The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-10-29

: duty. 81 aH' 70 dsi
, James,! James, S he said, in voice @
r Of assumed calmness-laying her hand upo
MIN and endeayoring to arouse him 10 con
seriousness. But il was long time befor
she could get him so fully awake as to max
MN understand that it was necessary 70
h'm 10 90 up stair S and retire TO bed. A
length she succeeded in getting him int,
the chamber before the servants had com,
down; and then into bed. Once there, he
fell oil again into profound sleep. KIN.
| is pa sick!' asked little Emma, coming
INTO her mothers chamber about an hour
alter, and seeing her father in bed. w
Yes, dear, your father is ute unweI,,
Mrs. Martin said in calm voice. ,-s7. !.
What ais him, ma!' pursued the child
lie is not very well, dear; but will be
better soon,' the mother said evasively.
The little girl lookel into her mothers
lace Tor few moments, unsatisfed with
me answer, and unwilling 10 ask another
question. She felt that something was
wrong, more than the sim pie illness of her
father.
1t was near the middle of the day when
MI martln became fully awake and con
scious OF his condition. IF he had sough,
'orge'ulness of the past nights debauch
ana degradation, the sad, reprovirg face
OF ms wife, pale and languid from anxiety
ana watching, would too quietly have re
stored the memory of his fall.
The very bitterness of. selr.condemna.
lIon--the very keenness of wounded pride
lrriiased his feelings, and made him feel
gloomy and sulen. He felt deeply for his
snfferina
pride kept him silent. At tile dinner hour,
he ate few mouthiuls in silence and then
withdrew from the table and left the house
to attend 10 his ordinary business. On his
way TO his Office, he passed hotel where
he had been in the habit of drinking. He
felt SO wretched-so much in want Of
something to buoy up his depressed feel.
ings, that he entered, and calling for some
wine, drank two or three glasses. This, in
a few minutes, had the desired effect, and
repaired 10 his office feeling like new
man.
During the afternoon, he drank wine
frequently, and when he returned home in
the evening was good deal under its in
huence. so much so, that all the reserve he
had Felt in the morning was gone. He
spoke pleasant and freely with his wife
talked Of future schemes Of pleasure and
success. But, alas! his pleasan! words
fell upon her heart like sunshine upon ice.
Ii was too painfully evident that he had
again been drinking--and drinking to the
extent of making him altogether uncon.
scious, of his true position, She would
ra,ker a thousand times have been him
overwhelmed by remorse. Then there
would have seen something for her hope to
have leaned upon.
Day after day did Mr. Martin continue to
resort to The wine cup. Every morning he
felt so wrelched, that existence seemed al
burden to him, until his keen perceptions
was bIunted by wine.Then the appetite for
something stronger would be stimulated, land
draught after draught of brandy would fol'
low, until when night came, he would
return home to agonize The heart OF his
wife with new pang, keener than any
that had gone before.
Such course oS conduct could be pursu
ed without its becoming apparent to all in
the house. Mrs. Martin had, therefore,
added to the cup OF sorrow, tie mortifica
ton and pain of having the servants. and
her child daily conscious of her degradation.
Poor lrle Emma would shrink away in
stinctly from her father when he would
return home in The evening and endeavor to
heap upon her his caresses. Sometimes Mr.,
Martin would get irrilated a. this.
what are you sideling off in that way
for, Emma?' he said half angriy, one even