WHAT HE WAS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2384, 6 November 1880, Page 4

WHAT HE WAS.

► “Twenty years ago,” said the passenger with tiic rod ribbon in his buttonhole, “ 1 knew that man whom you saw get oil: at the last station. He was a young man of rare promise, a college graduate, a man of brilliant intellect and shrewd mercantile ability. Life dawned before him in all the glowing color of fair promise. He had some money when he left college. He invested it in business and bis business prospered. He married a beautiful young girl, who bore him three lovely children. No one dreamed that the poorhousc would be their home. Rut iu an evil hour the young man yielded to the tempter. Ho began to drink beer. He liked it and drank more. He drank and encouraged others to drink. That was only fourteen years ago, and he was a prosperous, wealthy man. Today what is he ?” The clergyman in the front scat solemnly—“A sot and beggar.” The red-ribbon man disconsolately, “ Oh, no .' He is a member of Congress, and owns a brewery worth £150,000.”