Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-03-30

board 10 drink a glass of wine. Tho de-
canters were empty; no pcned the side
board and looked for tho Jug containing the
brandy. This was empty nlso. THIS
surprised me: | know they Ind both been
filled few days before. Ny eyes were
now opened, and the astounding fact that
my husband had become a Jrunkard, md
had ius, returned from drunken rcvel,
burst upon me. covered my face with
my hands, and burying them deep in the
pillow, | tried to shut out the fr'ghiful
iden. Oh. God VIVA. an hour Of agony
of deep. unu,lerabe agony was Tint
tho husband Of my bosom--thc beloved OF
my hear,--tiie father Of my children;
pros,i.uiing his intellect. aud dcbas'ng his
character by intcmpcrance. louhd II DC!
He arose the ne xt morning long after his usual
hour. Breakfast had been delayed for him aud
the eldest children whispered together as he en-
tered the room, as though they were shocked at
his altered appearance. Before he sat down TO
the table, one of the boys was sent TO certain
rum-.rllinp professor in orr neighborhood after
somc brandy. | knew he had always drank
glass fore breakfast bat IT never had attracted
my atten tion particularly before no" deter
mined to demonstrate with him gently, but hrmiy
and induce him by a moral infuehce 10 aoah3oh
90 perncious a habit.
As soon the breakfas: table was cleared,
entered the parlor and desired him to follow nc
lie entered with cheerful ness which giaddened
me, and closing the door seated himself beside
me on the sofa. took his hand gently between
mine, and looking hun up III the face, with as
much tenderness as / could assume, began to
speak OF our first acquaintance-of our early
love--of our marriage, and the bright prospects
which were then opened before US. spoke OF
our present standing and influence IN society
of the high respect with which we were treated
by all and then brought the question home to
his heart, whether he was not fearful mat All
these fine prospects might be ruined, If he con-
tinued to indulge his appetite for ardent spirits
He listened to me attentlvely, and smiingly an
swered, when ] had finished, ''that glass oil
wine or brandy could do him no hurt lie was
not afraid of becoming slave to the habit; he
could break oil when 1t hnrt hun, for he under
stood his own intere too well ever TO become a
topper" :. .r.n,nor,, a. !.
Societies had then been formed; and pubic
opinion was not much enlightened as 1t Is now
I knew il was fashionable to keep ali KINDS OF
ardent spirits in the house-to treat every caller;
and our standing in society was such that our
house was often thronged with visitors knew
we should be deridcd if we banished liquors from
tho house and yet thoroughly was l con-
vinced that my liVObani was ruined man, un-
LNseiA frr-- prupSseh II to him he looked at me
with surprise. "No No :" he exclaimed "ihat
shall never be curl less wealthy neighbors afford
it, and must we l cannot, and Will not con-
sent to that. One glass of wine cannot do any
ono any possible hurt l shall drink when
over want to-"
81 agree with you my dear husband that one
glass Of wine can do no hurt. 1t is not of one
glass l complain. l have noticed, of late, that
you drink many i'll the course Of day. The
habit has grown upon you with fearful rapidity,
and fear--a tear started do fear the conse-
quences,"
"Poh Poh nonsense he replied, good ma
turcdly, "it is all imagination"
'Imagination not, my dear husband, it has
affected me much though it was a painful
reality. 1t was but yeste rday | saw our two
eldest boys around the side board, looking visit
fully at the wine and will you believe it, our
b sSis 81 cocs so tpsy he could not
"The side board must then be locked coldly
rcioined my husband sit will not do to be so
Questionable as to turn our liquor out of doors.
Our parson keeps it--and so do our deacons-
and so do our professors of religion and surely
If such men as these think there Is no harm in it,
we may safely allow it to reman.''
What could say? Alas. it was too true that
our parson kept it and often have /, when
visited his house, accepted glass OF WINE or
some other stmu lating drinks. Our parson also
used to drink it before his breakfast, and before
no went into his pulpit on the Sabbath. One of
our deacons also kept it for sale and several
members of the church had their drunkard man
ufactories in full operation. Alas, did not then
dare question the piety Of these men and after
my husband had quoted such high authority,
felt constrained to be silent
a few more weeks rolled away before my hus-
band again STAYED out after his usual hour
When he came home this time, he consider
ably intoxicated. He pushed me roughly aside,
he entered the house, unmindful of my fast
falling tears. My nights and days became now
cmbittered with u certain fearful looking for sor-
row. My cheek became pale, and mine eyes red
with weeping.
For about five years after this, my husband
frequently came homo intoxicated. In vain
reasoned and demonstrated. treated him with
all the tenderness Of which was capable-di
oil that could to anticipate his wants and made
his firesde cheerful and agreeable, yet for ALL
Twas frequently repaid with harsh and brutal
abuses. When sober, kindly atfectonate, and he
would make every promise IN the world TO
amend. He seemed deeply conscious of the in
Jury he had done me. Sill the enemy al
lowed fortress on our side board, and still my
husband thought there could be no harm in oc-
casionaly dalying with him. Alas. the habit
was Gxed--deepy. incurably liked lie had be-
como q slave to his passion. He could no longer
resist the temptation. Tho net thrown
the victim had been caught and all the prayers
and ugonizing applications OF wife; ana all
the tears Of five slammed and wretched Children,
could not set the captive free.
Two more wears passed away. Of deep and in-
dcscribabls wretchedness. Every thing went
wrong. Nv children. who at first were shocked
at their fathers disgrace, now, in turn, began 20
ridcule him. His business was neglected, ana
tho first intmaton tina; l received of the BAD
state of his atfars was N execution levied by one
Of our rum-selling professors upon his store
Immediately grve mortgage on my house 10
release my hu Stands effects in trade. lie prom
ised anne ndmen mt believed him. and placed IN
his hands all the property which my deceased
father had settled upon me. This however, was