The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-16
ISCELLANEOUS.
RECLAIMED ATLAST.

RECLAIMED AT LAST.
The touching story below, is we'll fitted
to arouse and sustain a universal enthusiasm
in the Temperance reform:
We had frequently observed heartbro-
ken boy pass by with gallon oil-can in his
hand, His tattered garments and melancholy
face were well calculated TO excite observa-
ton and pity. 1t was but too evident that
the vessel which he carried had been diver
ted from its legitimate use, and that it was
now used, not as an oil-can, but as ,rhis-
key-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
inquiriag his residence.
81 live,0 said he, 6 five miles from the city,
OH the---road."
oYou have been to the city once before
to-day, have you not :"
6 Y es, sir, came down in the morning /;
but | could't get what was sent for, and
had to come back again."
6 What were you sent for, my lad? II
must be something very important TO make
it necessary for you to walk twenty miles
in this storm"
s!Why, Sir, it was whiskey that was
sent for. Father had no money, and he
sent me to Mis- to get trusted but he
wouldn't trust any more, so had to go
home without the whiskey; but father sent
me back again."
How do you expect to get it now, when
Iptt n, mr.
"Why, Sir, have brought a pair Of shoes,
which sister sent mother. Mr-will
give whskey for them. He has got two or
three pairs Of mothers shoes now."
Do you like to carry whiskey home,
my boy"
" Oh, no, Sir, for it makes us all so un-
happy; but can't help it."
We took the responsibility Of advising the
boy not to fulfil his errand, and returned
home with him. The family, we found,
consisted Of husband, wife, and four chill
dren; the eldest (tho boy) was not more
than ten years of age, while t.eyoungest was
an infant of few months. 1t was a cold,
clustering day. The north wind blew harsh
ly, and came roughly, and unbidden, through
the numberless crevices of the poor mans
hovel. A few black embers occupied the
Fireplace, around which were huddled the
half-naked children, and the wo-strcken
mother and wife. Her face was haggard-
her eyes were sunken-her hair dlshcvelled
her clothes tattered, and very unclean.
She was sitting upon an old broken chair,
and was mechanically swinging to and fro,
as if endeavoring to quiet her infant, which
moaned piti(ully in its mothers arms. It
had been sick from its birth, and it was now
seemingly struggling to free itself from the
harsh world into which it had but few
months previous been ushered. There was
no tear in the eye Of the mother as she gazed
on the expiring babe. The fountain had
been, long before, dried up by the internal
fires which alcohol had kindlcd 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 infancy and girlhood, and
her early home. Poor thing! She had
given her affections and her hand to man
who had taken the first step in intemperance.
She had left home full of buoyant hopes
hopes never to be realized-to spend life
of misery with sot. Broken-heartcd, cast
out from the society Of her former friends
rrcwned upon by the "good society" hu-
mane-spoken Of as the miserable wife Of
drunkard--withn no hand to help, no heart to
pity, she very soon became tippler and a
drunkard herself.
By the side Of this wo-smltten mother
was kneelng little girl Of five or six years,
down whose sallow cheeks tears were cour-
sing, and who, ever and anon, exclaimed,
G Poor little Willie, must you dle' On,
mother, must Willie, die I" And then kiss
ing the clammy sweat from little Wille's
brow, covered he face with her apron and
wept
In the opposite corner Of the chimney
and among the ashes which covered the