Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-03-05

Her spirit vas broken and she cid not seek 10 20
farther-and then she turned away TO her nearest
neighbour. She and her children were housed ter
the highland every thing done for their relief
Morning came, and wigi 1t returning reason,
TO the brutal father and husband.
lie remembered something OF the scenes OF the
pastnight. But he remembered Them with PAIN
and dismay. Where are his wife and children
tossed out IN The i%ncleRent nightf What had his
cruel blows done, bestowed IN the heat OF mad
mesa and passion, and bestowed with what VIC
Ience and force he could not remember.
HIS first dreamy impressions OF the events OF
the night were Of a nature tina, filled his mind
with remorse. And the more he reflected The
more intense that remorse became. TIL reflection
and solitude became iutolerable. lie sailed forth
to fnd his wife and children. He had never SO
much abused them beforo-never had driven them
from his dwelling, though he had treated them
with great neglect, unkindness, and often with
brutal violence.
The place where his family had found a refuge
was soon found. He appeared before them like a
guilty culpri,. But oh! what were his emotions
wheu he saw the mere wreck Of his yet uncon-
scious boy lying before him, and his pale weep
ing mother hanging over him. The infant was
in her lap, and the little boys fled from his pres
ence and endeavorcd 10 conceal themselves. =.
He spoke to his wife, but she answered not
The iron had gone into her souI. Tommy" said
he to the boy--but no answer was returned; a
cold shiver seemed 10 creep over the flesh OF The
child at The sound Of his fathers voice.
"Wifa-my dear wife, said he, in an iFnploring
and sifectionate tone, II can endure any thing
hut our silence. Hear me, if you will not speak.
am in my reason now; and IN my reason ] am
determined TO continue. You know have often
made you promises Of amendment. / have sad
that | would be my own master, and world not
drink again-you have urged me TO sign the Tenn
perance pledge. ! told you that ! scoTned II, Tor
IL was, IN my opinion, an admission that l could
- - T. .., a, D., ,,o,r pu raD,lat tho
ls taxed. | have lost all my property. have
lost my character. l have lost every thug; !
have lost every claim TO the love and affection OF
my wife and children. The harpies at the grog
shop have sold me liquor when they knew that
you have begged them not 10 do It-when they
knew, TOO, that IL was taking the broad from the
mouths Of my children. They have kept me
night after night until o late hour, whom they
knew | would only 60 homo TO abuse my family.
| have squanGered all had At the accused coffee
house. | see how il is, and my resolution, rs !
told you. is taken. will be a man again; u hus-
band again; a father again. We shuIl have our
comforts around, If God will spare YOU and this
/ dear little sufferer, and those fearful ones that
now flee from me, Us from the face Of a tiger
Yes, Mary, my resolution IS taken, and here be-
fore high heaven, ! swear will never taste On
other drop. That Westinghouse pledge which
you SO often urged me to sign shall be my pledge.
No, another hour shall pass over my head TIL ]
pu, my name to itm
Ills fond wife sprang 10 her feet; the next, her
arm was around his neck, md hor hoad lay woop-
ing upon his shoulder. Her heart was too full for
utterancc; at last she sa~id--"Ihen we shall be
happyr!' ''Ihe warranty Of il | will bring you
this very hour and away he went with the speed
Of the wind. He FASTENED TO the proper officer
TO enroll his name as q subscriber 10 tho pledge,
and as a member of the Washington Temperance
Society. He procured a certificate OF member
ship. He returned to his family. "Ihere,' SAID
he, snow | am safe. and you may be sure Of bet
ter times" His poor wife snatched the paper:
ais it possible, William, that you have really sign
ed ity' 1t is, and mean to stick TO IT; 1--we or
die. sink or swim, | mean TO stick 10 II as long as
| live. That pledge shall be written on my mem
DRY, and writton in my heart, and tell you, Ma
nv, better days are coming; ! !eel 1t; | Know H.
| am free once more. | am tree!' We need not
describe oil that passed. That family were soon
again in their own humble dwelling.
We pass on in our history. Many days and
nights of watching had gone by, as the parents
hung over tho low couch of their unconscious
child. With the first sign Of returning cUnclous-
ness and reason, after The fever OF the system had
abated, the father was there with tender words
upon his tongue for his beloved boy. Tommy
said he, ''look upon your father, | am your father
Tommy" md the boy gazed with a bewildered
look around him. and sbuddered at the faint idea
that his father was near. The father saw II, emo
for the present he forbore; q day or two more pass
ed bv, md the father was still at the bed side,
with a liule boy upon either knee. The sick boy
looked with q faint smile. as he glanced upon the
face of his mother. but shrunk aghast when on
turning 10 the other side, he saw his father Sc
near him.
"Tommy,' said the rejoicing mother. while
tears big and frequent were rolling down the faith
er's cheek; Tommy, | have good Eews 10 tel
you: but you must keep quiet child. ! tell YOU
your dear father has signed the pledge, and We
are all so happy again." The noble boy awoke
10 full consciousness in a moment; he turned TO
wards his father; twined his arms around his meek
and burst into a flood Of tears Every eye arounC
ina, bedside wept; but ihoso were tears Of Joy
} The time which, dragged so heavily on, now flee
by on noiseiess and rapid wings. The boy re.
covered. The wife's face was covered will
smiles. The little ones were joyous and happy