Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-09-18

employed, nv best earthly friend. The.
father of my little children. would be-
come drunkard. The next mornin-
after breakfast, ! venturcd to speak wi,if
him upon the subject. IN mild WAY
and though | could not restrain my
tears, neither my words nor INV wccpini,.
appeared To- have any effect, and saw
that he was becoming hardened an,,
Careless OF US all. How many win
ter nights have waited, weeping alon,
at my once happy frcside, listening iol
the lifting latch, and wishing, vet drcal-
ing, TO hear his steps at the door,
After this state Of things had CONT
nucd, or rather grown worse, for nearly
three months, put on my bonnet one,
morning, after my husband had gone
To ms work, and went To- the Dcacon's
store; and, finding him alone. stated nv
husbands case, and begged him ear
ncsuy tn sell HIM no more. He told me-
II would do no good, for, if he did not
sell II, some other person would sell il
and he doubted whether my husband
took more than was good for him. He
quoted Scripture To- show that il was n
wife S duty To keep at home, and sub
mt herself 10 her husband, and not med
die with things which did not belong to-
her province. At this time, two or three.
customers called for rum, and the Dca-
con civilly advised me to 90 home and
look after my children.
/ went out with heavy heart. It
seemed as II the tide of evil was setting
against me. As | was passing farmer
JohnSon's on my way home. they call
ed me IN. I sat down and rested my
sell Tor few minutes in their neat cot
tage. Farmer Johnson was Just return
my from the field, and when | saw the
little ones running To meet him at the
Siilc, and the kind looks that passed be-
tween the good man and his wife and
when remembered that we were mar
ned on the very same day, and compar-
ed my own fortune with theirs, my
poor heart burst forth in flood of tears.
They all knew what Twas weeping for,
and farmer Johnson, in a kind manner,
babe me cheer up, and put my trust in
Gods mercy, and remember that it was
often darkest before daylight. The far
mer and his wife were members Of the
temperance society, and had signed the
pledge and have often heard him saw.
that he believed II had saved him from
destruction. He had, before his mar
riugc, and for year after, been in the
+ habit Of taking little spirit every day
He was an industrious, thriving man
but shortly after his marriage he became
bound for ncishbor, who ran of, and
he was Obliged TO pay the debt. have
heard him declare, that, when the sheriff
took away all his property, and stripped
ms little cottage, and scarcely left hiu,
those triiles which arc secured 10 the
poor man by law; and when he ooa>id-
cred how III his poor wife was al that
time. III consequence Of the loss Of their
child, that died only 4 month before,
he was restrained from reSorting 70 tho
bottle, IN ms moments OF despair, by
nothing but recollection of the plcdg,.
he had signed. Farmer Johnson's MN
iStcr was in favor Of pledges, and had
often told him that affection might wca-
ken his judgment and his moral sense,
and that the pledge might save him at
last, as plank saves the life Of a ma
rincr, who Is tost upon the waves.
, Ourgood clergyman was unfortunate
ly of a different opinion. Ifc had of
ten dIsapprovcd OF pledges; the Dea-
con was of the Same opinion: ho
thought very lily OF pledges.
Month after month passed away, and
Our happiness VA utterly dcstroyed.-
My husband neglected his business,
and poverty began TO stare us in tho
face. Notwithstanding my best cNer-
tons 1t was hard work o. keep my lit
Tie ones decently clothed and sufficient
lly fed. II my husband earned shill-
ing. the dram-scllcr was a. sure Of II aS
Il u were already IN his TILL I some
timcs thought had lost al ms afcc-
ton foe one. who had proved 10 entire
ly regardless If tho-c " h0m u was l,s
duty 10 protect and sustain bat when
looked III the faces Of our little clnl-
drcn. the recollection e oar early
marriage DAYS and all his Kind words
and deeds. soon taught me The strength
OF The principle that had brought VA
together,
shall never cease 20 remember tho
anguish ! felt when the constable took
HIM e. jail upon the drarusellers exc
! cuiion. Iill that moment, dad M
bclicsc that my affection could have
survived, under the pressure of that
misery which, be- had brought upon u'
, all. ! PIT up such things. 1t tee little
that Tcmained - us. as 'hou III rn. ,l'
be Of use, and turned my back upon
spot, where had been very happy and
very wrciched. Gus hyc ebildrcn fol-
lowed weeping bitterly. The jail wdt
situated IN the nest town. Oh
Gcorse, SAID "if you had only
.igncd lhc pledge Il would NJ, have
come 10 tms" llc sighed and ssiI
nothing AND 80 walked ncIriy q mill,
.in perfect silence. a., We were Ica.-