Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-09

a bedstead, while a tallow candle, fastened in
the wall, cast but faint anddismal light around
the room. Leaning over the bed, was a deli
cate woman, whose eyes were fixed upon an
object before her. She neither observed or
heard the quiet entrance Of her visitors, and
they stayed their steps as she gave vent 10 tbs
following bitter EXPLANATIONS: ..l..at.
20, Godl spare my darling Clara but few
hours longer-John will come and see her die.
He does not love her mother any more-he has
made bis home so miserable, that he never visits
Iit-but he always doated upon Clara-he called
her his darling girl. o, John John your
daughter is dying she has asked thousand
times for her papa,--and you cannot be so cruel
as 10 stay away Good God my child is
dead" and giving shrek, she fell upon the
floor.
The two visitors flew to her assistance, and
raised her upon the bed. While one attemp.
ed to comfort the boy, the other went for a
physician. Both succeeded, and soon Mrs.
Smith was revived and placed beside bright
fire which had been kindled in the meantime
Medicines were administered, but they afforded
no relief. Her heart was broken, bleeding
bleeding from negligence, suffering and woe
She looked around the room again and again,
and asked Tor John, but he was not there. The
console her, but in vain. Before daylight she
breathed her last, pronouncng with her dying
breath the name OF her negligent husband. She
was placed by the hands Of strangers on the
bed beside the angelic form of her starred
daughter, which had starved to death. The
gentlemen who had witnessed this sad scene,
could not restrain their tears. They made ev-
cry arrangement necessary for the occasion, and
while one took the now lone boy home TO be
properly cared for, the other started in search
Of the husband. "Snob John" was found at
the W-Restaurant, but so dead drunk from
the nights debauchery, that it was impossible
TO communicate the news TO him, and there
fore, without consulting him, the strangers had
the wife and daughter decently inferred.
Careful enquiry led TO the knowledge of the
following facts. "Snob John had been kind
and affectlonate husband, until he became addict
ed to the use Of ardent spirits. As he advanced
i'll the different stages of drunkenness, he be-
came less careful Of his family, and at last, de.
serted them altogether. The wife strove hare
against poverty, and day and night piled hei
needle 10 save herself and children from a mis-
cradle death. She would occasionally appeal Il
her husband through their son, but received
only such answers as he gave on Christmas
! Eve. She had toiled on, suffered on, til
through sickness, unable 10 purchase even food
she sent her child for the last time, through thu
chilly blasts of a winters night, to beg her hus
band for bread TO save his family from starva
ton. John came not,.--the daughter sank ex
hausted into the arms of death, and the mothe
died of a broken heart.
Such was The fate of the family Of the merry
the witty, the jovial "Snob John" whose credl
was as good a bankers at the W--Res
taurant, and whose company was always sough
by the frequenters of that splendid saloon.
Shortly after the death of his wife and child
'' Snob John" died of mania d-potu, in one {
the cells of the watch house. Thus his llf
was closed IN prison, an unexpected pauper an
maniac.-Ohio Organ.