Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-08-09

shine. But soon she learnt the husband OF
her youth was dtunkard-and what could
she expect Despair settled upon her
brow, and anguish wrung her bleeding
heart. Not one raw of hope shed It's gm.
merng upon her solitary path. A. if dcs-
tined TO woes. with her SORROWS. her cares
increased Two infant children demanded
her attention aud her tears, the youngest
of which was but few weeks old when its
mother fell victim to neglect and despair
Aud here let simple narralive tell her
ale OF woe. When her infant was about
ten DAYS old, she was under the necessity
Of going out through drifts and snow. and
piercing winds, to gather fuel to keep from
freezing --hcr husband was gone on
drunken irollc. Sh" took n severe co d
and was confined TO her bed Of - NV f.J'
such it literally was No longc' onDe ..
walk, or even to sill up, early one m .r''a-
| as her brutal husband was setting off to
The tavern to spend the day, she eXpos'u'
lated with him, and endeavored TO impress
upon his mind her distressing and critical
condition. She seemed to succeed But.
o! dclu>ive hope. She told him she must
have assistance soon. or her stay in the
land # the living was short. He seemed
to feel. She prevailed on him to go tor
medical aid He crossed the river ST.
Lawrence on the ice to Kingston IA dis
,ance of four miles, and obtained vial OF
medicine at he apoi hecary's store, and left
IN haste for his sick family. He was re.
turning with apparent concern, aud was
passing The corner Of the street when one
Of his associates in prof,gacy, looking
through the window of a contemplate grog
shop, saw his comrade passing and called
him in to take something to drink.
| Although this inebrlale knew that the
relief, if not the life Of his family depended
on his speedy return, his helpless family
beng entirely nlone, and none of his
ne'ghbors having knowledge of his absence;
vet this miserable wretch, on hearing the
sound of rum. and an invitation to partake
Of the crimson poison, soon forgot suffer
ing wife and helpless infant left by him in
the Jaws of death. He entered the sink o.
wo and crime, where demons III human
form are wont TO meet and bold midnight
revelry. Here he renamed in a drunken
frol,c for several days, during which it wa,
extremely cold, and there was heavy fal
of snow. No one called at his house
during the storm. supposing that he was a.
home with his family. The fire was out
no friend to render asslsance-not ever
he call of stranger to give relief. Or
her bed of straw, with an lntant on eact
arm. and few shreds OF covering, lay the
sufferer. pierced with hunger aud cold
the bed, fire place and floor were all covered
to some depth by the drifting snow. Or
the thrd or fourth day he returned witt
the little medicine, and bottle Of rum
, The snow had so drifted it was with SOM
Z difficulty he entered his house. A within
/ was silent as the house of death. It i
: said the fingers of the eldest babe wer
r sllffened to marble, and the tear drop ha
y frozen upon the infants cheek His wifi
:. nellh her smiled nor wept-hfe still flckere
!. within them all In this situation he foun
!, his neglected and persisted family. H
e was intoxicated when he returned-set hi
e medicine and bottle of rum on the she
a and immediately left for his ia hers fam
d NEARLY half mile distant told his molhe
:. the FIRE had gone out, and his wife was a
e home sick, and he wished she would o
o over and see her he same time seppe
= into his fathers bar, took a o lass of brandy
g as he come out staggered and fell. an
1t there he spent the afternoon.
His mother was unfortunately given {
|. hablts of Intemperance, and was then unde
J. the influence Of ardent spirits. Howeve
n with fire and fuel she set off to visit III
e abode of distress. She found the woma
n and children speechless, badly frozen, an
| apparently in the agories of death. Wit
I'd some difficulty she made n fire, threw
to brick and stone into the flames, and viii
| they were heating she discovered the rur
of of it. and thought it would do her good, b.
p. it only deprived her of reason By tn
to time the BRICK and stone became We
IN warm, and the drunken mothers appl,
g. them to The naked feet of the dying woma
Il. | will only add that IN about thirty minut
nd the klndest messenger from heaven eau
en- to her rellet-that messenger was death.
IS. 1t fell to my lot to deliver the funer
nd discourse of this unfortunate female. ri
in feelings of my heart, on this occasion,
or will not attempt to describe. When t
ol lid Of the coffin was removed and ma
r. weeping eyes cast painful looks on her "
h. had laien victim to the ca sualt of
,is temperance, | saw the husband 1.-The auth
nd of her helpless fate) s,agger up to the CO
1sl fin, and to appearance, with heart as II
He moved, and an eye as fearless as the CT
70 and lovely form on winch he fixed
'ht drunken gaze. We all proceeded to ,
IN buryng ground, and | felt pleasure
re- seeing the coffin assigned to its peace
de abode. But when had dismissed the a
, a dlence in Christian form, with my eyes
rat saw the drunken maniac slagger over t
IN fresh grave of his bosom companion. I
NO heart failed. and my spirit moved will
ed me. and could not refrain from excla,
Ia. ing in my heart, Almighty God if is t
cir will that man should suffer in this life, /
oar pose on me what evil seemeb good in ,
nal sight-let me live in the cottage of pove
DIS all nv DAYS and have nought but The hrs