Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-05-21
RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA NAY 81, 1916.
A Wife worth Having.


The distinguished William Writ, within six o,
eigh, months after his first marriage. became ad
d!cied to iniomperance. the effect of which ops.
rated strongly upon the mind and health of his
wife. and In a few months moro she mum
bored with the dead. Her death led him TO len We
the county where he resided, and no moved &c
Richmond, where he soon rose TO distncton.-
But his habits hung about him. and occasionally
no found with jolly and frolicsome spirits, in
Bacchanalian revelry.-f1is true friends expos.
tulated with him, to convince him of tho injury
he doing himself. Blu, no still persisted.--
His practice began to fall off. and many looked
upon him on the sure road to ruin. He wns
advised to &c. married, with view of correct
ing his abis. This he consented to do, if the
right person offered. He accordingly paid his
addresses to Miss Gamble. After some months
attention, he asked her hand in marriage. She
replied:
'Mr. Writ, | have been we'll aware OF your in
tentons for sometime back, and should have Civ
en- you to understand that your visits and at,en-
tons wero not acceptable, had | not rec!procaied
the affection which you evinced for me. But |
cannot yield my assent until you mako me n
pledge to taste, touch, or handle any intox-
Ica;iEg drinks"
This reply TO Mr.. Writ was as unex pectcd rs
it was novel! His reply was, that no regarded
tho proposition as q bar to all other consideration
of the subject, and left her. Her course to him
was tho samo as over--hs, resentment and neg
lect. In tho course of few weeks, he went and
again solicited her hand But her reply was, her
mind made up. He became indignant. and
regarded tho terms sic proposed an insu: 10
his honor, and vowed it should be the last meet
ing they should ever have. He took to drinking
worse and worse, and seemed to run hcadlong to
ruin. Ono day, while lying in the outskirts of
tho city, httlo grocery grog-shop. dead
drunk. young lady, who it is not necessary to
name, passing that way TO her homo, not far
ho,,I 60, Of
scorching She took her handkerchief, with
hor name upon it, aud placed it over his
face. After he had remained in that way for
some hours, he awak oned, and his thrs. be-
ing great, ho went into the little grog shop to
get drink, hen he discovered the handkof-
chief, which l,o looked at, and the namo that was
it. After pausing a few minutes, no ex
ciaImed
'Grcat God! who left this with me? Who
LACED it on my facet" No one knew. He
nough!'' ga g
He retired Instantly from the store, forgetting
his thirst, but not the debauch, the handkerchief,
or tho lady. vowing if God gave him strength.
nevor to touch taste or handle intoxic o;ing
drinks.
To meet Miss G. again was tho hardest effort
Of his life. If he met her in her carriage or on
foot, ho would dodge tho neares, corner. She at
last addressed him note, under her DAN hand,
inviting him to the house, which he finally
gathered courage enough to accept. He told her
if she bore affection for him, no would agree to
her own terms. Her reply was,
..My conditions now what they ever have
bcen.'
"Then. said the discnthraed Writ, 81 accept
Of them"
They wcro soon married, and from that do v
he kept his word, and his affairs Frightened. while
honors and glory gathered thick upon his brow
His name has boon enrolled high in the temple
of fame, while his deeds. his patriotism and re-
nown, lives after him with imperishable lusre.-
How many noble minds might the young ladies'
save, if they would follow the example of the
heroino-hcarted Miss G., tho friend of humani-
ty, of her country and the relative of Lafayette.
Temp. ADV.