The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-09-01
THE EFFECTS OF 1NTEMPERANcE.

Mr.-an his young wife took up their
abode in apartments near my residence.
owed my acquaintance to an Introduction OF
lectures, in which | was associated for the
benefit OF one of our dispensaries. Anato-
nv and the physiology of the viscera were
nv subjects, and observed from his excess
i've paleness, that he was afflicted with some
internal congestion, or that his circulation
at any rate was not of high order. A
great degree of curiosity on the subject OF
enlargement of the liver from the excessive
use of brandy, with desire to know the
earliest indications rendering abstinence in
dispensable to preserve life, gave me hint
of the reason Of his listlessness, and the
cause of his inattention to business. He
was a lawyer, and had a few years before
been actively occupied in the lower courts.
Going home one night at late hour from
one of my midnight enterprises, where the
good rule of'cash on delivery meets no favor
with our poor patients, notwithstanding the
abundance of the commodity delivered, OBJ
served him staggering before me in such
manner that feared my aid would be neces-
sary He was excessively proud and tena-
cious of his character, and therefore avoid
ed his observation, walking slowly behind
him until a violent fall compelled me to in
terfere, and raise him; being obliged, indeed,
almost to carry him to his house, small
and barely decent residence, to which his
habits had reduced him, and the rent for
which, as subsequently learned, his delicate
wife paid by painting maps and prints for
the booksellers.
Nv first impulse was to leave him as soon
as should hear the approach of the servant
in answer to my summons. l did not an
ticipate the possibility of the absence OF
the single servant | knew they had some
time kept, but their poverty had obliged
them to discharge her, and the bell was
almost instantly answered by the gentle
being who knew, poor child, the nature OF
the summons She was in her day dress,
and had not removed it, as she told me, for
several nights, having been obliged to watch
the return of him who should have been her
hope and her ark of refuge, and whose
strong arm should have interposed between
her and all harm. Alas! drunkenness had
dimmed the lustrc of that eye that once
looked so kindly on her, and naught re main
ed for both but the quiet grave. We none
of us imagined how near it was. Never
shall forget the look of heart-broken an
guish with which her gaze met mine, as the
flame of the hall light fell upon us. Those
tears are imprinted on my very soul; nor do
think any man, with spark of humanity
in him, would not have answered them i'll
kind carried him to his chamber, and
after examining and dressing the wound on
his forehead received from his fall, and
knowing that my absence would be most
acceptable to the true wife, took my de-
parture, begging her instantly to send freely
in the event of any trouble or new misfor-
tune. did not repeat my visit, well know
ing what her sutferings must have been,
and that she wished to bear them unnoticed
and alone.
Twas some days before | again saw them;
and fondly hoped, from short appearance
of renewed attention to business, and see-
ing his wife occasionally walking arm-in-arm
with him, plainly but respectfully clad, that
he had turned over a new Leaf in the black
ened and defaced volume of his life. Buf
alas! he soon relapsed into a lower state
than ever; and often staggered by my office
occasionally looking in, and uttering some
maudlin nonsense. ! was powerless; he
was like many others addicted TO the loath
some vice, and had not mind enough to ap
peal to. He resented the least hint fol
reform; and once gave me to understand