The Black-Sealed Letter / Or, The Misfortunes of a Canadian Cockney.

evening. The eventful narrative of Frederick Charlston's career was ever present to my mind, producing feelings akin to those of an experienced reality. But the most striking characteristic was th

in the horizon of imagination. Be this as it may, it is a well known fact, that dreams have been occasionally verified. Thousands of them, however, are by the dreamer construed to suit circumstances. But the millions of these visions that arise nig

to me. It was mounted with deep mourning, and heavily sealed with black sealing wax. I was startled at the appearance thereof. I took but a momentary gaze and requested him to forward it by the next mail to Hamilton. I felt an anxious curiosity to

ent there, and was by the innkeeper shown into a bedroom, in which he was reclining upon a couch reading a newspaper. On seeing me he sprang forward and grasped my hand affectionately in his own, and began sobbing aloud, the tears gushing from his eyes. For a few seconds I stood motionless in sad bewildermen

gland, Sept

ll find on your return that eventful changes have taken place. Our life on earth is only a struggle with itself, too frequently surrounded with adverse circumstances, that are prolific with sad events, and gloomy with suffering and disappointment. And were it not that the Star of Bethlehem still shines in the firmament of Heaven the glory of this world would tran

ugh disappointment, in hoping against hope, she became low spirited, and failed considerably in health; and, on hearing of your intended

relatives, but with considerable reluctance on my part, I now undertake to inform you of an event which has recently occurred in your own fami

in shortly afterwards, eventually proving fatal. At an early hour on the morning of the 25th, only five days after the occurrence, your dear mother breathed her last, surrounded by her

ie; and by what means we know not. Then let this event be another warning to us to prepare effectually for our exit to eternity. May God bless you, my dear friend. May Christ b

n in expressing t

rederick, your af

m A. Th

as the following note from Eli

Sept. 2

f sorrow. It is some comfort however to know that mother died the happy death of a Christian. I trust her spirit is now reaping the heavenly harvest of her spiritual labors upon earth. Father is terribly changed since her death. I thought he would assuredly die under the heavy affliction. No doubt your absen

will be happy to see him. Cousin William has acquainted you with other facts. Trust to God for the consolation of your mind. We al

Charl

eed," said I, returning

ndeed, almost insu

I, her favorite son, was absent in her dying hours, without an opportunity of confessing my errors and asking her forgiveness: to think of these alone, is sufficient to break my very heart. Nor is this all. She to whose loving heart I pledged my affections as a bond of an eternal union, has become the life-companion of another. But I reproach her not for so doing. She was faithful; I alone was false. She had hoped against hope; and not until she had despaired of my ret

affliction," said I. "But under such trying circumstan

nchanted bowl. It was impossible to live and do otherwise; for elsewhere I could find no consolation for my grief. I drank deeply for two days and two nights after having received the letter. I then resumed my work: and with a

rom his trunk a bottle

etween me and total-abstinence. But, my dear friend, I will

ted that he still intended to return to England in December, and for that purpo

t Tiverton: and by doing so at that time, I upset all my projected designs. I have been re-building and upsetting ever since; but

d then return by way of Hamilton, and accompany him as far as Montreal, on my way home: it being about the time he purposed leavin

ted of liquor during that time; but seemed more determined than ever to resist its temptation. I advised him to remove to some private boarding house; where he would be less exposed to the influence of liquor and evil company: but he seemed unwilling to comply therewith on account of his intended remo

ad" said he, "but I think I can

good bye, we parted-neve

lled at the hotel and request

," abruptly ejacul

d I. "Where, and

is that he went off to his gra

that Frederick Charl

he, "the fellow's as

ause of his dea

leak and sank, cargo and all," he replied, jokingly, with a humo

ay with a sorrowful heart indeed. I could scarcely give credence to the announcement until it was confirmed by the upholsterer

ultimately admitted into the hotel. Next morning he was in a feverish state, and confined to bed. Towards evening his condition became more alarming, and a messenger was sent for me. I hurried thither, and procured a doctor immediately. Had it been prudent to do so, I would have removed him at once to my own house; however, I did all for him that I possibly could do! My wife and I in turn sat by his bedside and watched over him with tender care. But all was in vain. His fever continued to increase and he became delirious. At times he would startle up wildly fr

faults he had a noble soul. Poor fellow! he is gone now. I gave him a decent burial. I wrote to his father informing hi

the love of vain-glory in adventure, the yielding of moral principles to gratify the desire of either oneself or that of others:-and worse than all, the sacrificing of the nobler attributes of human nature to the insidious wiles of evil society and intoxicating liquor. Millions of young

social glass with

ir anathemas against inebriates," exclaims another, "but th

it and melody. Wherefore then should I deprive myself of those blessings, on purpose to gratify the whims of some cold-water quack? Wherefore then should I bind my liberties with a pledge as a safe-guard to prevent me from becoming a drunkard? If other men have been foolis

y become inebriates. "Take but a glass," says the recruiting sergeant of Bacchus, "it will do you no harm." But one glass is but the starting

be against him. The horrid shrieks of suffering humanity would denounce his arguments. Millions of grinning skeletons, blackened with every crime (if permitted) would startle forth from their infernal dungeons; and in myriads of drunkards' graves the rattling of dry bones would be heard: Yea, even hell, its very self, bloated with the souls of inebriates, would groan with indignation. Nay, call it not happiness that sparkles in the eye of the rum-drinker and softens his heart and tongue into kindred sympathy with each other. Happiness arises not from

friend, let me entreat of you to consider this momentous subject: to crush the bottle-serpent ere its fan

hink of the immeasurable mass of wretchedness and crime arising therefrom. Think of your present condition and your eternal future; and remember also that every man, even in his

ni

same

appear in serial form in the columns of the Canadian Garland, a Weekly Newspaper, which the auth

W L.

an Chr

guay Co

etic W

S STR

s but a st

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ous channels

eckles

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gher

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nerves too

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lfish

trive midst ho

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sient

ssess'd of

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to them a g

dle

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epless

life's an

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single ma

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child, a r

game, the w

for somethi

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tastes and

gs for

gold, the l

passions o

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ral w

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elfish

it actuall

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the thirst

ellow

wand with

e power to ch

feel its

elfish

rom life tha

much

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s get dry, t

grows the lo

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still we ur

slack the r

e its

seems but

osed in

on with wo

toil, and m

nd self-ind

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till the loa

ountle

tented lif

ind its co

e tarnish'd

ncied

e sun of For

umble

mplain for

our life a

hift our te

ase ou

find the chan

ood an

uld we contr

s down the sid

at blows us

nkering

clouds which s

ines to

r then to

are not wo

hours when

ill th

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e a

never be

we do an

at penance

ance

fruit, but

ns wi

daily str

orld which k

heaven we

iss de

celestial s

neve

AN S

er in the

ing ready t

Summer" d

seasons o

came to she

eir excav

eir partin

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that linger

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g forth wit

requiem of

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through the

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e golden m

n their fre

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crops the f

he moments

an and his

and conte

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arvest yet

to bough in

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Southern

round on li

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weet hours ar

smiles the

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re the crea

s if an an

ack the brea

the ling'

on the bed

rays of he

e earth in

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t once o'er

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smile, the f

stern appro

W OF THE

a sympath

or those

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stem the st

s the pare

unvails emb

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own seal

s prattling

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love and ch

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life's pros

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as, those f

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it soars

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may vis

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eturn as

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o cherish su

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friends are

ent from

ch dreams h

ce to

fill the v

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toys, the e

stiges o

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form the sm

thought

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ngers in

casts a s

give place

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no real

from a hea

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can the h

for eve

mourn your

ts by nat

ho' 'tis l

to Christ

he wounded

rs with i

ve not their

the soul

o solid ba

our hopes

Heaven alo

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s full of v

n in eve

thing, ho

the germs

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ds us to

snapt at

e infant

break in e

y age a

live as if

h our Make

f sin like

t on eve

e idols o

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short-si

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earth, its

es away

may, while

ve-leaf

of a spi

lid base