The Arkansas advocate., 1831-07-20
LITTLE ROCK, A. IT. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, IsaI

-"heh once Violated, sine ma, often re. monstrate, but her voice has not the au- thority it once possessed. My history IS that of most drunkards. l spent my fortune, beggared my family, and, oh ! worse than all, l repaid my wife's love with ingratitude. When 1 came rcclipc to the home my crimes had made mis- erable, ] conld mol hear iiiy aalin's sweet welcome. l regarded not her adlnoni- tions. My father soon declined, and went chcerless to the grave, knowing that he left an unworthy son behind him. Ny wiie's friends separated us; but she, notwithstanding my unkindness towards her, ciung tighter 10 me in the hours of adversity. She refused competency which had been offered her OH condi- ton of staying from me, and returned to cheer with her presence-though she blasted with her love-a besotted wretch. Despite of my exertions 10 drown in the bowl all reflection, con- science would intrude, would show me fathers last days embittered by my mis- conduct; would picture to me the wife whom had sworn before the after Of heaven to protect and defend, reduced to poverty by me: and children, whom even beasts risk their lives to preserve. cast into 2 werldswherc inta,ny awaited them: If not for crimes which their pov- erty might induce them to commit. for poverty entailed on them by my crimes: Then would
 "Remembrance wake with all her busy
 train,
 Swell at my breast, and turn the past to
 pain"
 My wife died of broken heart.- One of my children died for wantof med ,cal assistance and proper attentien.-- These things were more than could bear. My mind sunk beneath the weight.o
 O'Conner's tears were dried; and as his tears could not find vent, like con lined powder, they burst with q dread- tul explosion, rending the cord of life.
 "Oh, sainted wife,I come!!n he ex- claimed, and sunk into death.
 These strange events succeeding each other so rapidly, had dried up the feel ings Of my nature. stood ;,nlazed, but not affectcd: wept not; l beheld the corpse of hiy friend, and saw that eye which once beamed with mirth, closed in death; bat, like the intidel, with the evidence of my eyes to convince me, l doubted. returned to the tavern, and started with d feeling which even par took of g!ee. But when caulc to my own neighborhood the reality of what had past burst upon ine, l visited tiIe house which was his residence when left him. 1t looked desolate. A stran- ger lived there. He showed me the grave of Ann CsConner. A green sod distinguished it from the ploughed ground around 1t, and the wild flower grew there as if to cheer the last refuge of despair. There was no tombstone. "But,' cried l, "lhy epitaph is written on the hearts of all who knew thee, and is recorded by the finger of God, to be read to admiring worlds" William re- quested to be buried by the side of his \ fife, which was done. Sure, demon of intemperance, thou didst never nip d fairer flower than he. Gentle, affection 1 ate, kind, liberal, grateful; thou turnedst his every virtue to sa fury, to lash him for the crimes which thyselfhad caused. When in the hour of night I've wept over their graves, and reflected on the virtues and talents destroyed, and the miseries occasioned by ardent spirits, and exclaimed, "these are thy trophies, intemperance," it has been soothing to remember, that
 'Tbere is calm for those who weep, rest for " weary pilgrims found; 1 They softly lse, and s-ee:!T steep, Low In the ground. The storm that wrecks the winters sky No more disturbs their deep repose, Than summer evenings latest sigh, That shuts the rose.'' SKETCHES OF INHUMANlTY, OR, WHAT HAVE SEEN.