Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-08-31

usual, that his wife could not help feeling o
degree OF uneasiness. She went to the door
and listened FOR him, after the clock had
struck eleven, and stood there for some tims
expecting every moment to hear the sound oil
his footsteps in the distance. But she waited
in VAIN, and at last re-entered the house with a
troubled feeling.
Atiast the clock struck twelve, and almost
at the same time sire heard her husband at the
door, endeavoring TO open it with the dead
latch key. In this he was not successful
from some cause, and thinking that she might
have turned the key, Mrs. Peters went quietly
and opened the door for him. She found that
she had not locked it.
As she lifted the latch, the door was thrown
suddenly against her, and her husband came
staggering IN. As he passed her, he struck
against the wall of the passage-rebounded--
struck the other side, and then fell heavily
upon the floor.
The dreadful truth Instantly flashed upon
her. He was drunk. For moment her
heart ceased to beat, her head reeled, and she
then had TO lean against the wall 10 keep from
falling. Then all the tender emotions of her
heart rushed freely into activity. II was her
own husband who lay before her, overcome
by the master-spirit Of strong drink. With
almost superhuman strength, she raised him
up, although large man, and supported him
by the arm until she got him up stairs, and
laid him on the bed. BY this time he seemed
perfectly stupid; and only mumbled in inco-
herent replies to the frequent and tender inn
pornnities of his wife.
After some time she got him undressed and
in bed. But he grew more and more stupid
every moment.
'Oh, what if he should dep the poor wife
moaned anxiousiy, while the tears that had al
first gushed out still continued TO flow freely.
She then got catnphor and chafed his temples
with it. She also washed his face with cold
water, and tried various means TO arouse him
from the lethargy of drunkenness But all TO
no purpose.
AT last despairing of success, she lay down
Beside him, still in tears, drew her arms a
round his neck, and laid her face tenderly a.
gainst his. She had lain thus for about five
minutes, when her husband called her name
i'll whisper.
Oh, how eagerly did she listen after her res
ponse TO his call.
"If mig husband acere TO do so ~
As he said this, still i'll whisper, but very
expressive one, he looked her steadily in the
face, with roguish twinkle of the eyes, and a
qulvering of the lips, the muscles Of which he
could with difficulty restrain from wreahing
these expressive organs into merry smile
Mrs Peters understood the whole scene in
moment, and boxed her husbands ears sound
~ on the spot, for very joy, while he laughed
until his sides ached as bad as his ears
In all after discussions Upon the various
unfortunate relations of man and wife, Mrs.
Peters was very careful how she declared her
course of action, were she placed in similar
circumstances. If, in any case, she was led
unlhinkingly to do so, the remark of her hus-
band, made with peculiar infection of the
voice: ooh, yes! If my husband were to
do so'>--had the happiest. effect imaginable,
and instantly put an end to the Improbable
discussion.