The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-03-30
From ths Phllaaslphia American Sentinel.
An Affecfing story.


adicteS. He was remarkable and extraor-
dinary man---his talents were Of the most ex-
tenslve character. In person he was hand |
some. and possessed Of grace that could please
or attract the eve His manners were of the
most pleasing and fascinating kind. and his /
conversation was of that varied and elo
rature that his rompanv was IN every con. !
dition Of society desired, No man was more
deeply versed In classical learning. and in
various branches of scholastic philosophy he
was deeniv profound In the higher branches
IT polite literature he had considerable aconire-
r1ents, and indeed in every branch of in.
tellectual knowledge he was thoronohlv read
He had been compared 10 Bolinbrokc. who Il
: well known by the profoundness Of his mon.
ress could grace and give charm to the
drawing room. az well as teach lessons ofwis
dom IN the Academy or Isvceum.
At an esriv age he had married beuatifnl
and charming women and from, the union of
swo persons so we'll adapted TO zach other. II
might readily be supposed that the stream of
appiuess would continue uninfarrnptedly to
- dow; but. alasi twas soon discovered that
the possession Of the highest atta;nments and
the most exalted genius afforded M secnritr
against the encroachment of a vice whose
course Is marked BY misery, and whose end is
death.
For years he was a complete victim to this
degrading and unhappy vice, and from con-
siderable loftiness Of reputation. had sunk into
the character of a common drunkard. Po-
verty had entered his domicil and he was fire.
quentlv the subject of she most pressing want
His wife's jewelry had long disappeared at
the pawnbrawker's and his own extensive
Ix4ul,. ,l<,l,k I,
tate. Article after article ofthe furniture had
disappeared, and nothing now remained but
that which was secured to them by the
Law. His wife. who in her person had pre-
seRted all that en-boa point of appearance
which marks wealth, had wasted away to al
mere shadow. Her disposition which had
formerly been lively and vivacious, was now
sorrowful and melancholy, and exhibited that
raggednesss Of Dress which distinguishes the
offspring Of those who are Incorporate
A more affecting scene can hardly be ina
gined than that which occurred on cold and
bleak day ia December, when the mother was
seen pressing an infant to her breast, crowding
a few embers which still remained on the
hearth. Several small children surrounded
her crying with the cold, and begging their
mother to give them some bread, but alas
she had none to give them. Alongside in the
corner covered with a worn out rag lay the
husband in a beasty state of intoxication, with
q Jug of the fatal poison at his head-a more
distressing and heart rendng scene cannot
possibly be conceiyed-it was one calculated
to draw tears from the most obdurate heart
and soften the most adamantine soul. There
lay the man whose lofty intellect and splendid
talents were well suited to adorn Senate aud
rule nation, a victim to the intoxicating
draught which has destroyed thousands
What IS just described is no fiction; il is
truth without the aid of imagination or color
ings of fancy. Twelve months from the per
iod at which opr story commences, on a cold
winter evening might be seen in a beautiful
and snug little parlor sitting on a sofa, the
same gentleman dressed in a costume which,
Indicated that he had not fallen entirely a
martyr to that poverty which always re-
suits from the habit to which he had been
addicted. His brow was thoughtful, and an
acute observer might perceive a shade of mel
aneholy pass over his countenance In thei
saHes room, seated at centre table, was
his wife attired in neat and tasteful dress,
reading one of those beautiful annuals ofl
the season. Several beautiful children were
playing inthe room, and their cheerful looks
and comfortable clothing indicated that pow
erty had no residence there The little par |
lour displayed indeed no tokens of wealth,
but evidently showed signs of comfortable en-
joyments. Two beautiful vases adorned the |
mantlepieee, and underneath was seen the |
vivid light Of aa an imating coal fire. before /
which, on rug, lay favorite dog, who SEEM
ed TO participate in the happiness which seem
ed to pervade the apartment The wife look
ed up, and casting glance at her husband, I
observed a gloominess Of countenance which at
once excited her attention. She closed the /
book which she had Just been reading, and i
gong to him threw her arms around his /
neck, and tenderly inquired if anything had t
disturbed him. 1t was some time before he |
made her any reply. and then he said NV |
dear. must have half pint of brandy Thei
wife became Immediately agitated, and in So
iicitous accents. besought him not 10 send for
that poison which had formerly been nearly
hisruin. She, who but a few moments be- |
fore had been realizing of perfect security.
was now convulsiye with sorrowfIil anticipa-
tions that 2 renewal of her husbands former
pernicious habits was to take place Her
bosom heaved with alarm, and as the tears
gushed from her eyes, she implored him whom
she had loved and adhered to with a devoted
hdelity, through good and evil report. in dis
grace and In poverty, that, he would not again
tempt by single indulgence, recurrence
to habits which must destroy their present fell
city and forever annihilate their future hopes
The children paTtoook Of the sorrow of their
mother; they left their innocent amusement.
and with tears in their little eyes begged
their papa not to get any more of that stuff
which made them poor and made tl.eir mama
cry. But the husband appeared to be insen-
sible to the affectionate ren,onstrances of his
wife and the artless persuat;on Of his children
His eldest daughter who on former occasions
had gone on this errand, was now compelled 10
perform this; the brandy was obtained. and
his wife looked with fearful and pain
fulforehold;ns upon the decanter which con-
tanned the fatal poison. He looked upon the
brandy, and approaching the table with chair.