The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-18
S f. l. E CT + A L E..
THE GAMBLERS WIFE.
LEAVES FROM THE NOTE BOOK OF cuaArE.

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Having devoted myself to the service oI
Him who said unto the delnoniac and the
leper, ''Be WHOLE" 60 forth daily. tread
ing humbly in the pathway of my self-ap.
pointed mission, through the dreary re-
gion. the close and crowded streets, that
exist like plague spot in the very heart
of the wealthy town Of L..
They have an atmosphere Of their own.
those dilapidated courts, those noisome al
leys, those dark hooks where the tenemenis
are green with damp. where the breath
grows faint, and the head throbs with an
oppressive pain; and, yet, amid the hor-
rors oil such abodes, hundreds OF our fei-
low.creatures &C, the sad tragedy of life,
and the gay crowd beyond sweep onward,
without thought OF those who perish daily
for want OF the bread OF eternal life. Oh!
cast it upon those darkened waters. and it
shall be found again after many days
There we see human nature in all its un-
yelled and degraded nakedness-the vile
passions, the brutal coarseness, the cor.
roding malice. the undisguised licen,ious.
ness. Oh. ye who look on and abhor,
who pass like the Pharsee, and condemn
the wretch on the wayside, pause, and
look within; education, circumstances,
have refined and elevated your thoughts
and actions; but blessed are those who
shall never know by fearful experience
how want and degradation can blunt the
finest sympathies, and change, nay brutal
ize the moral being.
How have shuddered to hear the fear
ful mirth with whose wild laughter bias.
pheny and obscenity were eled-that
mockery of my sacred profession which
knew too we'll urked under the over strain
ed assumption ofreverence for my words,
when was permitted to utter them and the
shout OF derision that followed too often
my departing steps. knowing that those
immortal souls must one day render up
their account; and humbly have prayed,
that my still unwearied zeal might yet be
permitted TO scatter forth the good seed
which the cares and anxieties should not
choke, nor the stony soil refuse.
Passing one evening through one o.
these dilapidated streets, to which the
doors. half torn from their hinges, and the
broken windows, admitting the raw, cold,
gusty winds. gave so comfortless an aspect,
turned at a sudden angle into a district
which | had never before visited. Through
the low arch of half.ruined bridge, a tur.
bid stteam rolled rapidly on. augmented by
the late rains A strange looking building,
partly formed OF wood, black and decay.
ing with age and damp, leaned heavily
over the passing waters; it was composed
Of many stories, which we're approached
by wooden stair and shed like gallery with
out, and evidently occupied by many
families. The lamentcd wall Of eglected
children and the din Of contentious were
heard within. IIesitating on the thresh-
hold, lent over the bridge. and perceived
an extensive arial beneath the ancient
tenement; many low-browed doors. over
whose broken steps the water washed and
rippled. became distngushable. AS ga.
zed, one of them suddenly opened, and
pale, haggard woman appeared shading a
Pickering light with her hand. descend.
ed the few wooden steps leading to the
strange abodes. and approached her,
As advanced, she appeared TO recognize
me.
"Come in, sir" she said hurriedly;
"there is one within that will be glad to see
you," and, turning she led me through a
winding passage into dreary room.
whose blackened floor of stone bore strong
evidence that the flood chaied and dark
ened beneath it.
In an old armchair beside the. rusty
and almost ireless CRATE. sat. or rather
lay, a pale and fragile creature, wreck
ofbligted loveliness.
"llelen," said the woman, placing the
light on rough table near her, "here is
the minister come 10 see you.'
The person she addressed attempted to
rise, but the effort was too much, and she
then sank back, as if exhausted by it. A
blush mantled her cheek, and gave to her
large, dark eyes faint and fading lustre.
She had been beautiful. very beautiful; but
the delicate features were sharpened and
attenuated. the exquisit symmetry Of her
form worn by want and illness to mere
outline Of its former graceful proportions
yet, even amid the squalid wretchedness
that surrounded her, an air Of by-gone
superiority gave nameless interest to her
appearance, and approached her with re-
spectfulsympaihy that seemed strange to
my very self.
After few explanatory sentences re.
.speciing my visit, to which she assented
by humble yet silent movement Of acqui-
,escence, commenced reading the earnest
prayers which the occasion called foi. As
iproceeded, the faint chorus of drinking
song came upon my ears from some fal
recesses of this mysterious abode; doors
were suddenly opened and closed with .
yault.like echo; and hoarse voice called
on the woman who had admitted me; she
started suddenly from her knees, and with
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