The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-10

MrSs bteWers Win Dlancu0O CuooA6 uuu uS0
hevelled hair, entered.
sDid you call me, Nelson?' said the wife
. 81 did call you,' replied he slowly. 90
Kitty! what have you doneS'
what said would ds-and now you mus
die! Ha, ha, ha! You have cursed tht
earth long enough
Large drops Of cold perspiration stood
on the inyalid's face, and his features wert
distorted that none could have recognized
in him the inebriate of yesterday, for ths
palor Of death was on his brow, and every
limb was rigid. But Mrs. Brewer seemed
to observe it all with joy, and gave vent tt
her feelings in wild, idiotic laugh, while
the husband, with failing strength, begged
humbly, prayerfully, that she would hastily
procure him an antidote for the poison, anG
he called on Him who alone has power te
stay death, to witness that he would never
nerer touch again that which would intoxi.
cate. afaf asss @s F@8
Il believe you not,' said the wife, tffol
you have promised me too often. l could
save you even now, if would, for l have
an antidote; but will not-you shall die!'
sThen l will save myself half shrieked
the husband, as with c0nyulsive movement
be threw himself from the bed and tried to
gain the outer door. But his wife sprang
between him and it, and turning the key,
she withdrew it and threw it out of back
window into the garden beyond. 'Then
will leap from the window said he, his
voice growing fainter and fainter at every
moment.
sNever!' shouted the wife, in demoniae
state; and she drew from beneath the small
shawl that was thrown around her should
ers, a pistol, and aimed it at his breast
sDare take another step toward the window
and l fireT said she, assuming q determin-
ed attitude. ~sg.t-.- 90. .-sr t-sF 3 +.
MIR. Brewer was soon overpowered! lie
felt that he had not courage to battle with
death and maniac; so sinking upon his
knees, while his body was conyulsed with
pain, he offered up prayer sincere and
heartfelt, that if he could be but once more
restored to health, no intoxicating drink
should ever wet his lips again.
"If l could believe youp said the wife,
more calmly looking on. r r.C
you may-you mayv he returned, almost
gasping. ...- ... -.
Swear it again and again and kiss this
book continued the wife, 'and then if
believe you, will save you; but if not, you
have but few moments more to live.'
The husband grasped the worn Bible, and
again and again repeated the oath, then
sealed it with kiss, and fell backward ex-
hausted fainting. -.a- g.. .
Mrs. Brewer stepped to the little closet
and laid by the pistol; then returning, she
raised his head from the floor and placed il
on pillow, and taking from her bosom a
paper, she mixed the contents with water
and held it to her husbands lips. With diff.
fculty it was swallowed, and in few mo-
ments after, Mr.. Brewer commenced vomit-
ing, and then his pains grew less.
Mrs. Brewer did not nurse her husband
with tender care, but much the same as a
maniac would nurse some favorite pet
anxious at times and then neglectful. But
it was several weeks ere he ventured to 20
out from his home, for his wife acted SO
strangely, that he feared she would do in
jury to herself or children-and well he
knew if she had been the same, she would
not have tried to poison him, even though
he had been more Incorporate than he was.
Mr.. Brewer did not fike to expose what
his wife had done, no did he allude to it,
even to her, for he felt. that he was the
cause of her mental arrangement. But
when, after his recovery, she proposed that
they should move into another neighborhood
where he would not meet with SO many of
his old associates, he readily agreed to it,
and from this time there was q gradual
change working in Mr.. Brewers home. The
black bottle was broken, the old furniture
was cast off for some of better quality, the
children went better clad to school, and lit
tie Mary no longer sewed on slop-work,
that she might purchase shoes for the Sab
bath. The wifc's mind grew more calm
and peaceful now, though she never allud-
ed to the past; and SO years rolled by, and
the husband still kept the oath he took
when he thought death so near him. b..
His sons and daughters had now attain
ed to the stature Of men.and women, amid
peace and plenty, and though time had
added to the fathers age, one would have
thought him younger now than when he
took the oath. And so had time dealt
gently with the mother, for bloom still
fingered on her cheek, and a happy smile
rested permanently on her face.
One evening, dark haired youth-the
accepted lover of Mary-had closed the
outer door and left the eldest daughter and
her mother alone, seated beside the winters
crate. .rs.s--. nag ...s .
Mother said Mary, do you not remem-
ber, many years ago, when We were very
poor, and father was incorporate, what you
whispered in my ear one evening"
q do, Nary ... 49,.
well, have often thought it very strange
that you would never allow me to allude to
it afterwards, but knew something unusu-
al took place about that time, for one day
when | came from school, found father
very sick, and you would not permit Us to
ask him any questions. But recollect we'll
from that time he never drank again, and
we were better of. Say, mother, did you
ever attempt to poison?'
The mother sat silent for a moment, and
then looking up with smile, she answered:
'No, Mary, ! never did; but he thought l
did, and have never undeceived him. 1t
was desperate game l played-one in
which knew if were successful, ! should
never regret it, and if were not, l could
not be more miserable than was, as l saw
his incorporate habits increasing q. "a
tAnd will you tell me all the particulars?'
sYes, child And Mrs. Brewer looked
around the room to make sure
they were alone-and when she became sat-
isfed they were, she commenced. 'When
your father first became Incorporate, it
grieved me to the heart--and tried to rea-
son with him and convince him how wretch
ed would be our lot, if he did not desist.--
But he paid but little attention to me, except
for the moment, and then sought his old
again. Then begged him with
tears to shun intoxication--but all to no
purpose. He would make me fair promis-
es only to break them, and thus year after
year wore on, until resolved to try anoth-
er plan, and this told to neighbor whom
could trust, and to our family physician,
who knew my trials and felt great sympa-
thy for me. 1t was, that before your faith
er should appear slightly insane, and then
at a given time should threaten to poison
him. knew your father always had a
great dread of . maniac, and we'll he knew
he had given me trouble enough to make
me insane; so acted we'll my part, for !
was always called good mimic, and now !
had too much at stake not to do my best.
You heard me make the threat, but knew
could trust you; 90 whispered in your ear
that it was all pretence. But still you fear
ed, and / did mot like to talk about it after
wards, for that morning's scene did well
nigh drive me mad, and nothing but the
greatest 6rmess preserved me. Well, Or.