Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-11-01

1t was opened when a little girl 81 about
seven years old was admitted. Her scanty
dress was tattered and torn, ragged quilt
was thrown around her slender shoulders aud
a pair Of old shoes upon Der feet. She was
almost frozen.
You are the widow Watkins little daugh-
ter ?; said Mrs. Rowland enqairiugly.
The little girl 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.
Mr.. Rowland owned the place on which
the sick woman resided. She was very in
digert, and but poorly able to pay the ex-
travigant rent which the owner exacted.--
The property was once hef husbands. or rath
err her own being gifs rom her father on
the very day of the wedding. Mr.. Watkins
was wealthy when young man, and educa
ted for the bar, and no one seemed more like
ly to be successful in bis profession. He and
Mr.. Rowland were early associates. The
latter, few years before The period at which
we now find him, had commenced the nefa-
rious traffic in ardent spirits-.had grown rich
had induced Watkins to driuk-made him
drunk, and by degrees drunkdrd and
when the poor besotted victim was unable to
pay his debts, contracted mostly for rum, but
partly by neglectiug bis professional duties,
he, bis former associate, bis pretended friend,
bis destroyer was the first to decry and OPP
press him. His horses and oxen were sold
by tho sheriff, next bis household and kitch
en- furniture were seized, and finally mort
gage was given to Rowland upon the home
stead of the Grunkard. to secure the rum deal
er in the payment Of pitiful balance in his
favor.
This calamity did not check the prodigal
career of the ipebriate. lie still quaffed the
liquid poison, and still did the heartless deal
err hold out inducements to prevail upon him
to sink lower into wretehedness aud shame
A few weeks after, he was one morning found
dead in the street. lie had left the grocery
at late hour the proceeding night in state
of intozication. The night was dark, and
he probably missed his way-fell into the
gutter--fouud himself unable to get out
and being stupe6ed with rum, he went to
sleep and froze TO death.
Rowland 10 short time foreclosed the
l
mortgage. and the home Of the drunkard's
wife became the legal property Of the man
who bad destroyed her peace, and reduced
be- to beggary and want. He had permitted
her to remain on the premises, exacting an
extravaganza rate of rent. Mental anguish,
excessive labor, wan! of proper nouristment
and exposure, had well nigh worn her out
aud she xas fast sinking into the grave
where the weary are at rest. No one had
been near her; no one seemed to care for
her; in fact it was not known even to her
nearest neigbbors, that she was sick.
Mr.. Rowland felt anxious only for his
rent, there being at that time small sum
due And perhaps it was owing to this cir
cumstance, that he so readily consented to
accompany the little girl to the room Of her
sick mo;her. He drew on his overcoat, tied
a wooden comfort round bis neck, drew on his
gloves. and taking his umbrella, set out
through the drifting snow aud sleet. and went
bis way to the widows uncomfortable home
He found her lying on miserable bed of
straw with her head slightly elevated, the
only chair belonging to the house being
placed under her pillow. She was pale and
CHASTITY, evidently near the hour of dissolu-
ton. Mr.. Rowland being seated on a rude
wooden stool, she said in feeble but decided
tone Of voice.
i have sent for you, sir, to pay me visit
that may make you the heir to my estate
My estate? know you are ready to ask
what estate have TO bequeath? And well
you may ask that. was once happy. This
house was once mine it was my fathers
gift-my wedding portion. had horses and
oxen, cows aud sheep, and orchards and
meadows Twas you that induced my poor
errng husband to drink. 1t was you who
placed before him the liquid poison, aud
pressed him to take it. Twas YOU that took
away my horses and cows, and meadows and
orchards, and my own home. Twas you
that ruined my peace, destroyed my husband,
and, in the very moon otife, sent him down
you that made me Y gar and east my
starving babes upon tho charity of a pitiless
world. have nothing 1T but these quilts,
them you do not wans-yet | have deter
mined to bequeath you my estate. Here,
Sit, is my last will and testament; do be-
queath you this vial of tears. They are
tears that have shed--tears that you have
caused. Take this Va wear it about your
,;lo ,orson /. and when hereafter. YOU present