Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-04-06
GERTRUDE.

GERTRUDE.
do you know, Gertrude. the opinion prev
allen, in the neighoothood, in regard TO your
triend Wiiton.'
'Mother.' said Gertrude with forced com
posure,' 4 know nothing to his disadvantage.
i know he has enemies here-btter. inpIa-
cable enemies, who would gladly sacrifice
him, know too that III il tongues have not
been idle-that defamation in its foulest ma
tur" has been pentitully bestowed upon
vi!tsous and highmindcd gentleman
'Gerfude,' said her mother, Il know that
the world sometimes deals unjustly. know
that defamation has sometimes hunted down
the pure and virtucus. and blackencd the fair
fame of the upright and praise-Worthv. But,
when SO much IS averred respecting Wilton.
when friends and foes alike acknowledge his
alterations, the one by open attacks upon his
reputation, the other by doubtful whispers,
and expressions OF regret, and evident with
drawal OF their former warm and coniding
friendship, we may Justly fear that there is IN
deed some reason for such q change-that
our young and ingenious friend is Welding TO
the facnations of vice-gliding gradually and
almost imperceptibIy down the fearful path
which leads from the perfect light of virtue
and holiness
Il will not believe ever,'-replied Ger
trude, her clear blue eye lighted up with I'M
wonted energy. Mother, you are deceived
alike by the vowed enemies of Charles Will
ton.--Be!ieve me, have not reposed my con-
fidence in stranger. | know Wilton TO be
virtuous and honorable. And who, let me
ask, are those who tradEce his -charactera-
Her beautiful lip curled into an expression of
inetfable scorn. as she replied to her own in
terrngatorv. 'f,alse-hearted wretches-crea-
tnres of envy and malice. who would as soon
dare the falling thunder bolts. as confront the
Indignant glance Of the man they have SO foul
" Injured
Gertrude spoke from the impulse of her
heart. She could not believe that such Il man
as Charles Wilton could debase himself to the
sin OF drunkenness-that he whose nature
was noble-so eevated--a passionate low
err OF the beauty of the natural universe, and
of the godlike manifestations of human viz
tue, the outbreaking of the immortal spirit
from the darkness Of It's prison house. c0u{d
by any possible temptations, yield TO the bale
full enticemcnts OF the desroyer--and humble
the godIikc image Of manhood lower than
that of the brute which PERISH
, And why was it that " hen all her friends
saw and warned her Of her danger, she chung
yet closer to the object Of her fearsl Why
was it when the bosom friends of Charles
Wilton avoided him as if thercwcre contamin
alton IN his very presence, that the beautiful
and intellectual Gertrude welcomed his I'D
It proach with Il smile Of deeper tondness? 81
+ loged han; and the love OF heart like hers
u changes not with the changes of the beInrec
l. lit burns brighter, warmer as the shadow
r. of evil close around It's objects.
ls And Gertrude became the wife of Charlie
of WIIton-and his victim also. She died ca
a. ", but not before every beatilul blossom Of he
affection had perished; not before Il deaf
SIX IKE whitening had gone over her heart. unit
I'D It became as dust, and all lis warm and hol
n feelings gave place 10 bitterness aud oathin
ty and a5horance. Oh--thcfe is nothing in T..
lr. human suffering like the wrong and scor
RS from those whom we love. and would die f,
ID nothing which SO changes and chils Il
- confidlng bosom. And all this Gertrude fel
re and her high spirit sank under the trial. 81
all pershed--but the last moments of her exi
err tcnce were unsooihcd by the voice of atte
ere ton At times, indeed boated anu Loaf
some form bent over the pillow; the wrec
,R- Of all which gives beauty and dignity to ma
r., hood: and voice hideous from drunkenness
m. naurmured in her ear the disgusting words
,ed an idiots fondness; t. be succeeded by Il
- rude oath; the unfeelng Jest; the savage
~, difference to mortal suffering, which chara
60, terze the last, shameless drunkard.
,rd Let woman beware of the Incorporate
~, Let her shun their presence as the occurs
y, Of heaven: the snitten with moral lepro
~ which is alike mmedicabe and unesca pab
90" Let her remember that In uniting her destit
- with that of the drunkard. she is drawi
iiD down upon her head the heaviest of curs
1t were better 10 embrace the sepulch
- whose cold walls are haunted only by
cat specific of decay. 1t is the wedlock OF bes
" and pollution; of purity and pestilene
= I" the binding OF the breathing form of life
; o' the IoathSomenesS of death.