The Hillsborough Recorder

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The lights and shadows of real life are often in painful contrast. The extremes in a crowded metropolis are indeed widely apart. Wealth, and pomp, and power, and pride, may be seen basking in the sunshine of prosperity in one section of the city, while in another poverty, and want, and weakness, and wretchedness, may be found dragging on a weary existence, and almost hesitating between life and death. The cases, too, are not rare, in which these contrasts are still more startling; in which the indigent of early youth will be recognized among the affluent of the present time, and the rich man of a former day be discovered in the very depths of indigence, and sometimes of crime.

But in no case should we wholly despair. There is an avenue to every heart. There are seasons when the most hardened may be softened.

Somewhat more than a year ago, a gentleman of Philadelphia was invited by a friend in New York, to visit the notorious "Five Points," under the guidance of a police officer—the object being twofold—the gratification of curiosity, and the inculcation of a moral lesson. The invitation was accepted, and the party, soon after nightfall, proceeded to penetrate into some of the deplorable mysteries of the commercial metropolis of the New World. It is unnecessary for us to enter into all the details. They would form only a twice told tale, and prove anything but agreeable. Our friend, however, as he passed through one of the most wretched portions of the Points, had his attention arrested by a face that he thought he recognized. He paused!—old, familiar memories came over him, and he mentioned the name of a school mate, an early friend of his boyish years! The bloated and disfigured being was roused by the utterance of his name by a stranger, and especially as the tone was one of regret, not unmingled with regard. His story may soon be told.

He was a gay youth, fond of the delights of convivial companionship, and even before he attained the years of manhood, he was a drunkard. Many expedients were resorted to to reclaim him, but without success. At last he became a gambler, then a forger—and then a convict. His poor old father, who had exhausted all his means to rescue him, descended broken hearted to the grave. The erring was still a young man, comparatively speaking, only thirty-five years of age, possessed of fine talents, and was highly educated. But intemperance had become a disease with him. He had attempted more than once to wrestle with and conquer the Rum-Fiend, but in vain. He admitted his error, deplored it, spoke feelingly of the past, and asked if his mother still lived. His friend besought him to make yet another effort. He hesitated at first, said that it was idle, that he had lost all self-respect, self command and self-reliance, and felt that he would sink into a dishonored grave. But his friend urged, persuaded, and at last prevailed. He took him to a mercantile house in New York, where he stated the facts confidentially, and obtained for him a situation. The selection was most fortunate. The firm consisted of two brothers;—true Christians and philanthropists, and they entered heartily into the benevolent enterprise. Their policy was one of kindness—confidence—generosity. They appealed to the heart; touched the feelings rather by acts than words. They uttered no reproaches; no threats; made no harsh allusions, but addressed themselves to the better nature within: the loftier and holier qualities that had been embittered, concealed, and hidden so long. And they were successful. The heart was touched and subdued. The fires of virtue were rekindled—the lamp of mind was replenished—the moral vigor of the character was resuscitated. Nearly a year has gone by, and the reclaimed continues to pursue the way of well-doing: to gather strength, and courage, and determination with every hour of his existence. He is a new man. A soul redeemed; and an honor to the true spirits who rendered him "aid and comfort" in his extremity: who nerved and assisted the rightful impulses of his better nature!