The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-10-04

odr pride was centered. For her wo built al
ry castles in the future and laid thousand ex-
trayagant plans. She was our life, our all.
During these two years was home man.
Within the domestic circe only lived and
loved; within its halowed limits were gath
cred all held most dear upon earth, and
was but seldom abroad.
My friends had frequently rallied mo upon
my unsociability since marriage, and OCCASION
ally now yielded to their opportunities to
join them in hunt or fishing excursion, or to
make ono at supper or dinner party. In
perceptihly acquired relish for the mirth
and excitenents of the re unions. They were
about re. organizing their club, and insisted up
on NV Joining them. l did So Twice each
week they met to discuss the news. politics
and a supper. Wines were abundantiy pro-
vi1ed. AT first was irregular in my atten-
dance, staying but short time, abstaining al
most. and sometimes entirely from liquors,
and returning early. !
Soon my appetite for wines increased,
drank more freely my visits became more fire.
quent and were protractcd to a greater length,
and occasionally | INDUCED in the excitement
of play. risking only such trifling sums. as all
averred was necessary to maintain an interest
in the game.
| Another year passed. over my head, and my
taste for intoxicating liquors was confirmed by
habit, and my passion for gambling had thrown
reason and restraint far away. was a loser,
ana would regain the lost sums. risked
largely. For time, varying success attended
me. Fortune smiled and frowned alternately,
until one evening, 1 staked and lost a large a
mount. had stretched my credit in the at
ternoor to obtain what had already lost, and
as we never played upon credit, was COM
PEELED TO abandon the game for the night.
could find tho solace of oblviousness, howev-
er, i'm liquor, and anxious to forget my troub-
les, drank freely. That night WIS assis-
ted home by two of my ''soi dissant friends
i'm beastly state of intoxcation. lt was the
first time l had ever reached that state OF ino-
briefly.
Who can imagine the pangs, the keen, the
bitter anguish of that fond, devoted wife, what
sorrow when the loved partner of her bosom
returned thus to her arms In the morning 1
observed her eyes red and swollen. She had
been weeping over my conduct. Yet no word
of reproach, 10 harsh allusion escaped her lips.
She maintained the Same m Id and gentle af-
fection, the same quiet enduring sweetness or
temper, ,unruffied by her griefs. was ashamed
of myself, and resolved never again to occa-
sion her sorrow
Fora while was moro regular in my hab-
it's but the burning, resistless passion for play,
for the excitement of hazard, latent tor time,
, and the hope of being ablo to retrieve my los
! ses, left me no peace, and despite my resolu-
7 ,ions of amendment and reform, found my
J self again at the gaming table Again l in-
dulged freely in its commitant evil Drink
became madly infatuated with this gambling
life. was restiye and uneasy at home, abrod
conscience stung me, and / endeayored to
D drown It's monitory warnings in liquor. de-
seended rapidly from step to step in the down
: ward progress, until ruin, utter, irretrievablt
4 al. Il nxln nnf nh
family. NV fortune was wasted, and l be-
: came deeply involved in debt. One by one
: each article of my property had been pledged
] or sarifeed. to supply the means of gambling
1 Even household goods were not spared, and
: day by day they disappeared from our snug
cottage.
0 At this stage, | frequently returned to my
3 homo drunk. and sometimes abused my VIE
9 and child. She onleavorcd TO reason kind
t with me when sober, but used no reproaches
: / still loved her deeply. and when uninluencef
by liquor, promised anything she required
{ Alas! the day when had power 10 fulfil those
II promises, and Withstand temptation, had lon!
n since passed. | could not control the demon
o appetite had aroused, and each day witness
y ed the infraction of pledges had solemnl
r renewed to her in tho morning.
7 . The mortgage upon our house was at lengt
!, foreclosed by my creditor, and we removed &
: a humble lodging in remote quarter OF tn
: cty. Often my wife and child wanted eve
. tho necessarie of sustenanee.
Want and suffering induced sickness. an
D little "Emeline,' after pro,racted Illness ae
gravated by my neglect to procure requlsit
3 medical aid, and even food, died. Deeply
= felt tho loss and my poor wifo, aredy heart-bro
!, ken. never fully recovered the dreadful shock.
Her friends urged her to forsaso me and re
turn to them And her father relying upo
% her wofril experience, offered his full forgive
!. ness. and cordial welcome 10 her childhood
L. home, provided she separated herself from int
al Still she entertained hope OF better, hsI
D pier times, and cluna to mo through all IN
10 misery and wrotchedness. We moved troI
place 10 place, until at last compelled TO OK
10 cept even this wretchcd shelter. l was sc
dom with her here. The lowest groggerlt
NJ nd gambling hells were my constant haun
s. f,eauently dissenting myself from her for sew,
10 ra days at n time, while she meanwh
p piled the needle 10 gain a sc lnty sustenance :
20 Her nature could MT long endure hc inccss
:, ant, restless toll and fatigue, and her healt
gu gradually failed. Yet she bore all without
murmor, ever greeting my return with th'
or same loving smile of sorrow and affection.
~ She was accustomed 10 find soace Ia M
N society during sober hours which she assure
n me repaid her for who!o nights and days
" u, suffering
"a Aware that tho sun ofhcr earthly existenC
nc was rapidly nearing tho western horizon
III life she enireatcd me. even upon her knee
Se entreated. that would forsake my vile con
'rt companions and remain by her side. She a
sured me death was near, very near, vet hee'
e- less of her supplications laughed at her for'
he bodings and rejoined my abandoned associate
re After an absence of three days, ! returne
ty last night, to find her unable to rise or spea
n For the FIRST time comprehended the ex'e'
in of her danger and imprnting one kiss upo
her pallid check, arose to leave her with tn
ro assurance that would speedily bring phys
Ter clan. rflrfIsr
Unable to articuate. she shook her hca
on doubtingly, and stretching out her thin whi
Is hand, sho bent look of such reproachful tci
Dr. derDess and love upon me, as J shall new
We forget. Hermld blue eyes suffuscd with tear
ks as lifted her hand to my lips and turned
In leave. ran at my utmost speed to your doc
where had frequently recognized your nan