Democratic banner., 1846-05-23


in haste forhis sick family. He was return
ing with apparent corncern. and was pas
sing The corner Of the street, when one OF
his associates in proHigacy, looking through
the window of a contemplate grog shop,
saw his comradc passing, and called him to,
take something TO drink.
Although this incbriate knew that the
relief, if not the life, Of his family depended
on his speedy rcturn-his helpless family
being entirely alone, and none of his neigh
bors had knowledge of his abscnee-yet.
this miserable wretch, on hearing the sound
of rum, and an invitation to partake of the
crimson poison, soon forgot suffering WIFI
and helpless infant, left by him in the jaw
of death. He entered the sink of VIC ana!
crime, where demons in human form are
won to meet and hold midnight rcvclry.-
Here he remained in a drunken frolic for
several days. during which it was extreme
ly cold, and there was a heavy fall of snow.
No one called at his house during the storm
supPosing that lie was at home with his
family. The fire was out-no friend to
render assiStancc-not even the call of a
stranger to give relief. On her bed of
straw, with an infant on each arm, and a
few shreds Of covering, lay the sufferer, pier
ced with hunger and cold; the bed, fire
,,Ioao ,,I H., $4,000 III o,.,,o1 T. -,
depth by tie drifting snow. On the third
or fourth day he returned with the little
medicine and bottle of rum. The snow
had so dri:ted thatit was with difficulty lie
entered his house Of death. 1t is said the
fingers Of the eldest babe were stiircncd
to marble, and the teardtrop had frozcnup
on the infants cheek. His wife neither
smiled nor wept-lifc still fickcrcd within
them all. In this situation lie found his
neglected and psrishing family. Hcwasin-
toxicated when he rcturncd-sct His me
dieine and bottle of rum on the sheil, and
Immediately left for his fathers family.
(nearly half a mile distant, told his moth
er the fire had gone out, and his wife was
at home sick, and he wished size would 90
over and see her; at the same time Stepped
into his fathers bar, and took a { glass of
brandy As lie Came out he staggered and
fell, and thcre'he spent the afterUon.
. His mother was unfortunately given to
habits of intempc-annc, and was then un-
der the influence Of ardent spirits. How
ever, with fire and fuel she set of to visit
the abode of distress. She found the wo-
man and children spcecllcss, badly frozen.
and apparently in the agonies Of DEATH
With some, difficulty she made e fire, threw
a brick and stone into the danes, and while
theg We're heating she discovered Tie rum.
Being exceedingly chilled, she drank freely
Of it, and thought it would do her good; but
it only deprived her of reason. By :his
time the heated brick and stone became
burning hot, ana the drunken mother applied
them to the naked feet Of the dying woman.
will only add that in about thirty minutes
S 'hSooCHSSl 4iOAH IlOdh Cu SdilC W
her relief; that messenger was death.
1t fell to. my lot to deliver the frncralG;s-
course of this unfortunate female. re
feelings Of my heart on this occasion ! wili
not attempt TO describe. When the lid Of
the coffin was removed, and many weeping
eyes were casting painful looks on her who
had fallen a victim to the cruclties of in
temperance, I saw the husband (the author
of her hapless fate stagger up to the coffin
and, to all appearance, with a heart as un-
moved, and an eye as fearless, as the cold
and lovely form on which he fixed his drunk
en- gaze. We all proceeded to the burying
ground, and Ifelt a pleasure in seeing the
coffin consigned to its peaceful abode. But
when | dismissed the audience in the chris
tan form, with my eyes l saw that drunk
en- maniac stagger overthe fresh grave of
his bosom companion. Ny heart failed, and
my spirit moved within Inc, and could not
refrain from exclaiming in my heart, AL
mighty God! if it is thy will that man should
-, e. - a., l:co -o -l ~