Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-09-28
Select Gales.
The Young Wife.
A TEMPERANCE SKETCH.
BY LIZZIE J. HALE

the human heart and few, ah, how teoO, under
stand ii Alright Many, all unconscious of their
doings it may be, are fast Fastening some loved,
or once loved one, to the silent grave. Aye, |
many wife is journeyng thithcr. Husband, |
dost thou know this Hast thou seen, day af-
Ter day, her cheek paling, her eye sinking, and
her once buoyant step becoming slow, measured
and weared? Dust thou know that for thee |
she is suffering thus! O. no thou canSt not
hare known it, else would thy heart have taken
her to home an undivided home, aud infus- |
ed thy life Into hers. But learn now, o hus-
band, ere it be too late, what treasure thou art
losing Save her, 0 sa0e her!
Ady Fulton was my friend. Thrown togeth-
err among strangers, in strange land, we were
soon even as sisters Indeed, by our school
mates, for, reader, we were school girls then,
we were always called aud treated thus In
the same classes with the same cares and plea
sures from day to day, and with naturally SIM
ilarity of tastes, no wonder we became insepera-
Bile companions. Not that we were outwardIy
alike at ALL 0, no; she was all gentleness,
weakness and love; | more passionate, head
strongc and wiful. But underneath all this we
found similarity 1t matered not what others
said-we were satisfied.
For year we remained thus, constantly to-
geher Then was called away, Our parting!
it will never, never be forgotten. For years we
met not again. She returned to her own pleas
ant and far off home, and entered upon the
daily routine Of a teachers life. During the
first twelve months our correspondence remained
unbroken. In that time she was engaged to be
married, and removed still father from me-
Then her letters we're full ofjoy and hope. The
future was all bright, and there seemed not a
shadow on her young and sunshine heart BY
and by her letters grew short, less frequent, and
FINALLY ceased altogether,
For three Yeas heard not from her At
the end of that time letter came. With what
eargerness broke the seal for well knew that
delicate signature 1t brought the intelligence
of her return home, and an earnest invitation
for me to visit her, closing with these words,
" Come to me soon, Lizzie, or my WORKOUT
spirit Will have winged its way before you" |
hastened thither. She was indeed well nioh the
esprit land y yet, she seemed happy, nexpres-
sbly So Her husband was with her, aud now
for the first time, | saw him. wondered not
that be had won that gentle being for his
bride, or that she so soon became his for a
more noble, generous hearted and devoted hus-
band never saw
The day passed. for bad arrived in the
morning, and Ady had just had sufficient
strength to be assisted to scat meath flvorite
tree in front of the house. and to her room again.
o, such change Once 50 healthy, lively and
buoyant now she seemed more a shadowy sylph
from fairy land, than living moving person.
Yet the same clear brow was there, the same
calm blue eye and sweet expression. Her voice,
too, had only mellowed into more perfect harm
ony, and heart to a more kindly warmth At
evening she called me to her side " Come
hither, my friend" said she " for | would fam
speak Ct those days when seemed to have for
gotten you. Nm one on earth, not even my pa
rents, knew how much suffered could not
tell them; for the memory, even, would too
deeply wound their hearts But you shall know
all )" aud with her head upon my shoulder, and
her hand clasped in mine, she related her past
sorrows. AS nearly as can, will give them
to you, though may add much ofhersef which
modesty forbade her speaking
The first few months after her marriage were
those of unaIloyed happiness. Her husban,
was largely engaged in the mercantile business
in western city, and nought but prosperity ant
happiness shone on their pathway But she a
woke from this bssfu dream to find that he
who was to be her guide and companion through
life, was all unworthy the sacred charge. II
0as incorporate Oh who may tell the sor
rows of that young and devoted wife, when frs
the conviction burst upon her 1t we'll nigl
forced the life bloood from her veins. She ha,
been too close an observer Of human nature no
to see and feel their danger
Slowly and almost mperceptibly the fatal hat
it grew upon him. Night after night would h
come home unified, even, to dlsrobe himselfan
retire. Patiently and gently would she assis
him, even as would "a fond mother her Young an
helpless child. Not word OF ccnsure had ey
passed her lips He ever found his HON
cheelIul, pleasant aud roudy " uvlvvuv til
wanderer. Ever his wife took especial care
please him. Was there favolite dish of his
she had it prepared. Had he choice among he
frocks or the color Of ribband it was sure
greet him on his return In short, all her talen
aud energy were bent on pleasing him.
Noble, generous woman Could thy HUSBAND
but have seen thy entire and heartfelt devotion
thy almost unearthly forbearance with all his VI
kindness. he could not have continued his dow
ward course. But his eye was blinded, his hea
shut. Thou must still bear on, suffer on.
Soon his business was neglected, his cred
gone, and nought but want and pryation SCENE
staring them in the face Faithfully, and o no
feeling y, did Ady plead with him, when he W;
himself, for his return to love and duty. Som
times he would promise, soemnly promise, nev,
to touch the cursed thing again. But, al las! f
his resolutions They fled, even as name orr
ven on sand. Yet the wife prayed on, hoped o.
loved on Was he not dearer to her than q
others, even in his very degradation? All! he
few men know the heart of a loving and devote
wife! True, there are some who do. Would
Heaven there were more; for then would mut
OF crime flee from our midst
- Poverty came upon them and Adv Tho IN,