Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-08-05

her patience was WONDERFUL she never spoke
anqrily to Ralph Dut strove, rather, always to
5 appear cheerful before him, If he wa, dispos-
ed to talk, she would talk with him and humor
his mood of mind if he was gloomy and silent,
/ she would inhude nothing on him calculated to
fret his temper; if he complained she tried to
soothe him. But 1t awaited nothing The man
was in charmed circle, and evrey impulse ten
ded to throw him into the centre where ruin a.
waited him.
At last, even the few dollars she had received
every week from her husbands earnings, ceased
to come into her hands. The wreched man
worked little over half his time, and drank up
all that he made Even the amount Of food
that the entire product Of Mrs Lyons labor
would procure was barely sufficient to satisfy
the hunger of her family, The clothes of her
children began to hang in tatters about them;
her own garments were faded worn and patch
ed; and every thing about the house that had
not been sold to pay house rent, was in a d.
lapidated condition. Still, there had been no
unknd word, not even remonstrance from the
much enduring wife.
Matters at last reached climax, Poor Mrs
Lyon had not been able to get anything to do
for week, and all supplies Of food, except a
little meal, were exhausted. An anxious day
had Just closed, and at night-fall the mother
made some hasy-pudding for the children, which
was eaten with little milk. This consumed
her entire store. She had four children; the
two oldest she had put to bed, but kept the two
Youngest, one five and the other three years old
up with her. She moved about with frmer
step than usual, and her lips were tightly closed
as if she had made up her mind to do something
from which, under ordinary circumstances, she
would have shrunk.
After the older children had been put to bed,
she made the two younger ones draw near to
the hearth, upon which few brands were burn
ing, and warm themselves as well as the feeble
heat emitted by the almost exhausted fire, would
permit Then she wrapped each around with a
piece of old shawl and after putting on her bon
net took them by the hands and left the house
1t was a chilly night in the winter, The wind
swept codly along the streets, piercing through
the thin garments of the desperate mother, who
was leading forth her little ones to some strange,
: unnatural Grand But she shrunk not in the
blast, but walked rapidly along, almost dragging
the children after her. At length she stopped
before an aIe-house, and standing on tip-toe
looking over the red curtain that shaded halfthe
, window, and concealed the inmates from the
view of passers by. Within she saw her hus
band sitting comfortably by table, glass by
his side, and pipe in his mouth. Half dozel
pot-companons were sitting around, and al
/, seemed enjoying themselves well.
Mrs. Lyon remained without only few mo
ments; then taking hold of the door, she walked
firmly in, and without appearing to notice he
husband went up to the bar and called for three
glasses of brandy. After doing this, she seated
= herself at a table near by her husband. Great
> of course, was the surprise of Lyon at this ap
+ partition. He jumped from his chair and stooc
: before his wife, just as she had taken seat a
the table, saying in an under tone as he dit
So
= For Heavens sake, Sally! what brings yo
here!'
> 1T is very lonesome at home, ph,' she re
d L
:, and there is no company for me like yours.
" will 90 anywhere to be with you. | am wn
to come even here
But, Sally, to think of your coming to sue
> a place as this
. IF it is pleasant to you, it shall be so to me
Anywhere that my husband goes surely can &C
God hath joined US together as one, and nothn
should divide us
BY this time the three glasses of brandy tina
{ Mrs Lyon had called for we're placed before he
on the table.
J. Bring another glass; said Mrs. Lyon, calmly
+ my husband will drink with u.s.
o Mad, are you mad calculated Ralph.
Il Mad, to go with you my husband! VIII
should you say that, Ralph? Drink, children
. she added, turning to her little ones, and pIacn,
cup of unauthorized brandy before them Il
. will do you good As Sally said this, she LITE
+ her own glass to her lips.
Il Surely you are not going to drink that
i said Ralph.
II why not? you drink to forget sorrow; and
. brandy have that effect, | am sure no Twin
Is creature needs it more than do. Besides
1t have eaten nothing to-day, and need somethin!
d to strengthen me-
u Saying this, she slipped the burning liquid, an
II smacking her lips, looked up in her husband
face and smiled.
1t warns me to the very heart, Ralph SAT-
q she Il feel better already Then turning t.
the children, whose glasses remained untonch
!; ed before them she said to the astonshed it'll
ones,
" Drink my children! 1t is very good
Woman are you mad! My children shall
: not touch it, and he lifted the glasses from the
table and handed them to one of the compan
{ that had crowded round to witness this strang
y scene.
5 why not? said his wife, in the calm tone
with which she bad first spoken. If it is goo(
for you, it is good for your wife and children i
will put these dear ones to sleep, and they viii
i forget that they are cold and hungry. To yor
it is fire and food and bed and clothing-al these
Y wn nead and Won will surely NOT withhold tbon-