The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-05-16
A DRUNKARD's DEATH.

Did you ever see a drunkard die Never.
Then you never saw the most heart-rending,
awful scene that ever transpired upon earth.
| once saw drunkard die. 1t was many
years since, but the dreadful night is still
as distinctly before me so though it were
but yesterday; and so vivid an impression
did it make upon my mind, that fear 1t will
never be effaced.
He had once been sober and a happy
man. His business prospered, his pros
poets were fattering, his family-as lovely a
family as ever existed this side of heaven
were ali that he could wish. The sun never
shone on more love, peace, and happiness
than were found around that Preside.
But in an evil honr, he tasted the poison
Gus cup, and all was lost. He became a
drunkard. Oh that last hour,-the last
hour Of the destroyer Of himself, the hopes
of bis friends, and the prospects Of his FAM
ily,-of him who had deliberately brought
blighting curse upon al, that was beautiful
around HINT was awful. As he lay upon
his bed, grooming under the burden of a
guilty conscience, and his family-they
we're still lovely, although reduced TO beg
gary by his internal appetite,-gathered
weeping around his bed, I~came into the
room. Doctor" said he, do you believe
there is a hell?-a hell?" laying strong
emphasis upon the last void as he repeated
it. Il certainly do" / replied. 81 know
there u.s." rejoined lie. 81 know there is,
for feel it here-laying his hand upon his
breast-l feel it here the worm that can
never die, the fire that San never be quench-
ed, eternal punishment, endless torment. l
feel them, they have begun to be my portion
even in this world" Isuggested to him that
the mercy of God was infinite, and would be
extended even to the vilest sinner upon re-
pentance. Repentance" said he, catch
ing my words, Repentance, cannot re-
pent; the time of repentance is gone for
ever can reflect on my treatment to my
wife, on my dreadful abuse of my children,
on my loss of respect, honor, and every
noble feeling and still not be moved,-not
penitent. The day of repentance is past
there is no hope am LOST am lost !"
Horror struck with his expressions of des-
pair, and with the agony depicted in the
counenance of his wife, and the bursts of
grief from his children, knew not what to
say. He lay silent for few minutes, and
again burst forth into the most blasphemous
expressions of horror and despair and
these were followed by cry, as if coming
up from the world of wo, for rum: '"Give me
some rum! give me some rum" Fearing
that in his paroxysm of rage he might
spring from his bed, and do injury to those
around, as he had on similar occasions ex-
hllnted more than human strength, order
ed it to be given him. His wife brought it
to his bedside. Raising himself upon his
pillow, and Selling the tumber with con-
vulslve grasp, in both his hands, he made
an Intellectual attempt TO carry it to his
mouth. Enrage, at his repeated failures,
occasioned by the high excitement Of his
nervous system, he uttered dreadful oath,
and called upon his wife for assistance.
She turned from soothing the distress of
their youngest child, beautiful little girl
Of some four or FIVE years old, whose ex-
eesslve grief had drawn the attention of the
mother even from the dying husband-to
afford him her aid but ere she could
reach the bed, with fiendish laugh, and a
more than helsh spite he dashed from him
the tomhler, and muttering, Damnation
Ddmadtion I fell back and expired.
Journal Of Humanity.