Litchfield enquirer., 1845-09-04

sence from home more protfacted. Sometimes, the entire night, and the greater part of the suc- ceeding day would be spent at the gaming table :. and when he returned home to his weeping wife and childIen, he was more usually under the iniu- ence of strong drink; and although his respect for them. prevented the indulgence of blows and kicks. (the usual accompaniments of the debau. chees return.) still there was sullenness of coun
 tenance, and aharshness of speech, which struck
 terror into the minds of his family, and deprived them of the little remnant of peace they could. otherwise have enjoyed. Occasionally, when he tarried late at the gaming table, his wife would, mid the darkness and dangers of night, seek him out, and by her solicitations and kind entreaties, lead him back to- his forsaken home. Whenever she had the good fortune to find him but partially under the influence of liquor, she would improve the opportunity of reuonstrating with, and urging upon him by every argument her ingenuity could devise, the necessity of speedy reformation. At times, her charitable efforts were returned with downright abuse. Occasionally, sheswould obtain
 from him pledges that led her to hope for better days
 andenabed her to realize moderate shareof imagi. nary happiness When alluding tc the past, she call ed to mind the many happy hours they had spent to- geher. and how desirous he was to be in her soci. ety at every leisure moment, the kind and better sensibilities of her now depraved husband would become awakened. and he would renew his prom ises of fidelity and reform, only, however, to be broken again by the enervating influences of strong drink.
 It may, perhaps, be thought by some, that his love for gaming, drove him to break the ties of do- nestle friendship, and desecrate the altar of early affection; but the suppostion, if entertained, is erroneous; it was the accursed. influence of the wine cup and the rum bottle, which unnamed him, and led his feet among forbidden paths; and although thethirst for gaming had become strong, still. it could have been conquered by the power of moral resolution, had it not received an auxil-
 ary aid, under the form and guise of the ntoxica- l ting bowl. The cheerful smiles and winning gra. ces of his adoriDg wife, would never have lost their potency and power, and he would never have wandered from them and her, merely to gratify the inclinations of gamester, had 1t not been for the corrupting influences of ardent spirits This 1t was, that led him astray and it was the thirst for stimulating drink which predominated over every other and led him captive at its bidding, amid the J crooked ways and bye paths of shame and sim Let not the upholder of moderate drinking say, that the love for excitement drew him around the gaming table, Let not the playful critic exclain, that it was Caudleism which drove him from the centre of domestic enjoyment, to find passing plea cures in the hlarity of momentary mirth. For a kinder, more peaceable and devoted wife never ex-
 sted, than was found in the person and conduct of Walters partner She was seemingly, of all oth- CTS, best calculated to enchain his attention, and secure his society but what influence is there-- what combination of influences, can withstand the over2owering sway of strong drink, when it has once become firmly seated amid the passions of men? Gentleness cannot subdue. kindness cannot check it-strength cannot intercept its course; but over all, and superior to every thing, it rages On | and on, until it has overturned every moral prn- ciple which man possesses; nothing, save the pure cool, and refreshing influences of tofdi db. stinenee effect the work. This. ard this alone, can dethrone rum, and restore reason. This alone. can vanquish Intemperance, and save its vic. l tim, man. u. rt. s.t....< a,.--.-..f,r. .tl. 1 r aa-"' .".t 'aa " " 'Tan rS 'a J.f.''t r- The frequent and lengthy visits which Walter H---- now paid to the gaming table, soon di- unfinished his little stock of wealth, and drove him to adopt dangerous expedient for the purpose ] of retrieving his falllen fortunes. His com panions were all of them too avaricious to lend him farthing. His friends had already drawn somewhat heavily upon their purses in assisting him respecting his business affairs; and he was consequently left entirely dependent upon his own exertions. Labour he would not and he there- fore determined to risk his ingenuity in most rash and difficult adventure. ~~'
 A continued series of debaucheries had SD far hardened his feelings, as to render him unmindful of the tone of public sentiment, and there was nc restraint left, save the fear of detection, and the pains and penalties of punishment Moral obliga- tion was smothered beneath the overpowerng weight of incompetence, and there was nothing he dreaded except the stern rigor of the law. While contemplating hls future course of action, and re- volving in his mind plan and another, he found it difficult to summon up sufficient degree of res. oluton to lead him onward in the dangerous path he had chosen, and he was at times almost persuaded to abandon it altogether. aat.n.. c. ,3josa.1-a
 When he reflected upon the many kindnesses ol his now grey haired parents, and thought of the many sorrowful bangs his contemplated conduct might give them-when he looked upon his wifi. and children, and thought of the anguish and dis grace it would bring upon them--he was, in : measure, undetermined asto what course 10 pur sue. and secretly resolved to forget his foul con captions, and henceforth live a sober and honest