Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-08-13
Il e mp ran Ce.
The DrnnkarNs Wife and ChiId.

AhO W Nv uhu Nhh"
The following is an extract from the prize
tale of Mrs H. Lvermore, published in the
New England Washingtonian. 1t is founded on
facts.
zone winter afternoon, when huge drifts of
snow blocked up the narrow and irregular streets
of the city,, when the ftlul wind which blew
from all points of the compass dashed hither
and thither through the keen air the broad snow
flakes, Mrs. Austin, scantily clad, and lily cacu-
lated to brave the raging tempest, left her home
to seek one of the numerous seamen's clothing
stores, called 'slop shops, which were scattered
throughout Ann street and its vicinity In her
hand was a large bundle of work Just complet-
ed by herself, George and Emma, and upon
the payment she was expecting for her labor, the
family was depending for their evening meal
During her absence, her husband staggered
homewards in shocking state ofinebtety, where
Emma and Charles the younger son, were en-
deavoring to amuse the infant Charlotte, not yet
a year old, who, always delicate, was now help
less as infancy itself, from recent severe Illness
and who lay in the cradle waiIing her mothers
absence. AS Mr.. Austin approached the little
one, and raised her in his arms with the natural
kindness which not even intemperance could
Danish from his nature, Emma, unaware of her
fathers deep lntoxcation, accustomed as she was
to seeing him more or less SO constantly, and
perceving that the babe was quiet, ran down
stairs to the almost empty wood-shed where her
brother George was seeking fuel to prepare their
supper, and Charles followed after her. Mr.
Austin moved towards the fire. place, and en-
deavoring to seat himself; but losing his balance
he fell, and in falling the babe rolled from his
arms, with its face downwards, into the fiery bed
of glowing GOALS that lay on the hearthstone.-
The child was too much enfecbled by recent i'll
ness to extrlcate Itself the father so drcadluIly
intoxicated that some minutes elapsed before he
was fully aware of its condition, or could re-
cover 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 convusive and agonized gasps.
" One glance at his infants eXcruciating pain,
drove the fumes of intoxication from his brain :;
clearness came to his head steadness to his hand
and with the quckness of lightning 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 fleet and anxious foot
steps Of his wife sounded on the stairs, and
whittier than the sheeted dead, his lounge rigid
with horror, with the reeking ,blistered, backen-
ed form of his babe in his arms, he stood face to
face with its mother
"Oh, God who can tell the unspoken agony
oc al Il Il a.
if transformed to stone, with parted lips from
whence issued no sound her heart beating loud
and heavily, so that she almost reeled from the
force of its sickenng throb, she fixed her eyes
steadily on her husband for moment, as if to
read the whole tale, and then prompted by the
instincts of her maternal heart, she threw off
her trance of horror and flew to seek relief
I" But the poor little innocent inhaled the
scorching gas of its fiery pillow, and the sever
est of its burns, terrible they were externally,
could neither be seen or reached. The small
veins of its neck were tense and knottcd, under
the quiverng aesh its every breath caused con-
vulsive throes, and rolling upwards its sghtess
eyes, spasmodicaIy clenching its feeble hands,
its delicate slnews tighened with agony, the half
reaeased soul that hung quivering Oh its lips,
was speedily freed.
&c 1t was months ere Charlotte Austin could
throw off from her spirit the horrible torpor which
settled upon her, after the agonizlng death of her
delicate babe 1t seemed as if paleness would
never more leave her cheek as if her eye would
never more burn steadily, or her voice be cleared
of huskness, as if she had forgotten even tc
smile or converse, for she moved about as if all
but the animal mechanism of her life were par
ayzed. None knew the secret Of the accident
which had occurred save the parents, and the
vague reply of Mrs. Austin, that her babe fell
into the fire during her ABSENCE fastened upon
her the charge of carelessness and neglect boil
among her neighbors, and in the mulilorm ac
counts of the occurrence that found then way
into the city. She never repealed the charge
but Christ-lke was content to bear the sins o.
him who had so cruelty wronged her and hers
and to receive the odum which he deserved
With the same meek accomplishing kindness
she continued to minister to his wants, utterin!
no word of harshness, looking no rebuke saw
what was conveyed by the mournluI gaze of he
eye"