The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-08-21
The Fate ola Drunkard.
BY CHARLES DIcKESs.

( When the dim and misty light Of winter
morning penetrated into the narrow court. anc
struggled through the begriined window Of Tia,
wretched room, Warden awoke from his heavy
sleep and found himself alone He rose and loo
kcd round him; the old flock mattress WAS on Iht
floor WIS undlsturbed. every thing Was Just ashl
7 remem bered to have seen II last aud here wa.
was NO slgn OF any one, save hinself. having oc
cupled the room during the night He inquired
: of the ether dodgers and Of the other dodgers and
Of the neighbors, but his daughter had not been
seen OF heard Of He rambled through the
streets, and scrutluized each wretched face, "A
mUng the crowds which thronged them with anx
lous eyes. But his search was fruillcss, and be
returned to his garrett whep nighe came on, desc
late and weary. For many days he occupied him
self IN ,he same manner, but no traces of his
daughter did he meet wtbsnd no word Of her
reached his ears. At last be gave up the pursui!
as hopeless. He had long thought of the proba.
bility of her leaving him. and endsayoTing tC
gaining her bread ia quiet elsewhere. She had
left hlm at last, to siarye alone. He ground his
teeth and cursed her lie begged his bread from
door to door Every halfpenny be could wiring
from the pity or credullty Of those to whom he
addressed himself was spent in the old w4y a
year passed over hIs head the root oi jail was
the only one that had sheltered him for many
months. He slept under arcbways aud IN brick
heds-any where, where there was sunr warmth
or shelter from the cold and ram. But III the last
Stage OF poverty disease and hOu-elesS want, he
Was adiunkaid.stIil. At last one bitter night,
lie -ank down on a doorstep faint and Ill. The
premature decay oi vice aud prnfgacy had worn
hlm To- til, bone. ul- cheeks were hollow aud Ii.
va his eyes were sunk.n, and their sight was
dim. HIS legs uembled beneath his weight and
cold -hlN.r ran through every limb Aud uow
th, luug forgotten scenes of mi,sp.ut hi. crowd.
.I .u.ck aud f-l upon him. He though, Of the
.H- oA-u he hsu Il hpue---r happy, cheerful
homeland % th",e who peopled 1t, aud focked
.uaun uEH ib"n, Lu.ll the forms Of his elder Chll
q. ,H srFm,d tpI-o up from ihr grave, and stand
ar... n- 80 plan, ~ clear. aud d,tI',ct they
fei,, ,h.t he could touch and feel them. Looks
ih", lac had long forgotten. were liked upon Inn
unte moI", voice. long since hush,d Ia death,
sounded IN his ears like the music Il village bells.
Bat It WAS uHlN Tor an instant. The ram beat
heavily upon him; and cold and hunger We're
.nawIhg At hs heart agals' He rose aud dragged
his feeble limbs few PAGES further. The street
was silent ard empty-the few passer, by, at
that late hour, hurried quickly 90. and bis tremu-
lou- voice was lostin the violence OF the storm.
That heavy chill again struck through his frame,
and his blood seemed TO slagnate beneath 1t. lie
c"rd linus, up IL projecting doorway. and
tried to sleep. But sleep bad fled from his dull
and glazed eyes. His mind wandered strangely.
bat lie was awake aud conscious. The weknUVu
shout Of drunken mrth sounded III bis ear-the
glass WAS at bls lips-lhe board was covered with
rich fuod-they were before him he could see
them all-he had but 70 stretch hts hand aud take
them and though the illusion was reality itself,
be knew that lac was sitting alone in the deserted
street, watching the rain drops as they patter,G
the stones; aud that there was bous 10 care icr
or help INN.
Suddenly he started up IN the extremity OF
terror lie had heard his own voice shouting ~
the night air, he knew not what or why. HArk (.
4 groan Another HIS senses were leaving
him-halfformed and incuherent words burst
from his lips; and his hands sought 20 tear and
lncerate his flesh He was going mad, and h,
shricked for help till his voice failed HIM. Nr
raised hls head and looked upon the long disua
etrcet. lie recollec;ed that outca,tslse himself,
condemned to wander day and night in tio,t
dreadful streets, had sometimes gone distracted
with their loneliness lie remembered 20 have
heard, many years before, that homeless wretch
had once been found in solitary corner, sharpen
ing a rusty knife, to plunge Into his own heart
sgreterring death TO that endless, weary wander-
ing TO aud fro. IL IN instant his resolve was I'll.
ken; his limbs received new life he ran quickly
from the spot, and paused not for breath until he
reached the rver side. Hecrept softly down the
steep, stone stairs that led from the commence
ment Of Waterloo Bridge. down to the water,
level lie crouched into "a corner and held bis
breath rs the partrol passed Never did prison
ers heart thrub with the hope Of liberty aud life
hall so eagerly as did that Of the wretchel man
at the prospect OF death. The watch passed close
TO him. but he remained unubserveJ and after
waiting I'LL the sound Of footsteps hai uied away
in the distance he cautiously descended and stood
beneath the gloomy arch that forms the landing
place from the river The tide was in, and the
water flowed at his feet TIE rain had ceased.
the wind was luled, and all WAS for the moment,
still aud qulet-so quiet that the ripping Of the
water against the barges that were mOored there,
was distinctly audible to bis ears. The stream
stole languldly and sluggishly, Strange and fan
ta~tc forms rose TO the surface, and beckoned him
to approach; dark cleaning eyes peered frum
the water, and seemed to mock his hesitation,
while hollow murmurs from behind urged him
0nwards He rctreated u few PAGES, tork a short
ran, desperate leap, and plunged into the river,
Not five seconds bad passed when he rose to the
waters surface, but what change bad taken
place in that short time in all his thoughts and
feelings Life life, in any form; poverty, misery,
starvation, anything but death. He fought and
struggled with the water that closed over his
head, and screamed in agnnies ot terror. The
curse Of his own son rang IN HE ears. The shore
but one foot OF dry ground-hr could alm0,
touch the step, One hand breadth nearer, and
he saved-but the tide bore him onward under
The dark mchcs Vi the bridge and he sank TO the
bottom. Again he rose, and struggled for life.
For one INSTANT for uur lr, ( iustaut-tLr bullu.