The Hillsborough recorder., 1855-08-15
OR THE OLD MANS STORY.


Come, stay with me this evening""
" MT this evening, Alice, Ihaye promised
TO meet some friends this evening, and must
keep my word. | will be at home in good
season."
II had hoped that should have your
company. Come, why can't you try and see
il ! cannot make you as happy as those com.
panions whom YOU are to meet! Just this
once, Malcolm. D, this once''
mo, no, Alice, am going out. What; !;
CRYING Now what's the use Of that. Cant
fellow go out on~ and a while without leay-
ing CRYING wife,"
/. !" ! cant help it, Malcom. But here, kiss
me before you 90"
Thus spoke Malcom Warren and his young
wife, Malcom was a young man twenty
seven years Of age, and carpenter by trade.
His wife was one ol the disposition.
ed girls in town, aud she made one Of the best
Of wives. She loved her husband with the
whole energy Of her pure soul, and she knew
that she was beloved in heart. Her two
children. boy and girl, often saw her shed
tears when they were alone with her in the
snug little sitting room, and the boy was old
cUOuSH W usk what Hiduc HlS ahlOlHtl NiN 4
but she dared not TO tell him.
Malcolm Warren owned the little cottage
in which he lived, and he hadpaid for il all
out of his own hard earnings, while Alice had
borne her share oil the burden BY purchasing
all the furniture. Malcom was stout aud an
excellent workman, and he had never vet
seen the hour when he need TO lay idle for
the want of work. A better hearted youth
lived not in the town, and when he took the
gentle Alice for his wife there was many a
fair maiden whose bosom gave place to a
kindly. wistlul envy. They would not have
robbed Alice Of her prize, but they only hop
ed that their own lot might be as fortunate.
Why, then, should cloud come upon that
house Why, then, should Alice weeps
All, for the same reason that thousands d our
lairest daughters weep. For the same rea-
son That hot tears are ever crying out their
silent appeals for mcrcy--tcarS that run un-
I'll they make food that fairly shrleks as it
rolls over our land.
Malcom Warren had high social nature
his society was priced By all who could Sc
cure it; and he had been indulging in the
false smiles Of the wine.cup for the last year,
he had been allowing his appetite to gain
strength. AT FIRST il was only an occasion
al glass;" then ga glass or so once in a
while" and then one or two glasses dry
But lately he had gone so far as TO spend his
earnings from hume, aud for nearly two
months past he had spent all his money with
his jo,ial companions. Alice saw all this,
and she knew full we'll where il would end
il il was not stopped. She knew her hus-
bands nature, aud she knew how surely he
was falling. She had whispered to him her
/ fears, aud he had tried to laugh them Oft as
idle ahims. She had prayed to him to stop
/ the fatal career while he had yet strength,
but he had been offended because she should
! think that he would ever become drunkard.
SoAlice wasairaid to speak all her.irars. Yet
she saw with a clear eve all that was coming.
She saw the bread road upon which her be.
loved was travelling, and her heart was ach-
Ing. She knew that even now want was star.
ing them in the face Ii was autumn, AMI
she had asked Alalcom for money 10 bus
warmer clothes for herself aud children. and
he had none to give her. Only day before
he had brought homc bucket full Of houl
instead uf sending home barrel as he used I,
do lie earned money, aud where was il
Alas poor Alice knew too well Malcolm
face, and she saw that lis manly beauty wa.
slnwIy but surely eating away. The large
blue eyes were growing dun, blrared ant
blOodshot, the once fair checks were becum
ing swollen aud bloatcd, aud the lips locke,
DIS and cracked. NOWunder she knelt dowf
by her bedside and prayed.
Il vas now Saturday evening, and Nal
com was going out. lie was to meet som,
friends, and Alice knew that be was 10 NEE
them at the tavern. lie had worked onl,
three days the past week, and he had I'll,
pay for these three days work in his pock
rt. That money was needed al home, bu
where would il be on the morrow:
"Malcom, q do not wholly forget you
fond loving Alice when you are gone Y
But Malcom did not answer. lie kissci
her, not as he used to do. but kissed her mere
" because she asked him iu-- aud then Iei
lis cottage. Alter he hail gone Alice "a
down aud wrpt. She could not hclpit. lie
darling boy BY her side, aud placed hi
arms about her neck. lleaskcd no question.
but he asked her nut 60 cry. Ills little min,
seemed 10 have some idea Of the coming o
a calamity. II mus; have been vague. bu
il was clear enough to prevent him from forc
iug thr dread thoughts upon liz mother
Unce more lie asked her not 10 cry, and thr
his uwn little heart burst, and mother ani
child ucpt tugcihrt. This was another tltp
ia thr To1r uilc's cup IL alIliCtiun. Oh hu,
palpable must be the husbands danger. Bn
She could only clasp her hands and pray mur
irr,ently. Aud the little buy when his nOthc
had dunr praying, sai,l. Amcn."
IL was a clear cool evening, aud as Nal
com Warren stepped out into the street Il
seemed 70 shake himself as though he woal
shake Uifihe influence Of the dear place lie va
leaving. hut he could not wholly doit. II
could not drive frUin bis mind tie Iearlu
eountenanee ufhis fond aud faithful wife, nj
could he forget the Look Of earnest simpl
auoufsh IA. lad nassscd .,,t ft. face al l.;