The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-12-08

lQuS hot ouly 10 MAINTAIN his wife ludepen
IDENTIFY OF he: family bot TO give her many
comforts 70 which she bad been accustom
ed. lie could easily have attained the for.
uer, aud have met all her wishes 10 lbal
respect; bu, bis pride induced him to ne.
glect rational means OF acquiring ordinary
comforts and led him to resort TO VIA, he
deemed chances OF sudden wealth. tie
had before hS marriage, suffered 10 the es
limaiion OF many respectable persons by
hls associallng with certain dashlng young
men, who, 10 their other social qualities,
were supposed 10 add that Of iondness for
games OF hazlrd. lie had amused himself
"a thai way without pccuniary profits, aud
BY observation bad learned the tricks of the
ari NilhaU, practising ibem upon others.
Time passed ouwafd, aud the young
vile became a mother, and saw 10 the birth
Of her hoy, renewal o! the attentions ul
beI husband, which without upparen, lapse
OF affection, certainly wiihou, other evi
dence Of unknduess. had been Of late pre-
lermltted. He had abscnied himself from
his homo unit! late hour at night aud had
appeared haggard and care worn. Il was
also obvious that the means Of support were
diminished and Tho wife began to feel ma
ny, very many Of nor comforts cufialieds-
Tie deceut was rapid, and with il, the re
uewal OF The absence OF her husband al nish,;
but no open unkindness was exhibited, nor
ives Here reproach on her part, unless the
pale cheek, tie emacl4ted lrame, and the
heart broken Sigh could DC SO construed.
Misery, Indebtedness, absolute want,
besel The family, aud the husband tore him.
self away from the bed Of his vic aud chlj
rat'y III tie evening, with determinations
70 bring back 10 them some means ot com
fort. lie met an old friend, Who informed
bin that a place was vacant in on office,
winch, 0l!h security Tor fidelity, would be
.hls.
And who will DC that security y
Who Any one-l Will | told you
30 two years ago.
" " Ill you now, indeed y
Present Yourself to lno 10 morrow free
u debt, and sill insure you the place
He was 10, free from debt, but few
hundred dollars would make hm so. tie
eli assured that few hours q, the gaining
table, tho last time be would ever darkcH
The ncclrsed doors would supply him with
means 20 ray those deb,s-more than thai
lie would not receive.
Ile saw within d few yards Of him, one
tho officers Of the institution IN which he
vas 10 have q place Of trust To have
turned from the door would DO 10 expose
nmseil, and be could not stand where he
was. lie entered, be played, and at md.
night bad won fov dollars. HIS "lucl,
had 'urned, he said; he +" followed up the
lrck, and Daylight saw him possessed d
more than tho desired sgm.
he lcii the gambling room man o. bet.
ter resolves THAI he had been, though be
|, had always resolved well. Ila though. Of
the pleasure 10 store, of the good he would
yet Do, aud the delights he could get enjoy
The outer door og the house in which he
lived was open. lie stole quietly Up the
stairs aud gently lifted The latch Of MS room
door. II was dark aud still. Tho child
al length moved. lie felt that bis wife had
occasion 10 complain Of his long absence, bni
the JOS Of his heart was 10 mako her under.
stand tbs new resolution nc had formed, and
tho means hu now possessed Of carrying u
!, into effect. lie called her By her name--saC
y did not answer. lie felt that his new lnten
lion deserved more kindness lie calcc
again but IN vain lie then opened n win
dow shutter, aud the light Of the morning
poured upon the face Of hls infant. lie
wen; 10 the bed to awaken his wife. lie
laid his hand upon her arm, and l;s icy
chlIIGcss struck to his heart. ilo threw
himself upon the bed and groaued in an.
+ cash. The crying Of tho child called
some OF the tenants 9th house TO the room
The Coroner's aid was demanded over
, the dead body Of the wife. The verdict o.
the Jury was, "Dlcd Of the visitation Of
Cod" Bot one or two thought that dis
,ress had weakened her frame SO much
that the anxiety and the care, the new feel
!, ing OF suspicion, or the sense Of utter aban
, donment that night, had been too much
Her heart broke with its over freight
The pride Of the injured father at length
welded, and with qu,et efforts, he traced
oGt tho residence Of his daughter.
! y icrmined TO meet her at more than
half way towards reconciliation, he came
lust as the husband had awakened to sense
Of his misery. # is "loo late, F" sad the
latter, and pointed to the bed.
The pomp Of the funeral did not insult
: the wrctchedness of tho living, or the cma'
ciated form Of the dead.
The grave is on the very verge OF tho
western decliyity OF Laurel Hill. There Is
no stone TO tell whose heart moulders
, there. Why should there be? What les
son could |, ieachl
fle whose reformation was almost begun
r before her death, tried the path of virtue al.
: forwards, bu! il was "too late"
He had resolved 10 reform for the sake
Of his wife, and not for the sake OF virtue.
, %