Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-03-29
CHAPTER III.

And there was waiting III another home
that night-in dwelling on the outskirts
of the town of C.
1t was a cottage home-one of the
thousand that are scattered over all New
England-often such nesting places Of con-
tentment and comfort There was grass
plot, fresh and green, in front, and an old
elm on the street leaned over and dropped
its shadowing branches over the door, by
whose side well trained roses told Of a
tasteful hand.
indoors neatness prevailed, and it might
seem that comfort did also but an accurate
observer would have marked the slow
creeping in of neglect-here and there 4
broken piece Of furniture, that had not been
repaired-some necessary article lost, that
had not been replaced-but more than all,
the marks of neglect on the face of the
young wife, who sat watching at the win
dow, sorrowfully listening to the murmur
OF the child upon her knee-watching for
him who was the cause of all her grief
for OF late with bitter teachings had she
learned that indeed she was an inebriate's
wIte-that this was an inebriatc'S home.
Oh, woe for the young bride, be she in
cottage or palace hall, when the lips that
breathed the marriage VOW, turn in love to
the intoxicating wine cup!
At the window beyond sat an old man,
the setting sun falling in gold upon his
white hair. He was the father of the abb
sent one, and he also was gazing down the
road in anxious watching.
Where can William be p he asked for
the hundredth time.
Il cannot think, replied the low, meek
voice of Mary. Perhaps we had better
not wait any longer, and there was a very
sickness of the heart in her tones, as she
turned to give the father and her little child
their simple evening meal.
Night came on. Her boy had given her
his good night kiss. and gone to sleep; the
father, tired of fruitless waiting, slept also
one by one the lamps in the houses about
her were eXtinguished, and she shaded her
own feeble light, and tried to close her eyes,
whose tear fountains grief had long since
dried.
Weary with hearkening to every sound,
at length she slept; for, alas this was not
the first night she had thus watched and
listened. She had been unconscious but
few moments when she was reused by
voices-the old man talking with some one
at the door. Was it he ? No. but she
heard the name of William, and wrapping
her shawl around her, she hurried to the
door.
A neighbor stood there who had brought
them news. Her husband had been taken
by the officer of the law, about ten miles
from C, with horse and carriage in
his possession, which he had stolen had
been brought TO town, and was now in the
hands of the constable.
Where is he! Let me 90 to him.
were her first words.
: It's of no use, Mary he's locked up
for the night, and you can't see him until
morning-good night, and the kind but
blunt neighbor went his way, leaving the
wife and father gazing upon each other in
mute anguish.
At length the old man laid his white
head upon his hands and feebly groaned,
My boy thief! My boy thief!
The words, like d sound OF horror, reused
the young wife
'Oh, not my husband! Father do not
say SO there must be some mistake =
What will become of him-of me ?
More like the echo of his own thought
than all answer TO her question, he NUT
tered hoarsely, The State Prisonp
Low as was the sound, it caught the
quick ear of Mary, and she sobbed wildly.
They will not, must not take him there
Oh, he was not himself, when he did this
he cannot have meant to steal my husband
is no theft
The law looks at what a man does,
Mary, not at what he MEANS said the old
man. / tell you nothing can save him
from the State Prison.