Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-24

clear head-sound limbs, stout heart-goOd |
conscience-wealth enough for me. Isn't
that enough-hey 7"
THE UNKARD' WIFE.
The grey morning was already dawning
when the miserable wretch turned into a
dirty alley, and entering low, ruinoas
door grouped through a narrow entry and
paused at the entrance of a room within.
That degraded being had once been veal
thy man, respected by his neighbors and
surrounded by friends. But alas the So
cial glass had first lured him to indulgence,
and then to inebriety, until he was now
common drunkard.
The noise Of his footsteps had been heard
within, for the creaking door was timidly
opened, and pale emaciated boy, about
nine years old, stepped out on the landing,
and asked in mingled anxiety and dread
I" Is that you father?'
g Yes, wet to the skin-curse it," said
the man why amt you abed and asleep,
you brat 2"
The little fellow shrunk back at this
coarse salutation, but still, though shaking
with fear he did not quit his station before
the door.
"What are you standing there, gaping
for ?" said the wretch" It's bad enough
to hear sick wife grumbling all day, with
out having you kept up at night to chime
in the mourning-get to bed, you imp, de
you hear p
The little fellow did not answer fea
seemed to have deprived him of speech
but still holding OF. to the door latch, with
an imploring look, he stood right in tn,
way by which his parent would have tt
enter the room.
ss!ssss $ = int .ssou going to mind 2 said tn
man with an oath, breaking into fury
!" Give me the lamp and 90 to bed, or II
break every bone in your body"
ooh father, don't talk so loud" sale
the little fellow bursting into tears "you'l
wake mother; she's been worse all day
and hasn't had any sleep till now - anc
as the man made an effort to snatch tn
candle, the boy losing all personal fears il
anxiety for his mother, stood firmly across
the drunkard's path and said, "you mustn't
you mustn't go in"
"What does the brat mean p broke ou
the inebriate, angrily; this comes G
leaving you to wait on your mother tt
you learn to be as obstinate as a mule, wi
you disobey me 2-take that, and tha
you imp" raising his hand he struck tb
little sickly being to the floor, kicked asid
his body, and then strobe into the dilap
dated room.
1t was truly fitting place for the hon
of such vagabond as he. The walls wei
low, covered with smoke, and scanned wit
hundred cracks The chimney pie'
had once been white, but was now Of tt
greasy lead color of age. The ceilir
had lost most Of the plaster, and the ra
, soaking through, dripped with monot
nous tick upon the floor. A few broke
chairs, cracked looking glass, and a thr
legged table, on which was rimless Gu
: were in different parts of the room. b
: the most striking spectacle was direct
d before the gambler. On rickety bed L
the wife of his bosom, the once beautif
;. Emily Languerre, who, through povert
!; shame and sickness, had still chung to t
:. lover of her youth. Oh! woman, t
: constancy the world cannot shake, 4
e shame, nor misery subduee Friend aft
friend deserted that ruined man indigl
II ty after indignity had been heaped up
: him, and deservedly; year by year he h
% fallen lower and lower in the sink of in
n my and still through every mishap Il
sainted woman had clung to him for
e was the father of her boy, and the b
q, band Of her youth. 1t was hard tt
l. for her to perform; but it was her du
of and when all the world deserted she clu
/ to him She had borne much, but al;
OF nature could endure no more Health
fed from her cheeks, and her eyes W
ia dim and sunken, She was in the
+ stage of consumption, but it was not t
y was killing her-she acas dying Of a B
v, ken heart!
Ve The noise made by her husband, ave-
81 her from her troubled sleep, she half st;
ut ed up in bed, the hectic fire stream
he along her cheek, and a wild, ftful Ii
40 shooting into her sunken eyes. There
y faint shadowy smile lighting up her fl
'e, but it was cold as moonlight upon snow
We The sigh might have moved felon's |
ON, but what can penetrate the scared
M hardened heart Of drunkenness? The 1
We besides was in passion.
las las Blast it, woman said the wretch
tn he reeled into the room, " is this the
OF you receive me after being out all da
IN the rain to get something for your brat
Come, don't go whining, | say" bu
ru- his wife uttered a faint cry at his bruta
tn he reeled step or two forward, and
red his hand up to his forehead, stared wi
ch, around, and then gazing almost vaca
upon her, continued, but-why-w
ety the matter p