to
arrangement. Wine, cordials, and other stimulating drinks, are freely
furnished, and freely used. Toward midnight, when chaste young ladies
and sober young men should be at home, the ball-supper is served up.
Rich viands and sparkling drinks are on the table. One becomes drunken,
and another surfeited. The sound of the viol is again heard, and the
merry dance is kept up till near morning light. The parties then
gradually retire. Some of the young ladies, from over excitement in the
ball-chamber, and subsequent exposure to the night air, take severe
colds, become speedily consumptive, and from the place of rioting and
mirth are carried to the grave! In this country, where consumption is
so prevalent, and accomplishes its work so rapidly, the distance from
the midnight ball-room to the grave is very short.

Most young men who attend balls go home inflamed with wine. I say _most_
of them. It is not unfrequently the case, however, that some of them
cannot get home. They have to stay behind until they have, in a measure,
slept off the fumes of strong drink: and then, with bloodshot eyes,
fetid breath, and staggering gait, they reach their homes. Such young
men have received a new impetus in the way that leads to destruction,
and such are the common fruits of a village ball.

Why do fathers and mothers,--and some of them professedly Christian
parents, too,--allow their daughters to mingle in these scenes, and
expose themselves to the contaminating influence of such associations?
How any well-disposed _mother_ can do this I am at a loss to determine.

Such a ball as I have described was to be held in the town of ----.
Young men and young ladies impatiently waited for the time appointed to
arrive. Among those who designed to attend this ball was Charles Duran,
then in his eighteenth year. Notwithstanding his habits and character,
the position and respectability of his parents prevented him from being
entirely excluded from society. He was still further aided in gaining
admission to such parties by always having money. While some despised
him in their heart, they were quite willing, for the sake of his purse,
to have him in their company.

The anxiously looked for day arrived. The preparations were made. At
night the ball was to come off. After dinner, Charles asked his father
for money to bear the expenses of the evening. Mr. Duran gave him what
he thought would be sufficient for the occasion. The amount did not
satisfy