Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-08-03
But pardon cur depression. "My

aunt died in total ignorance of his
situation, else she would have set
| tied her estate upon me, beyond biz
reach. Poor man, he was more gen.
ferrous than the most of husbands il
like situations for when the frs
storm of adversely came upon hin
he was so near being shipwrecked
! he told me all; the cause and every.
thing about it, and promised if evel
he got safe through to stay at home
of evenings and try to avoid the
temptation. ] know he tried a:
any man to keep his promise, but
some Of the emissaries Of those
hell-holes got around him and per.
suaded him back again, and he re.
lapsed again into bis former course
A wife's feelings and tears we're alike
disregarded, and the ample wealth
left us By my aunt soon sank into
the caracious drawer of some faro
dealer and whisky seller. Failing in
business he vainly endeayored to
drown his troubles in drunken obliV-
ion, which was persevsred in with
such tenacity that predisposed his
system to an attack of the cholera,
and he among the first, fell a victim
to that scourge of nations and ter
ror Of men. His death left me pen
niless, which was far better than, to
live rs | hadedone for the past two
years, an object Of ridicule to the
world, because my husband squaH-
dered my wealth-a burden to my
self-fcr life seemed reft of every
thing tina. inspires hope or pleasure;
and then too, to live and see myself
the football of such changing for
tune. First penniless orphan, then
"a wealthy ward, a rich accomplished
heiress, courted and admired by
those of high rank and station, then
gambling drunkard's wife, now his
widow to inherit the legacy of his
life-disgraee and poverty. All
this have | passed through; yea
more, tbs in these lines:
'And if my voice break forth It's not that now,
shrink from what is suffered: let him speak
Who hath beheld decline upon my brow,
Or seen my minds commissions leave it weak;
But in this page record will l seek.
Not in the air shall these my words disperse,
Though | be ashes; a far hour shall wresk
The deep prophetic fulness of this verse,
And pile human head the mountain of my
curse!
That curse shall be forgiveness. Have not
Hear me my mother EARTH behold it heaven
Have not had to wrestle with my lot?
Have not suffered things to be forgiven?
Have not had my brains sear'd, my heart
Hopes suaf'd, name Bill hfd, life's life lied
away?'
And not only to desperation dEiy-
en--but to death. or what was worse
than death, ! fell so low and poverty
so humbled me that ] listened to the
tempter and sold my soul for bread. !
Once started in the downward road
to ruin i. is but short time ere we
reach the terminus, if there be one,
or such as /, this side Of hell. I'M
Ill | came acros William | had no tie t
20 bind me to earth; and when he Z
lsked me to link my fate with his, :
low willingly did / consent. Some
ny to argue that in beings like US
here is no ruling power like love, to
prompt US TO honor OF even respect e
ny one person. But that is not the q
:ase with me, for when ! first saw c
William there was an attractiveness Il
bout him | could not account for.-- |
Ie was once rather good looking. '
'ut as soon as he became convinced
f the truth of my intentions and f
ny sincerity, he gradually grew ),
nore careless in his personal appear h
nee and was seldom at home, and es-
ecially at might. He was always :
ne of the kindest of men, and to !,
he best Of my recollection he never i
poke cross word to me, although 4
e was away more than there really J
eemed any necessity for, yet he said s
e was at home rs much as he well =
Ould be and | had no right to doubt :,
| never knew when to look for =
i'm if he was away; he would some :;
mes be 10 the house before / knew If, :,
nd then again he would be gone be- .
re could think about it. He new :,
? told me what his business was, =
range as it may seem, and though Il
often asked him he never gaye me d
ny satisfaction. This Dr. is brief II
Setch of my life up to the present m
me- "Well," exclaimed the doc -
IT, "you have indeed seen some of -
Re ups and downs of this life. Have +,
ou never been mother" s'No, l ~
i've been spared the misery of she'd n
nor tho poronfol faor Co. -