The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-12-02
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ChHrdC ej new NnIe, ENC 10 NY uiD - th"'"-
ef. GU rent. IN nay commso'upr ~Ho t,ai be-
ing, ao> sVprrm'jy hapy. There wa en-
chauimt.t lat h" wy ID '"phere eha hreuiD-
ed; ny 4 , .,u1 caught t5eIr DO l'io0s rGp'u Is
f;om her main"iy, and my wrkHg thoughts
dweN consron'ty on Amelia She va. worthy
Of all my regatd; wort ct all N devotion;
every hour seemed bu' to unfold some es-
lin { al. IN her character.
W $50 , Ha 'w"n'y years ui age we were
mr,'.sa My la her luInqulshed hi. business
a. NY ,.yo-, a@d ify g,ded on lol another
y-"' a., ,..:,u'ue aud uappir ess
2, u., Un,., had grue ouI mere fiequent
II tar.,e ~nh 'ha worid; became Interested |
~ .1ssi4s.s,-a - lhrs.ed for Powet- lWAs en-
g.ced IN lucrative mercantile career; my
family was Influential, and my aid readily aC-
ceptpd If rot coured, by tho willy and perfd'
ous rl,nioas of Office. Gradually became in
tereSted in political warfare; gradually forgot
the epeil OF my wife's virtue and affections;
and gradually there was delirum and joy IN
the wine cup, and became one of the voa,
ries of BaCchus.
cannot portray how iDsidiously the charm
woye III my senses, and fitted sway my fac
ullies. 1t now seems us terrible and i'm.
possible oresm-bui the horrors Of th.t dream
are imprinted with letters of fire upon my
brain. The agonies imy remotse have been
as serpents gnawng Tho ;endeIest wtals ofry
exisleuce. | gaze back upon the past, and
would fan blot its haowed moments fAvm line
page of my being.
But to continue. With "sieathY step and
Slow became the victim of lntemperance;
neglected my business and was bankrupt;
was at first pointed at and pilied by my friends
and relatives, and at last Stunned and desp-
sed as disgrace and dishoDot.
1t was many months before my wife could
bring herself 10 the conviction that | was a
drunkard that had come TO her in youth Z
beauty that had called forth and broken up
the inmosl recesses Of my soul! that was
applauded for my integrity; honored for my vir
tue; and emulaed for my character! how could
she deem me drunkard; Ioathed and con-
templble sol; disgrace TO my name, and
disgrace TO humanity!
She closed her eyes for weary period upon a
truth so horrible, and endeavored to shut out
from her senses and understanding the black
ness of my guilt! Oh, God how that being
clung to, and worshlped me, even amid the abs
feet contumely of my degradation. How she
wept, and persuaded, and endeAvored to fas-
cinaie me back 10 my domestic eDjoyments
and TO ksep me, even for one night from the
dens Of iniquity and the revelry Of crime! How
she ''hrew her white arms around me-" and
besought me, with earnest looks 10 remember
my early VOWS to remember my own happi-
ness--her peace OF mind, and my fathers care
for the sake of his only child, and the heir to
hio h,thario nnsnottod camo Ih NV Gndl
how impossible il seems that should have
steeled my persuasons- how impossible ii
seems that could have gone forth after such
a scene as This, and bathed my senses like a
brute, in the debasing influence OF lintoxlcation.
Would that again might hear the glad voice
Of my Amelia, and bask in the innocent smiles
Of her affection! Would could call up the
shade of my murdered sire, and weep away my
shame ard anguish n tears of blood! But in
vain now is the agony my remorse-in vain
do repent Of early error, and invoke the past
hours
1t was probably lbree years after my mar
rage that | become bankrupt the progress
Of my debasement from that period was rapid
gave myself completely upto lntempe!ance
The intoxicating draughi operated upon my
mind, like some bewdered spell Of niatuatlor
was unable to turn away from the tide Of lg
nomIny which was hurryiug me 10 the vor!e,
of destrucon.-My mind, though it did no
actually decay seemed somewhat affected witt
my body. My sntc'ions were bfnumbed ant
torpid, and The symPalhies Of my bosom helt
affinity with notas1g but drink.
AmId the mos abcc poverty, my wife sha
ed my daaihy. Bivaiod aud distorted as wef'
my IcsJlgce, rha sill mag ned she saw in iii
traces Olmy carly condition. And when il
scmo !i!!ul inouienl OF tcmOree Gnd sanity,
profeseed repentance; when loT moment,
told her that my affection for her still lived
Oh! God! what ii i,sb ofjoy overspread tn
features ofmy poor Amea-whata a thrill o
rapture seemed nt Cling through her veins, a
she still hoped 10 save nc.
Then she would tell me over all my prospect
ofretrieving my !orune-thatl was yet youn
that my father would receive me back into hi
confideuce-that she would love and cheris
me-and then, for momen! melted and over
come, would promise her to reform. But
could not The curse was upon me, and i
VAIN endeavored 10 shake II off.
At last my poor wife grew SICK; she bore u
for long season under her suffering, but fin
ally her heart broke-and she died