Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-08-19
EATON, PREBLE COUNTY, 0 AUGUST 10, 1853.

: oughlv disgusted, "never shall it be
: homo for drunkard and a gambler
e Leave the room-leave the house!
r now see why my wise, good Annie pu
off the wedding. Oh Frank, I did no
think this of thee! and right glad am
that thy father is not living to see it
it would have broken his heart. Leav
) the house, l say, thou degenerate, un
godly son of a virtuous and cody ia
ther and mother"
!, Supplied at these well-merited re
proaches, Harvey looked from faAher t,
daughter repeatedly, but-ass CID
the stern expression of the old man.
eyes fixed upon him, glimmering per-
ception of his disgraceful state stole in
to his mind, ana without uttering an
other word he staggered from the room
out of the shop, into the street, where
he mounted his horse, and rode away in
the direction of Liverpool.
"My dear child,'' said the old man
embracing his daughter, as she threw
herself sobbing On his breast, 'my dear
child, be composed This is a great de-
liverance, though painful
| A1bC4 hSlA do hS
could by warm carresses and every en-
dearing parental epithet, he opened the
family Bible and read favorite chapter
with him, when annoyed or perplexed
Afterwards, he remained in a state of
reflection for few minutes, and then,
as he phrascd it, "his mind was made
up" There was a good deal of the
stern old. puritan spirit in his disposi-
| tor (for remnants of the old Cromwell
liam Independents, perfect in all their
features, form and costume, abound in
the small towns and villages and remote
districts of Lancasbire,) and when he
had determined on a course of action he
was infexible "The match was broken
off," but he would speak fatherly and
gently to his beautiful Annie.
"Annie, Annie, child of thy devout
mother" he said, "never marry drunk
ard. The habit is easily, frequently,
innocently got, but hard to be got rid
of. Look at that miserable body, Jem-
my Thompson, wasting soul and sub
stance 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,
Annie, at our churchyard-how many
drunkards, how early cut off, lie there.
In corner, like a dead dog, 1iocs VIII
liam Jackson praiseworthy man in
some rcspects-but he was bad to him
self, and he died in road side ale le-house.
His memory is jeered at by his survi-
wing reprobate companions; and those
who kept themselves upright, speak of
h hor hlIv onH Crivo him nroHIt
for the real good that was in him. Oh
Annie, my dear, darling Annie, never
marry a drunkard-it's a sin, railing
against Gods Providence.
"Fathcr, I never WILL" replied An
ME, firmly. Il have told Frank so
repeatedly. But, father dear, 1 can't
help feeling for him, he was once SO
different"
"The finest lad in the parish" said
the old man. II must sec him and ad-
monish him of the awful error of his
ways"
When he was alone, he muttered:
"And so Frank has turned what they
call good fellowI Poor lad--poor
lad! I never hear those words, but see
looming in the CHASTITY distance either a
Workhouse or a prison.
The proposed match was now def
nitely broken off, and Harvey's excesses
soon became so wild that the more re-
spectacle inhabitants of the locality be-
gan to shun his company. Annie ex-
erted herself to reclaim him. A true
woman never despairs until the grave
has closed over the object of her affec-
tions. She wrote him the most kind,
afectionate letters, employed argument
and entreaty, but all to no avail; Har
vey's only response was, "Will you
marry me-will you keep your prom
ise?"
When Annic-who at this point felt
so acutely that her health suffered
would exclaiEl, Il cannot" And if q
burst of womanly tenderness escaped
her, the recollection of the pale face
at the wicket-gat subdued it in an in
stant Her moral courage was very
strong, for her love was full of warm
pulsation and tender clingings.
Harvey and she only met casually
during several months, and that only
under circumstances that did not admit
of private interview. During that
time the infatuated young man had be-
come the talk of the neighborhood.-
His dissipation and gambling losses
had involved him in pecuniary cmbar-
easements unfortunately to a greater cx-
tent than was generally surmised. At
length they met. 1t was Sunday, and
Annie was returning from school at
some distance from her home, in which
she occasionally assisted as teacher
That part of the road was secluded, and
they had often met there in the sunny
days of their love.
"Wcll Frank" said Annie, sorrow
fully, as she regarded his changed ap-
pearance, his haggard features, sunken
eyes, and untidy apparel.
"Forgive me AnnieT' he exclaimed.
II know have done wrong; but one
kind word from you, one of your sweet
looks, will soon make all right a
gain
II have nothing to forgive" said An
ME, tremulously for his pleading tones
had touched cord that had never ceas-
| ed to give forth music. 81 have onlv