Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-07-02
a ~ y
From the Southern Ladies' Book
The Drunkard's Daughter.
BY FINLEY JOHNSON.

single cloud is passing in the clear, blue
sky and the ground. bushes and 4snces are
sparkling with the early dew. The trees
are robed in beauty, and beneath a sky so
Might, all things are clad in garments of
loyeliness. The happy children, eas~they
wend their way to school, seem to partake
of the general gladness, and BY. heir glow.
ing cheeks, and merrN voices, attest the JOY
which is within their hearts.
But see that poor girl, who, at some dis
,ance from the happy group, is slowly and
sadly walking onWards. Her pale, soiled
face, ragged dress, and bare feet, give esi
dence that she is the child Of poverty and
vice. Behold her, as she gazes upon the
beamiug countenances of the joyous chill
dren-see how the bitter tears are pouring
down her cheeks, and how she hides behind
her shawfa small pail which she is car
rying
She is the daughter Of drunken parents.
The bright, calm morning has no joys for
her. She feels none of the brightness and
gaiety Of heart, such as children feel when
nature is beautiful around them. She could
not laugh as those happy children laugh,
and she wonders why she can not be gay
like them. See, she fingers until the others
are out of sight, and casting around her
searching look, she rushes into low grog
gerry at the corner.
Poor girl she knows that she is doing
wrong that she is about to carry home an
article which will make her mother cross,
and her father savage but what can poor,
feeble thing like her do against the fierce
commands Of british father, and a drunken
mother!
She is in the store-with trembling lips
asks for rum, and as she hands up the little
tin pail, the man who is waiting upon her,
says in contemptuous tone:
sMoTe rum why your mother is per-
feet barrel of it,"
She cannot answer-her little heart pants
with grief, and hastily selling her purchase,
she takes her departure. 4..
She reaches at last her dwelling, and, my
God what sight! Everything is in con-
fusion the children half clothed, and
worse fed, are huddled up together, and
hunger is staring from their CLASSY eyes.
Misery, want and despair are there. She
crosses the threshold, and ere she is within
the door, her mother rushes out, and seizing
the pail, pours down some Of its burning
contents.
Aad this is acoman-Gofs BEST gift to man !
s:Bread, mother! We are hungry p cry the
CHHuteti, eltu aAtJ PRESS louAu ASi, eoSoA Aoa
food
eco away, you brats! answers tie mother
-.and, Mary, be off to get some sticks to
cook breakfast by"
The poor girl hurries off, and soon returns
with bundle Of sticks, with which she
kindles fire.
See, now, the wretched breakfast Some
corn meal is mixed with water, and the
Il tnh fhrc 1c MA hofo fbo
smoky, scanty fire. The children gather
round it, and with the eyes of famished
hawks watch the baking. .--.
Terrible sight. See, they cannot wait until
it is cooked-hunger must be satisfied,
and there they are, seizing it like birds Of
prey, piece by piece, till nothing remains
With tfeir hunger scarcely satisfied, the
boys now so, as usual, to loiter in the streets,
while the poor girl takes the babe from the
cradle, and strives to soothe it.
The mother is unconscious, she is inebr,ated
While the daughter is soothing the babe,
the father enters. He was once a useful
member Of society, but his wife's conduct,
has step by step led him on TO ruin. Time
was, when he expostnlated, argued and
threatened; now, he fights for the bottle of
rum-the source Of all their misery. He win
not work. and has been gathering blackber-
ries. to satisfy his appetite.
n He enters, and as he gazes upon his wife,
he ut:ers curse; BLAST the woman J" he
mutters, always drunk"
A. He turns to his daughter, who still holds
the babe, and III harsh tones, says:
Put down that squalling child, and here
take these berries and sell them"
.But, father, the baby has" :" aa
'sNone Of your lmpudencei do as bid
you. Sell them as soon as you can, and call
ia at BULBS, and get pint Of rum" s5H
Y She puts down the infant, it utters loud
cries, and stretches forth its tiny hands; but
what is that to the father sF3
Rum Is his naaster-he IS its slave.
See how the poor girl is going from door
to door, and everywhere she meets with the
same chilling answer-"No.n
She can 90 no farther-weary and worn
out she sits down upon a marble step, and
weeps bitterly She cannot sell her berries
mo person will buy them not soul will
purchase from such slovenly girl as she.
What is to BE- done She must 90 home, but |
what would her father say, if she came with |
out the rum
She could not sell them-she determines
not to go home with them-and therefore
she thinks that she will exchange at the
shop for rum. @s
Again she stands before the dirty counter,
and asks for an exchange. II is given, and
away she flies to her home. .
The father is out, but the mother is there.
sWhere have Jon been, Mary % is the ex-
ciamation. a.
To sell some berries for father.n
Where is the money, child ? come, ont
with il n 1850
4 could get none. ButI-I-I g-g-got
some ru-m-rum," says the trembling
child
Give it TO me this instant p and the
mothers eyes sparkle with supernatural
lire.
The girl refuses, for she is well aware Of
ier fathers anger. 81
But, see, the mother, rendered insane by