Holly Springs gazette., 1843-01-27
From the Rochester Democrat
THE LOST FOUND.

ken looking lad pass by with a gallon oil
can In his hand His !attered garments and
his melancholy face, were well calculated
TO excite observation and pity. 1t was but
TOO evident that the vessel which he carried
had been diverted from its legitimate use,
and that it was now used, not as an oil can,
but WHIskEY JUG Having seen him
pass twice in one day with his ever present
can, we had the curiosity to accost him, and
did so by inquiring his residence.
Il live,' said he, five miles from the city.
on thezz-road.'
You nave been to the city once before to
dav have you notP
Yes. sir. [ came down In the morning;
but couldn't get what was sent for and
had to come again.
What were you sent for, my lad2 Il
must be something very important 10 make
it necessary for you to walk twenty miles IN
this storm
WHY, sir, it was whisi1ey that was sent
for Father had no money, and he sent me
to Mr. IS TO gettrusted, but he wouldn't
trust any more. so had to 60 home with
out the whiskey, but father sent me back
again
How do you expect it now, when you
could ut get II IN the mornings
why, sir, l have brought pair of shoes
which sister sent mother. MIR. will
give whiskey for them. He has go; two or
three pair of mothers shoes now.
DO you like to carry whiskey home, my
boy
.Oh no. sir, for it makes all so unhappy;
but can't help IL
We took the responsibility of advising the
boy hot to fulfill his errand, and returned
home with him The family we found con-
sisted of husband, wife and four children
the oldest 0he boy) was not more than ten
years of age, while the youngest was an IA
| fant of few months 1t was a cold buster
| inc dav. The north wind blew hagshly,
and came, roughly and unbidden, through
the numberless crevices OF the poor mans
howell A few black embers occupied the
| fire place, around which were huddled the
half naked children, and the woe-strlcken
mother and wife Her face was haggard
her eyes sunken-her hair diShevelled-
her clothes tattered and unc lean. She was
seated upon an old chair and was mechan-
ically swinging to and fro, as if endeavoring
to quiet her infant, which moaned pitifully
| in It's mother arms 1t had been sick from
| It's birth, and it was now seemingly strug-
| Cling to free itself from the world into which
il had, but few months previously been
lshered.
There was no tear in the eve ofthe moth
er as she gazed upon the expiring babe.
| The fountain had haen lnnr before, dried
up by the internal fires which alcohol had
kindl6d and fed Yet she was the picture
of despair; and we could not but fancy. as
she sat thus, that her mind was wandering
back to the happy past-the days OF her own
infancy and gir!hood, and her early home.
Poor thing She had given her affections
and her hand to man who had taken the
first steps in intemperance. She had left
her home, full of buoyant hopes-hopes ne
yer 10 be realiZed-to spend life OF misery
with sot Broken hearted-cast out from
the society of her former frlends-frowned
upon by the good society and humane
spoken of as the miserable wife of a misera-
bic drunkard-with no hand to help, no
heart to pity-she very soon became tip
pier and drunkard herself.
Bv the side of this woe-smitten mother,
kneeled a little girl of five or six years old,
down whose salow cheeks tears were cour-
sing; and who. ever and amen, exclaimed,
"Poor little Willie must you deg oh !
mother, must Willie dieP and theE kissing
the clammy sweat from little Willle's' brow,
covered her face with her tottered apron and
wept
la the opposite corner of the chimney,
and among the ashes which covered the
hearth, sat a boy of about seven years, drag
oing from the half dead embers potatoe.
which he broke open with the remark,
Mother, give this to little Willie. May be
he's hungry Pm hungry, too. and SO IS
sister: but Willie's sick. Give him this po-
tatoe' ,.
No, poor boy said the mother, Willie
will never be hungry again. He soon VIII
be dead
This remark drew all the children around
the mother and the dying child. The fath-
er was sitting upon what was intended Tor a
bedstead. without hat, shoes or coat, with
his hands thrust into his pockets, apparently
| Indifferent to all that was passing around
him. His head was wrestling upon ms
breast and his BLURRED eyes were fastened
upon the floor. as if he were afraid to look
up at the sorrowing group who were watch
ine the countenance of the dying infant
i There was moment of silence. Not a
sound was heard Even the sobs OF the lit
tie girl had ceased. Death was crossing
T the novels thresh- hold. The very resplra-
ton of the household seemed suspended,