True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-07-14
M1SCELLRNK.
The Transformed Home.
BY aEoReIANNA HERBERT.

In the city there is a large, white stone
house, which, few years since, presen'
ted dreary aspect TO the passer-by. Its
windows were dirty and curtained by
cobwebs; its front steps were falling into
ruins; its blinds were falling off, or rusted
together the place was forlorn to look
upon.
And yet the house was subject of
much curiosity,if not interest. AT almost
any time during the day or evening the
passer-by was liable to be entertained by
the spectacle of an eruption Of babies from
the upper or under door at the front of
tho house. The steps were high, and
the front and principal door Of the house
was at the top Of them; but there was
another, though an invisible one, beneath
the stoop. Out al one door and in at the
other the tiny troop would swarm. The
chief peculiarity in their appearance was
that they were mostly "in the nude state"
This exhibition was continued daily
for several years, and occasionally for
several more years. To strangers the
sight caused unqualified amazement, for
who ever could reside in such neighbor-
hood could not be pauper, unable to
clo,he his children; if he was such, why
did not the city clothe them? The resi-
dents of the place, however. understood
the matter. The owner of that house
had in his youth become attached to a
beautiful girl, and without considering
whether her beauty was anything more
than Of the person, be married her. One
day, during the honeymoon, too, when
he returned from his Office to bis beautiful
and costly mansion, he found his bride
living insensible upon the floor of her
chamber. In alarm and distress he lifted
her to her couch, and was about to ring
for assistance, when it struck him that
she did not look pale as women do when
they faint. At the same instant he per-
ceiyed the odor of her breath, and the
truth flashed stunningly upon him-his
beautiful Alice was drunk! Ugly word
bat, alas with all its ugliness, word of
truth.
And this was the beginning Of the hus-
bands sorrows. Neither entrea,ies nor
upbraidings were Of any avail. Alice
told her husband that she had alwas loved
to drink, that she enjoyed being drunk
that she should never reform.
Poor Owen bowed like bulrush to
this trouble, In vain did his friends advise
him to parttrom the unworthy being who
was breakinghis generous and affectionate
heart. He loved her still, and could not
summon resolution TO separate from her.
When she was sober she was sill as
attractive as ever and for several years
she would have long intervals Of sobriety.
Then she would visit and give grand par.
ties, and Owen, poor fellow! felt proud
of the attention and admiration that she
commanded. But soon the relapse would
come, and his pride turned to grievous
modification and grief.
As time passed, everything in and about
the house went to ruin. No servant
would remain with "such beast Of
mistress - and she was Indifferent to
everything but her drink. Children came
rapidly, sometimes two at time. Owen
had degenerated, as one always must
while living with and loving vicious
person. He had lost his own respect
and the respect Of his acquaintance but
still he persisted in keeping to his intem'
perate wife. A singular scene that great,
comfortless house prsented. Rich carpets
covered with dust and dirt; costly fur
niture ornamented with all manner Of
half.worn and whole-soiled garments;
elegant hair,clo,h rocking. chairs in the
shed, holding tubs or greasy dishes 1,
heaps of unwashed china and glass on
tables, in closets, and smashed upon the
floors. Oh! what a scene! All the
meals were, at last, sent in from hotel
or eating house. The number Of Children
increased until there were ten. They
took care Of themselves for the infants
they could usually help themselves to
natures nourishment, as the floor was
their mo,hers favorite resting-place.-
1t was not because there was any lack Of
clothing, fire and nice, that the children
went naked but because they could not
get into it. They had no one to help
them dress. They must have been good
children, for it was seldom that any sound
of CRYING issued from their home. They
always seemed to be in a high state Of
enjoyment when they came out to view.
But the eldest was growing tall and sad,
reflection had begun its work in her mind
She saw that her mother was far diff
ferent being from the mothers that she
beheld when she entered other homes
She became restless AMI unhappy, and
was always longing for, she could not tell
what One day, she said TO her father,
when he had found her weeping in the
porch at evening
"Falber, l don't like to stay here. I
wish you would have me dressed up, and
send me away to school. Won'. you,
fatherY ! am almost twelve years old,