Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-01-20

TALE or LOVE AID EErRIBUTION.
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's absence IN In
dia, he on his return disinhclited her and dis
charged George The latter being overwhel-
med by disappointment, took to drink, and
in Il few years became habitual drunkard
his wife supporting herself and two children
Richard, Gne boy in bis thirteenth year.
and Mary, a. sweet child Of six-by selling,
one after another. the remnants of her once
costly wardrobe aud jewelry
On the last day of December of the year
in which our story opens, Rachel was with
out food, light or fire, and that very day the
rent must be paid.
Little Mary was moaning for bread, and
crying with the cold.
The drunken father was at the dram-shop.
The agonized mother had but one more ar
ticle Of value lert-a locket containing lock
of her fathers hair. She had hoped to be
able to save this, the last memento of her
once happy home but goaded by little Ma-
rvs cries for food she seized the locket, rush
ed to q nawnbrokcr's obtained few shillings.
put by the amount of the rent and with the
rest purchased a little bread and milk for her
children, and then set out, with them, to visit
the old confidential clerk of her father, Peter
Mangles. who had ever been kind to her, to
consult him about sending Richard away
from the contaminating influences with which
he was surrounded,
On returning home late late on New Years
eve FROM her frmtless visit, for the old clerk
was not at home, Rachel discovered that her
! husband had been home and stolen the sum
she had put by for the rent from the place
| where she had concealed It, and gone Of again
to The Crown aud NagPieo 10 waste it in
! drunkenness. I.j1tlc Mary, chilled and hun
| CRY, began to cry for food, and the suffering
mother, il hopes OF fregaining portion Of thc
money taken by her husband, set out VIII
her children to the haunt of vice wlithe,
Geoge Hoffman had gone.
There was a great crowd at the bar Of ''tht
Crown and Macpic." The landlady-a stou
vaIear-looEing woman, with rcd ribbons il
her cap, Profusion CT false curIs, heav,
gold chain round her neck, and numerou
rings or her fat fnreys-was busjly engaged
in pouring cut gin for Ler customers; tn
regular ones she was treating-for it mus
not be forgotten tha; it was New Years eve
Such was the scene of vice and dissipatio
which met the eye ard sickoncd the hear
Of Rachel When. with little Mary in her arm
and protected by the presence Of her son, sll
ventured into the house.
is Mr.. Hoffman here % she inquire
family.
The question had to be repeated severi
times before she could get an onswer.
Cant tell the names of any of my cust'
mers." replied tho mistress of The Crow
and Magpio," snaPpishly.
Perhaps you viii obligo me by ascertain
ing"
..Too busy, ma'an Hot water, Sally
Three and eight pence, sir. Half-and-h
directly
..You cant go in there" shouted the laR'
lady, as Rachel was making her way towaf'
the parlor mine is a respectable house;
allow no females beyond the bar y
"But am Mr. HoiTman's WIFE
: $50 they all SAY answered the woma
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