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

lnnuence ana turned aside from the sight o.
him, panied and affected even unto tears Now
my eyes were open to that mans real character
l could no longer discover in him any trait o
christian gentleness or love. And yet be would
set at the communion table. He made loud
profession of his zeal in the cause of Christ
He would exhort the longest and loudest in
meetings, and'with his hand still covered with
The poison, which was sending death and desola-
hon around him, he would lift them up in holy
prayer to God What consummate hypocrisy
Six months rolled rapidly away, during which
time my husband still continued kindly affection
ate and temperate. My two sous had procured
excellent situations on board of one Of our mer-
chant ships: and were already many thousand
lmies off at sea, on a long and distant voyage
My mind had become sobered with many long
years acquaintance with grief and although
found considerable comfort from the consciou
ness that had always done my duty to my hns-
band and family. still there were hours In which
[ experienced deep and uncomfortable agony Of
heart. had my fears of the strength of my
husbands temptation. Like the wavetossed,
wearled and troubled mariner, had vpntured
my all upon the strength Of an almost foundered
bark; and if this failed me, knew that nv
earthly career would be short and sad yet
studiously concealed all my fears from my hus-
band met him with a smile whenever he
came home, and taskeG all my powers to render
his 6re-side happy. He treated me with the u
most affection, if to atone for his many cruel
neglects; and his smile was as winning, and the
tone of his voice as gentle as they appeared in
the day Of our early love.
But, oh another cIoud-dense, dark and
dreadfGl-came over peaceful fire-side-
Well do | remember the night. Oh, vesl it is
stamped with fearful force upon my memory
forever. 1t was a cold and windy Saturday
night, in November. 1925 The shutters were
closed and good fire was burning upon the
hearth and | was seated beside it with my
work in hand, awaiting the return of my hus
hand. He had gone to our rum selling Chris
tian's store, against my advice. to buy few gro
ceries for family use. Ten o'clock had passed
ere he returned. My quick eye detected an un-
steadiness in his step he entered, and his
whole appearance betrayed the effects of his
deadly enemy. | passed a sleepless night--rny
couch literally wet with tears-aud in the
agony of my heart, wished that l had never
been born.
My husbands descent was iearfully rapid
Within a few weeks he lying at mid
day In the streets, absolutely he pless the sport
of unteeling boys He lost his situation and
was again deserted by all his friends In vain
reasoned with him. So powerfully had his
thirst for liquor become aroused, that for me to
attempt to speak to him, was sufficient 10 draw
upon me the most bitter imprecatons and
yet | begged, and entreated, and wept yea
more upon my knees, imploringIy besongh ht
him to renounce a habit which would for
ever ruin both his soul and hody. | called
also upon the rum selling professor, and upon
several other persons, two of whom were the
selectmen of the village, and entreated them
not to sell him liqnor plead with them, with
all the eloquence that wretched and neglected
wife could command. | told them of nv early
history-of my once peaceful ire-side-of the
daily blight which had come-over it--of the ma
sleepless nights and troubled days had expe-
rienced-of the many tears had shed; of the
cold neglect and harsh treatment of once kind
and still tenderIy beloved husband, And hat
think you gentle reader, were The nnteeing
swers | received to my appeal2 The answer
of the wealthy rum selling Christian was II
haze a family TO provide for, and must look out
fo7 them !' and then. when [ mentioned his a.
biity to support his family without selling rum
to my husband; his answer was. "If don't
sell MIN rum others qolE" This was the heart
less plea of all called upon. Some of them,
must say, were however SO conscientious. that
they said they would not sell to Trim when he
was drunk but if he came TO their store perfectly
sober, and called for iqnor, he should have it.
Many times did call upon these Individuals,
and attempt to state my tale Of woe andas Of
ten was sent away, repelled with their cold and
heartless contempt
NV husband had now become a common la
borer upon the wharves, and all The money he
obtained WIS spent for rum was compelled
for subsistence TO take in sewing. and often
have l, after hard days work. during which
had not tasted mouthful of food. been compel
led to relinquish to him my earnings, with
which he would get dreadfully intoxicated My
former neighbors and friends now stood afar off.
was alone, neglected and sad: no minister of
the Gospel came near me, to tell me Of Jesus
Christ and pray for me: and no professor of re-
Iigion offered to the consultations of the
gospel. All had deserted me. was mserably
wretohed How could it be otherwse2 was
the wife of a drunkard.
In this state four years rolled away. 1t will
be useless for me here to state or describe my
feelings.
The world, in its pride and lohiness, feels but
little for the sufftrings of drunkard's wife
She is compelled to bear in silence and neglect
all the ills which a man, maddened By an un-
natural thirst for stimulating drink, can intfict
well remember one night, when my husband
came home more deeply intoxicated than usual
He had been fighting with some one of his COM
panions. and had been badly bruised My tears