Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-10-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
Appeal of a Wife and Mother.

heart was light and blithesome. | was then
a stranger 10 care. | had then never expert.
enced one pang Of disappointment arising
from hope deferred. The world was t. mo
full Of promise; and my Imagination looked
forward to many future years of calm aud
tranquil happiness.
Twen;y-seven years ago! How often does
memory carry me back TO that green sunny
spot in my existence. Twenty-seven yelrs
ago! There is a meaning In this word which
brings TO my mind a full recollection Of that
sweet aud delightful period. Well do | re-
member the delicacy with which | was rear
ed the unwearied pains taken by my indul-
gent father, to give me an education answer
able To my birth and prospects. And well do
! remember my NUMEROUS suitors-my happy
bridal eve-my splendid dress-and my brill
liant wedding-whpn ! gave my hand and
my heart 10 him who is now my husband.
was then a delighted, happy wife. My
husband was one Of the most promising
and intelligent young men in the village. He
was To me so kind and a~ttentive-so full of
affection and tenderness. loved him then;
| love HIM still, and | trust | shall love him
until | die. Our prospects then wtro the
most encouraging. We'll do l remember
the beautiful mlusion which my father gave
me, and the splendid furniture with which it
was stored. The costly sideboard, with the
glittcring vases and glassps which covered it,
aud the elegant dccautprs, sparkling 50 bril-
liantly with the choicest vines cont lined in
them. On! that wine, TINT wine how like
the serpent it stole into the Ellen Of our Hiss,
and stamped \ curse upon me and mine, un-
nttrrablr aud indescnbtble. But | was then
young and th'ughticss. | poured out the
wine for nv young companions a they call
ed upon me-. | laughingy urged those who
were temperate, to drink only one GLASS;
Like a fool. ! was sporting with the very
temptations, the most fltal to the peace and
happiness of families. Experience, bitter,
sad experience, has taught me this; and the
agony Of heart and the tears of anguish |
have shed for this, my youthful folly, can on
ly he seen at the judgment.
One year after my marriage. | gave birth
to my first born, a fair and beautiful boy
Oh how many hours If happiness, pure and
unalloyed, have | spent in sporting with and
nursing that young immortal. How fondly
my heart WAS attached to that child and yet
how little did / then feel for his true inter-
est; how little gratitude did ! feel to my Ma
ker, for his goodness towards me; and how
little did | feel my obligation 10 teach my
son, in his early and tender years, his duty to
God! was then blinded with my sins;
had experienced and enjoyed too many mer-
cies To feel grateful for them; and it was on
" when misfortune came and laid its iron
hands upon me, that | was led by the inf
ni,o love and mercy Of God to think of my
obligations and duties.
Well, time rolled on. Another, and anoth-
or, and another, were added 10 my flmily,
and nine years after my marriage, | was the
mother of five children. all of them boys
My husband had, by his attention to busi-
ness. secured a handsome fortune and our
worldly prospects We're most encourlging.-
He was to me still kindly aff-ctionite-ill
that a husband should be. ] WAS still a hap
py wife, and a g%ralifed. delighted mother;
no cloud seemed resting over M. But why
need | dwell upon this fair side Of the pic
ture any longer! My tale i. a tale of woe,
Of blightel mi crushed hopes and expectl-
tions-and nv appeal is the most painful ef-
fort of a wilr's and mothers heart. Yet hear
me-hear me through, We mm-Selling gentry.
We are they who make sport of the happi-
ness and peace Of the domestic circle; We are
they who, for The sake of gain, are ready to
destroy both body and soul We are they who
are scattering flowers over hell, and SMOOTH
ing the pathway Of many a wretched wander
or towards il with your stimulating drinks.
Do | talk too hard : Oh! read a little fur
Their, and see the havoc one of your number
has produced in my family and then say, if
you can, that | have no reason for my sever
ily.
| well remember one bitter cold night in
December, that | sat up long after my usual
hour, waiting for my husband to return from
his business. This was the first time he ev-
or stayed out 50 late as To alarm me. There
sat in my chair, all alone. anXiously await
ing the sound of every ~footstep upon the
pavement. One, two, three O'Clock was
sounded in my ears by the faithful monitor
before me. Still he came not; tired and
cold, | laid myself down upon my pillow,
not to sleep, but to wet it with my tears
My heart was oppressed with a certain feel
ing that all was not right with my husband.
About four o'clock, | heard several h IRVING
steps upon the pavement. and strange loud
voices ~ i: engaged in angry debate. The
crowd stopped at my door, and | heard my
husbands voice demanding admission. |
descended to the door and opened it.. He
looked at me sternly for a moment, but oh
serving my pale countenance, still wet with
tears. he changed color, stammereh out an
apology for keeping me up so late, and as
cended to our chamber. Before RETIRING TO
bed. however, he went to The side-board to
drink a glass Of wine. The dpclnters were
empty; he opened the side-hoard and looked
for the jug continuing the brandy. This was
empty also. This surprised me; | knew
they had both been filled a few days before,
My eyes were now opened, and the a,tound.
Ing fact that my husband ad become drunk,
ard, aud had just returned f-om a drunken
revel, barst upon me. | covered my ficr
with my hands, and bury ing them deep it
the pillow, ! tried to shut out the lrightfu
idea. Oh God what an hour of agony
of deep, unuiterable agony was that! thr
husband of my bosom-lhe beloved OF m'
heart-lhr f'lhor Of my children; proslitu
ting his intellect, and deb sing his ~characte
by incompetence. Could it bel
He arose the next morning long after li
usual hour. Breikfls had been delayed 70
him and the eldest children whispered TO
gpther as he entered the room, as though they
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