Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-08-30

A TRUE TALE

1t was bitter night. The snow had been falling
in flights during the greater porion.of the day, ard
the cold was so 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 de-
scendng, and the spirit of the storm seemed to howl
around the house, and through the fields and orch
ards and forests, among the distant mountains.
Mr.. Rowland had returned fromhs counting-hous
at an earlier hour than usual. Supper had been
served and the family had gathered around the spark
ling FIRE. The children had beet put to bed in an
adjoining apartment and the ilfsnt was sleeping in
he cradle under the immediate otiee Of s loihe1
nj. TGTviuntt was -reuuifig n4gspaper, and the
fitin blast moaned around his clmmodious dwelling.
he would make some remark Itatiye TO the severity
of the weather. Mrs. Rowlsnd was parting the
axen curls upon the head of he sleeping babe, and
occasionally she imprinted theWarm kiss of mater
nal affection upon its ruddy chsek.
Suddenly some one raped t the door, 1t was
opened, when little girl, abat years of age,
was admitted. Her scanty dess was uttered and
torn, ragged quilt thrown aound her shoulders,
and pair of miserable old shes upon her feet. She
was almost frozen.
You are widow Watkins aughter? ? said Mrs
Rowland, inquiringly.
The little girl answered in the affirmative and
added that her ma was sick, aid wished Mr. Row
land to step over and see hen for she thought she
would surely die
Mr. Rowland owned the lace on which the sick
woman resided. She was very INDECENT, and but
poorly able TO pay the extrvagant rent which the
unfeeing owner exacted Che property was once
her husbands, or rather he own; betng gift from
her father on the day of herwedding
Mr.. Watkins was wealthy when Young man.
and educated for the bar, md no one seemed more
likely to be successful in hi profession. He and Mr.
Rowland were early associates. The latter, few
years before the period atwhich we now find him,
had commenced the nofarDus and contemplate lraf-
fic in ardent sprits--and rown rich--had induced
Walking to drng-made him drunk, and by de-
grees, drun6drd; and when the poor, besottng
victim was unable to PAT his debts, contracted for
rum, and partly by negedlng his professional duties
his former associate his pretended friend his des-
troyer, the first to decrv and Cypress him. His
horses and oxen were sold by the sheriff; next his
household and kitchen iurntsre seized; and f.
nally mortgage was given 10 Rowland upon the
homestead ofthe drunkaId, OBSCURE the rum dealer
In the payment of pful baance in bis favor.
The calumny3did not CHECK the prodigal career of
the necrlate. He still quaffed the liquid poison, and
still did the heartess dealer hold out inducements to
prevail upon him to sink lower into wretchedness and
shame A few weeks after, he was one morning.
found dead in the street. He had left the grocery al
very late hour the preceding night, in state Of in-
toxicaon.. The night was dark, and he probably
missed his way, fell into gutter, found himself un-
able to get out, and being stupe6ed with rum. he
went to sleep and froze to death.
Rowland, in short time, foreclosed the mortgage,
and the home of the drunkard's wife became the le-
gal property of the man who had destroyed her
peace, and reduced her to beggary and want. He
permitted her TO remain on The premises, exaetDg
an extravagant rent. Mental anguish, excessive la
Dor, want of proper nourishment, aud exposure, had
nigh worn her out, and she fast sinking into the
grave, where the weary are at rest. No one had
been near her--no one seemed to care Cor hers in
fact it was not known to her nearest neighbor
that she was sick
Mr.. Rowland feltanxious only torrthe rent, there
being sum due. And perhapsi it slowing 10 that
circumstance that he readily consented to accom-
pany the little girl 10 the oG her sick mother.
He drew on his overcoat, tied a wooden comforter
round his neck; drew on his gloves, and taking his
umbrella, set out through the drifting snow and seet.
and bent his way to the widows uncomfortable
home.
He found her lying on a miserable bed Of straw.
with her head slightly elevated, the only chair be
longing to the house being placed under her pillow.
and evidently near the hour ofdissouton. Mr. Row,
land being seated rude wooden stool. she. said
in feeby but decided toneof voce,