Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-04-11
THE DRUNKARD'S WIFE.

The render has probably heard Of the beau
tilul valley Of Wyoming, situated in The sttte
of Pennsylvania, and through the bosom OF
which flows the winding, calm, and siivery
Susquehonna. Here, few years ago, in one
of the delightful neighborhoods Of that fair
vac resided the young, intelligent, and vir-
tuous Frances. There, her heart was sought
and won, by young man whose name was
Guy Clark. He was a tippler. Her friends
abored hard TO save her from becoming a
drunk ards wife. But he had won her heart
and she would not withhold from him she low
ed, The hand which he implored and which
was hers 20 bestow.
They stood together before the hymeneal al
tar-I have many time been within the very
house in which that scene occurred. There
she freely and fully gave herself unreservedy
away 10 him to whom her fond, confiding
heart surrendered her happiness-her life
There, with men, and heaven, and God, as
witnesses, he pledged TO her his faithful,
changeless love; and vowed TO her the cher
ishing, the providence and the defence OF his
protecting hand. All little thought She that
that same hand would by and by be Redeemed
with her vital blood! Little thought she that
the plighted hand which shc received in ex-
change for hers, would WELD against her the
the murdcrer's dreadful weapon No, she
knew not-she thought not. Her confdine
heart had not learned the influence of the in
loxicating cup. She suspected not that Alec.
hol could change the devoted lover to the ma
] lignantdemon. Though she might have heard
| that Others, once devoted lovers and affection
ate husbands, had been led TO offer up, in
! blooming sacrifice, their once loved wives and
children, upon the internal altar Of Intoxica.
ton, yet she could not conceive that he, sc
leved, so loving in return, could do it, And
so The affectipnate, the connding and devoted
bride became drunkard's wife.
Years passed away. They were years Of
misery. A family Of interesting children
grow up around her By daily labors and
midnight toilings, she clothed, and fed, and
schooled thom-apd sustained, more or less
the diesipated father and husband.
Twas on spring or summers morning, o
the year 1881, while they resided in the vii
oge Of Ithaca, N. Y, that she spread before
her poor children and her husband, the las
repast which she ever furnished ,hem-'twa'
the fruits Of her almost unmiiigateG toll. TIL,
breakfast was finished-his anger broke fortl
she met from his eyes look-she observed
in him motion, causing her to tremble 70
ner life, as she had indeed often done before
She flies towards the door, cssaying escape
he seizes her by the hair of her head-there il
an axe standing in The corner of the room-h
seizes that axe-hc hurls her to the floor-ant
with On arm nerved by intoxication, he gashe
her head and her neck with demons muir
derous wantonness of cruelty-and her limb
are quickly quvering in death! Oh, what ,
cry from the behodino children then arose !
The neishbors came, while yet the demon, to,
intent upon the work Of death to think of es
cape, was yet chopping to awful mangling
that body from which life had already fed!
Such was the closing scene with her VIII,
was the bride and wife of the tppler TIL
closing scene with him that was bridegroom
aud husband, was that Of the gallows, iron
whence he went into Eternity, the impeniten
murderer other whom he had solemny yowet
to ever love, cherish and protect !-Lookin!
! Glass.