The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-07-07
THE HUSBANDS PRESENT.
DY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

1t was bitter cold night on the Gath o
December. The snow lay deep upon the
frozen earth, and the bright moon, riding
half way up the heavens, lent a crystalline
lustcr to the scene. In the high road, q
short distance from quiet rcposing village
stood the form Of human being. His gar.
ments were scant and tattered--by far in
sufficient to keep out the biting frost; his
frame shook and trembled like the ice-bount
boughs of the weeping willow that grew
near him, and his face, as the moonbeams
now danced upon it, exhibited all the fear
full footprints of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Poor, wretched and debascd, he looked
and such, in truth, he was.
Before him, at the end of neatly fenced
and trelssed inclosure, stood small cottage
1t was elegant in its simple neatness, -ant
Just such one as the lover Of true comfor
and Joy would seek for home. The tears
roll, d down the bloatcd checks Of the poor
inebriatc as he gazed upon the cottage and
ut lentgh, as Ac clasped his hands in agony.
he nurE::.rcd:
40, thou fond home of my happier days,
thou lookest like heaven of the past. Be-
meath thy roof l was married to the idol Of
my soul. and, within thy peaceful walls,
God rave me two blessed children. There
peace and plenty were mine, and love and
ioy were mine-My wife-God bless her
gentle soul--~was happy then, and my chill
dren--may heaven protect them-laughed
and played in gleesome pleasure. Gladness
played upon us then, and every hour was
a season of bliss. But lost them as n foo
loseth his own salvation! Six years have
passed since the demon took to my heart
drove us from your sheltcring roof And
those six years! Oh, what misery, what an
guish. what sorrows, and what degrade
ton have they not brought to me ant
my poor family! Home, health, wealth
Joy and friends, are gone-all, all gone!-
Oh, thou fatal cup--no, l will not blame
thee. 1t was II who did it! Year aftel
year l tampered with thy deadly sting
when knew that destruction urked in thy
smile. "But, but" and the poor man raiset
his eyes to heaven as he spoke, "therc il
room on the earth for another man-and
will be that man'
Within the only apartment of miserable
and almost broken down hovel, sat a woman
and two Children boy and girl. Tn,
cold wind found its entrance through hun
,dred crevices, and as its biting gusts swep
through the room, the mother and children
crouched nearer to the few cmbers that still
.smouldered upon the hearth. The only fur
,uiture was four poor stools, a rickety table
and scantily covered bed; while in on
corner, nearest to the fire place, was heal
Of straw and tattered blankets, which served
as a resting place for the brother and sister
Part of tallow candle was burning upol
the table. and by its dim light one nigh
have seen that wretched mothers counte
nance. TWAS pale and wan, and wet wit
tears. The faces Of her children were bot
buried in her lap, and they seemed to slee
peacefully under herprayerful guardianship
At length the sound Of footsteps upon tn
snow crust struck upon The mothers ear'
and, hastily arousing her children, she hui