The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-05-05

subject Of the most pressing want. His
wife's jewelry had disappeared at tie pawn
browkers, and his own extensive and valu-
able library had shared the same fate. Arti-
Gle after article of furniture had disappeared
& nothing now remained but which was Sc
cured by law. His wife, who in her per-
son had presented all that ebon point Of APP
pearance which marks health, had wasted
away to a mere shadow. Her disposition
which had formerly been lively and viva
cious, was now souowlul and melancholy,
and the children exhibited that raggedness
of dress, which distinguishes the ofsprings
of those who are Incorporate,
A more affecting scene can hardly be i'm
agined than that which occurred on a cold
andibleak day in December, when the moth
er was seen pressing an infant TO her breast,
crowding TO few embers that still remain
ed on the hearth. Several small children
surrounded her, crying with the cold, and
begging their mother to give them some
bread; but, alas! she had none TO give them.
AlOnside in one corner, covered with a
lug Of the fatal poison at his head-a more
distressing and heart-rending scene cannot
ba conceived-it was one calculated to draw
tearc from the most obdurate heart and soft
en- the most adamantine soul. There. lay
the man whose lofty intellect and splendid
talents were well suited to adorn a Senate
and rule a nation, victim 10 the intoXicat-
ing draught that has destroyed thousands.
What has iust,been described is no fc
ton. 1t is truth, without the aid Of imagi
nation or the color;ngs Of fancy. Twelve
months from the period at which our story
commences, on cold winter evening, ,mlght
be seen in a beautiful and snug little parlor,
sitting on a sofa the same gentleman, dress
ed in manner that indicated that he had
not quite fallen a martyrto that poverty |
which is the iynriable result Of that habit |
to which he had been addicted. His brow
was thoughtful, andan acute observer might
perceive shade Of melancholy pass over
his countenance. In the same room, seat
ed at centre table, was his wife, attred in
? neat and tasteful dress, Yeading one off
those beautiful anauals of the season. Sew
eral beautiful children were playing in the
room, and their cheerful looks and comfort
able clothing INDICATED that poverty had no
there. The little parlor indeed
displayed no tokens of wealth, but evident
ly showed signs of comfortable enioyments.
Two beautiful vases adorned the mantle
piece, and underneath was seen the vivid
light Of an animating oalfre, before which,
on a rug, lay favorite dog who seemed to
participate in the happiness which appear
ed to peryade the apartment. The wife
looked up, and casting glance at her hus-
band, observed a gloominess of counte-
nance which at once riveted her attention.
She closed the book which she lad been
reading, and going to him, threw her arms
around his neck, and tenderty inquired if
any thing disturbed him! 1t was some
moments before he made her any reply, and
hen he said, my dear, | must have pint s
of brandy
The wife became Immediately agitated,
md in soicitous accents, besought him not
o send for that poison which had formerly
,ean nearly his ruin. She who but few 9
before had been realizing the feel a
ngs Of perfect security, was now convulsed 0
With sorrowlul anticipatons that renewal +
If her husbands former pernicious habits :,
vas about to take place. Her bosom heav-
ID with alarm. and the tears gushed from Il
Ter eyes, she impIpred him whom she had n
dhered to with devoted fidelity, through r.
rood and evil report, in disgrace and in pow
rty, that he would not again tempt by :
ingle Indulgence, recurrence TO habits e
which must destroy their present felicity, p
nd forever annihlate their future hopes
The children partook Of the sorrow Of their
nother; they left their innocent amuse- =
lents, and with tears in their lit,le eyes, i
egged their papa not TO get any more of "
nat stuff which made them poor and their S;
lamma cry. But the husband appeared to 81
G insensible to the afIectionate remonstran-
es of his wife, and the artless persuasion of
is children. His eldest daughter, who on
primer occasions had gone this errand, was VI
ow compelled to perform this; the brandy To
vas obtained, and his wife looked with a bl
srelul and painful foreboding upon the de- al
anter which contained the fatal poison hi
lie looked upon the brandy, approached the :,
lble with a chair, he sat down and took ri
ne decanter in his hand he held it up to IN
le light, and observed how beautiful its Sc
olor. He then apostrophised thus :" o Ilv
ow have loved thee, thou ehticing and 4
lisery dispensing spirit; thou hast been y"
~ bosom companion from morn till night, W
4 L. s.n L 1