Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-01-28
RICHARD HOFFMAN.
A TALE OF LOVE AND RErr1BUr1oN.

Rachel Bentley, the lovely daughter
ofohe of the richest merchants of Lon
don, having married George Hoffman,
one of her fathers clerks during the
old mans absence in India, he on his
return disinherited her and discharged
George. The latter being overwhelmed
by disappointment, took to drink, and
in q few years became a habitual drunk
ard; his wife supporting herself and two
children-Richard, now a fine boy in his
thirteenth year, and Mary a sweet child
of six-by selling, one after another, the
remnants of her once costly wardrobe
and jewelry.
On the last day of December of the
year in which our story opens, Rachel
was without food, light or fire, and that
very day the rent must be paid.
Little Mary was moaning for bread,
and crying with cold.
The drunken father was at the dram
shop.
The ~agonized mother had but one
more article of value left-a locket con-
tanning a 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 lockct, rushed to a
pawnbroker's, obtained a few shillings,
puf by the amount of the rent and with
the rest purchased a little bread and milk
for her children, and then set out with
them to visit the old confidential clerk of
her father, Peter Mangles, who had ev-
err been kind to her, to consult him about
sending Richard away from the contain
mating influences with which he was
surrounded.
On returning home late on New Years
eve from her fruitless visit, for the old
clerk was not at home, Rachel discover
cd that her husband had been home and
stolen the sum she had put by for the
rent from the place where she had con-
cealed it, 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 suffering mother, in hopes of regain
ing a portion of the money taken by her
husband, set out with her children to the
haunt of vice whittier George Hoffman
had gone.
There was a great crowd at the bar of
THE Crown and Magpie." The land
lady-a stout, vulgar-loOking woman.
with red ribbons in her cap: a P~rofusion
or false curls, a heavy gold chain around
her neck, aud numerous rings upon her
fat ingers-was busily engaged in pour
ing out gin for her customers the reg
u!ar ones she was treating-for it must
not be forgotten that it was New Years
eve.
Such was the scene of vice and dissi-
patton which met the eye and sickened
the heart of Rachel when with little Ma
ry in her arms, aud protected by the
presence of her son, she ventured into
the house.
us Mr.. Hoffman here? ?" she inquired
family.
The question had to be repeated sew
eral times before she could get an an
swer.
s.Can t tell the names of any of my
customers" replied the mistress of THE
Crown and Magpie," snappiShly.
Perhaps you will oblige me by ascer-
tanning"
To busy ma'am! Hot water Sally i
Three and eight-pence sir. Half-and-
half directly
ssYou cant go in there y shouted the
Iandlady, as Rachel was making her way
towards the parlor. milne is Il respect
able house; L allow no females beyond
the bar"
'But l am Mr. Hoffman's wife"
$50 they all SAY" answered the wo-
man with a sncer.
There was a coarse, hooking laugh
from the crowd OF half drunken wretch
es standing near. The eyes of Richard
flashed angrily; but the voice, and still
more, the imploring look of his mother
restrained him.
LET us return home,n she said, in a
dcspairiny tone. Il feel faint and sick
at heart"
And leaning on the arm of her son.
the unhappy wife tottered rather than
walked from the place.
The keen, frosty air partially restored
her strength, and Rachel proceeded with
her children till she reached the tho
roushfare leading through St. Marga-
ret's church yard towards the Almonry
when a faint moan from Mary, whom
she still carried in her arms, arrested
her steps. She placed her hand under
the thin faded shawl which covered her
the child was cold as ice, and shivering
as if seizcdwithzSn ague fit.
"She is dyingr" greaued the terror.
stricken pareut-"dying for the want Of
food!"
The heart of her boy could endure
no more-it was breaking. The cup o.
misery and endurance had been filled
to over6owing. His brain was IN fire
tears could not quench it.
ssTake her home motherl" he cried
'take her home! never fear but l will
bring you foodI Mary shan'tdi II
beg" he added; "auything to save
hcri"
@Riehardi Richard! do not leave mel
shrieked his agonized parent. "Let mt
not lose both my children! if you low
your. mother, return-for PHYS sake re
turnl"
The appeal came too late. Her son
stung, maddened beyond endurance b.
the sufFerings of those so dear to him
had broken from her feeble grasp, dart
ed down the thoroughfare, and was al
ready beyond the reach of her voice.
Rachel chung to the ratings of tn