Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-10-11
,goite Gittrature
WIDOWS WILL

sparkling FIRE.
TO bed in an ad-
Infant was sleep
the immediate no
Rowland was read
as the ftful blast
nmodious dwelling, he
remarks relative TO the
weather. Mrs. r. was
Ken curls upon the head Of
be, and occasionally she i'm
arm kiss of maternal affection
hy cheek.
n some one raped at the door,
ened, when little girl of about
lrs old was admitted. Her scanty
pwas tattered and torn, a ragged quilt
thrown dRound her shoulders, and pair Of
miserablcl old shoes upon her feet. She
was almost frozen.
You arc the widow Watkins daughter?'
said Mrs. Rowland, inquiringly.
The littlegir answered in the affirmative,
and added that her mother was sick and
wished Mr.. Rowland to step over and see
her, for she thought she would surely die.
MIR. Rowland owned the place on which
the sick woman resided. She was very in
digent, and but poorly able to pay the ex-
travagant rent which the unfeeling owner
exacted The property was once her hus-
bands, or rather her own being a gift
from her father on the very day of her
wedding. Mr.. Watkins was wealthy when a
young man, and educated for the bar, and
no one seemed more likely to be successful
in his profession. He and Mr.. Rowland
were early associates. The latter, a few
years before the period at which we now
write, had commenced the nefarous traffic
in ardent spirits, had grown rich, had in
duced Watkins to drink, made him drunk
and by degrees, a drunkard and wher
the poor besotted victim was unable to pay
his debts, contracted mostly for rum, but
partly by peglssh Pis professional duties
he, his fofr ftale, 'fi-- rrotosLlss
friend, his desttey was the first 20 ~
and oppress him. His horse and oxer
were sold by the sheriff, next his house
hold and kitchen furniture were seized, anC
finally mortgage was given to Rowland
upon the homestead Of the druukard, to Sc
cure the rum-dealcr in the payment of
pitiful balance in his favor.
This calamity did not check the prodiga
career Of the inebriate. He still quafet
the liquid poison, and still did the heartles
dealer hold out inducements to prevail upo
him to sink lower into wretchcdness an
shame. A few weeks after he was on
morning found dead in the street He ha
left the grocery at late hour the precedin
night, in a state of intoxication. The nigh
was dark, and he probably missed his way
fell into the gutter, found himself unabl
TO get out, and being stupeied with run
he went to sleep and froze to death.
Rowland in a short time forcclosed tt
mortgage, and the home of the drunkard
wife became the legal property Of the ma
who had destroyed her peace, and reduce
her to beggary and want. He pormittC
her to remain on the premises, exacting {
extravagant rate of rent. Mental angus
excessive labor, want of proper nouris
meut, and exposure, had we'll nigh wo
her out and she was fast sinking into Il
grave, Nhere the weary are at rest.
one had dRbeen near her no one seemed
care for per; in fact, it was not know
even to hA nearest ncighbors, that she W
sick
Mr.. Rd nd felt anxious only for !
rent, there N\g at that time small 81
due. And ptsS ps it was owing to this C
cumstance, tina e readily consented to
company the littA girl to the room of
sick mother. He drew on his overco
tied a WOODEN comE2rter round his ne
drew on his gloves, az ID taking his umbr
la set out through tine drifting snow q
sleet, and went his waylto the widows
comfortable home.
He found her lyi7g on a miserable
Of straw, with her Eead slightly elevat
the only chair belohging to the house be
placed under heERllow, She was pale
chastity, and >I bntly near the hour of
solution. Rowland being seated o
rude VOC - bol, she said, in a feeble
decided Of voice {;
Il hao sent for you, sir, to pay n
visit, thC may make you the heir to
estate. NIy estate? know you are re
to ask that estate have l to bequeath
And 9ell you may ask that | was
happy This house was once mine; it
my fathers gift, my wedding portion
had horses and oxen, cows and sheep,
orchards and meadows. Twas you
induced my poor erring husband to DR.
II was YOU who placed before him the Ii
poison, aud pressed him to take it.
Twas you that took away my horses
cows, and meadows and orchards, anc
own home. Twas you that ruined
peace, destroyed my husband, and, il
very noon of life, sent him down to DR.
ards grave Twas you that made
beggar, aud cast my poor starving
upon the charity of a pitiless worlc
have nothing left but these ragged q,
them you do not want, yet l have
mined to boqueath you my estate,
sir, is my last will and testament; l.