NATURAL HISTORY, 55 



room, reading, he was at the theatre, or danc- 

 ing in some place, or at a supper with his young 

 companions ; and finally he began to play 

 cards and billiards with them ; while the inside 

 of the church was a place which he never 

 saw. He was cheated by his companions ; 

 and too honest he was then not to pay what 

 he lost by gaming : he wrote to his poor 

 mother, and told her the truth, as to his losses, 

 and she sent him money to pay his debts, and 

 told him to come home. He did come home ; 

 and even after all that had happened, poor 

 Tom might have been respectable and happy ; 

 for his friends were all willing to forget the 

 past, and encourage him for the future. For 

 a time he went on pretty well, and married 

 an affectionate and good young woman, and 

 his prospects were bright enough : but one 

 thing, boys one single thing, ruined his com- 

 fort for ever. In the city he had learned to drink 

 strong liquors. 



" I remember, too, soon after he came 

 home and married, that a man was hung 

 not far from here for murdering his wife. 

 The man was a drunkard, though he was 

 quite sober when he killed the poor woman ; 

 and drunkenness had hardened his heart, 

 I have no doubt, as it will the heart of 



