The Argosy — page 146: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

132 A Crisis in jus Life. The gne leads to honour, to prosperity, to a clear conscience, to a use- ful career, to a hale and happy old age—and, let us hope, to heaven. The other leads to vice, to discomfort, to miserable self-torment, to a waste of talent and energies ; 1n short, to altogether a lost life. Lost, at any rate, for this world : and—we’ll not speculate upon what it may be in the other. Are you attending?” Tod just lifted his eyes in answer. I sat at the table by my books, silently turning some of their leaves, ready to drop through the floor with annoyance. Mr. Brandon resumed. ‘You have come to the Oxford University to perfect your education ; to acquire self-reliance, experience, and a tone of good manners; to keep upright ways, to eschew bad company, and to train yourself to be a Christian gentleman. Do this, and you will go home with satisfaction and a sound conscience. In time you will marry, and rear your children to good, and be respected of all men. This 1s the career expected of you; this 1s the road you ought to take.” He paused slightly, and then went on. “IT will put the other road before you; the one you seem so eager to rush upon. Ah, boy! how many a one, with as hopeful a future beforehim as you have, has gone sliding, sliding down unconsciously, never meaning, poor fellow, to slide too far, and been lost in the vortex of sin and shame! You are starting on well for it. Wine and cards, and betting, and debt ; anda singing mermaid to lure you on! That woman, with the hard light eyes, and the seductive airs, has cast her spell upon you. You think her an angel no doubt; I say she’s more of an angel’s opposite ——” “Mr. Brandon !” “There are women in the world who will conjure a man’s coat off his back, and his pockets after it,” persisted Mr. Brandon, drowning the interruption. ‘‘She is one. They are bad to the core. They are; and they draw a2 man into all kinds of irretrievable entanglements. She will draw you: and the end may be that you'd find her saddled on you for good. Who will care to take your hand in friendship then? Will you dare to clasp that of honest people, or hold up your face in the light of day? No: not for very shame. That’s what gambling and evil courses will bring a man to: and, his self-respect once gone, it’s gone for ever. You will feel that you have raised a barrier between you and your kind: remembrance will be q sting, and your days will be spent in one long cry of too late repentance, ‘Oh, that I had been wise in time !’” ‘¢-You are altogether mistaken in her,” burst out Tod. ‘‘ There’s no harm in her. She is as particular as—as any lady need be.” ‘“‘No harm in her!” retorted Mr. Brandon. “Is there any good in her? Put it at its best: she induces you to waste your time’and your » substance. How much money has the card-playing and the oresent-_ ..... —_)