Litchfield enquirer., 1858-11-18
THE LOST FOUND

servation and pity. It Was but too evdeu' i that the vessel which he carried had been di vcrted from it's legitimate use and that it Wa now used not as an oil-can, but as whiskey jug. Having seen him pass twice in one day with his ever-present Can, We had the curios- ty to accost him, and did so by inquiring his residence.
 "I live" said he, :" five miles from the city on the road"
 "You have been to the city once before to- day, have you not p
 '' Yes, sir I came down in the morning f; but couldn't get what was seut for, and had to come again." "What was you sent for my lad It must be something very important to make it pcces- sary for you to walk twenty miles in this storm
 "Why, sir it was whskcy that was seHt for. Father had no money, and he sent me to Mir. - to get trusted, but he wouldn't trust any more, so had to go home without the whiskey but father sent me back again."
 "How do you expect to get it now, when you could not get it in the morning !"
 "Why, sir, brought pair of shoes which sister sent mother Mr. - will give wbis- key for them. He has got two or three pairs of mothers shoes now.'
 Do you like to carry whiskey home, my boy 2"
 " "Oh, no sir, for it makes all so unhappy j; but l can't help it."
 We took the responsibility of advising the boy not to fulfil his errand, and returned home with him. The family we found, consisted of husband wife and four children the oldest (the boy) was not more than ten years of age, while the youngest was an infant of few months. It Was a cold, clustering day. The north wind blew harshy and came roughly and unbiddcn through the numberless creyIces of the poor mans hovel. A few black embers occupied the fireplace, around which were huduled the half-naked children, and the woe stricken mother and wife Her face was hag- gard-her eye sunken--her hair dshevell, d. heraclothes tattered and unclean. -4t
 She was seated upon an old broken chair, and was mechanically swinging to and fro, as if endeavorng to quiet her infant, which moan- ed pitifully in its mothers arms. It had been sick from its birth, and was now seemingly struggling to free itself from the harsh world into which it had, but few months previous, been ushered. There was no tear in the eye of the mother as she gazed upon the expiring babe. The fountain had been long before drl- ed up by the internal fires that alcohol had kndcd and fed Yet she was the picture of despair, andswe could not but fancy as she sat thus, that Ter mind was wand, r.ng back to the happy past, the days of her infancy and grlhood, and her early home. Poor thing She had given her affections and hand to man who had taken the first steps in intempe- rance. She had left her home full of buoyant hopes--hopes never to be realized, 10 spend
 life of misery with sot. BrqkeE-hearted, cast cut from the society of her former friends, frowned upon by the good society,"" humane y spoken of as the miserable wife of a mise rabie drumkard with no hand to help no heart to pity, she very soon became d tippier and d drunkard herself.
 By the side of this woe-smitten mother kneeled little girl of five or, SIX years, down whose sailow cheeks tears were coursilg and anon eXclailned,-
 "Poor little Willie, must you die ?"
 "Oh mother, must Willie die 7" and then kissing the camniy sweat from little WilIie's brow, covered her face with her tattered apron aud wept.
 In the opposite corner of the chimney, and , among the ashes which covered the hearth, sat boy of about seven years, dragging from the hslt-dead embers a potato, winch he broke open with the remark
 "Mother, give this to little Willie. May be he's hungry. Pm hungry too, and so is sister, but " lilies sick. Give him this pota- to, mother"
 "No, poor boy" said the mother "Wil- lie will never be ,hungly again. He will soon be dead"
 This remark drew all the children around | h,, I,,, F.,tbn was sitting OF what Was intended for a bed- stead, without hat, shoes, or coat, with his hands thrust into his pockets, apparently in- different to all that was passing around him His head was resting upon lis breast, and his blurred eyes were fastened upon the floor, as ! if he were afraid to look up at the sorrowing group who were watching the countenauce of the dying infant.
 There was moment of silence. Not a sound was heard. Even the sobs of the little girl had ceased. Death was crossing the hov- el's threshold. The very respiration of the household seemed suspended while slight shivering of the limbs of the infant and a shriek from the halfconscious mother, told all that the vital spark had fled
 For the first time the father moved. Slowly advancing to where his wife was seated, with quivering lips he whispered, Us Willie dead 2" isss l" Yes, James, the poor babe is dead l" was s the choking reply of the mother, who still sat, as at first, gazing upon the face of her little I one.
 Without uttering another word, the long brutalized father left the house, muttering as he left,--" My God, how long P
 I At this moment a kind-hearted lady came in, who had heard, but few moments before, of the dangerous illness of the child. She had brought with her some medicine, but her an 1 gel visit was too late. The gentle spirit of the