The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-08


the dangerous habit was daily gaining
strength. A few glasses of wine or a
moderate share of good brandy, were
now considered by Henry as quite essen-
tial to his welfare. He needed the stimu-
lus, and could not attend to his business
without it" Helen occasionally rallied
him upon taking what she considered
somewhat mmoderate quantity, and
threatened to compel him to sign the
pledge; but her remonstrances were made
in playfulness. AS yet, not doubt or fear
had crossed her mind.
Time passed on, and now another tie
bound them still more closely together
a lovely babe smiled upon them and
warmed their hearts with its looks OF love.
The duties Of mother had somewhat
abstracted Helen's attention from her bus-
band, Although he still possessed her
most devoted and earnest affection, even
moro, if possible, than previous TO the
birth of the child, she did not watch his
every look and action as she had done
when there was no other claimant to her
love; and it was not until long after others
had perceived and lamented his altered
looks and manners, that her ewes were
opened to the fearful change.
Are you going out this EVENING"" ask
ed Helen, with something Of disappont-
ment in her tone, as her husband rose
from the tea-table, and took his hat and
overcoat.
Henry hesitated. II am sorry to leave
you, Helen" he said, "but to tell the
truth, there is to be a social party among
the young men with whom was acquain-
ted before our marriage, this evening and
they urged me so earnestly to attend, that
] knew not how to refuse"
"You have been absent so much lately"
said Helen. 81 long to pass one quiet
evening with you. There are many things
| want to talk about"
Henry blushcd. Already he shrunk
from the thought Of long private con-
versation with his pure-minded, and as he
felt, already injured wife; for in the closest
and holiest Of all ties, evil and its baneful
consequences cannot be borne by one
| alone; the innocent must suffer with the
guilty.
Recovering his selfpossession, he pre-
sently replied:
my absence is generally caused by
business, Helen. / devote little time to
my own pleasure"
True" returned Helen, quickly. 81
would not willingly be selfish. Forget
what | have said, and go to your friends.
No doubt you need the recreation"
THANK you, dearest" said her hus,
band; Tomorrow evening will be at
your service" and begging her not to
await his return, but to retire at her usual
hour, he kissed her cheek and left the
house.
There was an unusual depression in
Helen's spirits, for which she could not ac-
count. She tried to occupy her thoughts
with an interesting book, but found it i'm
possible to fix her attention and soon threw
it aside. She stole softly to the crib where
her sleeping boy lay in his innocent beau
ty, and bent over him to listen to his gen.
tie breathing, almost wishing that he would
wake and demand that care which might
drive away the feeling Of loneliness aud
desolation which had crept over her, but
he slept on soundly and sweetly.
Where spirits are united in the interiors
Of the mind, which we may regard as
their heavenly home, il is impossible for
ones to be led astray by the temptations
which constantly beset our earthly Y path,
without the cognizance and suffering of
the other. The evil, which at this day
obscures all spiritual things, may not be
sufficiently raised to enable the sufferer to
perceive the cause Of the mental disturb
ance, but the effect is sensibly felt. Anx-
iety, depression, and an underlined fear of
evil in our own minds, are often the result
Of the errors or misfortunes Of those with
whom we are in intimate spiritual associa-
ton.
To some it may seem strange that we
can speak Of spiritual union between one
who has yielded to the more fragrant evils
Of our depraved nature, and an innocent
being who seems the pe-sonifcation Of
goodness and purity; but thus it is.
Good and evil cannot indeed be united,
but during our life in this world, there are
few whom we can class rs wholly evil, and
nUne whom we are prepared to call with
out sin. Good and evil, truth and falsity,
are strangely blended together, and even
in the poor wretch who 10 moment of
infatuation has raised the fatal cup TO his
lips, there may he found redeeming traits
which when deep repentance and reforma-
ton have followed sin, may still bring him
into union with one who, perhaps less
tempted, has wandered less from the path
Of virtue.
The weary hours wore on. Helen could
not compose her mind sufficiently to re-
tire to test; and resolved TO wait her hus-
bands return. Midnight passed by; but
this excited no surprise. 1t was not to be
expected that he would leave his gay COM
panions until late hour; but when one
o'clock arrived, and still he did not return,
the heart Of the young wife grew more
and more sad, and thousand dangers
which might have befallen her husband,
I were conjured up before her; but, alas, her
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