Lewisburg chronicle, and the West Branch farmer. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1849-1849, 1849-10-24
VOL. VI. NO. 3O---29O.

r courage to face his changed circumstances;
he was one OF those nature. 'too proud .U
dig, and ashamed 10 beg ;" therefore. r,:-
wi;hatandlng the words OF cheer aud EN-.
couragemen, he received from his wife, he
soon yielded to despair. Well would il
have been il this had been all. But, like
many another proud, disappointed man, he
sought forgettulness in the wIne-cup, and
/ in short lime all traces Of the generous
spirit Of his youth were effaced BY the
rapid encroachmen, Of the demon ln,em.
| perance.
Supported by the strength which CON-
eth not from earthly aid. his gentle wife
saw the sure but gradual ruin Of her dear.
est earthly hopes saw the quiet home iu
which her Eature had passed by such
I pleasant steps from tlmid bashful girlhood
into 'he fall life OF ripenet womanhood.
pass into the hands OF strangers. and with
her husband, whose temper grew more
and more irritable and exacling a. his
health yielded TO his evil habits and her chill.
dren. found refuge in the crowded purlieus
of The city. We have said " Children"
for, soon after the failure, the marriage Of
one aunt and death of another had con-
signed George again 10 his fathers care.
and. some four years previously, little
Willie had been added 10 their JOYS aud
cares
Georges character was mnch more
marked end decided, even a, tina, early
, age, than his fathers. His passions and
prjudices were very strong, and the course
OF training, TO which he had been subjected
in his grandmoher's house had not tended l..
TO restrain them, while il had succeeded in
tlngng all that was genial and generous
in his nature with dlsirust and suspicion.
He had been taught 10 recognise the law
of Fear. but not of Love. His own prop.
erty, inherited from his mother, had been
los, IN the general wreck and 80 deeply
had il been instilled into him that his loss
was in some way the result o! his fathers
second marriage, that the spirit Il which
he returned to share their poverty was
little calculated TO add 10 the peace or com.
tort of the ruined household. The selfish
ness Of the father, who, in his degradation,
did no; hesitate 10 indulge his own appe-
t'es at the expense Of his family, and his
fretful, unreasonable temper, chafed and
embttered The quick, impe,uous spirit Of the
boy, 10 such degree, that anger and con-
tenlion were soon added 10 The many mis-
eres of their miserable home. Notwi,h
standing his strong prejudice, the boy had
not been With them many weeks, before
he felt compelled 10 admire the unwearied
patience and goodness of his mother yet.
instead Of being drawn to follow her ex-
ample. his feeling Of admiration often
changed into one OF angry contempt. that
she could SO tamely submit 10 the imperi-
ous, unreasonable exactions of his father.
At such times. with recklessness strange
TO himself, he would join his father in
ridcung her unshaken faith in The good.
ness Of God and the nfirmltes OF Il,tls
Susie formed a never-faing illustration on
:hls point-ior SO rapidly had me demon
gained upon the man. that The father had
already learned to look upon his..suffering
child as burden and q trouble-a caro-
that deprived him Ct the undivided atfen.
ton Of his wife. AMI an expense ,ha, cur
tailed bin 10 many OF the indulgences Of
his former lie. which in his utter selfi,h.
ness he did not hesitate to exac, from tho
labor OF his wife and children. In his in-
most heart, the boy often bitterly regretted
yielding 10 this dark spirit. and, though he
was to proud TO maniiesI it IN words, he
would ol;en take up the !i,,le girl on his
knee, and, while bending his head to meet
her caresses, talk 10 her of their early
ud at ubtii pd'C IdC0 HtcW
radIent with delight. But beyond ;,he
walls Of that humble room he found little
to strengthen these iain: struggles of tho
better spirit within him, but much-Oh,
how much-:o tempt him on 10 sin and
crime Soon alier their arrival in the
CRY, his father had appren,lced him to
a shoemaker. IN spite OF his strong repu.-
nance TO the occupation. aud earnest en-
treaties to be permitted TO seek some ether
mode OF living. At the time OF his fa,hers
death, which happened some two years al.
ter, he left his employer, and. joined gang
OF reckless boys like himself, sub,ls'+'--
hi, mother knew not how, tor his VISITS
home grew more and more rare. ana D,,
mood more anh more Impa'ieG, and nri,a
bic. Even The kind greetings snt vim;
words which ever awaited hu Il tta;
humble home, seemed to reproach 70 ;os
hoy ard sno,eii,nes ha NOM.