The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-15
SCELLA NEOUS.
THE RUINED FAMILY.
BY T. S. ARTHUR. ust
{ G o ~ I i n u e d. }

~ u q ~ u q. ,.. ..... .#
that was burning within him for the fiery
poison which had robbed him of rationality
and freedom. .
"Glve me some ~ he. said, in an
excited tone, to his wife, coming in hurried
ly from the street, one day about this time
Ills face was dark and red, as if there were
a congestion Of the blood in the veins of
the skin, while his hands trcmbled, and his
whole frame was strongly agtated. Those
who had been familiar with that old man,
years before, would have hardly recognized
him now, in his old worn and faded gar
ments. n...a .f rtg u..
8 ! have no money for you,n his wife re-
Piled. : You have already stripped us of
nearly everything"
'sBuy me some brandy, then''
"No. | cannot do that either. Brandy
has cursed you and your family. Why do
you not abandon it for ever?'
81 must have brandy, or die! Give me
something to drink, in the name of heavenp'
The wild look that her husband threw
upon her, alarmed Mrs. Graham, and she
hesitated no longer, but handed him a small
piece Of money. Quick as thought, he
turned away and darted from the house
1t was, perhaps, after the lapse of about
half an hour that he returned He opened
the door, when he did so, quietly, and stood
looking into the room for few moments.
Then he turned his head quickly from the
right to the left, gancing fearfully behind
| him once or twice. In moment or two
afterwards he started forward, with a strong
expression of alarm upon his countenance,
and seated himself close beside Mrs. Gra-
ham, evidently in the hope of receiving her
protection from some dreaded evil
"What is the matter'' quickly exclaimed
Mrs. Graham, starting up with frightened
look.c 1a
''It is really dreadful % he said. "What
can it all mean?'' .......
| "What is dreadful - asked his wife, her
heart throbbng with an unknown terror
I "There! Did you ever see such an aw-
ful sight Ugh!" and he shrunk behind
her chair, and covered his eyes with his
hands
g see nothing, Mr.. Graham" his wife
said, after a few moments of hurried thought,
Ill which she began to comprehend the fact
that her husbands mind was wandering
"There is nothing here that will hurt you,
father," Mary added, coming up to him, as
her own mind arrived at conclusion SINH
lar to her mothers. :
IN othing to hurt mer' suddenly screamed
the old man, sprlnging to his feet, and throw
ing himself backwards half across the room
8 and that horrible creature already twining
himself about my neck, and strangling me!
Take it off! take it of'!' he continued, in
wild cry of terror, making strong efforts to
tear something away from his throat.
"Take it off! Why don't you take it off!
DON'T you see that it is choking me to death!
Oh oh oh - uttered in terrific scream
Painting, screaming and struggling, he
continued in this state of awful alarm, vainly
endeavoring to eXtricate himself from the
tolls of an imaginary monster, that was suf-
locating him, until he sank exhausted to the
floor.
Happily for his alarmed and distressed
family, two or three neighbors, who had
been startled by the old mans screams,
came hurriedly in, and soon comprehended
the nature of his alteration A brief con-
sultatlon among themselves determined them,
understanding, as they did perfectly, the con-
dltion OF the family, and his relation TO them,
TO remove HIM at once to the Alms-touse,
where he could get judicious medical treat
ment, and be ont of the sight and hearing Of
his wife and children. e
One Of them briefly explained to Mrs.
Graham, and Mary, the nature Of his men
tai affection, and the absolute necessity that
there was for his being placed where the
most skilful and judicous management of
his case could be had. After some time, he
gained their reluctant consent to have him
taken to the Alms-House. A carriage was
then obtained, and he forced into it, amid
the tears and remonstrances of the wife and
daug ghter, who had already repented Of their
acquiescence in what their Judgment had
approved. Old affection had rushed back
upon their hearts, and feeling became
stronger than reason.
1t was about four O'Clock in the after
noon when this occurred. Early on the
next morning, Mrs. Graham, with Mary and
Anna, went out to see him. Their inquiries
about his condition were vaguely answered, |
and with seeming reluctance, or as it APP
peared to them, with indifference. AT length
the maron of the institution asked them to