Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-01-21
RICH RID HOFFM 4 n.
! Tt.E OF Love AND gETRIBtTiON.

T..E OF LOlE AND IETRIBrTiON.
Rachel Bcntly, the lovely daughter of one of the
richest merchants of London, having married
George Hoffman, one of her fathers clerks, during
the old mans abscacc in India. he on his return
disinheritcd her and discharged George The lat
ter being overwhelmed by disappointment. took to
drink, and in few wears became a habtnal drunk
ard; his wife supporting herself and two children
Richard, now a fine boy in his thirteenth year, and
Mary, 4 sweet girl of sx-by selling, one after an
other, the remnants other costly wardrobe and Jew
clry.
On the last dav OF December in tls9 year in which
our story opens, Rachel WAS without food, light or
fire, and that very day the rent must be paid
Little Mary was iaoIriing for bread and crying
with cold.
The drunken father was at the dram-shop.
The asonizcd mother had but one more article OF
value lrft-a ocket containing lock Of her faith
er's hair She had hoped TO be able to save this,
the last memento ol her once happy home. But
golded bv little Marys cries for food she seized the
locket, rushed 10 pawnbroker's, obtained few
sililnss put bv the amount 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 Mangles,
who had been kind to her, TO consult him about
sending Richard away from the communicating in
fuences with which he surrounded
On returning home late in New ears eve from
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 and Magpic" tavern to
waste it in drunkenness. Little Mary, chilled and
hungry, began to civ for foDd, and the suffering
mother. in hopes OF re gaining portion Of tho mo-
taken bv her husband, set out with her children
to the iault OF vice whittier George Hoffman hal
gone.
There was great crowd at the bar Of The
Crown and Mlcpie.'; The landlady--a stout, vul
gar-Iooking woman, with rcd ribbons in her cap, a
profiIson Of filse curis, heavy gold chain round
her neck, and numerous rings ON her fat fingers
busily engaged in pouring out gin for her Gus
toners; the regular ones she was treating-for It
must not be forgotten that it was New ears
! eve.
! Such was the scene ofyicc and dissipation which
met the eye and sickened the heart Of Rachel
whcn with little Mary in her arms, and protectedby
the presence of her son, she vent,ucd into the
house.
! "Is Mr. Hoffman here" she inquired, family.
| The question had To be repeated several times
/ before she could get an answer.
Cant tell the names Of any of my customers"
replied the mistress THE Crown and Magpie,"
snappishly.
Too busy, ma'am. Hot water Sally: Three
and eight pence, sir. Ilalf and half directly.
"You can't 90 in there.' shouted the landladv, as
Rachel was making her way towards the parlor.-
Mime l. respectable house; allow no females
bevoad the bar
but | am Mr.. IIoflman's wife,
80 they all SAY, ans wered the woman. with
snecr.
There was a coarse, mocking laugh from the
crowd of half drunken wretches standing near
The ewes of Richard flashed angrily; but the voice,
and still more, the imporng looks OF his mother
restrained him.
Let us return home," she said, in despairing
tonp al tcel IA nt nd Sict hoarfr
And leaning on the arm of her son, the unhappy
wife tottcrcd rather than walked from the place.
The keen frosty air partially restored her strength
and Rachel proceeded with her children till she
reached the thorouSfarc leading through St Marga
refs churchyard towards the Almonry, whel q
faint moan from Mary, whom she still carried in
her arms, arrested her steps. She placed her hand
under the thin faded shawl which covered her; tho
child cold as ice, and shirering as fscizcd with
asue fit
"She is dying" groanel the terror stichen "a
rcnt-"dying for want of food"'
The heart of the boy could endure more-it
vas breaking. The cup Of misery and endurance
had been filed to overtlowing. Ills brain was on
tire-tcars could not quench it.
Take her home mother.'' he crei-"take her
home, never fear but will bring YOU food Mary
shan't die. III beS-bcs," he added; anything
10 save hcrr
"Ricllard Richard. DO not leave mc,'' shricked
the agonized parent. "Let me not lose both my
childrenl if you love your mother, returp-for
ptys sake return"
The appeal came too late. Her son. stung, mad
dened beyond endurance by the suffering Of those
so dear 10 him had broken from her feeble grasp,
ddrted down the thorOughfire, aud was already he-
yond the reach OF her voice.
Rachel chung ~ the rAlings of the churchyard for
support, till second Moan, still fainter than the
first, sent pans through her maternal breast
''She must not die III the street murmured Ra-
chel. "Home-home. ii have strength 10 reach
it."
"Oh, God.' she cried with sudden burst of An
Gulsh, "protect my boy. Shield him from crime,
guard him against vices and the hiceous snares
which IN a thousand forms sssa unfriended YOUTH
or take him." she added solensnly, take him IL Thy
mercy"
1t Was Christians prayer wrung from a moth
er's heart uttered IN faith, in agony, and tears,
and angels bore it Ia the mercy seat on high.
Claslrnc her persisiGc child vet closer to her
aching bosom, the ,runkar;'s wife FASTENED TO her
home.
A. Richard Hoffman rushed along the street,.
scarce knowing whither hc went, aud only intent on
the idea OF getting, b, ans, food for his
iamished mother anu sister. he Was hailed bv Jack
Mantler,, an im3ish acquaintance who lived near
Richard home, and To whom he told the desperate
state ia which he had lett those dear 10 him
Jack listcne with much interest," and at once pro
posed to Richard ~ help him 10 pick the pocket Of
an oid gentleman who was staring into a window
on tue opposite side oi the street Richard refused
with horror, although Jack urgedei,e necessity OF
ut once getting something To save the life of his
mother ami little Mary. Jack then undertook the
business alone, and Just IA he had relieved the OH
gentleman ofhis pocket book, policeman spranS.
forward TO arrest him, but Jack made sood his es
cape. Not 70 Richard abe was at once seized BY
the policeman AN accomplish OF the escaped PICK
pocket
'l am no thief. sir" crcid Rich.rl breaking from
the strong grasp that held him, and throwing h,n,-
self at the feet of the old gentleman ~lo had Just
come to the spot, though poverty and hunger tempt,
cd me to become one. My mother and sister
starving
The future history and trials of this poor boy will
be given in the Now York Ledger Of January is.
which il for sale at all the bookstores and nc~s
Offices.