The Delaware herald., 1854-04-12
A Fragment from a Life History.

How TERRIBLE a thing it is to have the fond
hopes OF the youthful heart blasted forever, to
have them broken and crushed beneath the
weight of some life mistortune-to know, to
feel in the inmost soul that the grt at game of
life has turned against us, that we staked cur
all and-lOSt. All, how bitter the tears the
heart then Sheds how hopeless the grief that
wrings the soul. Tears may flow like summer
rain but they bring no relief. Sighs may move
the deep current of life, but hope springs in the
heart nevermore. Despair, deep despair, calm
as the night stars, but terrible as the engulfng
sea settles down upon the mind
| knew her well. She was beautiful; beau.
tiiul as the opening rose in a Summers morn
ing. She was pure; pure as the stars II the
heavens above US. She was happy; happy as
the bee that draws only sweets from earth
flowers. Had she died then, she would have
been an angel now in heaven. With Il noble,
generous soul ard high thoughts that turned
always to the beautiful and good, she was the
pride Of large circle Of friends, and the adml-
ration of all who knew her. \ young man,
fashionable and gay, rich III lands and the
mlser's gold, prouc, passionate and bold, saw
her, won her young heart, and at the altar,
vowed to love and protect her through lne.-
Friends approved OF her choice, her father gave
them his blessing: and the mother with JOY re-
signed the keeping Of her daughters happiness
into the hands of him whom she had chosen
The world dreamed not OF wo, but pfophcsied
Of future peace and happiness.
This opened their lies new morning, full Of
promise and golden hope. The rainbow OF
peace shed its halo around their fresidc Gold
was theirs-they need never strive with the
ignuble crowd in the race after wealth; the
privilege was theirs to turn their thoughts &c,
higher and nobler pursuits. Friends were.
theirs, high-u,inded and honcrable-they ncec
never associate with the low or vile. Was not
every promise, the world could give, theirs =
What more could they wish! With life thus
bordered with golden flowers entered they upor.
their pathway. In the long future OF their
lives what see you! That beautiful wife,
whose education had been the constant care O.
wise father and fond mother, and who hat.
now articulated the irrevOcable words tha:
made her anothers, we see, rs the years move
on, changing into the comely matron, with E.
| happy familyof bright-eycd children surround
/ ing her. And him who had taken upon him.
self the holy task of watching over the welfare
of one so pure and good, and who had sworn
before high heaven that her happiness should
be his end and aim in life, him we behold full
filling his high mission, training those children
for happiness here and hereafter, to become
bright lights in this world, and angels in that t.,
come. Who does not love to admire such n
picture! Such families are the dwelling places
of angels and the hope of society and the
world. All, would that we might draw the cur.
tain here. Would that the actual, rightly
drawn, were always thus. Alas, that this may
not be.
The tempter entered this Eden Of happines.
and the man became his uictim. He possessed
not the fortitude to Withstand temptation. He
held the same views that thousands now hold
and their barks are daily being wrecked on the
same rock that proved his ruin. He thought
no wrong to empty the social glass with H.
friends; but ere he was aware the serpentt
coils were around him; soon the taclnation o
the bar.room tempted him from his fre.sldc
and the coarse laugh and the obscene jest o
. his boon companions became music in his ear;
! The appetite he had formed he could not con
troll. He saw the whirlpool he was frst az
preaching, but, alas could not gain the shor'
J How, think you, felt that wife The morninI
! of existence scarcely passed; and the brigll
hopes on which she had hung for future happi
, ness, snapped asunder, one by one, as the terri
BILE truth forced itself upon the mind. HoS
deep in her heart ranked that arrow barba
with poison from the Intoxicating cup held i
! the hand of husband. With tippling cam
!. gambling, and q consequent neglect OF busnes
!. and loss of property; and soon he became, tina
loathsome thing, drunkard Oh, how Wild
did that wife entreat of him never to touch tn
: cup more! How madly she importuned hiIr
! not only for herself but for one dearer to he
: than her own life, their childl
! "Would to God," cries the unhappy man, '
= had never drank - and fees to the grogshop I
!, drown his woes in the cup. That first socit
= glass was the fatal stepthe course from thenr,
: was ever downwards till the man was beggsl
!, From one of the kindest husbands he becani
/ one of the most abusive.
: Now, who may picture the feelings of thn
: wife! Nursed in the lap Of luxury and eas'
\ proud in spirit and in brth--edueated, intelli
. gent, ntellectual.---formed with the finest All
: strongest feelings; but fral like woman alwa,I
!. with high hopes and a yearning soul, DOOM,
. to behold that structure of happiness which ha
I. life had boen spent in raising and which hIl
. been the object Of her existence TO bring TO
,s perfect completion, fall crumbling before IL
i fell blows Of that demon rum. And she, III
i high-minded, and the good, was drunkGrd'
= totfe. The rainbow hopes of her early youl
i. had been blown away by drunkard's breatl
4 The rising Joy OF her young heart had be'
4. stiied by drunkard's brutality. The story (
- her life might well be termed tragedy soui
!. terrible denounosment was hid in the future