Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-09-04
WHOLE NUMBER 100.
THE DRUNKlRD's WIFE AND CInLD.

THE DRCNKARD'S WIFE AND CHILD.
One w.nlcraiieuOon, when hucedrfsOf snow
blocked up the narrow and Irregular streets Of the
city, when the Euul wind which blew from all
pOins Of the compass dashed hither and thither
through the keen air the broad snow flakes, Mrs.
Austin, scaHtily clad, and Ills calculated tO brave
the raging tempest, lcil her home 10 seek one Of
the numerous scaman's clothing stores, called
i''slOp-shops," which were scattered throughout
Ann street and It's vicinity. Ia her hand was a
large bundle Of work just completed By herself,
George and Emma, aud upon the payment she
was expecting for her labor, the family were de-
pending for their evening meal. During her alb
sencc, her husband staggered hOmewarls in a
shocking state Of inebriety, where Emma and
Charles, the younger son, were cndeayorng to a.
muse the infant Charlotte, not yet a year old,
who, always delicate was now helpless as infancy
itself, from a recent severe illness, and who lay
/ in the cradle waiiing her mothers absence. As
Nr. Austin approached the little one, and raised
her in his arms with the natural Kindness which
not even intempcraEcc could Danish from his ma
ture, Emma, unaware Of her fathers deep intoX-
/ IcatiOn, accustomed she waste seeing him more
or less 50 constantly, and pcrcGiyug that the babe
was quiet ran down stairs 10 the almost empty
wood-shed, where her brother George was seek
ing fuel to prepare their supper, and Charles fol-
lowed after her. Mr.. Austin moved towards the
fireplace, and cndcayOred 10 seat himself but
losing his balance he fell and in falling the babe
rolled from his arms, with It's face dOwnwards,
into the fiery bed Of glowing Goals that lay on the
hearth-stone. The child was toomuch enfeeblcd
by recent illness TO eXtricac Itself, the father 50
drcadiuIly intoxicated that some minutes elapsed
: before he was fully aware Of its condition, or
could recover his icet its cotton garments were
then blazing, lis enderface, neck, and bosom were
! Kissing on the hot Goals, and its efforts to shrek
} were only conyulsivc and agonized gasps.
One glance at his infants excrucalng pain
drove the fumes Of MODIFICATION from his brain
t ccarncss came TO his head, scadincss 10 hi.
J hand, andwith the quickness Of lighninghc drew
: the burning babe from the flames, dashed over i
d a vessel Of water and was Fastening 10 the dool
- for assistance, when the fleet and anxious foot.
steps of his wife sounded on the stairs. and viii.
a ter than the shccled dead, his tongue rigid with
S horror with the rccking, blistcred blackcncd form
I 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! paralizcd, rooted to the floor as il
transformed 10 stone, with partcdlips from whence
|, issued no sound, her heart beating loud and hca
/ Willy, so that she almost reeled from the force
S It's sickcning throb, she fixed her eyes steadily OF
IS her husband for a moment, as if TO read the
: whole tale, and then prompted by the instincts o
/. her maternal heart, she threw off her trance O
= horror, and flew 10 seek relief
e But the poor littlc innocent inhaled the scorch
ing gas of its fiery pillow, and the seyercst of its
j burns, terribly as they were externally, could
G neither be seen or reached. The small veins o.
r the neck were tense and knotted, under the quiv
5 cring flesh, It's every breath caused conyulsiyc
n throcs and rolling up its sightless eyes, spasmod
= icaly clcnching lis feeble hands, its delicate sin
s ews tghtened with agony, the halEreeased sou
that hung quiyering on its lips, was speedily freed
1t was months ere Charlotte Austin could throw
: off from her spirit the horrible torpor which set
n tied upon her, after the agonizind death of hel
;, delicate babe. 1t seemed as if paleness would
k never more leave her check, as if her eye woulC
c never move steadily. or her voice be cleared o
= huskiness, as if she had forgotten even the smile
of converse for she moved about as if all but the
. animal mechanism of her life were paralyzed.-
k None knew the secret of the accident which oc
II Cured save the parents, and the vague reply o
y Mrs. Austin, 'that the babe fell into the fire du
ring her absence" fastened upon her the charg
s of carelessness and neglect, both among he
neighbors, and the multlorm accounts of the oc
+ currenco that found their way into the city. Sh,
- never rcpeed the charge, but Christ-ike, wa
content to bear the sins of him who had so cruelty
IS wronged her and hers, and receive the odiun
d which hedeserycs. Wnhthc same meek uncom
planning kindness, she continued TO minister 10 hi
C wants, ultering no harshness, looking no rebul1
), save what was conveyed by the mournful gaz
l. of her eye.-NetO England WashingtOnian.