The Columbian fountain., 1846-10-03
Rev. ]. I. WARD, Assistant Editor.
PRICE ONE CENT.

VI SUCH vaedpouu as ne. lhe walls were
low, covered with smoke, and scanned with
hundred cracks. The chimney-piece had
once been white, but wns now Of greasy
lead color of age. The ceiling had lost
most Of the plaster, and the rain soaking
through, dripped with monotonous tick
upon the floor. A few broken chairs,
cracked looking-glass, and three-legged
table, on which was rimless cup, were in
different parts of the room. But the most
striking spectacle was directly before the
drunkard. Ona rickety bed lay the wife Of
his bosom, the once rich and beautiful Emil
ly Languerre, who through poverty, shame
and sickness, had still clung to the lover of
her youth Oh, woman thy constancy the
world cannot shake nor shame or misery
subdue. Friend after friend had deserted
that ruined man indignity after indignity
had been heaped upon him and deservedly;
year by year he had fallen lower and lower
in the sink of infamy and still through
every mishap that sainted woman had clung
to him--for he was the father Of her boy,
the husband of her youth. 1t was hard
task for her to perform; but it was her du-
ty, and when all the world had deserted
him should she too leave him She had
borne much; but, alas nature could en-
dure no more. Health had fled from her
cheeks, and her eyes were dim and sun
ken. She was in the last stage of con-
sumption, but it was not that which was
killing her-she was dying of broken
heart. sa aJ a.ia l4
The noise made by her husband awoke
her from her troubled sleep, and she half
started up in bed, the hectic fire streaming
along her cheek, and with wild, ftful
light shooting into her sunken eyes, There
was faint, shadowy smile, lighting up her
face, but it was as cold as moonlight upon
snow. The sight might have moved
felon's bosom, but what can penetrate the
scared and hardened heart Of drunkenness3
The man besides was in passion.
"Blast it, woman," said the wretch, as
he reeled into the room, ssis this the way
you receive me, after being out all day in
the rain, to get something for your brat and
you 7 Come, don't go to whining, say -
but as his wife uttered faint cry at his
brutality, and fell back senseless on the
bed he seemed 10 awaken to partial sense
of his condition, he reeled step or two
forward, put his hand up to his forehead,
stared wildly around, and then gazing al
most vacantly upon her, continued, sbut-
lwhy--what's the matter?''
aHis poor wife lay like a corpse before
him; but low voice from the other side of
the bed answered, and its tones quivered as
they spoke, "Oh mothers dead I" II was
the voice Of his son who had stolen in, and
was sobbing violently, as he tried to raise
her head in his little arms. He had been
for weeks her only nurse, and had long since
learned to act for himself. He bathed her
temples, he chafed her hands, he invoked
her wildly to awake. a1ta'
IL "Death ~ said the man, and he was So
bered at once. aDeath! dead !" he contin-
ued in tone Of horror that chilled the
blood, and advancing TO the bed side with
eyes starting from their sockets, he laid his
hand upon her marble brow, '.then, oh my
God | have murdered her Emily, Emily,
you are not dead, say so-oh speak,
and forgive your repentant husband p'--
and kneeling by the bed side, he chafed her
white, thin hand, watering it with his hot
tears, as he sobbed her name. 3taa
Their efforts, at atlength, partially restored
her, and the frstthing shesawupon reviving
was her husband weeping by her side, and
calling her Emily !" 1t was the first time
he had done so for years. 1t stirred old
memories in her heart, and called back sha-
dowy visions Of years long past. She was
back in their Youthful days. before ruin had
blasted her once noble husband, and when
all was joyous and bright as her own happy
bosom. Wo, shame, poverty, desertion,
even his brutal language was forgotten, and
she only thought Of him as the lover of
her youth. Oh that moment Of delight
She family threw her arms around his neck, i,
and sobbed there for very joy. as a4