The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-10-26

homeward. lie wa: sober, reader, YES,
sober, and thoughts were busy.
He their natural protector hadleft them
to perish, but he did not mean it--no, he
only intended to take one drink-tves, one
drink only; then purchase fool and re-
turn, that first drink was all his confused
brain could remember. The night was
gone-so was the small sum he had re-
ceIved, credit he had none, and after
wondering some hours about-he gather
ed courage enough to seek thos, he had
so cruelty neglected. He had laltcd at
The threshold to listen if he culd hear
what WAS passing within, when the door
was opened by his almost frantr wife.
"uenly, my husband :-thankGod YOU
have come; say, say have yo, brought
them bread they are starving. Nv
chIidron have not tasted food ance YES
terday at noon am not hungry -mscrv
has taken away the cravings oil nature.
but do not. let them starvc"--Shc toud say
no more.
Tho horror of that hour, who,can Dor
tray the full tide of their wre ehednes,
swept over him, It came like the mighty
rush of the cataract-he was bow ed to the
earth, crushed and humbled-hc could
not speak, the pleading and wild look Of
his wife was upon him, he was 10 add 70
his other sins a murderer, they were dy-
ing, dying for food, and he had done the
deed.
DO not curse me Louisa, was all Se
could utter as he sank by her side
Never" She murmured "but nv
BRAIN is almost on fire--ssve them if YOU
can-then sudden thought spranr in
her mlnd-"yes, we can get relief for this
one night-my ring, my wedding ring
u, heavy-here she exclaimed, drawing
1t from her fintier-quick ere they awake"
another moan-auother cry for bread.
"Oh my husband will drive me mad. She
trust him."
Henly moved not till tho ring was a
second time with eagerne.s extended.
Viewer Louisa, never will part with
the last link that seems to bind me to
YOU | will beg to night and pay, Gov !,
look so hard on ME. MY sb86P wilc ne this
time will not deceive you, one long hour
at farthest / will return with relief" He
rushed from the door and the miserable
wife did not hear tho concluding worlds,
"or never return"
Henly rather flew than walked till he
reached the more crowded parts of the
city he had formed no definite purpose till
the broad glare Of lights streaming from
the st. Charles Hotel-roused him to the
full horrors Of his situation. The suppli-
eating look of his wife was before him.
The cries Of his children and the word
food" seemed to be re-cchoed around
him by ten thousand voices.
A group of gentlemen are at the door.
lie must beg-yes, Joseph Henly was
bcggar. lie approached them-one face
-onc voice arrested his atttention-with
4 wild scream Of JOY, he sprang past the
astonished group. Bennett" he exclaim-
ed, his feelings had been wrought to the
highest pitch. The sight Of his ca 'ly and
long tried friend, brought relaxation,
he could say no more, but sank exhausted
on the pavement.
Bennett had recognised in the squaled
and almost ragged man, the featurnes OF
uenly. Aid was Immediately procured
and he Was conveyed to Mr.. Bennett's
room.
As soon as the exhausted Henly could
speak, he made known his situation. One
year and half only had elapsed since he
had started from the home of his youth,
but that had been fraught with enough
Of misery to his family, TO have served for
a long life time.
One hour had elspsed-nearly two
no hope-no aid. Why had she thought
so--death would have been relief
death in any form. Her children were
moving-wild thoughts rushed through
her brain, she mad ceased 10 pray. Death
death was it a dreamlcss sleep-if SO how
happy-her hands were pressed before
her eyes, as if TO shut the horrid image.
that fancy seemed to lend shape to-but
bark, the awful stiffness is broken, it i,
the sound of wheels--faster and nearer il
comes-it stops-Bennett and Henly are
there--she saw all, and the husband re
ceived the form Of his wife in his arms
She greeted him with no smies-but tbs
wild hysterical laugh that escaped from
her as she sank exhausted, showed taa
the mental agony she had endured fo
the past two hours, had been too mucl
for her exhausted frame.
The family was Immediately conveyet
TO the Hotel, for many days Mrs. Henly
hovered between lifss and death, brail
fever had succeeded, and then in her pite
Gus appeals, the husband found out hoy
much more she had endured than eve
he had dreamed Of, or could Imagine.
Four years have passed since tina
eventful night, and reader where 10 Jc
seph Henly--follow me TO the eountin
room Of Mount d Co, there at his oil
desk is Henly. True he looks somewhs
older than his years would indicate, e
the gray hairs begiue to gleam anon
once black and shining locks; but he
Il n n n A..