Litchfield enquirer., 1837-08-10
From he POrtland TrGnscript.
SELF DENIAL-A TRUE TALE.

al abilities, suddenly resolved to abandon the habit of intemperance to which he had long been addicted. He was a remarkable and extraordinary man. His talents were of the first order, and his attainments were of the most extensive character. In person he was handsome, and possessed of every exterior grace that could please or attract the eye. His manners were of the most pleasing and fascinating kind, and his con- versatiOn was of that varied and eloquent nature, that his company was in every con- dition of society desired. No man was more deeply versed in classical learning, and in the various branches of scholastic philosophy he was deeply profound. In the lighter branches of polite literature he had considerable requirements, and indeed, in every branch of intellectual knowledge he was deeply read. He had been com pared to Bolingbroke, who it was well known by the profoundness of his philoso- phy and the elegance of his manners could grace and give charm to the drawing room, or teach lessons of wisdom in the Academy or Lyceum. At an early age he married a beautiful and charming woman, and from the union of two persons so we'll adapted to each other, it might readily be supposed that the stream of happiness would continue uninterruptedly to flow but alas it was soon discovered that the possession of the highest attainmcnts, and most exalted genius, afforded no security against the encroachments of vice, whose course is marked by misery, and whose end is death. For many years he was com plete victim to this degraded and unhappy vice, and from considerable loftines ofrep- utation, had sunk into the character of common drunkard. Poverty had entered his domicil, and he was frequently, the sub ject of the most pressing want. His wife's jewelry had disappeared at the pawnbro- ker's, and his own extensive and valuable
 library had met with the same fate. Arti- cle after article furniture had disappear ed, and nothing now remained but what was secured by law. His wife, who had presented all that enbon-point of appear ance which marks health, had wasted away to mere shadow. Her disposition, which had formerly been lively and vivacious, was now sorrowful and melancholy, and the children exhibited that raggedness of dress, which distinguished the offspring of tuOS0 WuO are IHl6mpCTdtes
 A more affecting scene can hardly be imagined than that which occurred on cold bleak day in December, when the mother was seen pressing an infant to her breast, crOwding to few embers that re- mained on the hearth. Several small chil- dren 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 a worn out rug. lay the husband in beastly state of intoxication, with jug of the fatal poison at his head-a more distressing and hear,-rending scene cannot possibly be con- ceived-it was one calculated to draw tears from the most obGurate heart and soften the most adaman,ine soul. There lay the man whose lofty intellect and splendid tal- ents were well suited to adorn senate or rule nation, a victim to the intoxicating draught that has destroyed thousands.
 What has just been described is no ic-. ton. It is truth, without the aid of ima- gna,ion or the colorngs of fancy. Twelve months from the period at which our story commences, on a cold winter evening, might be seen in a beautiful and snug little parlor, sitting on sofa, the same gentle man, dressed in manner which indicated that he had not quite fallen a martyr to that poverty which is the invariable result of that habit to which he had been addicted. His brow was thoughtful, and an acute ob- server might perceive a shade of melan- choly pass over his countenance. In the same room, seated at centre table, was his wife, attired in a neat aud tasteful dress, reading one of those beautiful annuals of the season. Several beautiful children were playing in the room, and their cheerful looks and comfortable clothing indicated that poverty had no residence there. This little parlor displayed indeed no tokens of wealth, but evidently showed signs of com fortable enjoyments. Two beautiful vases adorned the mantle-piece, and underneath was seen the vivid light of an animating coal fire. before which, on a rug, lay fa- vorite dog, who seemed to participate in the happiness which appeared to pervude ;he apartment. The wife looked up, and casting a glance at her husband, observed a gloominess of countenance which a, once riveted her attention. She closed the book which she had just been reading. and going to him, threw her arms around lis neck aud inquired if any thing disturbed him. l, was some moments before he made her any reply, and then he said, my dear, 1 must have half pint of brandy.
 The wife became immediately agitated, and in solicitous accents, besought him not to send for that poison which had formerly been nearly his ruin. She who but few moments before had been realizing the feel