The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-10-09
An Aneosfns Story,


years ago. just after my youngest child vaa
born
She uttered this reply in a suPprssasd tons
Of voice, and with evident emotion.
You have been married then p said the
English geutlemsn
Yes sir she replied, 4 was married sisht
years sines'
is your husband living p he inquired.
fsupPoss he 10, she said Il have not seen
him for more thpn two years, and do no.
Know that he will ever come back again.
~ tins moment tbs old Dutehman shook
his head, ana the woman bowed down M,
face. Her bonnet concealed her feature.
but tears we're falling Upon hereloAk. Amer
brief interval, the Engiishmsn resumed hls
conversation.
Il am fearful said he that you have bad
PerhaPs in,emperats husband.
His remarks seemed to summon her to the
rescue for whatever may he the na,ur, or
domestic strife, foreign interference il seldom
welcomed by either party.
No, sir.' she replied. Il had as-Eood a huss
band a. ever lived, and he always wus . very
temperate man. Hs was a member Of the
temperance society, My husband wAs a car
penter, and worked as hard as any mun.. bar,
he never took strong drink Of Sny Kind, and
u could say the same myself We should new
or have parted
Hos did you frst Contract fhis habii said
he.
Amer my last child was born,' abe replied.
i had severe fever, and waA brought ysrv
low. IL seemed rs though l never should
recover my strength. Our doctor. who war
skillful old gentleman. said nothing wooid
raise me so soon As little brandy. MY husr
band asked IL nothing else would do a. welt.
and opposed my taking il. Il vaa not 40
pleasant at first but soon began 10 rulish.
II with sugar, nftet a months trial, I got my
self into sushs state that eotlC not live With.
out it. Ny husband was greatly distre.,ed
about IT, and said he would not have it in the
house then got il privately. and the habie
grew 30 strong upon me, that used to lie
awake very often thinking how good Il would.
taste IN the morning. have often said, aA6
say 90 nov, that would give the WORLDLY
il were mine-to be cured OF thiA hankerinR
after strong drink. At last my poor child
rem
Poor lectle children cried the Dutetnan,
as he brushed away tear from his eye.
My poor children continued the woman .
began to suffer, and my husband becnm,,
desperate. Al one time he would eoa1 me
and after had kept myself clear Of it Tor a
week or 50, he would make me present,
though he could hold out no longer; and is
returned and found nothing ready for dinner
or supper, and the children crying, and his
wife untitled for anything, he would talk
very barshly and threaten to leave me.
deserved it ALL sOit she weeping bitterly,
and have thought that IL he should eeme
back, would try to do better, and leave of.
though am afraid should not be sbls to.
never thought he would really 60 away.
lie seemed ut last to be giving the matter
up. He let me go on pretty much m !
; pleased. He used to take the two elder
! children upon Sunday to meeting. and
leave me at home. for was ashamed to 70
there as folks had begun 10 take notice Of
} me. A few days before he went of. he said
very little to me, but seemed to be busy pack
; ing his chest. thoughe all this was done %,
deceive me, 30 took no notice Of H. He Esp-
! ally put his chest upon wheelharrow, suA
) wheeled it away. Good bye, John,' said i.
thinking hc not in earnest, and was
sure he was not, when / saw him coming
in about half an hour without Il. told him
he had made a short voyage Of it, He Aaid
; notGng-not a word-but he took the chill
drcn on his lap and kfeued them, and cried
over them If hiE heart would break. His
silence and his taking on 40 worried me more
than all his threats. Next morning he askeS.
me to take the children and go with him to-
see his mother, who lived about mile of
: So got ready. We had an old dog that
watched around the house. My husband
patted him-'good bye. Caesar SAid he, and
sobbed aloud as he said it. / then begaa "a,
fear that he was goingi md 90 thouEhs
how kindly he Md always used me, and whas
a miserable wife had always been 70 him,
rould not help shedding tsArs. But said
nothing, for still thought he only wanted &c,
try me- When We got to hiS mothcs's svpS
his chsss outside the gate. We vert fRS sussf
the old woman beg.pr 30 shed taa~a, hat said
not VSsd. 1tbsughe he meant to leave
me. be locked at the clock, and said il was
about time for tho stage TO come, and turh-
) ing 70 noe he SoOk my hand, hnL it was some
: tune befsE q he could spcal.---At last, raas-
, tering hiR fechngr, nc Said, Fanny, there 10
but one way to cunvipcr you that am in
Sasnest, and that is 20 leave you. took ySS