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Probably half of our readers have experienced
the truth of thia remark, and score* of cases could
be nnrratrd in which improved health has 6tregth
ened the memory.
Again: hunger i* highly promotive of anger,
whilst fullness of bread promotes kindness. Thus
when a man becomes hungry, he is highly irrita
ble, cross, and disdeased with every thing; but
if you wish to break unpleasant news to one,
or to obtain a special favor, take, him after dinner.
When well fed, the ferocious animals are tame
and harmless, but when hungry, their ferocity is
ungovernable, and their destructiveness lashed
up to the highest pitch of fury. So the ferocious
Indian, when he wishes to kindle his thirst for
War and blood to the’very climax of rage and
revenge, fas'* a week. Now why should the ir
ritate state of the atomach, and thereby of the
body in general, excite to morbid action the ani
mal propensities merely? Why should not hun
ger increase the flow of kind, of conscientious,
and ol devotional feeling instead of anger, re
venge and ferocity 1 Tins principle contains the
answer.
After delivering this lecturein Smithville, N.
Y., an elderly deacoastated that he had expei
enced the truth of the above principle. He sai I
that he had been once so very sick that he and all
his friends expected every breath to be his last,
that he had no desire to live, no regard for his
wife and childern, although both before and
•ince it was particularly strong, not the least ill
will against any one though before he had felt
hard towards several, no regard at all for property,
and not a worldly feeling left, although in the
entire possession of his intellectual and moral
faculties, and perfecily conscious of every thing
that occurred. He was also able to reason and
think, though unable to speak. On the return of
health, his animal feelings returned.
The Last Warning.
CH.»mn i.
" And must you go to-night, Frederick 1”
“Mother, i must; I have staked my honor and
it must lie redeemed.”
" O, Fred -rick, these companions of yours are
leading you astray, he a stired they are; and
when ruin stares you in the faee--when you have
squandered wealth and health over the gaming
table, you will own the truth "f my wo-ds.”
“ This ts foolish, mother, they have no power
to lead me; what I do is of my own free will.”
“ You are wrong, my son, they are as ivies to
the sapling—gradually twining themselves about
you, and, inch by inch, destroying you vviih their
poisonous influence. Would that my words”—
“ Tnis s the senseless snivellings of old age.
• I tell you, mother, I i cill have the money."
“ I dare not let you have it, Frederick."
" I will take no denial; ’lis only a few dollars,
and to-morrow 1 may be aide to rc|«y you."
“It is not the parting with the money that 1
mind, Frederick, but your evil courses."
“ Am l to have what i want, or must \ forte it
from you 1"
“ There—take my purse; you asked for ten
dollars; it contains twice that turn. But promise
me, my son. that this shall be your last night
from home ”
“ I have already promised it."
“ See that the promise is kept. How little are
we certain that tiiis night may not be my last
warning I”
The young man to whom these words were
addressed paused a moment on the thieshohl—
hut evil thoughts had gained the ascendancy and
be departed.
CHAPTER It.
The next scene to which we shall introduce
the reader, is a magnificent structure, leared for
the amusement of the depraved and dissipated,
and for the emolument of the proprietor Its ex
terior is nut much to view; it is in ■he interior
that the exquisite workmanship of the artisan
has been lavis.ted. On either side of the princi
pal room—which is a long, lofty and well ventil
ated hall—a row of polisued mirrors, in massive
frames of gilt wood, meet the eye. A small, ob
long table, with a surface r*f variegated marble, is
placed under each mirror, and above, the walls
are decorated with naked figures, and exhibit
scenes well suited t > the lascivious propensities ot
the frequenters of the place. The ceiling is sup
ported ny marble pilasters with bronzed cornices,
and is covered with a variety ot devices ; while at
the eastern end of the hall a platform is fitted up,
on which stand several musical instruments lor
the pleasure of the guests. Further on, in several
jrooiny apartments, are stationed billiard tables,
an alley for bowling, and other objects of a simi
lar nature. Liquors of every grade and quality,
cigars, cards, dice, and dominos, are furnished,
and every thing that can please the eye, ear and
taste, is afforded you.
It was to this place that Frederick Thornton
directed his steps. The moment he entered, se
veral young men, on whoso faces the results of
dissipation was indelibly stamped, rose from a
table and welcomed him.
• “ What has kepi you so long, Fred ? Wewere
about giving up," said one of the party.
“ Some little business at home detained me
longer than 1 intended. lam here at last, how
ever. How stands the rhino to-night 1"
“ Fairly, fairly," wasthc reply. “ 1 see you are
eager to recover the ground you lost last night.
You shall have a chance. What say you, boys,
•hall we game it 1"
The answer war given by all in the affirmatiye
—punches were called for—dice were already
upon the table- and the game was commenced.
For sometime the play was even, luck sided
with neither ofthe players Presently, however
Thornton, who had been anxiously waiting for a
change, began to win. Game after game was
played, the heap ofsilver was accumulating every
moment by his side, and success seemed to be his.
when a chance throw by his opponent once more
changed the tide and stripped him of all he had
won! Then Thornton’s anxiety knew nohounds
—stake after stake he made, and glass glass
he drained, as he beheld the money given him by
his mother dwindling to the end. At last he
started un, ami plugging his hand in his pocket,
drew forth a five dollar bill, the last he had, and
threw it with an imprecation upon the table,
“ There is the last I have, you must have that
also, 1 suppose,” he exclaimed.
Another throw, and Thornton was penniless.
“There is cheating somewhere,” exclaimed
Thornton, ■* those dice are loaded !”
“ How V’ exclaimed his adversary, as the whole
rose from the table.
“ The last throw was a dishonest one, I believe.
You have loaded dice about you!”
“ Sir!” was the reply of the winner.
Thornton sprang forward, and with a blow
felled his adversary to the ground. The friends
of the fallen one then interfered, hut it was too
late for future injury—he was r»r.id! An un
lucky blow near the temple had killed him.
Thornton did not attempt to escape; he was
as one in a stupor, and might almost have been
taken for a dead | erson, so pale was the hue of
liis countenance. Ile submitted to be secured
and led away from the scene of las folly.
*******
CIIAPTKK tit.
Two figures were in the cell of the city prison,
the mother and the son. The effects o( the li«j
or he had drank were entirely dispelled, and his
mind was free to contemplate the doom that a
waited him.
‘ Oh! Frederick, my son, is it thus I find you l
Had you hut heeded my innumerable warnings,
you had not been here.”
“Do not liesilat', mother; I am n murderer,
hut the deed was committed in a lit of phrenzy,
and I repented it as soon as committed.”
The bolt was removed from the socket to ad
mit the entrance of the jailor, who had come to
put an end to the int rview.
The anus ol the mother and son were linked
in a last embrace, and they parted forever!
“ And am 1 indeed the guilty wretch they tell
mcl” were the thoughts of Thornton, after the
door ol bis cell had closed upon tae mother whose
advice he nad scorned until too late. “ Ain I in
deed a murderer 1 Yes—it is no delusion; lam
the inmate of a cell from whence I may nevpr de
part hut to the scaffold! Well, 1 deserve my fate.
Had 1 listened to my poor mother’s instructions
it hud not been thus. But dissolute coui|>aiiionH
and a propensity for strong drink have been niy
ruin. It is a hard death to die; to betaken forth
in the face of the assembled mu tituile, and hung
by the neck until life has departed—to In* cursed
in the public journals, and scoffed at by the
ci owd”—
A dreadful thought came into his brain! He
glanced at the bars of his cell, and—
CHI PTEN IV.
“ I must see the Governor.”
“ Madam, it is impossible!"
“No—no, not impos-ible; if he knew my er
rand, he would not refuse me."
“ He is not accustomed to receive visiters at so
early an hour.”
"But my business is u'gent.”
“It must he postponed.”
“It is of life and death!”
The saucy menial was moved by her entreat
ies to lead her into the presence ofthe Governor.
“1 tear, my dear madam, that it is not in my
power to serve you,” was his reply, in answer to
the willow’s petition lor the lile of her son —“ J
will do my best, however, to serve him, if the case
is as you say.”
And the mother departed.
**,♦»*»*
She stood at the door of the court—she dared
not enter—a man advanced towards her —
“ is he saved V'
“ Madam, your son is pardoned.”
»*♦*»***
The door was thrown open for the mother to
enter the cell: eager to communicate the joyful
tidings, she sprang forward. But why that start
ling scream, and what means the dead silence
which follows it I
The officers entered the cell; suspended hy his
neck, from the liars of his prison wind* w, was
the body of the lifeless Thornton- -and leneath
him lay the prostrate form of his mother.
The pardon had come too late—We culprit was
dead!
The White Hill.
At a late tem|ieinnce meeting, the lecturer told
the story ofthe “ White Bill.”
A man had gone down from moderate drinking
to beastly drunkenness; had spent his all; and
had a long score cnalked down against him a; the
back of the grog-shop door. One morning he
went into the grog-shop, where he had spent his
all, and begged fur three cents worth ofliquor.
“Get out of my shop,” said the enraged land
lord, “ get out, you beastly wretch. You haven’t
jiaid up the old scoieyct, you rascal,” and suiting
the action to the word, he actually kicked him
out into the street.
This brought the poor man to his senses. He
concluded if this was the way, he might a6 well
sign the pledge, and off he went and put his name
to it.
Soon hi* business revived, and he prospered
again in the world. He wai well dressed, and
was universally treated with respect.
One day, as he was passing the old grog-shop,
the landlotd called to him in a friendly manner,
and invited him to come in.
“Comein, cnmein,” said Boniface, “you do
not visit us lately; you are too proud to call upon
your old friends. Come in, and take a social
glas-< vith me.”
“ No, 1 cannot come in and drink, said the re
former, “ 1 have got a white hill, and the doctor
says I must not drink a drop, or it will prove very
inj jnous to me.”
“ A white bill! a white bill!” said the landlord,
“ what is that! where is it! Is it in your hip,or
arm, or leg, or where! Pshaw, take a glass of
wine with me. It will do you good, you may de
pend it will."
“No! no!” said the reformer. ‘‘l cannot drink
any kind of liquor Thed ctorsaysif Ido drink,
the hill will get to running, and it will run my
life away. I cannot touch a drop of it!”
“ Why. this is very singular, said Boniface,
“strange, indeed, I should like very much to see
this white hill that you make so rn ich of.”
With that the reformer hauled out of his pock
et as much silver as he could hold in his two
hands.
“ This is my white bill, sir, and the doctor says
that as sure as I drink it will get to running ”
And looking the astonished landlord in the
face, with asnearing look, he added.
“Do you remember ever kicking me out of
your shop 1 Perhaps you do not remember it.”
The poor disappointed landlord lound that he
had g.’l hold of the wrong customer, and was glad
to let him pass.
There is many a reformer who lias got the
white bills ; but the doctor was right. Look out
friends that it does not “ get to running.”
Temperance at Pea.
Could the * vasty deep’ speak out, what tales of
horror would it tell us of ruined hopes and sudden
deaths; o. bacchanalian revels, on shipboard,
followed by sudden and remediless disaslers, has
left not a voice to <■ II the sad tale. Many a drunk
en captain has sent himself and ail on board to
the botioin, by his orders, which he had given in
danger, unsuited entirely to the si uation. A
writer in the Canada Temperance Advocate,
gives some fuels which are worth reading.
“ There arc Cu|>’aina who appear to he active
and sober in (Kiri, who perhaps, lie intoxicated
in their cabins for a week at a time, when out at
sea; and a much greater number drink ban',
without reducing themselv< s to (Hisitive intoxica
tion. Innumerable instances have I teen brought
lot ward to illustrate the truth of what I have said.
1 snail mention only one or two. A vessel, with
a number of cabin anil steerage passengers, made
the hanks of on a Saturday night
The emigrants, as was then eusiomary, bought
rum, from the steward to make merry in the
stecr.igc. The sailorsgol their bottle to drink
‘ sweet hearts and wives,’ in the forecastle. It
began to blow hard, and the captain went on
deck, and ordered sail to be shortened, but no
sailor was to be found, for they and t ;e emigrants
had got drunk, and they were lighting in the tore
cas.le. The mate was called, but be was with
the rest, and in the same condit on. The captain
lit go the halyards of the sails, that should be ta
ken in, and went forward to separate the combat
ants, which he effected with great difficulty, after
being severely handled himself, 'i he man at the
wheel had to remain all nioht, no one being in a
condition to relive him. In anothci vessel, which
had reached the river St. Lawrence, the sailors
and emigrants found access to some liquor, and
several times fought with handspikes or whatever
weapons they could find. The Captain fought
with them, and I was assured by oueot the pass
engers, that tbe scene was like a hell on earth,
nid that their escape from fire or shipwreck was
almost miraculous. The vessel grounded two or
three times, and the pilot was completely disre
garded. In a vessel bound from India to Lon
don, the captain took to the bottle and to his bed,
and did not rise until his liquor was exhausted,
which being near the Cape of Good Hoie, he put
in fora fresh supply, and staid fifteen days. He
then related his former conduct till near the
coast ofEngland, when his liquor being again ex- j
hausted, he put into the Isle of Wight lor no oth
er purpose than to procure a supply. When a
pilot caine aboard he ordered him off, saying lie
could pilot the vessel himself The pilot, how
ever took charge, and sent him below. By a sin
gular coincidence, the mate of the vess< l was a
drunkard, and the second mate died and she was
navigated homo by two apprentices who were
learning navigation, with the assistance of an of
ficer ol the army, who, with his family, were pass
engers aboard, who procured the captain and
mates’ instruments by stealth. A fine new ship,
ladened with emigrants, was burned a short time
ago, by a candle falling amongst some ardent
spirits that had been spilled in the spirit-room,
and ali the property, and several lives on board
were lost, indeed, all would have perished, had
another vessel not providentially been near.
A vessel with a very valuable cargo, and a
number of passengers, fell in with breakers at
night, somewhere about the Gulf of St. Law
rence. The captain came up from the cabin,
where it was said he was drinking with some ot
the passengers, hut too late to save the ship from
striking. He, however, ordered the men to back
the sails, and throw her off the rocks. The
mate earnestly represented that this course would
be certain destruction, but the captain accused
him of mutiny, and commanded all to obey
orders. The vessel was backed off the rocks.
and sunk, amidst ineffectual attempts to run ber
on again, and all on board perished, except two
or three. But there is do use to adduce partic
ular instances, since every experienced ship
master or underwriter will. 1 believe, testify, that
a majority of all the locsr s that occur at sea, grow
out of the use of intoxicating drinks in one way
or the other. Some say three-fouiths, some
four filths, and some even go so far as to say,
that nine-tenths of the losses are caused in this
wav.
The number of British vessels wrecked or
strai.ded in six years, was by offi- ial documents,
two thousand six hundred and eighty seven;
and the ntimbei of prrsons diowned. thiee thou
sand four hundred and fourteen; the value of
property is not stated. Now it even half this en
ormous sum he attributed to the custom of using
intoxicating drinks on board ship, is it not time to
discountenance that custom. It may, however
be said,‘that vessels cannot be navigated with
out allowing the men liquor, and seamen could
not be found to engage on ten perance principles.'
The best answer to this question is the fact that .
many of the fines! vessels which sail from the
Clyde to the river St. Lawrence, are navigated
on this principal, and they find no difficulty in
procuring seamen, nay, they seem to be pretered
iiy mariners, so that they have the choice of the
best hands. 1 may add,from personal inspection,
that their labor, however severe, is performed
with alacrity, and that there is no quarreling or
difficulty b« tween them and their i.fiicirt; and
farther, that they fully appreciate the advan
tages of the temperance system. The only thing
they can com|>!ain of and not without reason, 1-,
when the principle is not observed consistently
throughout. It they will sail in a ten.perance
ship, they wish it to tie really such in the cabiu
as well as the forecastle ’
Hardness of the Times.
The best way to meet hard times, in our opin
ion, is hy retrenchment of all superfluities. As
illustrative of 'his, not to I ring into disi ussion
the subject of tobacco, (with which we ourself
arcent rely unacquainbd, having never had any
thing to do with it in any form or shape what
ever,) we give the Id lowing, as related to us thfl
other day, hv a reformed smoker; he said lie had
just supplied himselt with some very superior ci
gars, and sat down with one in his mouth, to pulf
away a few dull moments, when it, for the first
time, occurred to him. to “count the costhe
did so, and found they cost him in the year aliout
as much as a lull suit of clothes! I,c drew the
cigar from his mouth and threw it, with those in
his pocket, into the street, and has never smoktd
since. And, as farther itlus rativc, we give the
following extract from the \V ashingtoman Daily
.News:
“Goon —A friend of ours, while crossing the
ferrv to Brooklyn, met an acquaintance, and in
conveination, as is generally the case, commenced
talking about the hard times, and how he should
he able to pay his tuxes, Ac.
Mr. T. I have considerable taxes to pay, but
I no not know how to raise the money.
W. It is hard times to raise money truly. Do
you ever drink any thing 1
’l’. Occu-ionally a glass before dinner.
W. Do you know how much a glass a day
amounts to in a year %
T. No.
W. Well, sir, it amounts to $22 81 cts.
T. Where’s the Pledge!
It was handed him,and he immediately signed
it, and brought all his children to do the same.”
When we hear man compkiin .of hard
times, we feel inclined to ask him hew much his
daily grog amounts to in the year! Has lie coun
ted the cost 7. Would not the saving of this do
much to bettor the times 1 And, when wc hear a
rich man make the same complaint, w e are ready
to ask him, to estimate his wine hill for the year,
and if that amount savt d would'nt he something
towards improving ti e times, in the mere consider
ation of money expended! But how much greater
the consideration, when time, tempei, health,
constitution and all are expended, that might ho
saved hy retrenchment of the surpcrfHiity, not to
say the poison of intoxicating liquors.-- Temp.
Advocate.
Hear what Sir Astley Cooper says, on the sub
ject of intux icating I quors:—“ 1 ne'er suffer ar
ardent spirit in my house, because I think it an
evil spirit. If persons usmg it could witness the
white livers, the dropsies, and the shattered n< r
vous systems which I have, as the consequences
of diiiiking, they would say that ardent spirits
and jioison are synonymous terms.”
Dr Cheyne, of Dublin, Ireland, after thirty
years, extensive practice and observation, make s
the following remark : —“ Let ten young men be
gin at twenty years ofage to use hut one glass of
two ounces a day, and never ncrease the quan
tity, nine out of ti n of these young men will
shorten their lives more than ten ye irs !!”
Wh it a gloomy prospect some of our young
men have before them according to the above
statement; and no one can doubt the truth of it.
Wile* Freeman.
This unfortunate man, was, agreeable to his
srntenco, executed, on Friday last, between the
hours of one and two o’clock, about 1$ miles from
our village; he was accompanied to the gallows
by the Rev. Mr. Kennedy, and the Rev. Mr.
Read, and a large number of citizens. After ta
king his stand under the gallows, Freeman ad
dressed the spectators in a clear, distinct voice,
acknowledging the justice of his sentence, and
expressed a willingness to forgive all his enemies.
[Edgefield Advertiser.