' That night, to me,
was a long and sad one. I feared the result of the too much
dependence on self which he seemed to cherish.
"The rumseller soon gathered a number of townsmen about him. His
establishment became a place of frequent resort by many, and soon we
had quarrelling neighbors, and disturbances at night. Boys became
dishonest, and thus the fruits of the iniquitous traffic became
visible.
"I noticed that Alfred was not as punctual in his return as
formerly; and my fears that he visited this pest-house of the town
were soon confirmed. I hinted to him my suspicions. He was frank,
and freely admitted that he visited the bar-room; said he had become
acquainted with a few choice spirits, true friends, who had sworn
eternal friendship. 'Danger,' said he, 'there is none! If I thought
I endangered your happiness, I would not visit it again.' I
recollect the moment. He looked me steadily in the face, and, as he
did so, a tear escaped my eye. He, smiling, wiped it away, promised
that when he saw evil he would avoid it, and left me alone to my
reflections.
"But I will be brief. I need not tell you how, step by step, he
descended that ladder whose end rested in the grave.
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