Litchfield enquirer., 1858-01-21
RIcHaRD HOFFMAN,.
A TALE OF LOVE AND RETR1BUTloN.

RICHARD H0rFMAET.
 A TALE OF LOVE AND RETRIBUTloN.
 Rachel Bently, the lovely daughter of one of the richest merchants of London having married George Hoffman. one of her fathers clerks. during the old man absence in India, he his return disinheflte her and discharged George. The latter being over whclmcd by disappointment. took to drink, ana ID . few years 11efAne an habtual drunkarl; his wlIe suppoftin& md two children Richard, now afine boy Il sirteenth year. and Mary a sweet child of seliing, one after another, the rem naRts of her costly wardr Joe.
 On the last day of December of the year m when our story opens, Racsi was without food, ii9ht or fire. and that very day the rent must be paid
 Little Mary was meaning for bread, ana crying with cold.
 The drunken father was at the dram-shop.
 Tie agonizad mother had but one more article of value left-a locket containing lock of her father hair She had hoped to be able to save thls the last Inemento of her once happy home. Bat Foaded by little Mary's cries for food she seized the locke:, rushed to pawnbrokers, obtained few shillings. put by the amount of the rent and with the rest pur- chased little bread and milk for tine children ana then set out with them to visit the old confidential cork of her father. Peter Mangcs who had been kind to her. to consult hin about sending Richard away from the contamiL ating influences with which he was surrounded
 On returning home late on New Years eve from her fruitess vSit for the old clerk not at home Rachel discovered that her husband had been home and stol the she had put by for the rent from the place where she had concealed it, and gone of again to s.Thc Grown and Magpie tavern to waste it in drunkenness Little Mary chilled aId hungry, began to cry for food, and the suffering mother. in hopes of reganing portion of the money taken by hef husband set out with her children to the haart of vice whither George Hoffman had gone.
 There was g eat crowd at the bar of '' The Grown and Magpie'' The landlady, a stout vulgar-l,oking woman, with red ribbons in her cap profusion of false curis heavy gold chain ronnd her neck and numerous rings on her fat ingers-was busily en- gagged in pouring out gin for her customers ; the regular she was treating-for it must not be forgotten that it was New Years eve
 Such was the scene of vice and dissipation which met the eye and sickened the heart of Rachel when, with little Mary in her arms, and protected by the presence of her son, she ventured into the house.
 {" Is Mr. Hoffman here?'' she inquired faintly
 The question had to be repeated several times be- fore she could get an answer
 "a Can tell the names of any of my customers" replied the mistress of '' The Grown and Magpie, saappishly.
 s' Perhaps you will ohlige me by ascertaining.'
 stToo busy ma m Hot water. Sally Three and eight pence, sir Halfand-lralf directly!''
 q You can't go in there !" shouted the lanilady, as Rachel was making her way towards the parlor. Mine is respectable house: slEow no females beyond the bar
 '' But am Mir. Hoffman's wife
 -. So they all sAY,' answered the woman with sheer.
 
 of half drunken wrechss standing hear. The eyes of Richard flashed sngrily but the voice. and still more, the imploring look of his mother restrained him
 :. Let us return home, she said, in despairng tonc '.f feel faint and sick at heart"
 And leaning the arm of her son. the unhappy wife tuttered rather than walked from the place
 The keen, frosty air partially restored her strength. and Rachel proceeded with her children till she reached the thoronghfare leading through St. Mar rh.,rnn vard faint moan from Mary whom she still carried in her arms arrested her steps. She placed ker hand under the thin faded shawl which covered her; the child was cold ice. and shivering. if seized with asne fit
 She is dying!' groaaed the terror stricken pa- rent" dying for the want of food '
 The heart of her boy could endure more-it was breaking. Tine cup of misery and endurance had been fillet to overstowing- His brain was fire tears could ues sueEch it.
 Take her hOlne mother .'' he eried--.take her home n<ver fear sut ~ill bring yon food {, Mary shan't die I'll heg-h<g- he added; anything to save hsrs"
 @..Riehara E5rAsras do mot leavc rnsr' shriekci his xSS@izsS pnHsnf- "a Let nGt lose botIs HIN children it g@R Reve v@uu nsO1aHeT, returm-for Eitys ssker usaamm H
 The sp,yasl e.mrss tuo Rzse Her sUn S:aHg mad dcned htyNuB aanrHnce fg line suersngs of those so dear ham had arnksn fun her S-=h3e grasp dart cd do~n the HsamaEg44are. and already beyond the reach @f htr To1ss-
 Rachsl eaaag to 1e rsiaings of the churchrard for supp,est till a ssreasd n0an stiIl fainter than the first, sen. pssss thn0ngh bev eternal breast.
 ..She must mot die is the street t' murmured Rachel. < Home-bOane. if I have strength to reach it ''
 k ..Oh, God.'' she cried with sniden burst of an- guish, | protect my boy Shield him from crime i; guard him from vices and tie hidecns snares which in thousard forms assail unguarIef -outh Or take him she added solemnly. ' take him in Tfry mer- cy."
 It was Christians prayer wrung from mothers heart, uttered in faith in agony and tears; and an gels bore it to the mercy seat on high.
 Claspng her pershing child yet closer to her ach- ing bosom. the drunkard wife hastened to her hone As Richard Hoffman rushed along the street scarce knowing whither he went, and only iItent the one idea of getting by SOME means. food for his fam ished mother and sister he was hailed by Jack Man ders, an impigh acquaintance who lived near Reh- ards home and to whom he told the desperate state fin which he hat left those so dear to him. Jack listened with much interest and at proposed to Richard to help him to pick the pocket of an old gentleman, who was starting into window the opposite side of the street Richard refused with horror, although Jack urged the necessity of at once getting something to save the life of his mother and little Mary Jack then undertook the business alone, and just he had relieved the old gentleman Of his pocket book, policeman sprang from door way to arrest him; but Jack made good his escapr. Not 50 Richard who was at once seized by the po- lceman as an accomplice of the escaped pickpocket :. am no thief, sir, cred Richard breaking from the strong grasp that held him, and throwing him. self at the feet of the old gentleman who had just come to the spot, q though poverty and hunger tempted me to become one. My mother and sister are starving.
 The future history and trials of this poor boy will be given in the New York Ledger of January Is, which for sale at all the bookstores and news offices ss3-s,- .&s .HOflcp.