if all our members would be
sure to meet at the regular times of
1 meeting, and instruct and encourage
each other in regard to the most effect”
ual means to be used in order to pros
perity and success, we would certainly
accomplish more good than we do.
2. Let us consider our lodge as so
many camps of instruction, where we
should meet in order to drill and equip
ourselves so we may be prepared to
meet the enemy -where he may be found;
that we have a hand to hand conflict,
and if we are properly drilled and
equipped we will as certainly succeed
as we use the proper means. > That is,
we should always remember that our
weapons are not carnal, but mighty.
Then let us use the weapoji of truth
with mildnets, and lovewitn sincerity,,,
and patience with hope.
Let ns take the poor inebriate by tne
hand and lift him up from his pit of
woe, and endeavor to bind up his de
sponding heart, pouring in the oil and
wine of love, sympathy and friendship,
and, if possible, make him believe that
you are his Triend, and that he has the
deepest syi ipathies of your heart, and
you may expect to accomplish good.
Talk to him mildly, persuasively and
earnestly, and endeavor to make him
iteel that you t/re his Mend in very
deed.
3. Brethren, it will.not do for us to
use hard words to the pooiv drunkard.
If we ever gain him, it will be through
deep earnest porsuasiveness. And sb,
also with the saloon man.- If you af
fect him for good, it will be through
ksndness. Talk to him as arn jpbbor,
: a frit >5 i, r, * i hi'oLii*r, don’t xU-c Tuhsu,
abusive language to him, nor about
him or his business. Only let him
know that you oppose it from princi
ple, and be sure not to abuse hfs whis
key or brandy, for this will do good,
and have a tendency to incense him;
which of course will certainly drive
him in his feelings so far from you
will not be able to effect any good in
bis behalf.
Let us, therefore, put on the whole
armor, and keep it bright by using it
aright; and remember that an armor
is always to be worn in front, so the
face may be constantly toward the
sac enemy, remembering too, that
there is no armor for the rear, and if
we turn our backs on the enemy we
are siu-e to be wounded, and a good
soldier would be ashamed to be woun
ded in the back.
R. H. Jonhz. *
—Good Templar.
Maple sugar as an article of merchandise
is in a fairway of extinction. The maple
forests of New England are being yearly
cut down and converted into broom hand
les. Thousands of splendid trees, mon
archs of the woods, which have for a gen
eration yielded full quotas of sweet sap,
are annually felled. At the present rate
of destraction, maple sugar and maple
broom handles will, before long, be un
known in trade. — Scientific American.
To comprehend a man’s life, it is ne
cessary to know not merely what he does
but also what he purposely leaves undone.
There is a limit to the work that can be,
got of a human brain and he is a wise man
who wastes no energy on pursuits for which
he is not fitted and he is still wiser who,
from among the things that he can do well
chooses and resolutely follws the best.
Vfe read that Dives, who, being in
torment, begged that his friends might
be saved from such a fate. Last year
out of 1,020 convicts in the Illinois
Penitentiary, 950 signed a petition to
the Legislature, stating that intoxica
ting drink brought them there, and
appealing to the Legislature to .stop
such a trafic.
A Connecticut fisherman one day baited
his hook with a frog. After patiently
Waiting some time for a bite as he chatted
with a friend- he found that his lively bait
;had swam ashore, and was quietly sitting
Jona rockby Lis side. He wound up his
line and went home.
(NUMBER 29