388 PLAIN FACTS FOE OLD AND YOUNG 



Every possible remedy was used to check the ter- 

 rible disease which was preying upon the unfortunate 

 boys, but in vain. At times, the symptoms would be 

 somewhat mitigated, and the most sanguine hopes of 

 the fond, watching mother would be excited, but in 

 vain. The improvement was always but temporary, 

 and the poor sufferers would speedily relapse into the 

 same dreadful condition again, and gradually grow 

 worse. At last, the poor mother was obliged to give 

 up all hope, in utter despair watching the daily ad- 

 vances of the awful malady which inch by inch de- 

 stroyed the life, the humanity, the very mind and soul 

 of her once promising sons. Sadly she took them back 

 to her Western home, there to see them suffer, perhaps 

 for years before death should kindly release them,— 

 the terrible penalty of sin committed almost before 

 they had arrived at years of responsibility. 



How these mere infants learned the vice, we were 

 never able to determine. We have no doubt that oppor- 

 tunities sufficient were presented them, as the parents 

 seemed to have very little appreciation of danger from 

 this source. Had greater vigilance been exercised, we 

 doubt not that the discovery of the vice at the begin- 

 ning would have resulted in the salvation of these two 

 beautiful boys, who were sacrificed upon the altar of 

 concupiscence. Two or three years after we first saw 

 the cases, we heard from them, and though still alive, 

 their condition was almost too horrible for description. 

 Three or four similar cases have come to our knowl- 

 edge. 



Boys, are you guilty? Think of the fearful fate of 

 these boys, once as joyous and healthy as you. When 

 you are tempted to sin, think of the fearful picture of 

 the effects of sin which they present. Have you ever 



