Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-26

was in very good business in Trenton, and we
might have lived happy had he only been salts.
feds but no. shortly after our first child, (that
boy standing before thcc) was born, he resolved
to remove TO Northumberland county. His
friends lived there, and he thought he could
make a better living by farming, Iopposed it
as much AS could, or rs much as prudence
would allow, for indeed loved him too much to
do any thing contrary TO his will. But all did no
good. He made vcnduc and sold our furni-
ture; and sold all his tools. | had tables,
stands, chests, bureaus, chairs, and every arti-
Gle necessary to furnish house; but all was
sold. When we came to this place he pur-
chased small piece of uncultivated land, and
built this house on it. We lived with my
brother-in-aw until the house was in its pres
ent state ofreadlness. In 1913 We commenced
housekeeping and here we have remained ev-
er since"
But continued she, 'as have gone so far,
will not Withhold from thee the real and the
only cause ofmy present unhappy condition.
LIQuoR, that cursed stuff (pardou me, | must
call it cursed) together with set of idle, drunk
en- men about this neighborhood and in Sunbury
particularly, have been the cause of our ruin.
AS long as John had a cent of money, every
scheme and artifice were employed to coax
him to the taveras, and to seduce him into in
temperance and licentiousncss. Alas my
dear friend they Ultimately succeeded lie vi
sted Sunbury two or three times u week, and
every evening returned intoxicated. My tears,
my entreaties and my prayers to restrain his
course were unavalling. lie became more
and more fond of liquor; neglected his bust
ness; and expended all his money. The few
household articles which we purchased since
we came here have been sold by the constable
to deiray tavern bills, and we are now destitute
Of clothing or even bed upon which to rcpose
The storm had subsded | possessed not the
means OF comforting the distressed family, and
| left them, but not without exhibiting visible
indications of my feelings for their unhappncss
But, gentle reader, look again at the painful
narrative of ofthisdisconsoate woman! Willing
would be to say, it is a picture ideal and ina
ginary; but, alas! it is distressing reality
Oh cruel man! Thou who hast, by thy folly
and wickedccss produced scene so heart rend-
ing as that exhibited on the banks of Shamokin {.
And thou too who hast by thy artiul pcrsua-
sions, robbed the woman of amiableness of her
companion or solace; blasted the fairest pros
poets of connubial enjoyment, and infected the
finer connections of parental endearment and
cognaton which cement the affections and
strengthen the cord Of moral obligation, 90, re-
pair to this dreary cottage and visit the direiul
consequences of thy wickedncss!
--The lovely maid,
Who bloom'd so fair on Jerseys plain,
Becomes a living sacrifice. Wood to wed
With oil III impassion'd language of affection,
And mans sacred prolestations,
The bushing nymph consents. Indeed perhaps
By vows and endearing tenderness,
In the young hours of nuptual ecsiacy,
The fond illusion may be realized;
But soon the days of novel transport fly,
And habit, second nature, calls him back
! To hsun,s accustom'd and his old compeers--
| Thus to the mre the wallowng hog returns;
The dog his vomit seeks. All harless mourner
! What deadly wound shalt Iend thy bosom,
| When, 10 domestic happiness and love,
Succeed neglect, and apathy, and rudeness;
And to the doves soft plant the serpents hiss !
Then thy fair form, once beau,ys chosen seat,
Shall Ike lilly droop, spending the ~idow'd nigh
In sad regret and unav sihng tears;
While thy hesotted lord in deep debauch,
Shall not with the refuse of mankind.
Keeling home, perchance beyond the midnight hou
| With appetite inf md, and every tie
DIVINE or moral, vanishd into air,
The nightly wanderer shall allure his stops
To rank con,agion in the common siews
Dgusng thought bu, heavier woes draw near,
An ils,arfd progeny begin to rise,
BY had exampe taught the downward path
That to perdiiion leads. Ruin comes
Profusion, bets, tie turf, aud desperate dice
Have sw iiloWed more than all, business negieCte
No resource supplies and debtors urge
Bankrupt in fortune, reputation, health,
| A prey to all The vulures Of remorse,
And spum'd 10y wretches who have been his fA
! A Jail his portion, suicide OF fight;
l His hapcss family tu,n'd alas adrift
I On the wide world foiarn, without a home:
I Bcss'i If eve this bis weeping partner die,
, Oyc parents, dazzled with false greatness,
a Who think that wealth and b ppiness one,
: Expose not 10 such scenes your lovely daughters
| But rather let experience bid them shun
/ The men addicted To this nurse of ruin.