The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-07-04

the invalid received from the hand ofhis ply
stefan drnughts of wine and brandy; and
when his health no longer required them, an
awakened appetite, which had long slumber
ed clamored most loudly for their continu-
ance. From these medicinal draughts taxi
en- by physicians prescription, the transit
ton TO n morning and evening dram, and at
forwards to deeper, stronger and more fire.
quent potations, was easy and not graduation
the strength which had once so manlully re-
sisted was gone, and with fearful ncceleration
he rode downwards to his own ruin.
A third and fourth child was born unto
him, and with angelic sweetness did his for
bearing and blessed wife then seek TO check
the impetus ofhis downward career, and to
win him from the sclfdestroying course on
which he had started. Aud had there been
as now, angels of mercy abroad, TO stay his
feet when they were on the threshold of the
bar-room and dram-shop, to second the en-
treaties of his wife, and to fortify his half
formed resolutions, he might have been re
deemed. lie had n tender heart, he ardent
ly loved his family, and in his moments ofso-
briefly and reflection, he keenly felt the bitter
ness oftransgression. But society, his ASSOC
ciates, and his own sinful habits seemed lea
gued against him, and he felt that whether he
would or not, he must yield to the current
that was bearing him downwards. Poverty
stalked in Mt his doors, his little estate was
mortgaged, every article of his own or his
wife's property that was valuable, was dis
posed of, his credit was gone, so too were his
friends, his character, his good habits, aud
his happiness; yet still his wife chung to him,
faithfully and unweariedly, and sought by the
potency of God-like kindness and torbear-
ance to bring back the wanderer.I1cr own fee
BILE hands snow earned bread for the little fam
ily;without repining, she sought humber and
meaner lodging, when their house, the house
finer father, was claimed by creditors; and
when the husband other bosom came home,
bestial inebriate, reeling and senseess, she
saw in him the lover Other youth,the husband
of her choice, the father other children, and
while her eyes wept scalding tears of grief
and her heart uttered heavep-piercing cries
for his salvation from his degrading sin, she
de alt kindly and affectionately with him.
One wintery afternoon, when huge drifts
ofsnow blocked up the irregular streets ofthe
city,when the ftiul wind which flew from all
points ofthe compass dashed hither and thith-
er through the keen air the broad snow flakes,
Mrs. Austin, scantly clad, and lily calculated
to brave the raging tempest, left her home to
seek one ofthe numerous seamen's clothing
stores, called "slop-shops," which were scat
tered throughout Ann street aud vicinity. In
49,
completed by herself, George and Emma,
and upon the payment which she was expect
ing for her labor the family was depending
for their evening meal. During her absence,
her husband staggered homewardsin shock
ing state of ipebriety, where Emma and
Charles, the young son, were cndoayoring 10
amuse the infant Charlotte, mot yet a year old,
who, always delicate,w was now helpless as in
fancy itself, from recent severe illness, and
al.sN,.f
absence. As Mr. Austin approached the lit
tie one, and raised her in his arms with the
natural kindness which not even intemper-
ance could Danish from his nature, Emma,
unaware of her fathers deep intoXication, ac-
customed as she was to seeing him, more or
less so, constantly, and perceiving that the
babe was quiet ran down stairs to tue almost
empty wood-shed, where her brother George
was seeking fuel to prepare their supper, and
Charles followed after her. MIR Austin NOV
ed towards the fire. place, and endeavored to
seat himself; but loosing his balance, he fell;
and in falling, the babe rolled from his arms,
with his face downwards, into the fire bed OF
glowing Goals that lay on the hearth stone.--
The child was too much enfeebed by recent
illness O eXtricate ITSELF the father so dread
fully intoxicated that some minutes elapsed he
fore he was fully aware of its condition, or
could recover his feet; its cotton garments
were then blazing its tender face, neck and
bosom were Kissing on the hot Goals, and its
efforts to shrek were only convulsve and ag-
onized uasps One glance ut his infants eX-
cruciating situation, drove the fumes of the
intoxication from his brain; c!earness came
to his head, and with the quickness of light
ming he drew the burning babe from the
flames, dashed over it a vessel of water, and
was fastening to the door for assistance,
when the feet anxious footsteps of his wife
sounded on the stairs, and winter than the
sheeted dead, his tongue rigid with horror,
with the reeking, blistered, blackened form
of his babe in his arms, he stood face to face
with its mother
oh, God! who can tell the unspoken agony
of the moment! paralyzed, rooted to the floor
as iftransformed into stone, with parted lips
whence issued no sound, her heart beating
loud and heavily, so that she almost reeled
from the force Of its sickening throb, she fix
ed her ewes sternly on her husband for mo-
ment, as Ito read the whole tale, and then
prompted by the instincts of her maternal
heart, she threw offher trance of horror, and
flew to seek relief.
But the poor little innocent had inhaled the
scorching gas of its fiery pillow, and the Sc
yerest ofits burns, terrible as they were eX
ternally, uldneither be seen nor reached
The small veins of its neck were tense and
knotted under the quiverng flesh, its every
breath caused conyulsive throws, and rolling
upwards its sightless eyes, systematically
ciencblng its feeble hands, its delicate slnews
tiUbtened with agony, the half-released soul
that hung quivering on its lips, was speedily
| freed. '. lI... ..,.a.
If was months before Charlotte Austin
conld throw off from her spirits the horrible
torpor which settled upon her after the agon-
ling death other delicate babe. It seemed
ns ifnaIness would never again leave her