Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-09-08
For the True Democrat. William Simington, or the Evils of 1ntelnperance
A Temperance Sketch.
BY JNO. M'DERMOTT.

peace of society by the drunkard there has long been diversity of opinion, yet, whatever those dissenting opinions may be, we have no hesi. tancy in declaring, that the demoralzing inhu. ence which the drunkard yields in commu. nity, even when possessed of affluence and standing far outweghs all of the advantages that his neighborhood or country can derive from his position as man of talent, wealth, or public spirit.
 See you yon man reeling to and fro like a ship upon the verge of laundering? Bear with us, while in plain and unvarnshed manner we relate his sad history to you. William Slmlngton was ouce a planter of the highest standing and responsibility. Possessed of both talent and wealth, there was no post of distinc. tion or of honor to which he might not have asplred. He commanded and enjoyed the love and respect of numerous circle of friends.- In the arms of a loving and affectionate wife, in the bosom of a tender and virtuous family, he whiled away many year of peace and hap piness. His wife was as beautiful as houri. She was possessed of every charm that could at once render her pleasing and attractive. His children were as lovely as Hebes--they were az so many chords entwined around his heart in his days of health and of innocence. Peace and plenty "shed their mingled delights" among this affectionae household. The sun in his triumphal rounds looked not on more con. tented family. Not in all his circuit, shed he his rays on more peaceful, happy, and intc. resting circle. Nightly would they, assembled around the family altar, pour forth their thanks to the Author of all goodness for his supera- bundant blessings. Nightly would they chant Tn strains, to which an angel might stoop to lis. ten, their vesper hymns in praise of Him who had endowed them with such choice and varied gifts. For fifteen years did this happy state of things continue, but alas! the demon of intem- perance was stalking forth in the land, and the young and the aged had fallen victims in the relentless march of the dread tyrant Long had this happy family set him at defiance: for repoSln9 Tn their own conscious innocence they dreamed not of the blow aimed at them by the foul monster. He, who ever delights in strik- ing shining mark, had singled out the main prop and support of that happy family, in the person of the planter himself to grace his hel- fish triumphs.
 store is'set up contiguous to William Sim ington's plantation. The post office was kept there. The elections were held there. But the worst was that damning of all drugs liquor was kept there. Death in all its liquid forms was dispensed there with lavishing hand to wretched, and undone man. Not day passe but what some unhappy wretch was seen vending his way to that temple of darkness, to offer his libations to Bacchus- bloated set of beings assembled there, in quest of that liquid fire, which like the jar of Tan talus but mocked their endeavors to ouench their morbid thirst.
 For long time our planter resisted the many opportunities of the drunkards congregated there, to participate with them in their baccha- nalian revels, their heliSh orgies. Tired out at length with their repeated solicitations, he
 
 Intemperance stole the keys of reason; for " every inordinatc cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is devil" His doom was sealed. He became a notorious drunkard a confirmed ,ot
 "Oh how portentous is prosperity!
 How comet-iikc, t threatens, while it shines"
 Who can depict the feelings of the beloved partner of his bosom, when first she saw him m stale of beasty intoxication? He, who had hitherto never al peared before her but in the majesty of man, now appeared before her in the character of brute. He, who had hitherto seldom or never let the sun set on his happy dwelling without finding him one of it's on that fatal evening, reached not home, until the slvery peals of the old mantel clock had tolei the solemn hour of midnight. Often would his loving wife, from whose eyes anxiety had chased away all sleep-often would she visit her lattice, and gaze with nten. slty through the mists of the night, to behold if possible the form of her beloved husband. Sad and disappointed would she retire, whilst the most melancholy forebodngs would fit across her mind Again, and again, would she revisit her lattice but to chide his delay, The form of her truaDt husband meets not her wist- ful gaze Sad and pensve she takes her stand at the window, and peers with almost unearth- ly intensity through the surrounding darkness to espy the figure of her returning husband.
 She but resumes her post, when To! form appears It staggers, it reels, and after perform ing several circumgyr ations, it now falls pros- trate on the ground. Again it rises-it ap- breaches still nearer, and is again prostrate.- It is again erect. It approaches nearer and nearer Alas, it is her drunken husband! Too well is she apprised by the blasphemous oaths, the horrid curses, that it is none other than her lost, and ruined husband. When contemplat- ing the narrowing spectacle, might she not we'll have exclaimed with Lochiel,
 '---Oh Mercy dispel,
 Ton sight, that It freezes my spirit to tell!
 Terrified at the sight, she sinks pale and life- less to the floor. Her blood forsakng its won't ed channels rushed to its citadel the heart, and she remained in a state of utter unconscious hess, until aroused by the dreadful voice of her drunken husband claiming admittance. Happy had 1t been for her, that her eyes had never opened on the light again; for well might she bid final adieu to earthly happiness. Well might she say,
 o now for ever
 Farewell the tranquil mind, farewell content" for her earthly eden is about to be destroyed. With slew and sorrowful steps, she advances to meet him, who is yet amid his faults dearer to her than life. The door is opened amid voley of paths from him; and she, whom but so lately, he looked upon as the best gift of God to im;-whom but so lately, he would not permit "the rude winds of summer to visit too roughly" is now compelled to fly before 1 Nc