The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-06-30

uelTtSS, W DDOt VI Ola yCoiS VIC hCpt v
our correspondence, and then he began t
write less equently-told Of losses, hinte
at troubles, and finally ceased writing alto
gether, and lost track Of him. And Franz
Wilson is drunkard''
Mr.. Wade paused, and covering his eye
with his hands as If to shut out painful
vision, he remained silent for some moments
but evidently deeply agitated.
/ At last he grasped the hand of his wifi
convulsively, and said in deep, solemn
tone, sEveleen, | made that man a drunk
ard at college; one whole year it took mi
to tempt him to sin-to raise the first glas
to his lips, and now he is lost to himsel
and to humanity; and his beautiful, noble
wife is our washerwoman; oh Eveleen
Eveleen, | cursed him, and if there is any
thing left of him, will bless him yet. Blu
what shall we do!' GO and see him. 8
will tonight No, no, not tonight; Mrs
Wilson said he would not be sober enough
to get home tonight, and would most likely
be taken to the watch house and return SO
Der in the morning. She says she has beer
to all the keepers of groceries about him
and plead with them not to let him have Ii
quor Some are polite, and tell her blandly
that it is their way of making living, and
they are not responsible; others curse her for
meddler, while others push her rudely out
of their filthy dens, and shut the door upon
her.
Oh! is it not fearful, terrible, that women
and children should thus be made the vic
tins of mans brutality and beastly appetites;
and that when she goes to men for relief, she
should thus be abused, and even when she
appeals to the higher authorities, the law
piyers of the land, to abate the cause of her
sorrows, that she must be met with heartless
sneers and cold Indifference! Is it not add
ing insult to injury, to give man the power
Of becoming SO depraved, and then to spurn
US, their poor victims, as beneath their care
when we pray for help!
Now with your consent, instead OF our
New Years party, we will first strive to
make the Wilson's comfortable, and perhaps
others. Next, will devote my spare time
in getting :igners to petition, and then |
will 90 to Columbus, and give my mite of
influence in the great cause which is now
SO thoroughly moving the hearts ofthe people
to reform this fearful evil, this crying sin in
our land. What say your
i say, God bless you, Eveleen;' and he
folded her to his heart, and lowering his voice
to whisper said as he pressed his lip to her
cheek, you may save me too
The next morning Mr.. Wade and wife,
the united pair, united heart and soul in the
work before them, went forth to hunt up
the Wilson's; and found, as suggested be-
fore. that Frank Wilson, one Of Gods
noblest and best, when himself, had been
partially sobered in the watch-house, and
had now returned to his suffering family
Mrs. Wilson had not dared to leave the
children that morning, for she well knew
that after such excitement he could not be
trusted When they went to the door, he
was talking loudly, incoherently, and OBJ
scenely; his wife was weeping, the little
ones covering away in the corners, for he
was not drunk enough to be imbecile, and
not sober enough to be sane. They We're
let in by little Maria, and Mr.. Wade walked
directly up to the bloated wretch in the
corner. and held out his hand Frank Wilson
looked up, and seemed for moment be-
wiIdered and lost. 1t was but for moment,
for though his senses were deep in sin, they
were not deadened; no, he was yet in his So
Der moments keenly alive to all the finer
feelings that had once stood forth as the
beautiful and good Of his character. They
clasped hands, and Charles Wade and
Frank Wilson burst from their lips, as
tokens of recognition; and when Wilson
let 90 the hand of his old friend, and lean
ing his head upon his shoulder, while he
clasped him in his arms, he wept like a
child.
Who that has ever known the life of an
inebriate but has seen these sudden revui-
sons of feelings, when all the good, the true,
and the manly would seem to go in the mas
tery, and the weak, the feeble and the erring
nature, would weep, and sit and pray and re-
solve; oh! every such nature could, aye, would
be redeemed, if temptation were removed
from their path.
Charles Wade soothed, encouraged and
strengthened the wretched man, ana pro-
missed him work and help. Come to my
counting room tomorrow, have work tor
YOU there, we will be alone, by my side you
will not fall
Frank promised, and the friends part
ed.
That week Mrs. Wilson did not go out
to wash, and little Helen feared 'that they
would have no Christmas if mother did not
90 washing. EIduh w iiSoh ho"'o 49,
wonderments, and remarks of his children,
in silence, occasionally holding out his
hand, or Turing them to his knee by gentle
words and kindly smiles; but while the
Children wondered that their mother did not
go out to work, or weep through the long
hours, they wondered still more that their
father came home to them each night, with
pleasant looks and loving words, and they
soon learned to bound into his arms
to play upon his knee and rejoice in his
smile.
Eveleen Wade spent the week before
Christmas in higher duty, than preparing
as usual for the holidays. Her petition
grew larger each day, and loftier hope had
entered her soul, and she no longer folded
her hands despairingly asking what can
woman do but she clasped them with earn
estness and thanksgiving, that she had even
at this late hour of life, learned that woman
can do SO much.
She was astonishcd to see how the fire,
kindled on the altar Of her own spirit, COM
muncated itselfto others. How ready they
were to burn and glow; to warm and cheer,
now that the match was applied to the tag-
OF of human sympathy; and human love-
How fast she grew. Life to her had be-
come in one week glorious, and beautiful
through doing good.
A friend said to her-'What is the use,
we can effect nothing; the Legislature will
spurn u.s. or if they do not the people Will