Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-02-10

ldest repartee, the jest, the hearty laugh,
and many a jocund ron,p on the green,
were enjoyed with no other restraint
than propriety demanded. The hilari-
lty was not, indeed, of fashionable
cast, but it was certainly as real, and as
full Of satisfaction.
/ There were occasions, however, in
which the usual restraints of their edu-
|cation were clandestinely thrown off,
and the young fellows seemed DESTROYS
Ito forget that they were quakers. They
would assemble at taverns, and pass
an hour or an evening in what the
world calls convivialitv-and then, the
forbidden beveragewould be slipped or
swilled according to the progress Of the
youth on the road to ruin.
It was natural that one so respecta-
BILE and pleasant as B. L. should be
sought by such as companion. Alas!
it was too easy to cntice him. He
loved society-hc loved amusement
he loved 10 be pleased-and he could
be easily fattered. His course was
regular but rapid. In few years il,
was found necessary to try his fortunes
lin new country. He had sunk his
property by his habits this acquired.
Accordingly he wandered of, far in
Ito the wilderness. In the carly period
OF its history he made an attempt 10
settle in Kentucky. His absence was
more protrac,ed thanhis wife expected.
She became so uneasy at its continu-
ance, that, mounting on horse, with
her two little boys on another, she
traversed the wilderness several hun
dred miles, in search Of her husband.
When she came to the place of his set
Element, she learned thathe had started
homeward in search of her! Not
knowing his intentions, or not willing
that he should remain in the place Sc
lected-for fear that the greater loose.
ness morals there, might be more ofthe
dangerous-shet turned her face home
ward and on her arrival found she
had missed him again. She remained
with her friends; and her husband, who
had not lost his affection for his excel
lent wife, nor his children, returned to
his native state-and remained.
Now, it would seem, that his faithful
wife could urge an irresistible claim on
kindness, and the abandonment Of the
ruinous cup. But he had acquired the
habit. His convivial seasons had Civ
en- him relish,-that relish had been
INDUCED with repeated draughts; his
native good sense and the pure moral
principles incuIcated in youth had be-
come cnervated, if not destroyed, by
intemperance:-and had he went on,
until poverty and comfortlessncss
characterized his home. He moved
from place to place in search Of better
business; but carried with him his hab-
it of drinking; and Of course always
failed.
His friends and his wife's friends
had great interest in the county; and
an humble Office was procured for him,
the duties Of which would be perform
ed, in part, by his wife and family.
But the fatigucs, the exposure and,
more than all, the anguish Of spirit to
which she was subjected had broken
down an elastic frame and vigorous
mind. Her husband would spend the
Evenings, If not days, at the taverns in
his vicinity, often in the bar-room and
company Of one who was related by
marriage, and by whom he was more
than once thrown into the street.
The still fond wife sunk, under the
agony of his disgrace, into the grave;
leaving little son, more than orphan.
The elder sons, not yet grown to man
hood, were appren,iced. The only
consolation which the poor inebriate
could feel, was derived from the re-
Election that, even in his drunken fits,
he had not been guilty Of personal i'll
treatment or even unkindness to his
deceased wife. And yet, he had des-
troycd her life.
And what, now, became Of him and
his little motherless child! l will tell
in few words. The child was cared
for by relatives Of his mother; was
brought up to business--and is now
the parent OF children, whom he is en-
deavoring 10 rear in habits Of entire
conference.-the father broke up his
family; royed from place to place; and
sunk lower and lower; and became al
most lost to The knowledge Of his chill
dren for several years. At length, in
the wonderful goodness Of God, a light
broke into his soul. He saw his sin
al.ass. l,,,,sf sud danlv and