Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1842-06-09

was a feeble child, and she could not keep her
warm and if her husband could not get any spi-
rit, he would be kind and help them.
The shopkeeper told her he was sorry her hus-
band had taken such course; that when he
first came into the shop he thought he was as
likely man as ever he knew, and every one
said there was not SO promising young man in
town, and he stood out great while; but it was
strange how the habit of drinking gained upon
him lately; he is now the most troublesome man
that comes into the shop. And why do you let
him have it, asked Mary, you see that it has
ruined him and al the sAest oe us why my
family must live rqggs2 e shop-keepor those
who pay for my goods ! must let have what they
want Must my family be destroyed, that your
family may live said Mary Duiil, in tone of
bitter suffering, will that excuse stand at the
great day of reckoningP Il shan't sell him much
more said the shopkeeper hastily, the mortgage
will be out tomorrow, e. if he don't pay he must
quit Mortgage said Mary thunderstruck at
the sound. Yes said the shopkeeper, 't has
been mortgaged these two years, & | can't wait
As if the current of life had been frozen she tur
ned and swiftly went to her home. ANY other
woman in town said the shopkeeper, would
have known it long ago; but nobody could ever
speak to this woman about her husband; ! al
ways feel bad when see her, that it was done
at my Shop but folks must live he said, as he
shut the door. 1t was a hard snow storm, but
this broken hearted woman needed it not; to-
morrow thought she, 'wo must all be cast out
into the open world. O, that the grave would
hide me; and my poor children, what will be-
come of them will they follow their wretched
fathers footsteps! better never have seen the
blessed light of this world, than TO quench its
beams with our own hands As she entered her
house, her four children were covering over
few dying embersSA the eldest, James, boy a.
bout ten years old Was holding his little sister, a
child of year; she shed not tear, but they saw
something was the matter, and each one pressed
closely to her. we must all 90 away tomorrow:
you will never sleep here again. she said to her
children; the shopkeer says your father owes it
to him. They all cried and sobbed till the two
youngest boys fell asleep; their mother laid them
in their bed she did not attempt to hide them.
Il cannot save them any longer thought she,
now grown desperate in her grief; she sat down
with the little girl in her arms, and James sat
close by her Where are we going, mother, he
said when we we 90 away from herel' TO
the poor-house my child, answered his mother.
Where that fool is 2 said James. yes answer
ed his mother. And where that crazy man is,
that screams all nightP Yes answered his
mother, I'VE must all live together; there is but
one room And won't the boys despise me ? -
asked James. yes, Pm afraid they will they
will tell you that your father is drunkard, and
you are town poor boy Can't we 90 and live
some where else p NO, child. Mother, would
not father have bee1a good man if it had not been
for that shop!' sak Iames. Yes, my child he
was always good before he went there he would
have done every thing for us; it is that cruel shoT
has done it ALL And if father had never gone
there, we should not have had to 90 away from
ii, al 81, J,3.
had our moving and corn fields, and tina
pretty wood-lot too! Our horse and Wagon
that the shop folks used every day, | should think
would be enough. And there's our two cows
that stand in their yard; it makes me cry wher
see brindle there all the whiskey in the wor!t
amt so good as she is,' and seeing his mother
eyes filled with tears, Mother said he Il shal
, be man pretty soon, and then | will take car,
, Of you, and we will 90 away and live a hundred
miles from rum shop, and father will come, ant
, he will be just as he used to be, won't he
r Just then he heard the mutering voice of hi
2 father upon the thresholds and, as he pushed op
t en- the door, the poor boy in a fright started an
2 hid himself behind his mother James Duf ha
S been to the shop, and, after getting his dram
4 they told him his mortgage was out, and, if h
D could not pay, he must seek some other place t
5 live ill., for they c9rldl not wait. Enraged by he
G threats, he grewyke nt; aud, being glad TO &C
d rid of one who could pay no longer, they thru:
n him headlong into the street and shut the doc
p upon him. lnfurlated to madness at such trea
i ment, he went home, to wreak his vengeance uT
on his innocent family. The starting of Jane
J. was the signal for his wrath and sezng him
{, the collar, with curses, there, hide again when
IT come,' he dashed him against the wall his vii
d sprang to save her darling boy; his screams sta
e tied the two little ones from their sleep; ant
y screaming at once, the father seized one & the
Y the other, aud threw them out of the door inl
l. the snow. Mary now fled TO rescue them, whe
ir he suddenly pushed her over the threshold, SHIT
II the door and bolted it. mutiering vengeance
- any one that came there that night, threatenin
n that he would be the death of them Piercin
at were the cries of the children James had keI
1T fast hold Of his mother; she fell with the youn
rs est in her arms. With almost supernatur
strength, shrouding them as well as she could
~ her arms, she carried the three youngest to Il
5, barn, and folding them close together, rushed
ly the nearest neighbor, and, getting some blanket
u she spent long, cold, dark night listening
70 the wailing of her children and laboring to sa'
er them if possible, trQm death
5e The next morning Nv officer came and toe
s. possession of tile lNsse and grounds. Jam
nv DuGil sal still CRYING bitterly. but his moor wi