The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-09
MISCELLANEOUS
FROM tie Illinois Temperance Herald.
THE DRUNKEN HUSBAND.
ny JOHN RUSSELL, or nLUrrDALE,

name to be known by, let us Ill thoo-DEv1I =
CaSSi0."
"THE DRUNKEN HUSBAND !" The very
words call up train of thoughts worth all the
ictons that Waverly himself could invent from
such n text. "THE DRuNKrv HUSBAND %
defy the whole race of phiie...gsts TO place to.
gether two words of any language more express
i've of despair and anguish then" Drunken Hus
band."
l am not writing fiction. For once I shall
escape the charge of havi rawn nv uicture
from fancful original. "a. 75:at is said to have
occurred in this state, is yet vivid in the recollec
ton of numerous credible witnesses. To them
refer all who may believe this picture TOO high
ly colorcd. The names are only changed.
Lucy Warren was the only chill! nj y yool-
thy merchant OF an inland town in the state of
Al me accom- ,:.nsnments that celebra-
'eu po'''u'' = .uol in distant city could give,
were Gas.."wed by her doating parents. have
Hut yet forgotten the anxiety of the whole village
Just before her return; nor the numerous predic-
tons that she would no longer condesccndI to as
sociate with the poor of her age. All Mr..
Editor. they were all mistaken. She arrived on
Saturday night and the next day, after service
at church, convinced them that not one no,
not the poorest of them all forgotten. In
the afternoon old Mrs. Howell, pious, feeble
old widow, supported by the parish, came hob
bling along to church. No sooner did Lucy see
her, than she sprung from gay circle that had
SatlIcfcu together around llef at the door, wal
ting for the minister, and graceful as Hour
helped the poor OLD widow up the steps, 1t is
true that some of the gentry turned up their no.
SEES at which they termed " Gegrading' herself"
What the old widow thought | cannot tell, for
her head was turned aside TO conceal the tears
that for some cause or other gushed from her
eyes. With all her accomplishments, and the
immense wealth she was heir 10, not n young la
dy in the whole village spoke half so kind to the
poor and afflicted as Lucy did. Well, whom
will it be imagined this rich, accomplished heir
ess accepted as a husband ? accepted? yes for
never did you see gayer and more numerous
butterflies towering around prairie flower than
1uttered around Lucy. The rich, the proud, the
man of talent, and the dandy all sought the prize
We'll from all this train, whom do you suppose
she accepted?
Some West India nabob, or an English noble
man, one of our own MOBILES, with twice. the Or
rogance and none ofthc redeeming qualities Of
either Far from it. Charles Elnore, not worth
a farthin-, 100, hor affections and H. III
Misfortune had disabled H. I,HenIs, ana at one
blow their whole fortune was swept away. Ills
father unable 10 withstand TIE affection, was
seized with fever, and in ten days went down
to the grave. Charles Immediately sold his books
left College and flew to his mother. His own
were blighted but he appeared not to
feel it,and applied all his power TO the consola-
lion and support of his mother aud two little Sis
ters He removed them from the scene OF his
opulence, and placed them i'll Il humble cottage
i'm the village where Mr. Warren resided All
day long he labored like slave, not Tor himself,
but for those whom Providence had thrown up
on his care ; and could you have bcheld him al
ter hard DAYS labor inStrucng his sisters, and
seen how patiently and affectionatey he conduc
ted towards them, you would not have wondered
at their loving him as they did, almost to idola-
try.-IIis amiabe conduct, his talents and integ-
rity, won for him universal esteem, in spite OF his
poverty. Many splendid situations might have
hoe InIpI n
his mother. And did he never consider his
mother and sisters n burden ? Never. To rem
Ter them happy seemed the only object of his
existence, and he beheld, without sigh, life of
oi and privation before him.
| will pass over his marriage with Lucy. /
will leave the reader to imagine the circumstan- |
res that preceded it the wonder the village,
and the reluctant consent Of her ambitious pa
rents.
Years had passed away, and never had Lucy !
seen one moment that she repented other choice.
Never was their q kinder, more atiectionate nus
band. The parents ofboth had descended to the
grave and their place in the society were honor
ably filled,by their children.
Mr. Elmore was honored with the confidence
Of his fellow citizens, and various offices were
bestowed upon him but he chiefly ambi-
ious of military distinction, and his affection
for Lucy had principal share in urging in the
career of office, for he saw that Lucy behcld with
pride his tall manly figure, when arrayed in uni
form, with the rich plume noddmg and waving
over his head.
Custom required that an aspirant for office
should be liberal in his treats, and all who could
nd him with vote must be pressed to the cup.
BY degrees his habits of temperance were bro
Ken, and Lucy saw with alarm the danger of her
husband. He laughed at her fears; for he was
blind to the precipicc upon which he stood
Who that has ever marked the course OF
nan from regular to incorporate habits, need be
old the tender socitude ola wife and friends
his promises of amendment Ibis frequent re-
ranings aud relapses Alas these belong to the
history of too large portion of every community
o require detail of the heart'rending partcu-
ars.
The property left by Mr. Warren, great as it
vas, was soon consumed i'm the all-devourlng
lanes of ardent spirit. One only hope remained;
that in the distant regions of the west, far re-
moved from the companions that entced him to
he bowl, n reformation would ensue. A small
arm was purchased by their friends, and secured
O Lucy in such Il manner that no legal clam
l,.I -. his