State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-26

brenst, crowding to few emDers which still
remained on the hearth. Several small
children surrounded her, crying with the
cold. and begging their mother to give them
some bread but alas she had none to give !
them. Along side in one corner, covered |
with worn out rag lay the husband in
beasily state of intoXicaton, with jug OF
The fatal poison at his head "a more dis
tressing and hcart-rending scene cannot
possibly be conceived--it was one calculated
to draw tears from the most obdurato hearts,
and soften the most adamantlne soul. There
Law the mnn whose lofty intellect and splen-
did talents were well suited to udorn SEN
ate or rule Nation, n victim to the intoX-
! icaling druught which has destroyed thou
sands.
What is just described is no Fiction it is
truth without the aid of imagination or the
colorinrs of fancy. Twelve months from
| the period Mt which our story commences
on a cold winter evening, might he seen
| in beautiful and snug little parlor sitting
on sofa, the same gentleman dressed in
costume which indicated that he had not
fallen entirely martyr to that poverty
which always results from the habit TO
which he had been addicted. His brow
was thoughtful, and an acute observer
might nerceive shade of melancholy pass
over his countcnance. In the same room,
seated at centre table, was his wife, attired
J in neat and tasteful dress, reading one Of
those beautiful ANIMALS of the season. Sew
eral beautiful children were playing i'll the
room, and their cheerful looks and com
Portable clothing indicated that poverty had
no residonce there. THIS little parlor dis
PLAYED indeed no tokens of wealth, but ev-
identity showed signs of comfortable enjoy.
ncnts. Two beautiful vases adorned the
mante picc, and underneath was seen
the vivid light of an anmating coal fire,
before which, on Il rug, lay tayorite dog,
who seemed to participate in the happiness
which seemed to pervade the apariement.
The wife looked up, and, casting glance
at her husband, observed q goouncss of
countenance which at once excited her at
tenton. She closed the book which she
had just been reading, and going to him,
threw her arms around his neck, and ten
derby inquired if any thing disturbed him.
1t was some time before he made her any
reply, and then he said, "my dear, must
have half u pint of brandy" The wife be-
came Immediately agitated, and in sol;citous
accents, bcsought him not to send for that
poison which had formerly been nearly his
ruin. She, who but few moments before
had been realizing of perfect security, was
now CONFUSED with sorrowful antcipations
that a renewal of her husbands former
pcrnicious habits was to take place. Her
bosom hcaved with alarm, and as the tears
gushed from her eyes, she implored him
whom she had loved and adhered to with
devoted fidelity, through good and evil re-
port, i'll disgrace and in poverty, that he
would not again tempt by a single indul-
gence, recurrence to habits which must
destroy their present felicity and forever
annihllate their future hopes. The children
partook of the sorrow of their mother they
left their innocent amusements, and with
tears i'll their little eyes begged their papa
not to get any more of that stuff which
made them poor, and their mamm@ cry
But the husband appeared to be insensible
10 the ailcctionate circumstances OF his wife
and the artess persuasions of his children
His eldest daughter, who OH former occa-
sions had gone on this Grand, was now
compelled to perform this; the brandy was
obtained, and his wife looked with fear
FIJI and painful forboding upon the dccanter
which contained the fatal poison. He look
ed upon the brandy, and approaching the
table with u chair, he sat down and took
the decanter in his hand he held it up to
the light, and observed how beautiful its
color. lie then apostrophised thus; O how
l have loved thee, thou enticing and misery
dispensing spirit thou hast been my bosom
companion from morn till night and from
night till morning. | have loved thee with
the love surprising that of woman, and
have grieved as mother grleves over the
dead dolly of her child, when found that
the spirit Of the bottle had departed but
have found thee deceptious and ungrateiul !;
thou didst destroy my experimentation
didst rob my pocket. You gave me disease
: instead of health, and made the heart of my
wife pulsatc with unhappness. My chill
dren wept at the ruin you entailed, and my
house you made desolatc and sorrowful.
Twelve months have parted from you,
and | now renounce thee forever thou
agent Of destruction! thou demon of des-
pair! thou accursed aIIuring poison
With that, he hoisted the window, threw
the bottle into the street, and declared the
victory was won. His wife rushed into
his arms, JOY beaming i'll her countenancc {;
she could only utter, my husband who
tenderly embraced her, and sealed her fore
head with kiss. The children ran to their
father, climbing on his knees, and their
cheerful prattling told how well they par
took of the sympathetic JOY. Even Neituno,
on the hearth rug raised his head, and gave
an encouraging look to his MASTER aud
wagged his tail with evident delight Phil
inner Sentinel.
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FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND.
No ~. 4 II.