Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-07-05


was made comfortable for him; and oh!
how rejoiced at the sound of his CON-
ing step, there was very music in it!--
But now, the sound of his tread makes
me shudder; listen for it as before, but
1t is in dread. Ihear the unsteady step,
and my soul sickens within me. That
dear little boy, how he loved his father!
He climbed about him, and romped and
played with him, and the father felt
proud Joy in his young son. But that
JOY, too. was poisoned by the growth of
the new craving for drink which set in
upon him, and | even feared that the
father began to grudge the food that was
needed to nourish the little things. as it
limited his means of selfindulgence.-
All is a dreary blank now!''
! found that the poor child had been
called up, one cold raw night to let the
father in, while the mother, unable to rise,
was confined to bed by her newborn in
FAINT A severe cold was caught, which
soon assumed the form of Group, and
death fixed his relentless talons on the
doomed child. That father-how much
had he to answer for! and, did spark OF
fatherly feeling yet remain in him, how
horror stricken must he be when finding
the shocking result of his own sinful
conduct.
] left the house. giving the poor woman
such comfort as the circumstances would
admit; and truth to say, these were ex-
tremely slender. But resolved in my
own mind to have an interview with the
man himself, and to point TO him the con-
sequences Of his conduct.
A few hours after, when the morning
light had dawned, returned to the house:
the child had breathed its last few min
u,es before entered. The mother, al
most heart-broken, was stunned with
grief, and tears were all her utterance.
A man, bowed down and haggard, sat
by the fire, the picture Of wretchedness.
He started up when | entered, and made
TO the door, but stood before him and
said, 81 should like to have a word with
you before you go. You are, presume
the father of that child!
IL am .ir,' he replied.
.And you are aware of the ss-of
its death!"
He hung down his head, and sobbed.
81 do not wish to speak severely to
you, my friend at such time; but you
must take this as solemn warning to
yourself-one sent, l hope, by Provi-
dence, TO withdraw you from the guilty
course are now pursuing, and which
must inevitably end in utter ruin and
misery 10 yourself, your wife, and chill
dren."
81 know it, sir" he gasped, 81 know
it! But have been infatuated, mad, and
cruel to my family in the extreme. l
feel it all. now; see the horrid guilt
ness Of my life; and have vowed never
to drink again. l have sworn j. over
the body of my poor child, whose love /
had begun to forget, whose comfort lately
| md altogether Neglected; and you will
see. sir, | shall persevere in my deter
minaiion.''
81 am glad to hear it," | said; 'saban-
don wholly this practice you have given
up to; do not even taste-for the first
drop does the mischief; and shall be
most glad TO learn that you have become
restored 10 usefulness as member of So
ciety, and to the renewed love and res
pect of your wife and children"
81 faithfully PROMISE" he said, and he
seized my hand and pressed it; 81 shall
swear to you. if that be necessary"
"Quite unnecessary" replied; "the
resolution that cannot be kept without an
oath will not be kept with one;" and then
| left.
Several months passed, and, being
much occupied, the circumstances had
almost passed from my mind, until one
morning visitor called to inquire for his
account, and gave his name, which ! a,
once remembered as the occupant Of the
cottage Of Smiths Yard. had some
difficulty in recognising him again; he
was clean, healthy -looking and well dress
ed; a change seemed u have come over
the entire man.
81 have kept my promise, sir" were
his first words; Il have not tasted one
drop Of intoxicating drink since that sad
morning. and, with Gods help will new
er taste another drop while l live.
have found the good consequences in my
restored self.respect, in my restored
health and strength, in the restored love
of my wife, and in the restored enjoy ment
of my home and family. have taken
a neat cottage in clean and healthy part
Of the city; for, do you know sir. my era
wing for stimulus, chung to me as long as
| breathed the filthy air of that court.
Who knows, how many dlunkards these
unwholesome courts and yards OF our
town annually make! lam now tee
totaller. and already member of an as
sociation just formed for improving the
health OF towns. None can Join so zeal
ously in such good causes as those who
have suffered from the evils they are in
tended to cure: and l trust that am moi
the least jealous among the members Of
these movements"
expressed my cordial delight at learn
ing the radical cure that had been made
in his case, encouraged him to proceed,
and settled the business abOut which he