Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-31

glimmering perception of his disgraceful
state stole into his mind, and without utter.
ing another word, he staggered from the
room, out of the shop, into the street, where
he mounted his horse and rode madly away
in the direction of Liverpool.
My dear child" said the old man, en-
bracing his daughter, as she threw herself
sobbing on his breast, "my dear, dear child
be composed. This is a great deliverance,
though painful
After soothing Annie as well as he could
by warm caresses and every endearing pa
rental epithet, he opened the family Bible
and read favorite chapter, II habit with
him when annoyed or perplexcd After
wards, he remained in a state of reflection
for few minutes, and then as he phrased it,
"his mind was made up" There was good
deal of the stern old puritan spirit in his dis
position (for remnants of the old Cromwell
Ian Independents, perfect in all their fea-
lures. form and costume. abound in the
small towns and villages and remote districts
of Ltncanshirc.) and when he had detcrmin-
ed on a course of action, he was inHexible.-
"Thc match was broken off, but he would
speak tatherly and gently to his beautiful
Annie.
"Annic, Annie, child of thy devout moth
cr, ho said, 'never marry II drunkard. The
haNit is easily, frequently innocently got
bat hard to be got rid Of Look at that mis-
cradle body, Jenny Thompson, wasting
body and substance in pot-house, and his
wife and children starving at home (the
good man said nothing about certain week
ly allowance of bread, &c.) And look, An
ME, at our church yard how many drunk
ards, how carly cut off, lie there. In a cor
ner, like II dead dog. lies William jackson,
II praiseworthy man in some respects, but he
was bad to himself, and he died in a road
side alc-house. His memory is jeered at by
his surviving reprobate companions; and
those who kept themselves upright speak of
him harshly, and never give him credit for
the real good that was in him. Oh; Annie,
my dear, my darling Annie, never marry a
drunkard-it's a sin, a railing sin against
Gods Providence.
Father, | never will, replied Annie firm
ly. 81 have told Frank So repeatedly. But,
father dear, cannot help feeling for him, he
was once so different"
'.The finest lad in the parish" said the
old man. II must see him and admonish
him of the awful error of his ways" When
he was alone, he muttered, "and so Frank
had turned what they call "a good fellow =
Poor lad poor lad | never hear those
words. but see looming in the CHASTITY dis
tance, either a work house or prison.
The proposed match WAS now definitely
broken off, and Uarvpy's excesses soon be
came 50 wild that the most respectable in
habitants of the place began to shun his
conn pany. Annie excrted herself to reclaim
him. \ true woman never despars until the
grave has closed over the object of her affect
ions. She wrote him the most kind, affect
ionate letters, employed argument and en-
treaty, but all to no avail; Harvey's only
response was:
"Will you marry me-will you keep your
promise?''
When Annie, who at this point felt so ac-
utely that her health suffered, examined her
own conscience, she would exclaim, 81 can
not. And, if a burst of womanly tender
ness escaped, the recollection of the pale face
at the wicket gate subdued it in an instant.
Her moral courage was very strong, for her
love was full of warm pulsations and tender
clingngs.
Harvey and she only met casually during
several months, and that only under circum-
stances that did not admit of a private inter
view. During that time, the infatuated
young man had become the talk of the neigh
borhood. His dissipation and gambling los
scs had involved him in pecuniary embarras-
ments, unfortunately to a greater exten, tina I
was generally surmised At length they met.
1t was Sunday, and Annie was returning
from IL School at some distance nom her
home, in which she occasionally assisted, as
a teacher. The part ofthe road was secluded
and they had often met there in the sunny
days of their love.
''Well, Frank !" said Annie, sorrowfully
as she regarded his changed appearance, his
haggard features, sunken eyes and untidy
apparel. -,
know | have done wrong, but one kind word
from you one of your sweet looks will make
all right again.
Il have nothing to forgive" said Anna
tremulously for his pleading tones hac
touched n chord that had meyer ceased tc
give forth music. Il have only to lamen
that we are not the same to each other thai
we once were.
"Why should We not be so again ?" asked
! he.
Ask yourself and judge" she replied.
Misnterpreting her subdued, almost ten
der tone and manner, he began passionately
to entreat for renewal of their engagement
Annie, though her heart beat violently las oil,
memories swept through her brain, was firm
in her refusal. She had disciplined hersel
into the conviction that he had no right t.
demand any sacrifice on her part. He wa
the transgressor, and from him alone mus
come the atonement! Would that all girls
similarly placed, would think as Annie did
" You love me no longer" exclaimed Han
vey, bitterly.
% | do not love the spectre of Frank Hai
vey," she replied. "Return to your forme
self, and you will find Annie Lee still Ami
Lee"
Imagining she referred to his loss of proJ
erty, he said with a sneer; '' | see how it
you have heard of my misfortune, and "
are not equal now-and you scorn me becaus
am poor"
Poor !" rcjoined Annie, warmly. "Yo
are only poor in character. Money, of itsel
, decs not confer worth. If you had not
, Harvey of other times, | would gladly gi
you my hand, and my father would as glad
consent. Oh, Frank, Frank whether yC
have been led astray by your own evil promI
ings or fallen before temptation, there is tin
t to relent-time to change-time to turn ba'
to your former self; and, | will say, time
come and see Annie Lee, as you did in 4
e bright days before you fell away from IN
= from yourself, and (oh Frank, think of il
from your Maker"
/, And so they parted without another wor
> Harvey, prey TO remorse, for as he watch
: her receding figure, the sound of Saba
| bells fell on his ear and, as they awoke I
d rast they disturbed his stagnant and putt
g present, and he wept. But the day of
! delverance was not yet at hand. Depravit
}. that stop short of crime punishable by I
| laws, are only corrected by the severest ch
/. tisement, and thorough cleansing of I
d moral being.
10 Self-degradation will drive man or won
to the most desperate extremities. In SO
ID stages of their disorder they are unable
ID willing, to bear up against the wind of tn
( difficulties. Like dismantled ships, II
drift helplessly on the lee shore of ruin.
H. was so with Harvey. He was overtaken
cd adversities, and could not bear up agai
ly them, although he still had the means.
he spirit of the gambler and tppler poeses