The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-10-20
McGREGoR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1853

was very much intoxicated, and the
memory of the pale face at the wicket
gate came over her with sickening dis
tinctness. Her father, although short
sighted, noticed something strange in
Harvey's behavior, but had the latter
confined himself to ordinary topics the
old man might not have known the
cause. As the fumes of the poisonous
compounds he had swallowed to excess
mounted to his brain, Harvey became
excited, and presently all sense of dis
cretion vanished in the vain desire to
communicate what he considered good
news. ..-
Congratulate me- he exclaimed, with
difficulty, suppressing hiccup, con
gratulate me III stand a chance OF ma
king three thousand pounds
Glad to hear it, said Mr.. Lee
Through deceased relative, l sup
pose p
Deceased 6ddlesticks! |! exclaimed
Harvey. No. Look you here An
ME and I are to be married next year,
SO I thought I'd risk hundred or two
to make her more comfortable like, so I
took Tom Higgins advice, and laid out
on the next July cup. Sure to win-so
Tom says; and although I have lost
two, never venture never win. So you
see, Annie, I shall put three thousand
pounds in your apron next month
What do you think of that, sweet
heart?' =,
With this rhodomontade, Harvey at
tempted to draw nearer to Annie, but
she retreated behind her fathers chair,
saying Frank, 60 home, pray do"
Mr.. Lee, now clearly perceiving the
condition of his intended son.in.law,
seconded the request, but Harvey, like
a man, blindly rushing upon his ruin,
took no heed of the intimation, but be-
gan to talk about his bets and horse
racing, and other matters connected
with the turf. Mr.. Lee at length lost
all patience, and authoritatively bads
him make the best of his way home.
"Home why this is as much my
home as the farm, isn't it" shouted
Harvey, with drunken levity.
! Never exclaimed Mr.. Lee, thor.
oughly disguised, never shall it be a
home for drunkard and gambler
Leave the room-leave the house
now see why my wise, good Annie put
off the wedding. Oh Frank. l did not
think this of thee and right glad am !
thy father is not living to see lit
would have broken his heart. Leave
the house, I say, thou degenerate, un'
i. godly son of virtuous and godly faith
. er and mother
Stupe6ed at these well-merited re-
proaches, Harvey looked from father te
daughter repeatedly, but as he caugh
the stern expression of the old mans
eyes fixed upon him. glimmering per
ocPtionof his uisyraceful sIate stOle IN
to his mind, and without uttering anoth
er word he staggered from the room
out of the shop, and into the street
where he mounted his horse, and rode
, madly away in the direction of Liver
pool.
My dear child said the old man.
, embracing his daughter, as she threw
: herself sobbing on his breast, my dear
: dear child, be composed. This is {
great deliverance, though painful
, After soothing Annie as we'll as ht
5 could by warm caresses and every en-
dearing parental epithet, he opened tn.
, family Bible and read a favorite chapter
. habit with him when annoyed or per
: picked. Afterwards, he remained in (
state of reflection for few minutes, anc
then, as he phrased it. 'his mind was
; made up There was a good deal o
: the stern old puritan spirit in his dispo
, sition, for remnants of the old Crom
: wellian Independents, perfect in all thei1
r features, form, and costume, abound ir
. the smaller towns and villages and re.
mote districts of Lancashire, and wher
!. he had determined on course Of action
he was infexible. 'The match was bro.
/ ken off, but he would speak fatherly
and gently to his beautiful Annie.
annie, Annie, child Of thy devout
mother he said. never marry drunk.
} ard. The habit is easily. frequently,
innocently got, but hard to be got rid
J of. Look at that miserable body, Jem-
my Thompson, wasting body and sub.
stance in pot-house. and his wife and
children starving at home! (the good
man said nothing about certain weekly
allowance of bread, &c.) And look,
Annie, at our churchyard how many
drunkards, how early cut off, lie there
In a corner, like dead dog, lies Will
liam Jackson, a praiseworthy man in
some respects, but he was bad to him
self, and he died in roadside alehouse.
His memory is jeered at by his repro
bate companions and those who kept
| themselves upright speak of him harsh
ly, and never give him credit for the
real good that was in him. Oh, Annie,
my dear. darling Annie, never marry a
drunkard-it's sin, q railing against
Gods Providence
1 Father, l never will replied Annie,
firmly. Il have told Frank so repeated
ly. But, father dear, cannot help feel
ing for him. he was once SO different
'The finest lad in the parish, said the
old man. 4 must see him and admonish
him of the awful error Of his ways
When he was alone, he muttered, and
SO Frank has turned what they call "a
good fellow 7 Poor lad poor lad l
never hear those words but see loom
ing in the ghastly distance either work
house or prison.
The proposed match was now def
nitely broken of, and Harvey s excesses
soon became so wild that the most re-
spectacle inhabitants of the locality be-
gan to shun his company. Annie ex-
erted herself to reclaim him. A true