The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-10
"Who hath Woe?"
From the Springfield Republican

| The strange and horrible power OF ntoxl
eating drinks to paralyze all the kindly affec'
tons of human nature furnishes ono of the
most effective arguments for their disuse. So
many instances of this terrible truth are on
every hand that no man can doubt it. II
was brought freshly to our notice few days
since, in a very brief account circulated in
the papers, of a mother driven to the murder
of herself and child by the cruelty of an in-
temperate husband. The story is quickly
told but is most affecting. The body Of
Mrs. Treat and her child were recovered from
the river at Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, after
they had been mysteriously missing several
days. For some days previous to her sud-
den disappearance she had endeavored to find
some one to adopt her child Failing in that,
it would seem she determined to free it from
future neglect, brutality and ruin, and in
pursuance of this idea. fastened it to herself
with rope. passing it around the bodies of
both. and tying it in hard knot. Thus
they were found-the child with one of its
arms around its mothers neck; the mother
with both arms clasped tightly around her
child. Her husband manifested entire indiff-
erence during her absence, and after her bon
net had been found by the side of the river.
and while the neighbors were dragging the
river for the body, he fingered about the
tavern supplying himself. as usual. with liquor,
and manifesting no more human feeling than
brute
1t is easy to fill up the story. Probably
Treat had not been long a brute. \ few
Years ago. who can tell what a wealth of
Young love he had lavishcd on the fair girl
who consented TO be his. for better or worse.
Who can paint their first paternal JOY at the
birth of the child. destined at length to share
its mothers watery grave. Treat had learn
cd to love the excitement of the Intoxicating
cup. As the habit grew upon him and he
became its slave. the love of wife and child
withcred and died beneath its fatal blight.
lie became gradually Indifferent to their hap
plness. then morose. then positively cruel
The heart of his poor wife was broken. and
in despair for herself and child. she madlv
sought release for both from a life made
wretched by a husbands cruelty. Treat was
not worse. very likely, than other men. I.iq-
uor did the terrible wrong. changed the man
to brute and made the once fond husband
the prosecutor of his helpless wife and child.
even unto death.
Why do not these frequently recurring les
sons of the perils Of dram-drinking have
their effect? How can sane men rush into
the open vortex of ruin9 Is it not because
10 man secs his own peril till it is too late,
till habit has made him its slave. and he sees
but feels unable to resist the influence that
is gradually transforming him into its own
detestable image? Let the Young man who
drinks for good companionship and innocent
eNhiaration. beware. Let him look at the
picture before us-the mother and child
drawn from their watery grave. and the bru-
talizcd husband and father calous to the sad
spectacle-and ask il there is no danger that
his present agreeable indulgences MAY not in
time make him the central figure of similar
picture Who hath WOE like th,t of tho
drunkard's wife and children.