The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1858-01-21
Richard Hoffman.
"A Tale Of Love and Retrjbution.


one Of the richest Merchants oftLondon,
having married Richard Hoffman, one
Of her fathers clerks, during tie old
mans Absence in India, he on bis return
dishhcrited her, and discharged George.
The latter being overwhelmed with dis
appointment, took to drink, and in few
years became habitual drunkard; bis
wife supported herselfand two children
Richard, now a fine boy in his thirteenth
year, and Mary. a.sweet child Of six-by
selling, one after the other, the remnants
Of her once costly wardrobe and jewel.
ry. 'N si'' 'tt ~
On the last day Of December Of the
year in which our story opens. Rachael
was without food, light or FIRE, and that
very day the rent must be paid. apaA
Little Mary was moaning for bread.
and crying with cold. 9sdsl sli g. iBt'
The drunken father was at the dram
shop, 'adl Eoe--'si1ew ga 71l ogo
,s.,,.l'he agonized mother had but one
more article of'valde left--a locket con-
tanning lock Of her father's hair.& She
had hoped to be able to save this, the last
nnemento Of hersoncc happy'home' But
goaded by little Mary's cries for food,
She seized the locket, rushed to pawn
brokers', obtained d few shilings, 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
uisit the old confidential clerk Of her faith
er, Peter Mangles, who had ever been
kind 10 her, to consult him about send
ing Richard away from the contaminating
influences Of which he was surround
ed. svniY5o9 of varo4aaHes ..s...l
bGsOn returning home. late on New
Years Eve from her frutless visit, for
the old clark was not at home, Rachael
discovered that her husband had been at
home and stolen the sum she had put
g by for the rent from the place where she
had concealed it, and gone off again to
.1"iThe Grown and Maggie" tavern to
siwaste it in drunkenness. Little Mary,
chilled and hungry, began to cry for food
and the suffering mother, in hopes Of re-
gaining portion Of the money taken by
, her husband, set out with her children to
the haunt of vice whittier George Hoff-
man had gone. t.'aS 3 t, M y
There was a great crowd at the bar
of"The Crown and Magpie." The land
ladyAa stout. vulgar looking woman,
with red ribbons in her CAP, a profusion
z Of false curls. heavy qcId chain round
her neck. and numerous rings on her fat
fingpeerssLwas busilv en,saoed in pouring
out eiin for her customers; the regular
ones sbe was treatingllfor f. must not be
. forgottpn that'it VAS New Years Eve.
" Such was the Scene Of vice and dissipa-
ton which met the eve and sickened the
heart Of Rachael when with little Mary
n her arms and protected bv the pres
ence Sof Ler son she yeptured into the
house. fi'osl u 81 ae.l ~ syE
i""Is MI. Hoffman here?, she enc uired
family 5N7' = I65t aa4f -.
me nuest;on had 10 he reneated sev.
eral times before she could Get an an.
swer ajo tae aue
"Can't tell the names of any of nv
customers" replied the mistress of "The
Grown and Maepie," snappishly.
"perhaps YOU will oblpe me bp ascer-
tanning" sa'I5a, 4a. 'eg -
3 "Too bmsv ma'am! Hot water Sally!
Three and eiaht pence, sir! Half.and.
half directly. ati'lu II y-a
sdI ..yo,, cor,t ,,o IN tbera 10 sbouted tho
landhdv as Rachael was making her
way to lhe parlor "Mine is a respecta-
ble ebouse. allow no females bovond the
bar"il n o7al 'sl
I73"But, am Nr Huffman,s wife"
$50 tbev all SAY" answered lbe wom-
an with % sueer, i ,'asos.,f,,g Ia
Th.re was a sconrse. mocL;noi ilsnoh
/ f,or tbs crowd Of, h,lf drunken 4retcbes
s,Yndiny- near. Tbe" .oves Of Richard
aashed onar;lv. but the voice and st;ll
Z more etbe ;mniloring look,.of his moth or