The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-16
RevJ. T.WARD, Assistant Editor.
PRICE ONE CENT.

i
opening of the door-snd it caused her
heart to sink like heavy weight in her boz
som.
Gathering himself up, Braddock moved
forward again as steadily as he could, both
hands extended before him. A smart blow
upon the nose from an open door, that had
insinuated itself between his hands, bro't
him up again, and caused him, inyoluntari-
Iy, to dash aside the door, which shut with
Ia heavy slam. Pausing now, to recall his
scattered senses, he resolved to move for
ward with more caution, and SO succeeded
in gaining the stairs, up which he went, his
feet, softly as he tried to put them down,
falling like heavy Jumps Of lead, and max
ling the house echo again. lie felt strongly
inclined to grumble about all the lights be-
ing put out, as he came into the chamber
but a distinct consciousness that he had no
right to grumble, kept him quiet, and so he
undressed himself with as little noise as
possible which was novery small portion,
for at almost every moment he slept on
something, or ran against something that
seemed endowed for the time with sonor-.
Gus power Of double the ordinary capacity,
and crept softly into bed
Mrs. Braddock said nothing, and he said
nothing. utlong before her eyelids closed
in sleep, he was loudly snoring by her side.
When he awoke in the morning, Sally had
arisen and gone down A burning thirst
caused him to get up Immediately and dress
himself. There was no water in the room,
and if there had been he could not have
touched it while there was to be had below
cool draught from the well. So be de-
scended at once, feeling very badly, and rel
solving over again, that he would neve,
touch another drop Of liquor as long as he
lived. Havign quenched his thirst with
large bowl of cool water drawn right from
the well, he went up to his wife, where
she was STOPPING at the fire, and said
"Sally, look here"
"Go way, Jim" was her angry re-
sponse.
"No, but Sally, look here, want to talk
with you," persisted her husband.
"Go way, say don't care if never
see you again!n
"So you've said hundred times, but
never believed you, or might have taken
you al your word"
To this his wife made no reply.
I" was drunk last night, Sally" Jim said
after moments silence.
"You needn't take the trouble to tell me
that"
"Of course not. But an open confession
you know, is good for the soul. was
drunk last night, then-drunk as fool, af-
ter all that promised-but ! am not going
to get drunk again, so-o
"Don't swear any more false oaths, jim,
you've sworn enough already"
eyes, but Sally, am going to quit now,
and ! want you to talk to me like good
wife, and advise with me.'
:" If you don't 60 away and let me alone
now, I'll throw these tongs at you," the
wife rejoined, angrily, rising up and brand
ishing the article she had named. "You
are trying me beyond all manner of pa
tience !"
"There--there-keep cool, Sally. k'll
all 60 into your lifetime, darlin', . Jim re-
piled good-humoredly, taking hold Of her
hand and extricating the tongs from them,
and then drawing his arm around her waist,
and forcing her to sit down in chair, while
he took one just beside her.
"Now, Sally, Pm in dead earnest, If ever
| was in my life," he began, "and if you'll
tell me any way to break off from this
wretched habit into which have fallen,
Ill do it,"
Go and sign the pledge, them" his wife
said promptly, and somewhat sternly.
"And give up my liberty'"
"And regain it, rather. You're slave
nowo