Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-09-04
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.


curing Lne greater portion Oh the Gay,
and the cold 50 intense that little business Of any
kind had been prosecuted by the industrious and
terprising citizens Of the village. Night had sue
ceeded day. The snow and sleet were still descend
ing, and the spirit of the storm seemed to howl
around the house. and through the fields and orchards
and forests, and among the distant mountains.
Mr.. Rowland had returned from his counting house
at an earlier hour than usual. Supper had ben
ed and the family had gathered around the sparkling
hre- The children had been put to bed in adjoin-
ing apartment, and the infant was sleeping in the
cradle under the immediate notice of its mother
Mr.. Rowland was reading newspaper, and as the
fitful blast moaned around his commodious dwelling,
be would make remarks relative to the severity
Of the weather. Mrs. r parting the axen curls
upon the head of the sleeping babe and occasionally
she imprinted the warm kiss of maternal affection
upon Its rudy cheek.
Suddenly some one raped at the door, It was
opened, when little girl Of about seven years old
was admitted. Her scanty dress was tattered and
torn, ragged guilt thrown around her slender shoul-
der5, and pair of miserable old shoes upon her
feet. She was almost frozen.
&c you are the widow Watkins little daurhter:n
said Mrs Rowland inquiringly.
The little girl answered in the affirmative and add
ed that her Ma was sick and wished Mr. Rowland 10
step and her, for she thought she would
ly die.
Mr.. Rowland owned the place on which the sick
woman resided She was very INDECENT, and but
poorly able to pay the extravagant rent which the
unfeeling owner exacted. The property was once
her husbands, rather her own being a gift from
her father on the very day of her wedding. Mr.
Watkins was wealthy when young man, and was
educated for the bar, and seemed more likely
to be successful in his profession. He and Mr.. Row
land were early associates. The latter few years
before the period at which find him, had
menced the nefarious traffic in ardent spiris-had
grown rich-had induced Watkins to drink-made
him drunk, and by degrees a drunkard; and when
the poor beSotled victim unable 10 pay his debts
contracted mostly for rum, but partly by neglectng
his professional duties he his former associate his
pretended friend, his destroyer the first to decry
and Cypress him. His horses and oxen were sold by
the sheriff. next his household and kitchen furniture
were seized, and finally mortgage given TO
Rowland upon the homestead Of the drunkard, to Sc
cure the rum dealer In the payment of piiful bal
ance in his favor.
This calamity did not check the prodigal career
Of the inebriate He still quaffed the liquid poison
and still did the heartless dealer hold out inducements
to prevail upon him TO sink lower into wretchedness
and shame. A few weeks after, he one morn
ing found dead in the street. He had left the groce
~ AZ late hour the proceeding night, in state of
Intoxicaion. The night was dark, and he probably
missed his way-fell into guiter-found himself
unable to get out-and, being supplied with rum, he
went to sleep and froze 10 death.
Rowland In a short time foreclosed the mortgage,
and the home of the drunkards wife became the le-
gal property Of the who had destroyed her peace
and reduced her to beggary and want He permit
ted her to remain on the premises, exacting an eX-
labor, want of proper nourishment, and exposure
had well nigh worn her out, and she was fast sink
ing into the grave, where the weary are at rest.
No one had been near her; no one seemed to care
tor her-n fact 1t was not known even to her nearest
neighbors that she was sick
Mr. Rowland felt anxious only for his rent, there
being at that time small sum due. And perhaps il
rs owing to that circumstance that he readily
sented to accompany the little girl to the of her
sick mother, He drew on his oyercoat, and tied a
and taking his umbrella, set out through the drifting
snow and seet, and bent his way to the widows un-
comfortable home.
He found her lying on a miserable bed of straw,
with her head slightly elevated, the only chair be-
longing TO her house being placed under her pillow
She was pale and CHASTITY, and evidently near the
hour Of dissolution. Mr.. Rowland being seated on
rude wooden stool, she said in feeble but decided
tone of voice
"I have sent for you sir, 10 pay me visit that
may make you the heir TO my estate. My estate?
know you ready to ask what estate have to
bequeath. And well may you ask that. was once
happy. This house was once mine; it was my faith
sr's gift-my wedding portion. had horses and
oxen, and cows and sheep, and orchards and mead
ows. Twas you that induced my poo erring hus-
band to drink. 1t you who placed before him
the liquid poison, and pressed him to take it, Twas
you that took away my horses and cows, and mead
ows and orchards, and my own home: Twas
you that ruined my peace, destroyed my husband,
and in the very noon of life sent him down to a
drunkard's dishonored grave. Twas you that made
me beggar, and cast my poor starving babes upon
the charity of pitess world. have nothing left
but these ragged quilts; them you do not want-yet
have determined to bequeath you my estate. Here,
sir, as my last will and testament do bequeath TO
you this vial of tears. They tears that have
shed-tears that you have caused. Take this vial
wear it about your vile person; and when hereafter
you present the flowing bowl to the lips of husband
and father, remember that you inheritng another
vial of widows tears"
An hour more, and the poor widow, the widow OF
thousand sorrows, the favored child OF fortune
the lovely and wealthy BRIDE the once affection
ate wife and devoted young MOTHER lay cold and
senseless in death, and her soul had been summoned
to that God who has said, Vengeance is mine, and
Twill repay