Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-04-23
inings of Pollok's Iines-for we heard him

vet the scene is still vividly impressed on
our memory neTer to be eradicated, our fee
BILE pen can but poorly portray the concep'
ton, which even now is before my minds
eye, exciting in us some of the horrihc feel
ings which on that occasion agitated our
bosom. When our fever abated and our
senses were gradually restored, we were en-
abled to comprehend our situation and the
nature of what we had heard. The "demon
incarnate" who had so disturbed our over
heated imagination was nothing more nor
less than poor old man in the last stages OF
protracted delirium tremens, we might add
in the last stages of his earthly career. Those
who have beheld such spectacle have a
sufficient idea of its horror, even to man
perfectly at himself; but when brought home
to one like ourself whose brain was reeling
beneath the torture Of maddening, burning
fever-whosc sensibiities were morbidly and
intensely alive to every impression, and whose
imagination was conjuring up whole pano,
rama of dreadful imagery-the spectacle
must be tenfold more vivid and affecting
1t was to us perfect He'll on Earth; and
may it never be our fate to witness similar
scene! When we were able to leave the bed
and return TO the room occupied by the Ia
dies, the same kind, gentle but grief stricken
old lady, very politely extended the large
armed rocking chair. She had evidently
seen better days-for there were grace and
eentleness of manners about her indicative
of good breeding. AS soon as seated, the
good old lady, as if she thought some ez-
planation necessary, began to unravel the
mystery, which had raised our sympathles
and curiosity. With tears gushing from her
eyes, she briefly related his history and that
of their family-a synopsis of which is as
follows: said she, "the wretched sufferer in
the next room is my husband-he was once
an excellent and well doing man, and we
lived happy: He formerly owned large
tract of good land here where we now live
on the banks of Reedy river, and also that
fine mill-seat which is now in view. We had
everything in abundauce-in short, we were
what people call every we'll to do" in the
world; we we're raising large family of
lovely and promising children and all was
prosperous and hopeful. "But" said she,
drawing heavy sigh and the tears again
starting from her eyes, as if the idea almost
overwhelmed her-"tbis happiness was not
to last-the destroyer came-the insidious
serpent entered our little Paradise and all
,cos lost! A grog-shop-those work houses
of destruction, was erected short distance
from here; it was rare thing, for liquor
was not so plentiful in those days as it is
now. My husband first began by llppllng
once month, then once week, and finally
it became daily habit I earnestly and at
fectionately warned him against his danger
and besought him to stay away. "Lead us
not into temptation" Iappealed 1 to him for
every consideration of interest, Of duty and
of affection to stay away; but all would not
do. Confident in his strength, he still per-
sisted, neglecting his business for the bowl
until finally he was undone-he became a
slace to an uugorernaJle appetite for strong
driuh" Here she paused, overcome by
that intense emotion which a woman's-a
mothers and a wifc's heart alone can feel,
when recalling their troubles and sorrows -
At length, she resumed: ''my happiness was
at an end-I have had no peace from that
day until this. My husband continued
drinking until he has become the miserable
Jeoaly sot you now see him." Said she,
"you see the result; we are stripped OF our
property, of our reputation and of every
comfort and pleasure, yea Of almost our all.
We live here in this old house ready to fall
upon our heads, dependant upon the cold
charities of miserly, hcartless world-and
nv husband is a curse to himself and all a.
bout him" She paused-gentle reader shall
we too draw the curtain and leave you to ill
out the picture in your imagination, or shall
We aid you by narrating what really present
ed itself to our observation, and the thoughts
which then and there occupied our bosom 4?
We did "sce the rcsult'-it was very ap-
parent to the most superficial observer-so
plain, that "he that runs may read" The
house which had formerly been quite re-
spectacle residence, was very poorly and
scantily furnished within, and it was wealth
er-beatcn and dilapidated without The
fencing was either down or totterng to its
fall-the garden pai!ings were rotten nand fall
inc oll'-thc stables aud barn were, if posi-
bic, in still worse condition; the flower
parterrc and shrubbcry had long since been
neglected and eouc 10 ruin, in short, every
| thinr indicated the DrHak"rtfS Home. All
was decay and drcariness, and gloom. No
flowers sent their fragrance upon the morn
ing air; no rich perfumes were wooed by the
gentle zephcrs amorous Of their embraces !;
no blooming shrubbcry thrilled with delight
the heart of the passer-by, telling Of the JOY
and comfort which reigned around the
family mansion. No. not one spot of verdurc
cheered the dismal scene; notcven-
"a rose in the wilderness left Oh the stalk,
To tell where the garden had been"
We reflected that, Notwithstanding the
striking physical desolation around US, there
were, if possible, still greater social and
moral wreck-that if nature herself gave
such signal proof of neglect and decay, how
must it be with the heart and with the soul;
that if the mansion was weather-beateu and
gloomy, what must be the condition of its
.;.;.lia ;nn,ntas-that il time and want OF