Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-22
A DRUNKARD.

We do not know when we have had our feel
inps more shocked than by the sudden apparl-
ton into our chamber, the other day, OF poor,
miserable wretch, in tatters, in state OF dePlo-
rable indulgence and nebriety. His face was
bloated, of purple red, and swollen out OF all
natural proportions like some poor felon that
had lust been cut down from the gallows. His
ewes were garing like balls Of fire, and protrud-
ing from their sockets, while his dlsheveiled hdir
knotted and filthy, hung in scattered rlnglets
from his temples, or floated in confused disorder
" like meteor streaming TO the wind" HIS
garments were ragged and torn, and his neither
Testment, here and there, rent asunder by Its
own rottenness, or the unnatural dlstenslons
which his unwieldy, dropsical limbs had attain
ed under constant repeton. AS he staggered
to a seat he muttered forth some lnartlculate
sentences by which we recognized, with pam
and horror, under this bldeous shape, more
Grightful than Millions Death begotten by Sin,
one whom we had once known and seen in bet
ter DAYS, and who, presuming upon the friend
Iy intercourse which had then Subslsted between
us, had thus unceremOniously oDtruded hlmsell
into the room. Many years had elapsed since
we had met him. but we could not rePress Dit
ter tear at the remembrance OF what the poor
fellow had once been, in his prosperous days
when he was the pride and soace Of his parents,
an honor to the honored profession to when ne
belonged, and to the truly respectable and eX-
tensive circle among whom he moved. Alas
what changes nave passed over him! What
dark clouds have obscured the bright horizon
and SUNNY skies that once smiled upon him. A
moor mothers heart broken, and borne in grief
to her grave! Discarded by sisters, and broth
ers, and friends, and relatives, forlorn, unhap-
nv wanderer over the earth, without shelter,
food or even the tear of pity to weep over him,
who. by his own suicidal and desperate aban-
donment to the most beasty of human vices.
had brought down this AFFECT misery upon him
self, and made him loathsome object OF scorn
to his ellow-creaures Had he, in early llfe
followed in the path Of virtue, he might have
formed some eligible alliance, and passed quiet
ly down the stream of time in the enjoyment of
the inappreciable blessings Of domestic happi-
ness and coniugal love. 1t was otherwise; and
no fair hand, nor eye of fearful affection, were
here to administer balm to heart too scared,
and callous, and debased, to respond to the
sympathies pride or offeeling. Yet was there
still slight glimmering of that fire that once
animated his bosom, and which even cruel and
abiect misery had not entirely eXtinguished
He imploringly begged some SMALL charity that
Would appease his hunger, he said, but which
was doubtless to be bestowed on the same vile
passion which had destroyed him. Still he re-
volted at the idea Of becoming the tenant of a
poor house, however comfortable his residence
might be made He shuddered more, perhaps,
at the prospect of being subjected to the surveil
lance of the discipline which would deprive him
of the means of gratifying his morbid appetite
for spirituous drink, and which now was the ia
tai poison that he constantly hankered after,
and that predominated over and obliterated
every honorable emotion or aspiring thought
that once burned within this ruined tenement Of
a great and noble mnd.-Ne,o York Star.