The North-Carolina standard., 1839-12-04

dI HouT. Breakfast haQ Deen delayed i0r him
and the eldest children whispered together as h,
entered the room. as though they we're shocked
at his altered appearance. Before he sat dowr
to the table, one of the boys was sent to a Ger
tain rum selling professor in our neighborhooc
after some brandy. | knew he had always
drank lass before breakfast, but it had never
attracted my attention particularly before.
now determined to demonstrate with him, gent
ly, but firmly, and induce him by kind moral
influence. to abandon so pernicious habit.
AS soon as the breakfast table was cleared ]
entered the palor, and desired him to follow me-
He entered with cheerfulness which glad
dened me, and closing the door, seated himself
beside me upon the sofa. took his hand gent.
| ly between mine, and looking him up in the
face, with much tenderness 0s l could as
sumo, l began to speak Of our first acquaint-
aace-of our early loye-of our marriage, and
the bright prospects which were then opened
before us. > spoke Of our present standing and
influence in society--of the high respect with
which we were treated BY all; and then brought
the question home to his heart, whether he
not fearful that all these fine prospects mi ght be
ruined if he continued to indulge his appetite
| for ardent spirits. He listened to me attentive
ly, and smiIingly answered when had finish
ed, that a glass of wine and brandy did not hurt
He was lot fearful of becoming a slave to the
habit: he could break off when it hurt him, for
| become topper.
This was eighteen years ago No Temper
ance Societies had then been formed and pub
| lie opinion was not much enlightened as it is
now | knew it was fashionable to keep all
| kinds of ardent spirits in the house-to treat
every caller; and our standing in society was
such that our house often thronged with
visiters. | knew we should be derided if we
banished liquors from the house, and yet so
I.ba I bat h,S Sban1
was ruined man, unless it was done, that | was
determined to make the attempt. Proposed it
to him; he looked at me with surprise. " mol
no !" he exclaimed, "that shall never be; our
| less wealthy neighbors afford it, and so must
we; cannot and will not consent to that One
glass of wine cannot do any any possible
hurt. | shall drink one whenever | want to"
81 agree with you, my dear husband that
one glass of wine can do no hurt. 1t is not of
ONE glass, complain have noticed, of late.
that you drink many in the course Of day.
The habit has grown upon you. with fearful ra-
pidity, and l do fear-a tear stared-I do fear
the consequences"
"PohI poh nonsense" he replied, good
naturedIy. " it is all imaginalion"'
"Imagination or not, my dear husband, it has
afflicted me much as though it was painful
reality. 1t was but yesterday. l saw our two
eldest boys around the side board, looking wish
fully at the wine. and. will you believe it, our
little Will got hold of some. and had to go to
bed before four o'clock, so tipsy he could not
stand"
1.-THE side-board must then be locked" cold
! ly reloined my husband "it will not do to be
so Questionable as TO turn liquor out of doors.
Our parson keeps it, and so do our deacons, and
so do our professors of r-igion and surely il
such men as these think there is no harm in it.,
we may safely allow it 10 remain"
What could l say Alas it was too true
that our parson kept it. and often when | visit
ed his house. | accepted of glass of wine, or
some olher stimulating drinks. Our parson al
So used to drink it before his fast, and be-
fore he went into his pulpit on the Sabbath. One
of our deacons also kept it for sale; and sever
al members of the church had their drunkard
manufactures in full operation. Alas, 7 did not
then dare question the piety of these men; and
alter my husband had quoted such high author-
ty, | felt constrained to be silent.
| Well, few more weeks rolled away before
my husband again stad out after his usual hour
When he came home this time, he consid-
| erably intoxicated. He pushed roughly
aside, as he entered the house, unmindful Of
my fast falling tears. My nights and days be-
came now embttered with certain fearful look
ing for of sorrow. NV cheek became pale and
mine eyes red with weeping
For about years after my husband frequent
ly came home intoxicated. In vain | reason
ed and demonstrated. l treated him with all the
tenderness of which l was capable-did all that
could 10 anticipate his wants and made his fire.
side cheerful and agreeable and yet. for it all,
[ was frequently repaid with harsh and brutal
abuse. When sober, he kindly affection
ate. and would make every promise in the world
to amend He seemed deeply conscious of the
injury he had done me. STILL the enemy was
allowed a fortress on our sideboard, and still my
husband said there could be no harm in OCCASION
ally dallying with him. Alas! the habit was
6xed-deepy. incuraby fixed He had become
a slave to his passions. He could no longer
resist the temptation The net was thrown t;
the victim had been caught; and all the prayers
and ugonizing supplications OF a wife. and all
The tears OF five ashamed and wretched chill
dren. could not set the captive free.
Well two more years passed away, of deep
and indescrbable wretchedness. Every thing
went wrong. My children. who at first were
shocked at their fathers disgrace, now, in turn
began 10 ridicuIe him. His business Was ne
elected and the first intmaton that l received
Of the bad state of his affairs, was execution
levied by one ofour rum-selng professors, upon
his store [ imme2iutelv gave mortgage on nv