The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-21
Richard Hoffman.
A TALE OF LOVE AND RErniBurIoN.

Rachel Bcntly, the lovely daughter Of one of
the richest merchants Of London, having married
George Hoffman one of her fathers clerks during
the old mans absence in India, he on his return
disinherited her aud discharged George. The lat
ter being overwhelmed by disappointment took to
drink, and in II few years became habtual drum
kard ; his wife supporting herself and two chill
| dren--R Richard now fine boy in its thirteenth
year. and Mary, sweet child OF six-by selling,
one after another the remnants OF her once costly
wardrobe and iewelry.
On the last day OF December OF the year III
which our story opens, Rucho was without food,
light or fire, aud that very day the rent must be
paid.
Little Mary was moaning Tor bread, aud crying
with cold
The drunken father was at the dram.shop.
/ The agouized mother had but one more article
Of value leit--a ocket containing lock Of her
fathers hair. She had hoped TO be able to save
this, the last memento of her once happy home.
But goaded by little Mary's cries for food she
seized the ocket, rushed to n pawnbrokers, OBJ
tanned few shillings, put by the amount of the
rent and with the rest purchased little bread and
milk for her children, aud then set out with them
TO visit the old confidential clerk Of her father,
Peter Mangcs who had ever been kind to her, 10
consult him about sending Richard away from the
communicating influences with which he was sur
rounded.
On returning home late on New Years eve from
her fruitess visit for the old clerk not at home
Rachel discovered thet her husband had been
home and stolen the sum she had put by for the
rent from the place where she had concealed t,and
gone off again to the "Crown and Magpie tavern
to waste it in drunkenness Little Mary, chilled
and hungry, began to cry for food, and the suler-
ing mother, in hopes of reganing portion of the
money taken by her husband sot out with her chill
dren to the haunt of vice whittier George Hoffman
. had gone.
: There was great crowd at the bar of " The
r Crown and Magpe." The Landndy--a stout,vu
gar-looking woman, with red ribbons in her cap, Q
prorusion OF false curls, heavy gold chain round
= her neck and numerous rings on her fat fingers
was busily engaged in pouring ont gin for her Gus
- toners the regular ones she was treating--ioi
it must not be forgotten that it was New Year,
q eve.
: Such was the scene of vice and dissipation which
mot the eve and sckeued the heart of Rache
. when, with little Mary in her arms aud protected
=. by the presence of her son. she ventured INTO thu
, house.
:, ~ "Is Mr.. Hoffman here ?" she inquired family
The question had to bo repeated several times
~ beTsr she could get an answer
Cant tell the names of any OF my customers,
replied the mistress OF " The Crown and Magple,
snappshly
" Perhaps you will obgo me by ascertaning
"Too busy, ma'am Hot water Sally ! Three
and eght-pence, sir Halt-and-half directly
d "Y on can't go in there y shouted the land
d lady, as Rachel was making her way towards th
lie parlor Mine is respectable house allow M
is females beyond tho bar"
But am Mr. Holrman's wife"
:" $50 they all SAY" answered the woman, with
sneer
rs There was a coarse, mocking laugh from tn
crowd of half drunken wretches standing near
The eyes of Richard flashed angr!ly; but the voice
d and still more, the imploring look OF his mother
restrained him.
q, "Let us return home" she said, in despairn!
lie tone. 81 foe faint and sick at heart
And leaning on the arm OF her son. the unhap
,i py wife tottered rather than walked from IN
place.
The keen, frosty air partially restored her strength
T. and Rachel proceeded with her children till she
reached the thoroughtare leading through 81
Margarets church-yard towards the Almonry
when faint moan from Mary whom she sti
carried in her arms, arrested her steps She place
" her hand under the thin faded shawl which covere
n'e n her the child was cold as ice, and shivering q
r if seize with an ague fit.
- "She IS dying !" groaned the terror stricken pa
rept---.' dying for the want of food y
Il The heart Of tho boy could endure no more----i
y, was breaking. The cup of misery and enduranc
- - had been filled TO ovcrtlowing Ills BRAN was
!" fre--.tears could not queneh it.
Take her home mother y he cried" take he
" home never fear but will bring you food
~ Mary shant die I'll beg--beg' he added "any
! thing to save her !!
"Richarl Richard do not leave me : shrek
!, ed his agonzed parent. LET me not lose bot
H. my children if you love your mother, r1turn-'
for PHYS sake return y
The appeal camo too late. Her son, stung
maddeued beyond endurance by the sulcrngS {
those so doar to him, had broken from her ecb
grasp darted down the thoroughare and was u
ready beyond the reach OF her voice,
III Rachel clung to the railings of tho churchyar
for support till a second moan, still fainter tina
IL the irst, sent pang through her maternal breas
She must not die in the street j murmure
is Rachel, lIomo--home if have strength
1 reach it,
"oh God - she cried with sudden burst
at anguish, "protect my boy Shield him fro
n crime guard him against vices and the hideor
" snares which in thousand forms asSal uniriende
Of youth, or take him. she added solemnly, tai
him in Thy mercy.
II was Christians prayer wrung from mot
49, ers heart, uttered in faith, in agony and tears
and angels bore il TO the mercy seat on high.
Clasping her perishiug child yet closer to h
ne aching bosom, tho druuksrdS wife hastened TO h
"0 home.
.rs As Richard Hoffman rushed along the stree
bsI scarce knowing whittier he went, and only intel
on the ene idea Of getting, by SOME means, Zoe
h. for his famished mother and sister he was halle
by Jack Manders. an impish acquaintance wi
"A lived near Richards home. aud TO whom he to
nsl the desperate state in which he had left those
dear to him. lack listened with much lntereS