Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-18
THE DRUNKARD'S LAST SPREE.

"Onc more spree with my noble compass
ions. and Ill have done with drinking forcv-
or. o curse this fatal PASSION this gnaw-
ing thirst that is never satisfied hut in deep
potatons Of the exhilcrating poison. My
wife, my children, cannot always make
you unhappy. No, no--onc moro spree,
aud llldrink 10 more torc'cr!"
Thus said an unhappy and degraded young
man, as he got up from his low couch IN
damp basement in the rear VI st PaurA-
The sun was already IN the zenith, and when
the poor man had staggered to tn. open air,
tho bright light Of tho cloudlcs' SKY how'll
dercd him, and the noise Of thu busy multi
tude abroad in the streets, sunk heavily upon
his heart.
---"W hat a fool am" continued h.,
"uha: wretchcd, miserable being! Can
reform! W,ll these blon,cd cheeks ever a.
gaia resume tho hue OF health, Will these
| limbs, tina, now ircmhle like an aspen, ever
again be steady? Will this burning fever b.
qncnched! Oh Harriet! my wifc-how bit
tcrly have wronged ,hee-I who ought to
havc-but O heavens canno, provide for
her. am ruined The ample fortune that
my father gave me-, is gonc-gonc witt,
my health and happiness. And il that were
all, | could st Il hope. But my wife s--ny
wtc's nlrrianc"-that is gone al,o. ALL
all is enguflcd in Inc deep Of that worse than
hell, where demons in human shape deal out
destruction in the wine cup. Oh. is there no
revcngc7 No, no, no. am my own de-
stroyer! and ,hcy-,hcy, the ~re,clcs who
have swept away my all, even they begin to
dcspisc mc-thcy snccr IT me-, and already
hin, a, M destruction. o, wha,i. more hor-
rible than the life of drunkard9'
The lncbriatc wcpt. His head was rack.
cd by pains from the last evenings dcbauch
And now that the difficulties Of his situation,
were forced hons. upon his thoughts IN this
hour ofrcilcction, his soul was stricken. lie
sobbed like child.
Tho door was gently opened, and young
pale matron stood bending over the wccpcr
She was bcautlinl-but the palcncss of hcr
cheek, and anxious glancvS OF her eve, told
how much she had suffered from the hunilia-
ton of him she still so fondy loved. Sh,
bent over him, and smoothing back tho shay.
gy locks that hung over his forehead, aud vi
ping away his scaldins tears with the whit,
scarftha, covered her bosom, imprinted a lon!
kiss upon his burning brow. Oh, how true i
woman's love! Tie wrctchcd being before
her had neglected, and injured, and reduce
, her to hcgsary--he had become degrade,
so,--hispcrson was o!lcnsiye--his breath wa
like the noisomc vapors Of the dis,illsry, an,
his miserable frame was mass of bloa,c,
and suffering mortality. Harriet still love,
: her husband. With all his transgrcssions, h,
was true to hcr-his vice was bcaslly intern
pcrance. She would still forgive him, and
t. any thing in her power to save him she lovet
"William," said she, care you not fant;-
have yol breakfaslcIl what can do for 20
my dear husbandl"
sob, curse me, Harriet, curse me, Don
talk mildly to the wretch who has SO basel
injured You. Oh that had courage--
"To what, my dear husband-to REBORN
On say that word dear William-and l wi
d. do any thing for you'll will work Il wi
beg-twill DO any thing that woman can d.
and whichis not vile and sinful, to save YOU
"liarrict," said he. III was about to 81
that if had the courage 10 die, | shou
have one consolation. But have not. \
o,no"
, "Stay this emotion, my husband" said /,
wife; "say you will try to reform and y,
VIII make me happy. Oh, William,
MAKE the trial, bcsccch you-if not
my sake, DO for the sake of our little ones.
Oh don't deny my prayers"
The husband and wife tina, day par,o
of frugal dinner in their little apartme
\ the best that she could provide with /
scanty means. lie had renewed his sole,
promise tore form. She knew ne had oG
promised; but hope never forsakcs Il
hearted wife; and as she talked with i
about their children, and laid plans for
future, his countenance seemed once I'M
,s. 70 resume an expression, such US had v
ssn, her youthful heart. 49,. ..
That afternoon WAS A happy ore Cor b