The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-11-14
Malcolm Warren

to meet some friends this evening, and must
keep my word. will be at home in good sea
SON.
II had hoped that should have your com
pany. Come, why can't you try and see if /
cannot make you as happy as those companions
whom you are to meet? just this once, Nal
colin 0 this oncer'
7s'No, no, Alice, I am going out. What
crying! Now what's the use of that? Can't a
fellow 60 out once in while without leaving a
crying wife?'' 9 " gs4a4.~ss. @
q can't help it Malcolm. Buthere, kiss me
before you go
Thus spoke Malcolm Warren to his young
wife, Malcolm was young man, twenty seven
years of age, and carpenter by trade. His
wife was one of the sweetest disposed girls in
town, and she made one of the best wives. She
loved her husband with the whole energy of
her pure soul, and she knew that she was love
in return. Her two children, boy and girl
often saw her shed tears when they were alone
with herin the snug little sitting room, and the
boy was old enough to ask what made his
mother cry, but she dared not tell him.
Malcolm Warren owned the little cottage in
which he lived, and he had paid for it all out
of his own hard earnings, while Alice had borne
her own share of the burden, by purchasing
all the furniture. Malcolm was stout, and an
excellent workman, and had never yet seen the
hour when he needed 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 kindly, wistful envy.
They would not have robbed Alice of her prize
but they only hoped that their own lot might
be as fortunate. Why, then, should a cloud
come upon that house? Why should Alice
| weep? All, for the same reason that thousands
of our fairest daughters weep. For the same
| reason that hot tears are ever crying out their
silent appeals for mercy, tears that run until
! they make flood that fairly shrieks as it rolls
over our land.
! Malcolm Warren was a 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 it was only an occasional glass" then
s'a glass or so once in whle," and then cone
or two glasses day. But lately he had gone
so far as to spend his evenings away from home
and for nearly two months past he had spent
all his money with his jovia companions. Alice
would end fit was not stopped. She knew hel
husbands nature, and she knew how surely he
was falling. She had whispered to him hel
), fears, and he had tried to laugh them off as idle
whims She had prayed to him stop the ia
tai career while yet he had strength, but he hac
been offended because she would think that he
would ever become drunkard. So Alice was
afraid to speak all her fears. Yet she saw
with clear eye all that was coming. She knew
that even now want staring them IN thu
face! It was autumn, and she had asked Q
Malcolm for money to buy warmer clothes TO
herself and children, and he had none to Civ
her. Only day before he had brought hom
bucket full of flour, instead of sending he
when asked a barrel as he used to do. II
earned money, and where was it? Alas! poo
Alice knew too well Malcolm's face, and sh
saw that its many beauty was slowly but surel
eating away The large blue eyes were grow
ing dim, bleared and bloodshot, the once fai
, cheeks were becoming swollen and bloated
and his lips looked dry and cracked. No won
der she knelt down by her bedside and prayee
1t was now Saturday evening, and Malcolr
was going out. He was to meet some friends
and Alice knew that he was to meet them {
the bar room He had worked only three day
the past week, and he had the pay for thes
+. three days work in his pocket. That none
: was needed at home, but where would it be O
the morrow? . n...s'..
ssMacolm! 0, do not wholly forget you
fond, loving Alice, when you are gone"
r But Malcolm did not answer He klsse
her. notas he used to do, but kissed her merel
because she had asked him to, and then left h
cottage After he had gone Alice sat down an
Of wept. She could not help it, Her darling DO
at crept by her side, and placed his arms abol
her neck He asked no questions, but he aske
j. her not to cry. His little mind seemed to hav
5 some idea of the coming calamity. 1t mu
= have been vague but it was clear enough
in prevent him from forcing the dreadful though
20 upon his mother. Once more he asked her nj
to cry, and then his own little heart burst, an
y mother and child wept together. This VIZ
Of another drop in the poor woman's cup OF a
Fiction. Oh, how palpable must now be tf
ID husbands course, when even the prattllng sa
and knew the danger! Butshe could only clas
, and pray more fervently. And the little bo,
ghen his mother had done praying, sale
tn s<Amen." ~ .@ .g=-r
$, 1t was clear cool evening, and as Maicol'
), Warren stepped out into the street. he SCENE
j. to shake himself as though he would shake o
W the influence of the place he was leaving. b.
he could not wholly do it. He could not who'll
; drive from his mind the fearful countenance
bis fond and faithful wife, nor could he torg'
the look Of earnest simple anguish he had NJ
ticed upon the face of his children. Yet h
tried to crush the thoughts that were tht
:, springing into life. "Pooh!" said he, as til
image Of his wife forced itself upon him, 81
only little fun and frolic. Whose business
$, it? Get out with your non sense
And thus speaking the young husband an
father closed his hands as though he would hol
:. upon the feelings he had tried to repress, an
then he fastened on. At length he reache
the bar, and here be found his companion
): The laugh and the joke commenced, and e.
long Malcolm forgot all about his home. II
y, sat at the bar-room, and his sharp wit mad
l. food for such merrment.
l. "Who says there's danger in the bowl?' erie
young man as he raised the glass to his lip
ats the ravens croak,' said another OF h
companions "Her's confusion to the idea: ;"
ssfGood,' exclaimed Malcolm Warren poisin
his nlass ..poison in the howl? Nonsense