The Columbian fountain., 1846-10-30
COM M u MIC AT IONS
NIGHT RAMBI .Es in WASHINGTON.

1t was a cold and dsasreeable night in the Spring
of '44 when every surrounding object OF nature was
dressed in the gloomy garb OF those cheerless nights
which carry with them sorrow and anguish into the
habtatons Of the disconsolate and poverystricken,
who alone feel the sting OF penury and want-a night
which appeared to envelope earth and heaven in uni
versal gloom.
Dark and lowering Law the tempest over the scene
from human vision The clouds seemed as il unable
longer contain the liquid element, and gaxeway at
last pouring down the heavy shower through the i'm
.penetrabc gloom, upon reposing nature.
1t was solemn, melancholy hour; the dead hour
Of midnight; when not sound was to be heard save
the slow and steady step Of the wachmen whose keen
vision seeming to pierce the thick darkness Sur
rounding them, fell upon an object which attracted
their deepest attention and challenged their astonish-
ment They paused moment The object seemed
motionless-dead They vent,Ired to touch it, as il
actuated by supernatural impulse, and the mystery
was revealed. 1t was a human being-an unfortu-
nate woman. Their minds revolted to find her there,
familiar as they were with such scenes. Their SYM
pathies for the desolate one were aroused "Here,
thought they, is lying, at the dead hour OF
night, upon the cold, damp ground How came she
here' and many such reflections passed throughthef
minds. 9H !. tt
Further developements increased their wonder Her
attire proved to be OF the most costly material Her
cloak was such generally worn by the rich but
literally torn pieces But see! the puzzle is solved
she is drnnk-yes DRUNK! She who, by prudent
and vrtuous course OF iiie would have been
ment to society," gem in the refined associations OF
le-she is become an outcast by reason OF ntoxica-
ton! She might have exhibited the beautiful graces
of yirnous female characters but our hearts sink, and
we become disgusstd, behold the degraded con-
dition in which she appears.
The watchmen lifted her up out OF the +" horrible
pt' into which she had allen and conducted her to
the watch house .1s ..H
Now the scene changes. The unfortunate one
throws herself upon her couch-sueh an one as the
house for stragglers aforded-such an one as those
unhappy beings, similarly situated with the one we
are speaking OF, spend many quletiess hour upon
Here for the space of hour, she lay in state OF in
sensibity, when, suddenly, as il awaking from a
dream she asked for little water to quench the rag
ing thirst created by the poisonous beverage she had
drank Such thirst always accompanies the drunk
ard O. the vice of drunkenness! 1t strikes death.
blow at the best interests OF any community where il
is suffered to exist An instance OF its effects; sad
instance; is before us. Here is one who, by her own
act and deed has turned her admiring nature into
brutishness. She gave the following narrative:
NV name is - ---, cher name before mar
riape) i came from ---, the place where was
born the offspring of parents wholoved me with ten
der affection Upon was stad their hope OF future
happiness, doating upon me, the IDOL OIL their hearts
they suffered me to indulge in all the pleasures OF thu
day, which one would suppose would have had ten
dency to lure me into scenes Of vanity; but these in
nocent pleasures had no such effect me- and many
are the happy hours have spent in this way, witt
the young OF my acquaintance and the dear associate
of my youthful days. stranger to care, IL had neve
felt one pang OF sorrow disappointment. Thus pass
ed the golden hours of my life away in virgin inno
cence; and oh, when contemplate the past; when
cast my thoughts back upon the scenes of my youth
the home of my childhood and retrospect the hours
nv past happiness and Joy, my heart shrinls within
me-alas, they are gone, never to return but OH th
recollection pierces me through with thousand sor
rows-my happiness is gone forever.
| The society in which ] moved brought me man,
new acquainances and one occasion, shall neve
forget it, / was introduced to young man by th
name of --- -----, from neighboring city
While in his company, experienced some strang
and unusual sensations--a passion, which develops
itself to me with such irresistible power as to take
tire possession Of all the sensbites OF my youthful
nature, and at became captive to one Of the mo:
endearing passions that actiate the human hear
What tongue can express, what mind can conceive th
! bliss OF tender and reciprocal affection.