The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-07-27
A Tale oftl.e E.ste,nperase,

Tale OftEle FzatelapcEafe.
The Scalpe, well executed monthly, which
always has something to enforce strong moral,
gives us the following the effect of intemper-
auce:
Mr. K and his young wife took up their a
bode in apartments my first residence.
owed my acquaintance to an introduction at n
course of lectures in which I was associated for
the benefit Of one of our disrensaries. Anatomy
and the physiology of the viscera were my SUBJ
jects, and observed from his excessive paleuess
that he was afflicted with some internal conges-
ton, that his circulation any rate was not OF
a very high ORDER A great degree of curiosity on
the subject of enlargement of the liver, from the
excessive of brandy, with desire to know the
earliest indications rendering abstinence indispen
sibe to preserve life, gave me hint ofhis istless
ness, and the cause of his inattention to business.
He was lawyer, and had a few years before
been actively occupied in the lower courts; going
home one night at late hour from one of my mid
night excursions where the good rule of I" cash on
delivery" meets no favor with our ppor patients.
notwithstanding the abundance of the quantity de
lvered. observed him staggering before me in
such manner that feared my aid would be nee
essary. He was excessively proud and tenacious
of his character, and therefore avoided his obser-
vation, walking slowly behind him, until violent
fall compelled me to intefere, and raise him; being
ob ged, indeed, almost 10 carry him to his house.
a small and hardly decent residence, TO which his
habits had reduced him, and the reut for which, as
| subsequently learned his delicate wife paid by
! md ts frr fl,a hook -ce
Ny first impulse to leave him as
should hear the approach Of the servant in
to my summons. l did not anticipate the possbil-
ity of the absence of The single servant knew
they had some time kept. But their poverty had
obliged them to discharge her, and the bell was al
most Instantly answered by the gentle being who
/ knew, poor child, The nature of the summons
She in her day dress, and had not removed it,
as she told me. for several nights, having been
obliged TO watch the return of him who should
have been her hope and her ark Of refuge, an!
whose strong arm should have iuterposed between
her aud all harm. Alas! drunkenness had dimmed
the lustre of that eye that once looked go kindly
on her, and whered the arm TINT should have
protected her. and naught renaiued for both hut
the quiet grave. We of US imagined how
near it
| Never shall forget the lock of heart broken
an guish with which her gaze met mine, the
hall light fell upon US. Those are imprinted
on my very soul; nor do | think any man, with
spark of humanity in him. would not have answer
ed in kind. carried him TO his chamber, and af.
ter examining and dressing the wound on his fore
head eceived from his fall. and knowing that my abb
sence would be most acceptable TO the true wife,
took my departure. begging her instantly to send
freely iu the event of any trouble or new nistor-
| tune. l did not repeat my visit, we'll knowing
what her sufferlngs must have been, and that she
wished to bear them unuoticed and alone.
Twas some days befure l again them; and
| fondy hoped fom short appearance ofrenew-
ed attention 10 business. and seeing his wife occa-
sonally walking arm 10 arm with him paiuly but
respectfully clad, that he bad turned ovor now
leaf in the blackened and defaced volume of his
,ife. But, alast he reapsed into lower state
than ever; and often staggered by my Office, occa-
sonally calling and u'tering some mGudlin nnn-
sense. / was powerless; he was like many others
addicted TO the loathsome vice, and had not mind
enough TO appealto. He resented tho least hni
| for reform; and once gave to understand
would dc we'll to concentrate all my mental pow
ers on my own business, assuring me (and God
knows felt the truth of his remerk) would find
no super fu,us ability. The poor fellow never fur
gave me far carrying him up stairs, though his suf
teriug wife avoided mentioning my name to him
! except in medical light.
A few months after the incident which brought
me into this family, the Cholera of 1892 cqme
1t was soon apparent that the disease confined its
tntal ravages to the wre,ched and deblated.-
None will fo,get the sckeurg snd heurt-rendiuG
scenes of that awful visitation. The angel ofdeath
did. indeed, spread his wings the blast; but he
| did not fan away the demon ofpan from the ceuch
of poverty, as have often remarked. True me
| light ofthe spirit often fearfniiy speedy anu
| puinless in the wretched and inempera'e' OUT
the strong man struggled fratully against me ter
rih,s and unknown enemy. and The nerves of the
diving man were racked, and let loose the
strong muscles till they played terrible ancs
before the powerless physician. One often
thought of Laocoon but looked in vain for the SER
| pent.
One evening at o'clock, or theresboute, had
thrown uyself, exhausted, from my horss into my
office chair, after visn tn my little deaf mares IN
the Asy nm, nnd was indulging in my fuvoute lax
ury OF cup of green tea, whioh preferred taking
no mau whose heart was in h,s profession. could
take time TO mako Simself an Bcceptab,s guest at