Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-01-16
RTgHARD HOFFMAN
A TALE OF LOVE AND RETRIBuTIoN.

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 mans
absence in India, he on his return disin-
herited her and discharged George. The
latter being overwhelmed by disappoint-
ment took to drink, and in few years
became habtual drunkard bis wife SUP!
porting herself and two children-Richard
now fine boy in his thirteenth year, and
Mary, sweet child of six--by selling, one
after another, the remains of her once cost
ly wardrobe and jewelry.
On the last day of December of the year
in which our story opens, Rachel was with
cut food, light or fire, and that very day
the rent must be paid.
Little Mary was moaning for bread, and
crying with cold. -.
The drunken father was at the dram.
chop. ~ ...
The agonized mother had but one moro
article of value left-a locket containing
lock of her fathers hair. She had
hoped to be able to save this, the last me.
mento of her once happy home, But
goaded by little Mary's cries for food she
seized the .locket, rushed to a pawnbroker's
obtained few shillings, put by the am cunt
of the rent and with the rest purchased
! little bread and milk for her children, and
then set out, with them, to visit the old
confidential clerk of her father, Peter
MaDgles, who had ever been kind to her
to consult him about sending Richard away
from the communicating Influences with
which be was surrounded.
On returning home late on New-Year's
eve from her fruitless 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 TIE Crown an! Magpie' tav-
ern to waste it IN drunkenness. Little
Mary, chilled and hungry, began to cry
for food, snd the suffering mother, in hopes
of regainirg portion of the money taken
by her husband, set out with her children
to the haunt of vice whittier George Hotf.
man had gone.
There was great crowd at the bar Of
'The Grown and Magpie.' The landlady
"a stout vulgar-looking woman, with rib
bons in her cap, profusion of false curls
heavy gold chain round her neck, and
numerous rings on her fat fngers--was
busily engaged in pouring out gin for hel
customers; the regular ones size was treat
ing-for it must not be forgotten that il
was New Years eve.
Such was the scene of vice and dissipa
ton which met the eye and sickened tn,
heart of Rachel when, with little Mary il
her arms, and protected by the presence o
her son, she ventured iuto the house.
is Mr.. Hoffman here p she inquired
family.
The question had to be repeated seyera
G times before she could get an answer.
Cant tell the names Of any of my Gus
; TONER'S replied the mistress of 'Tke Crow
and Maepie,' snapishly.
. perhaps you will oblige me by aseel
v taining.'
Too busy rna'aml Hot water Sally
7 Three and cight-penco, sir. Hall-and .ha
. directly
b, you can't 60 in tbere! shouted III
d landlady, as Rachel was making her wa
y towards the parlor. Mine is a respects
s bic house; I allow no females beyond IL
a BAR
e 'But | am Mr.. Hoffmans Wife p.
|. 80 they all SAY answered the womal
X with a sneer. f.s.
Il There was coarse, mocking laugh frol
G the crowd Of half drunken wretches stant
a ing near. The eyes of Richard fashe
# angrily; but the voice, and still more, til
= imploring look of his mother restraine
him.
It Let us return home she said, in d,
IS sparing tone. | feel faint and sick
r, heart"
/ And leaning on tho arm of her son, Il
l. unhappy wife totterea rather than wake