Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-06-17

ner attention and her tears, the younger
of which was bu! few weeks old when
Its mother fell victim to neglec: and
despair.
And here let simple narrative tell her
tale of wo. Ween her ii.fant was about
tn days old, she was under the necessity of
g, ing out through drifts AMI snow and
piercing winds, to gather fuel 10 keep from
frerziny--her husband was gone on a
drunken irolic. She took severe cold,
and was confined to bed ofsraH, for such
It terally was.) No longer able 10 walk
or even Sc, up, early one morning as her
brutal husband was setting off for the tavern
to spend the day, she expos,ula,ed with
him, and endeavored to impress upon his
mind her distressed and critical condition
She seemed to succeed. But, o deiusiye
hope? She told him she must have assis-
tauce soon, or her stay in the land Of the
living was short. lie S, emed 10 feel
She prevailed on him TO 90 for medical aid.
He crossed the river St. Lawrence on tie
ice to Kingston, "a distance OF four miles,
and obtained phiaI Of medicine at the ap
othecaiy's store, and left in has:e for his
sick family. He was returning with ap~
parent concern, and was passing the corner
Of the street, when one Of his associates IN
prohgacy, looking through the window OF
a conemptible grog. shop, saw his comrade
passing, aud called him to take something
to drink.
Although this inebriate knew that the re.
lief if not lhe life, of his family depended on
his speedy return-his helpless family being
entirely alone, and none of his neIghbors
had knowledge Of his absence--yet this
miserable wretch, on hearing The sound OF
rum, and an invitation to Partake OF the
crimson poison, soon forgot suffering
wife and helpless infant, left by bm in the
Jaws of death. lie entered the sink Of ~o
and crime, where demons in human form are
wont 10 meet and hold midnight revelry.
Here he remain d q drunken frolic for
several days, dlring winch it was extreme.
Iy cold, and there was heavy fall OF snow.
NO one called at his house during tie
storm, supposing that he was at home with
his family. The fire was ou!--no friend to
render assistance-not even the call Of q
stranger 10 give relief. On her bed ofstraw
with an infant on each arm, and few shreds
of covering, lay the sufferer, pierced with
hunger and cold--the bed, Fireplace, and
floor wero all covered 10 some depth by the
drifting snow. On the third or fourth day
he returned with the little medicine and
bottle ofrum. The snow had SO drifled that
it was with difficulty he entered his house.
All within was silent as the house of death.
1t is sud the fingers of,ho eldest babe were
stifeEed to marble, and the lear.drop had
frozen upon the infants cheek. His wife
neither smiled nor wept-llfe still llIckered
within them all. In this situation lie found
his neglected and perishlng family. He'"as
intoxicated when he returned-set his med.
iclne and bottle of rum on the shelf, and
immediately left tor his fathers family,
(nearly halt a mile dIstanI,) told his mother
the fire had gone our, and his wife aag|at
home sick, and he wished she would 60 over
and see her-at the same time stepped into
his fatle.', b.r, IN. took & ass OF brandy.
As he ca.. . out he Staggered and fell, and
there he spent the afternoon.
HIS mo her was unfortunately given TO
habits of In,emperance, and was 'nga "Huer
the influence of ardent spirits. However,
with fire and fuel she SET otfl visit the abode
of distress. She found the woman and chill.
dren sp les, badly frozen, and aPParen'
,ly in the uso,i.s of death. WITH some
difficulty she made 6re-threw brick and
stone in,o the fames-and while they were
heating she discovered The rum. Being tx:
ceedingIy chilled, she drank freely OF II. and
thought it would DO her good-bat 1t only
deprived her OF REASON. By tits time the
brick and stone became very wir'n, ano the
drunken molher* applied to the naked 1ee'
ofthe dying woman. will only aud That
in about thirty minutes the kindes messen'
Ger from heaven came TO her rellct-ihat
messenger was death. :.
[, fell Q ny O to delive. the funeral DIS
course OF this unfortunate female. Inc
feelings of my heart, on this occasion, WI.
not uttempl to describe. When the lid OF
the coffin was removed, and many weeping
eyes were Cast ng painful looks on her W VINO
had fallen a ,i;,im to the casualties OF IN.
temperance, saw the Iusb' nj Qhe author
other hapless fa'e) slagger up to the cofh"'
and, to all appearance. with hear! as un,
moved. and an eye as fearless as the cold
and lovely form On which he fixed his drunk
en- gaze. We all proceeded to the buryIng
ground, and felt pcasure in seeing the
coffin consigned 10 It's peaceful abode. But
when dismissed the audience IN the Chris.
tan form, with my eyes | saw that drunken
maniac stagger over The fresh grave of his
bosom companion. My heart failed, and
my spirit moved within me, and could not
refrain from excIaimng in my heart, Al