Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-07-29


was an Undesirable IMPRESSION Of defiance on
his counienanee as though he was conscious Of
having done wrong. and resolved to brave il
out. We sat down silently to supper, and he
scarcely raised his eyes upon any Of US. du-
ring this unhappy repast. He soon went to
bed and fell asleep; and after had led our
little ones to rest, ] kneli at the foot Of the bed
on which my poor misguided husband was
sleeping, and poured out my very soul TO God
while my eyes were scalding with the biteresl
tears had ever shed. For | then foresaw,
that unless some remedy could oe employed,
my best earthly friend, the father Of my little
children, would become a drunkard. The
next morning, after breakfast, ] ventured to
speak with him upon the subject, in a mild
way and, though | could not restrain my
tears, neither my words nor my weeping ap-
peared TO have any effect, ard saw he was
becoming hardened and careless of us ALL
How many nights have | waited, weeping
alone at my once happy iireside, listening for
the lifting latch and wishing, yet dreadlng, to
hear his steps at the door.
After this state OF things had continued. or
rather grown worse, for nearly three months,
put on my bonnet one morning after my hus-
band had gone to his work, and went TO the
deacon's store; and finding hIm alone stated
my husbands case, and begged him earnestly
to sell HIM no more. He told me it would do
no good, for, if he did not sell il, some other
person would sell it; and he doubted whether
my husband took more than was good for
him. He quoted Scripture TO show that il
was the wifes duty TO keep at home, and sub
NIT herself to her husband, and not NEEDLE
with things that did not belong to her prov.
nce. AT this time two or three customers
called for rum, and the deacon ciyilly advised
me 10 go home and look after my children.
went out with heavy heart II seemed
as if the tide oil evil was setting against me-
As was passing farmer Johnson's on my
way home, they called me in. | sat down
and rested myself for few minutes in their
neat cottage. Farmer Johnson was Just re-
turning from the field, and when saw the lit
tie ones running to meet him, at the stile, and
the kind looks that passed between the good
man and his wife; and when | remembered
we were married on the same day, aud COM
pared nv own fortune with theirs my poor
heart burst forth in Hood OF tears. They all
knew what | was weeping for, and farmer
Johnson, in kind manner, babe me cheer up,
and put my trust in Gods mercy, and re-
member that it was often darkest before day
light. The farmer and his wife, were MEM
beers Of the temperance society, and had sign
ed the pledge; and ] have often heard him
say, that he believed 1t had saved him from
destruction. He had, before his marriage and
for a year after, been in the habit OF taking a
little every day. He was an industrious,
thriving man but shortly after his marriage
he became bound fora neighbor, who of,
and he was obliged 10 pay the debt. have
heard him declare, that, when the sheriff took
away all his property, and stripped his little
cottage, and scarcely left him those trfies Sc
cured to poor man by law and when he
considered how i'll his poor wife was at that
time in consequence Of the loss Of their child,
that died only month before, he was restrain
ed from resorllng 10 the bottle, in hls moment
of despair, by nothing but recollection of the
pledge he had signed Farmer Johnson's
minister was IN favor of the pledge, and had
often told him that the affection might weak
en- his Judgment and his moral sense, and the
pledge might save him at last, as The plank
saves the lite Of mariner, who is tossed upon
the waves.
Our good clergyman was unfortunately of
a different opinion. He had often disappro-
we'd OF pledges, the deacon was of the same
opinion, he thought very lily of pledges.
Month after month passed away, and our
happiness was utterly destroyed. My hus-
band neglected his business, and poverty be-
gan to stare US in the face. Notwithstanding
my best exertions, it was hard work to keep
my little ones decently clothed and sufficiently
fed IL my husband earned shilling, the
dramseller was sure of it, as lift were already
in his till. sometimes thought had lost all
my affection Tor one, who had proven SO en-
lirely regardless Of those whom II was his du-
~ TO project and sustain; but when looked
into the faces Of our liule children, the recol
lection Of our early marriage days, and all his
kind words and deeds soon taught me the
strength Of the principle, tina: had brought us
together.
| shall never cease TO remember the anguish
felt when the constable took him 10 jail, up
on drumseller's execution. Till that mo-
ment, dId not believe my affection could
have survived, under the pressure OF that ms
cry, which he had brought upon US all. |
put up such things of the little that remained
TO US, as thought might be OF use, and turn
ed my back upon the spot, where had been
very unhappy and very wrelched. Our five
little children followed, weeping bitterly.-I
The jail was situated in the nsxt Town. .'Oh
Georges" said |, ''if you had only signed tine
pledge, it would not have come 10 this" He
sighed and SAID nothing and we walked near
" mile in perfect silence. As we were lea
wing this village, weencounteredour
gong forth upon his morning ride. When
that few words from him would
have induced my poor husband TO sign the
pledge, and that if he had done so he might
have been the kind father and the af1ectlonate
husband tina, he once was, own il cost me
effort 10 suppress my emotion
WHITTIER are you going ~ said the holy man.
My husband who had always appeared ex
Iremely humble, in presence Of the minister,
and replied 10 all his inqueries, in a subdued
tone oil voice and with unusual firmness.--
10 Jail, reverend sir" ''To jail" said he,
sab, see how it is you have wasted your
substance in riotous living, are going 10 pay
for your improvidence and folly. You have
had the advantage of my preeep; and example.
and you turned deaf ear TO the one, and ne
elected the other.
"Reverend SIR" my husband replied, gall
ed by this reproof. which appeared to HIM at
that particular moment an unnecessary agra
walton of his misery, reverend sir, your pre-
cept and your example have been my ruin; |
followed them both--you, who had no expe
rience of the temptations, TO which your weak
sr brethren are liable, who are already addic- (
led TO the temperate and daily use Of ardent
spirits, advised me never 10 sign pledge
You admitted that extraordinary occasions
night justify the use OF ardent spirits, and that
IN such occasions, you might use il yourself !
followed your example; but il has been my