Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-10-13

and with open eyes plunged INTO the gulf
from which the man who once enters it
never rises more. but into which he sinks
deeper and deeper down until recovery is
hopeless.
Such man as this once stood by the
bedside of his dying wife, while his chill |
drcn kncl' around and mingled low bursts
OF greet with their innocent prayers. The |
room was scuulily and meany furnished;
aud it needed but a glance at the pale form
from which The light life was passing awny.
to know that grief and want and anxious
care had been busy at the heart for many
a weary year An elderly female with
her face bathcd IN tears was supporting
the head ofthe dying wuman--her daugh
term her arm. But it was not towards
that the wan face was turned; it was not
her hand that trembling finger claspcd
they pressed husbands arms, so soon to be
closed in death, rested on his fnce: aud tho
man shook beneath their aaze. His dress
was sloveny and dIsordered, his face in
famed, bis eyes blood shot and heavy
he been summoned from some scene Of
debauch to the bed of sorrow and death.
A shaded lamp by the bedside cast a
dim light on the figures around, and left
the remainder Of the room in the thick,
deep shadow. The silence Oi the night
prevailed without the house. and the sllIl-
ness OF death was in The chamber. A watch
hung over the mantle Shelf its low ticking
was the only sound that broke the profound
quiet, but 1t was solemn one; for well
knew they who heard it. that before it had
recorded the passing of another hour ii
would beat the knell of departed spirit.
1t is dreadful thing TO wait and watch
for the approach of death; to know tina,
hope is gone, and recovery impossiblc and
TO SIT and count the dreary hours, through
long, long n'ghts--such nights as only
watchers by the bed Of sickness know. 1t
chl's the blood to hear the darcst secrets
secrets OF the heart, the pent.up secrets
OF many years poured forth by the uncon
sclons. helpless being before you: and to
think how little the reserve and cunning of
a whole life will avail when a feve. and
delrlum cast off he mask at last. Strange
laes have been told in the wanderngs of
dying mcr: tales so full of guilt aud CRIME
that those who stood by the sick persons
couch had fed in horror and alright, lest
they should be scared To madness BY what
they heard and saw; and many wretch
has died alone. ravlng OF deeds. the very
name Of which has driven the boldest mar
away
But n" such rawlings were to be heard at
he bedside bv Which the children kncll
their half stlhed sobs and meanings alone
broke the silence Of the lonely chamber.
| a nd iyhon nj Ia - ho h,,'.,
|nXed, and, turning one look from the
children to speak, and fell backward on
tho pillow, all vas so calm and lranoul
that she seemed TO sink to sleep. They
leant over her; they called upon her name
softly at first. and then in the loud and
piercing tones Of desperation. They listen.
ed for her breath, but no sound came. --
Ihey let TOR the pa pilarion of the henri
hut no faint lhrob responded TO The touch
The heart was broken and she was dead.
The husband sunk into chair at the
bed side. and ca,pcd his hands upon hi.
burning forehead. lie gazed from child tc
enid, but when weeping eve met his. he
qnnlrd beneath lis look. No word Of
comfort was whispered in his ear. no look
OF kindness lighted on his face. Al
shrunk from and avoided him; and when Of
; last he staggered from the room, no one
sought to follow or console he wdower.
The time had been when many n friend
would have crowded round HIM in hi.
nfil c'lon, and c. ndoled with hun IN hi.
grlef Where were they now One by
one, friends and relations, the commoncs
acquaintance even, had fallen off from ant
deserted the drunkard. His wife alone
had chung to hun IN good and evil, IN sick
ness AMI poverty, and how had he rcwar,
dcd herr He had reeled from the taver,
to her bedside, in time to see her die.
He rushed from the house, and waket
swiftly through the streets. Rcmorse
fear shame, all crowded on his mind
Supplied with drink. and bewlldered Will
the scene he had just witnessed. he rc-en
tered the tavern he had qulted shortly be
fore. Glass succeeded glass. His bl0ot
mounted, and his brain whirled around
Death! every one must die, and why no
eHE' She was too good for him; her re
alions had often told him so. Curses OF
them! Had he moi deserted her, and lef
her TO while away the time a. homer.
Well; she was dead, and happy perhaps. !
was better as it was. Another GLASGOW,
one more! Hurrah! it was a merry iii
while 1t lasted, aud he would make thu
most oft.
Time went on; the children who wer,
le't to him were children no longer; tn
father remained the same--poorer, shah
bier. and more dissolule looking, but tn
same confirmed and rreclaimable drunknr,
The boys had long run wild in the street,
aud left him; the girl alone remained. bu
she worked hard; and words or blows cou
always procure hun something from tn
tavern. So he went on IN the old course
and merry lie he led.
One night % earl as ten o'clock 70
the girl had been sick for many days, an,
there was consequently, liitle to spend a