Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-09-18

y"
Gtute, LET us take q view Of the dis
consolate herself. She is seated close
by window which has fragments Of
time-eaten sash, entirely destitute OF
glass, which looks toward the busl-
ness portion of the city. irhe elatter-
ling of busses, wagons, carriages, &c-,
has died away, and the blacksmithiIs s
hammer no longer is heard. All is
still as night ever is, and was IL not
for an occasional. floating cloud, ono
might suppose nature herself gasplng
for breath But oh what thronging
memories come. For q few moments
she forgets her suffering condi-
ton, and feels that ''the past is
the present with her. She ispale as
death, and yet beautiful, though her
cheeks have lost the tints Of the
rose t. 5000 -
The moon has now ascended high,
an Il the last cloud has fed. Tho
whole canopy Of heaven is lit up
with as many stars as tits wont. And
while the city is wrapt in slumbers
profound,a "a door opensat tho residence
where merry laughs were heard, and
two ladies and one gentleman-thc
latter with a basket on his arm-pass
out, and make their way to the house
of the broken hearted
g When first they entered the room,
she seemed confused; but when the
errand of mercy is made known,
tears of gratitude fill her eyes, and
her countenancc brightens once more,
for tho moment, as though the sunny
hours of ''swect sixteen" had made
her visit. Her appetite was scanti-
ly met, that there might be enough
left for tho morning repast for herself
and children. And her welcome Wis
itors repair 70 their happy homes
again. h
We bid them adieu for the present,
and inquire, Why this poverty?--
Why this abject destitution? Is there
not causo2 Yes there is cause And
if therc are toarsin heaven, well might
angels, weep. This pale faced, heart,
broken woman was once. beautiful
and affectionate girl, blest with pater-
nal advice and affection Her heart
and hand were woocd and won by
one of natore's gifted sons, and she,
with buoyant heart, was led To hy-
mems altar. She gave herself to one
who loved her dearly.
Never was maiden led TO the altar
I with brighter hopes or more 'blissful
antioipations Joining in marriage
i with tho man OF her choice, one owhosc
atlectionatc words had ever thrilled
her heart like a music gush from the
land of light He was dcarer to her
4 than all the world besdc--one Of
whom any woman might well be
proud a''i -.
The future was ali bright. Hand
in hand thoy started on life's Journey.
Winters snow and summers heat
camc and fed as time rolled on, and
health and happiness were their con.
slant companions.
I Years passed, and earthly comforts
flowed In from every direction. Hcav.
en- seemed to smile on everything they
done. q io sse-s sf1f1 srl1as. SAT-
At length thetempter came.-"The
sparkling wine cup AS time rolled
ON, the social glass gave way TO one
more frequent.
Z That wife who had, each evening,
I been blcst with the cheerful notes and
loving words of her husband, is now
loii solitary and alono. She looks
out upon evening grey, and anxiously
watches for that loved one. to see him
I come rs heretofore. Bulldhn clock
upon the mantle Is telling with steady
"tick, tick, that timois passing away.
! IT'S nine, ten, eleven o'clock, and
+. still he comes not. Ah It's that
quiet hour, midnight But, poor wo.
man her heart is not quiet. Anguish
fills her soul, and griof, with stealthy
hand, is removing from her check the
beauty ofIthc rose. and tho reality OF
health. +. ~ a...,.. ..s4. -
I Ilo has gradually lost his love for
home. He has exchanged the associ-
alton of his once dearly loved family
for that OF incbrlatcs.
Long after midnight, ho makes his
way homo. Look nj him now. and
then think what lac was seven years
ago That gallant young man has
become n drWkani--a demon lie
spoke a few ernsty words, aud soon
was asleep.
Morning came, aud that fair wife
plead ''fouch tho Intoxicating Gun No
more. y She plead for her sake, and
that of himself, 20 become Il sober
man again''a She then appealed tC
him for tho welfare OF their children
and what they Honce possessed and
their poverty now. With warm
: hearted eloqucnce, sho said,0 is1 iis
MY husband look at your raggol
clothing your inhamcd eyes; YOU
haggard countenamcei OH bccom,
= temperate oncc moro "a .
VI But allin vain; for he still hung
! larowd those miserable sinks of inf
. guilty that havr already blasted th,
joys and hopes. ol somany anintcrcs
, ting family, until not only their cot
tage homo, with all else lac had earn
cd IN other yenrs had bcon consumed
but even the hard earnings ofhis now
: palefaccd wife, were taken and givcr
to satiate the awful appetite for strong
drink. - ll'F l'aeaf
AT last he took aiug, half full o
+. molasses,--all the family had to eal
land sold jug and molasses for whis
ky, and then left ior ncighborinl
+ State, where, ut last accounts, he wal
on the verge of drunkard's grave
e and drunkard's hell.
~ His wife and two children arc ye
living upon the cold charities of th,
4 world w city on thc Ohio River e
slss5a ,lnlde- si17 81 ** oI
] EILETTsyILLE, Ind. July, 1887 l'