The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-12-18
a NATURAL DRuNKARD.

Rev. Dr.. Treffi, Editor Of ths Ladies'
lReoository, relates the following circum-
Stance, in the October number. i con-
seys an important and startling lesson.
s.lu one of The New Epglsnd States I
Know lad now about twelve Or thirteen
ears of age, whose condisiop i most se-
marksbIe demonstration Of tbs natural
law, that, in every case, ths child y
faithful copy ot the parents.
The boy is a natural drunkard. From
| bis birthday till the present moment. b
/ has given all the outward indications Of b.
lag deeply drunk; and yet, 90 far - !
know, or think probable, be has never
swallowed drop Of liquor 10 biz life
Though in good sound health, he has never
Aecn able TO walk without staggering. His
head is always upon his breast. and his
speech is ol that peculiar character which
marks person 10 very low stage Of in-
|toxication. II. nevertheless, 10 tho midst
nfhis mat:erings and reelings something
is said 10 him in "A way 10 pass through the
thick atmosphere Of his intellectual being,
and penetrate his mind, he at oncc aro0ses,
like common ,ippler, and gives proof
enough that he is not wanting in native
talents, however his mental facilities are
len,hrouded. His disposition also seems %
he extremely amiable. He is kind TO every
me aroaod him, and, ! may ado, he is -
I.,nly pitied for his misfortune, but, 10 spite
&c his Ismentable condition, regarded with
lnncommon interest. lie 10 looked upon
as star Of 40 mean magnitude, obscured
IL 4 - Saf
he is doomed 10 dwell, ill he shall pass
from The present state Of existence 70 an
o her.
Now, as understand the law Of heredi-
Il iarv descent, there il nothing unnatural
| ID this boys case. Every individual ever
bora is governed by the same Priacipas
which caused him to be what he is. Prios
to his marriage, It's father had been . &C.
cret bu, confirmed inebria ate. and when tho
fact became known to the gentle and sweet
spirited being, who, but few manths b.
lore had become his wife, The reveistion
vas made suddenly, and in way the mast
Impressive and appalling One night when
he was supposed to be one of the mnst un-
Of husbands, he staggered
home, broke through the door Of bis sleep
ing apartment, and fell down upon tho
| flaor in state Of wrelched inebriaiion.--
For weeks he wailowed in misery. Du-
ring the next six or seven months, seeing
his domestic reputation had been forfeited,
he kep, almost continuous scene OF intoxI-
cation. When, AT the end d this perioJs
il was told him he was the ''father of
son." he reeied and staggered on with.
| out much abatement. Months passed
awav. but there occurred no marked
change in the habits Of the poor inebriate.
II was at once discovered, however, that
there was something singular in the sp-
pearance of the child. When it was
three months old, there began 10 Be strange
specnlations respecting il among tho Peo-
|ple. Al the age Of six months these
specula,ions settled down into very gen.
eral opinion, but nut q word was said 10
The disconsolate woman, who had also b0-
gun to have her forebcdings. Al last, %
she WIS enc evening lacking upon her
child and wondering wha. could be tho
reason ofiss strange conduct, the terrible
idea flashed upon her soal-"my child Is .
natural dronka.d,'' she shrieked aloud, end
her husband. who happened 10 be within
hearing, came TO ner. She fell upon his
neck and exclaimed, s.dcar husband, our
little Genrge is born A." she could pro-
cec,l no further, but swooned away in her
husbands arms.
From that hour the father Of the boy
never tasted drop Of spirits. The sight
of his eyes. aud the heav;ngs Of his heart,
entirely cured him Of his habit. lie sol
dom looks upon his unfortunate little
George without shedding tear over that
sin by which he entailed upon him lifecg
ohscurity and wreichedness. He has liv-
ed, rejoice 10 add, 80 - 10 redeem his
character; and he is now the isther of fise
all of whom are bright, and beau.
iifnl aud lovely, excepting only the ono
" hose destiny was thus blasted"