Litchfield enquirer., 1843-01-19


 totelt me that our thoughts were on pretty
 much the same thing. Aunt Sally continued,
 addressing my father
 Do you remember that we were cut of
 milk early ofa morning in the Spring after
 that sleigh ride?
 Father shook his head.
 Why said Aunt Sally, 'Im sure I should think you would Father was going to Bostou,and took an early breakfast--there was none left over night, and the cows had n't been nlilked.'
 The old gentleman made DO answer.
 Well. then, what fool | am ? Aunt Sally said. : I d believe am getting old
 To think that should think that you would remH;nher such a lit,ls@khipg over forty years as we'll us do, whose whole life has turned upon it Well. to make long sto- y short. mother told mesto take pitcher and run into some of the neighbors. tried and tried, at two or three places and then run into the tavern, it was where Mir. Gut 1 tridge'S house is now. was in the kitchen. and heard laugh in the bsr.ron. I sl1on3ti knew that laugh if l had hearfit among asthousand, and never had heard it before, when it didn't make my own heart jump in answer. But what could Joshaa be doing there before daylight ? In a minute more, l heard the stick rattle ia the tumbler and then Jos voice again, couldn't help list enng--and such coarse jokes us those of which was the subiedt! Why Hike 10 nave dropped going home, more than once, milk pitcher and all. It wasn't the mere words that were said, l wouldn't have you to think, for though they were bad enough, he neans no harm It wasn't altogether the place neither in which they were spoken; but the hour-and what went into the mouth before the words came out-a morning dram!'
 Aunt Sally wiped her eyes, and we all felt serious, I can tell you ;but father, he look ed like man who had just found out rid- dle that had puzzled him all his life.
 | said nothing to nobody how could Ie But when Josh Bems came over in the eve. hing, how could l be us happy to sec him as was the evening before And when you scoded me for not being cheerful, brother, could not answer. The rest you know. I was led to- watch Joshua, and found that the morning dram was not mere accidental thing but habit and though there were a great many who used to do the same thing. l never could feel that they were safe. Well. one chill brought on another, till at last Joshua began to leave longer spells between his visits; and when he did come that un lucky morning had supplied me with key to too much of what you fancied was mere good humor and then again found that cloud over his face, that he said came from fatigue, came from something else. I tried 10 joke him out of his habits of moderate drinking but he took it only as a joke, and laughed at me. dared once to reason ser!- ously with him, and he asked me ifI thought him drunkard, and that was the last time spoke to him on the subject And now can look back and tell tho living truth, when say that the hour in which ascertairod that he was coaxed away by an artful rival --.--rrutjrr prtreu tfI1: fTu uIrITust quurrTT- ed with me. told you then not to trust to appearances, and you thought that it was only envy. And so it did seem. He was rich, he was prosperous, he was honored, he went from step to step in public life, he had been in the General Court, and that he has been to Congress. His children were loves and pcts his house and homestead were a pretty sight to behold for their pleasantness. and know you did think me almost a fool that I had not een the sbarer in all this
 But flourish as the tree mightI knew what worm was at it's root and when, in his iovial manners. his pleasant parties, his dinners, drives. his popularity, other folks saw only bright happiness, could have told them better. could see that all these ap- pearances, were the plainest marks of decay, just as you mind trees turn all sorts of beau tful colors, when their leaves are even just ready to drop. And just when the world thought him best off, his one vice began 10 strip him. Leaf after leaf fell, till the tree was left all bare, and it is only few old creatures like me who can recollect who that vagrant' was, and 'ohat that 'inebfiate' once possessed. Now he is dead-and is his widow, with her long life of earthly hope, of glad prosperity-of contemptuou5 pride-followed by humiliation, trouble, em- barrassment and squalid poverty-her chil- dren the plagues of her life-her husband tormented in her eyes-her name forgotten, her heart and home desolate, and all crown ed by lhat piece in the paper :-is she who trusted appearances better off ncw than tho lonely old madP .
 Aunt Sally hid her face in her hands, Fa- ther got up, and walked right across the fire place to her. Not ionely,' said he as he took her hand in his-and the brother and sister | got up and kissed each other, as ifthey were children, and Sally had been telling over some girlish trouble, which could be all vii ped out with the lips. guess there wasn't an eve there though that didn't swim in tears and as to Fanny, do believe that she'll be afraid of me hereafter, if only look l at the outside of cask of spirits of turPeu- tine.
 | DANG IT, THESE MATCHES woNsr GO -Mv. Bim was seized with a bad turn in his stom. l ach, inc other night, and got out ofhed 10 look for his hot drops. From the usual place l on he mantel. piece he took up wha he sup posed 10 be n row of matches, and. one aitec another, he snapped them off without efGct, and as he threw down the last he gave vent 10 his vexation by exclaiming-" Dang 1t