Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-29
of the town of C


England--ofinn such nesting places ol
comfort and contentlnent. There was a
little .rass-ploi, fresh aud green in front,
aud an old elm on the street leaned over
aud drnpped its shadowing branches a.
bove the door, by whose side well train
ed roses told of tasteful hand.
Indoors neatness prevailed, and il
might seem that conf,rt did also, but an
acute observer would have marked the
slow creeping in of negect--here and
here piece of furniture broken, that
hid nn, been repaired necessary
article lost. that had uoi heen replared--
but more than ALL the marks of nqglec,
on The face of the young wife, whp sal
watching AT the window. sorrowfully lis
. tening 10 the baby murmur of the chdi
upon her knees watching for him who
was the causeof all her grief--iof Late
with bitter teachings hal sh. learned
that she WIS indeed an inehriales wife,
aha, This was an inebriaie's home.
oh. woe for the young hride. BE- she
IN cottage or in palace-hall, when the
lips that breaihed the marriage vow. turn
in lave 10 the intoxicating wine capl
AT the window beyond sal an old man
the setting sun falling 10 gold upon
white hair--he was the father of The ab-
sent, and he also was gazing down the
road. in anxious watching.
4 '.Where can William be!" he asked
for The hundredth time.
81 cannot think" replied the low.
meek voice of Mary, .perhaps we'd
better not wait any longer" and there
was very sickness of The heart in her
tones. as she turned to give TO the father
and her little child, their simple evening
meal.
Night came on-her ooy had given
her his goodnight kiss, and gone 10
sleep, the father, tired of fruitless wait.
ing, Slept also--one by one the lamps in
the houses about her were ex,ingusned,
and she shaded her own leble light. and
tried to close her eyes, whose lear-foun-
] tains grief had long since dried.
Weary with hearkening TO every sound
at length she slept, for, alas! this was mol
the first night she had thus watched and
listened. She had been unconscious hu,
a few moments when she was reused by
voices--the old man talking with some
one al The door. Was il he! No, but
she heard The name of William, and
!. wrapping her shaw around her,she hur-
ried To The door.
A neishbor stood there who had bro
them news. Her husband d had been ta-
ken by the officers of the law. about ten
miles from C, with kDrse and
carriage IN his possession, which he had
sloen-had been brough, back TO town.
and was now in charge of the constable.
| .Where is he! Let me go to him.
were her first words.
"lt's of no use, Mary, he's locked up
for the night, and you can't see him un-
til mornng--good night" the kind
neighbor went his way, leaving the wife
and father gazing OH each other in mute
anguish.
At lenghfh the old man laid his white
head upon his hands and feehy groaned,
My boy thef-my boy thief
The words like sound OF horror,
reused The young wife
"Oh, NIT my husband!-Fa,her do mol
say so--there must be some mistake!
What will become of him--of me!''
i More like the echo of his own heart
than an answer 10 her question. he NUT.
tered hoarsely,-"The State PRISON."
! Low as was the sound. it caught the
quick ear of Mary, and she sobbed will
dly. "they will not, must not take him
there! Oh, he was not himself when
he didihs-he cannot have meant ia
steal-my husband is no thief"
"The law looks at what a man does,
Mary, not al what he MEANS" said the
old man,--"I tell you no.hing can save
him from the State Prison!"
Now, indeed, fell ON her heart the
weight of deep despair. Her husband
4 The for whom her love was yet in its
freshness--!o be shut up from the world,
and from the light of Heaven, and with
the black stain upon his name, to share
the fate of vile :elon!
i She flung herself on The bed, beside
her infant boy. Oh, must there fall up
on his young head this bitter disgrace!--
Wnen she "tangnt nm 10 say iaiher,
must he also learn that that parent was a
yicla,er of the laws of Heaven and man,
and was suffering the penalty!
4 Memory went back to the time when
four years ago that very summer. she
came trusting, hopeful bride. 10 The
plain but comfortable home love had pro-
vided-how with heartand hand she had
labored. to assist her husband, and to
keep their sky all brightness. a
1 Then the dreary time when he was lu-
! red from her side by gay and dissolule
associates and she was left to tears and
pray how ON the birth Of her
boy hope seemed to come again, for he
was industrious and steady COR awhile,
careful Of her happiness, and fond ol
his home. But this lasted not for long
the demon was upon him. and he grad
ually went back to his old habits--his
hands, skilful to labor in his occupation,
were often idle, and there we're times
when only her cheerful industry saved
them from poverty.