Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-01-09
THE BROKEN -IiF ARTED WIFE AND MOTHER

THE BROKEN HE ARTED WIFE AND MOTHER.
a year or two since, as was passing
Sabbath in country town, in the interior
of the Commonwealth, | was requested to
visi, dying woman. The first aspect OF
the house 10 which was led in lis loose
clapboards and broken windows, and de-
cayed fences, tod me was approaching
the home of drunkard. The apartment
in which the dying woman was breathing
her last, was one whose aspect OF cheer.
lessncss and discomfort made the heart 10
ache, A few wrc,chcd articles offurnlu1e
were scattered about the room, and upon a
low bed. in Que corner, most scantly lur.
nished, lay 'hc wasted form Of the dying
Her countenancc bore the traces OF lnteliI-
ccncc, Of refinement, and yet Of tic most
Overwhelming mental anguish. Her hus.
band stood at the head Of the bed, with an
expression Of as deep grief as could be
crowded into The features Of a bloatcd in.
cbria:c. Five lutte children stood around
the bedside, loudly sobbing tho eldest a
daughter not twelve years at age, knccl.
ing by her mothers side, and'a!most con.
vulsvely clasping her hand rs she drcnchcd
It with her tears.
|. was one of those scenes of wee, which
al oscc paints itself upon tho eye, and i'm.
prints iisaliTu upon The mind never, never to
be ciiaccl. From the few almost mario.
uIalc words Of The dying woman, gather.
cd that all the anguish Of the mothers heart
was in fevercl excitement, as she was to
leave her poor chldrcn--her tender boys
and girls, in ,hc world Of temptation, with
no guide bu, their besot:cd, drunken father.
Sic was already b:e1lhng her last as |
e,:crcd-and, in Il short time, her s:rug.
cling broken, grt!:rcrt heart, was sill! in
death.
IcnQuircd in:o thc circumstances CT the
case. and found that few years before,
this woman. then young lady OF many a
accomplishments Of person and OF mind.
was married to her husband, then young
merchant-alniable, intelligent, OF correct
habits, and engaged IN lucrative and sue.
ccsslul business. The sun ofprcscnt and
prospective Joy, bcamed brightly on the
morning Of their nup.iais. Every thing
was cheerful and tasteful in The happy
home, where their youthful affections were
Grs, ccmentcd. a few years Of un;roublcd
prosperity glidcd swiftly away:
Behind the counter of this young mans
sore, were ranged several punchceoss of
ardent spirits, for retail sale. In selling 10
others he tasted. Gradually be acquired an
appetite, lors strong drink-and The lapse ola
very few months scattered all his properly,
ruined his reputation, bcggarcd his family,
and left him 4 ragged yasabond IN the
streets.
IIc was naturally an amiablc and aflec.
liona,c mall--compliant and yielding, and
having in his nature butlltle of that sterner
material which is called decision, when
temptation c1mc with its mighty power, he
fell at once, and irremcdiabIy.
With such persons it is is not un'requen.
ilv the case, that intoxication produces per-
feet phrenzy. AIiew glasses would periecs-
" craze him, and he would return at night
10 his home, raging, tearing manac.--
lie would take the whole range OF the
house in his fury, and wife and children
were compelled 10 flee, wounded and bleed
ing, from his terrible violence. The emacia.
lion of utter wretchedness and despair,
struck to the mothers heart. Often would
she gather her little flock Of children in the
co rner behind her, and receive upon her
own person the fearful blows which their
brutal and crazed father was dealing around
him.
Oh who can tell what days--what nights
OF ,ideIess, wavcless, sailess, shorelcss e
wo!'
In the morning, this wretched victim Of
rum would awake from his debauch. and
restored to his natural affection, would re-
feet upon his brutality in the deepest abyss
Of horror and remorse. He would fall
unon bis knees before his wife, with tear s
Of anguish rolling down his checks. and
implore her forgiveness; he would curse
tho day in which he was born; no would
call himself brute and fiend ; he would
wish himself dead ); he would resolve and
resolve and re-resolve that he would never
drink again. For few days he would
succeed in keeping himself away from temp;
ta,ion. But the auquired appetite would
gather strength by the transient restraint
Associates would lure him into the village
store ; the sight Of the decanters, the fumes
Of the spirits, the persuasion of tepers
would sweep away, with hurricane fury,
all his resolu,ions.[ One glass would follow
another, in the desperation of remorse and
despair. Frenzied with the fend. creating
poison. he would return TO his home and re.
,L..o .bo bora i'm,