Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-11-05
AN AFFECTING STORY.


together, the latter in answer to a question
that had been proposed to her, said
81 never drank any spirits till about three
years ago, just after my youngest child was
born
She uttered this reply in suppressed tone
of voice, and with evident emotion.
"You have been married then ~ said the
English gentleman.
ayes SIR" she replied, 81 was married
eight years since"
SIS your husband living ?" he inquired.
81 suppose he s," she said ~ have not
seen him for more than two years, and do
not know that he will ever come back again. :"
AT this moment the old Dutchman shook
his head, and the woman bowed down her
face.-lIer bonnet concealed her features,
but tears were falling upon her cloak. Af-
ter brief interval, the Englshman resumed
his conversation.
81 am fearful said he. "that you have
a bad, perhaps an Incorporate husband"
His remarks seemed to summon her to the
rescue; for whatever may be the nature of
domestic strife, foreign interference is seldom
welcomed by either party.
"No, sir she replied; 81 have as good Il
husband as ever lived and he always was "A
very temperate man. He was a member of
the temperance society. My husband was IL
carpenter, and worked as hard as any man,
but he never took strong drinks of any kind,
and if could say the same thing of myself.
we never should have parted
GLOW did you contract the habit ?" said
he.
"After my last child was born," she re-
piled, 81 had a severe fever, and was brought
very low. 1t seemed as though l should
never recover my strength. Our doctor who
was skilful old gentleman, said nothing
would raise me 50 soon as a little brandy
My husband asked if nothing else would do
as well, and opposed my taking it, 1t was
not so pleasant at first; but | soon began to
relish it with sugar, and after months
trial, got myself into such a state that /
could not live without it. My husband was
greatly distressed about it, and said he would
not have it in the house. | then got it pri-
yately, and the habit grew so strong upon
me that ] used to lie awake often thinking
how good it would taste in the morning. |
have often said and say now, that would
give the world if it were mine to be cured of
this hankering after strong drink. At last
my poor children-'
Poor lectle children ~ cried the Dutch
man, as he brushed away IL tear from his
eye.
"My poor chidrcn,'' continued the wo-
man, 'began to suffer, and my husband be-
came desperate At one time he would coax
me; after | had kept myself clear of it for
week or 50, he would make me present,
though he could poorly afford it. At an
other time when | could hold out no longer.
and he returned and found nothing ready for
dinner or supper, and the children crying,
would talk very harshly and threaten to
! cave me.
81 deserved it all" said she weeping BIT
terly land | have thought that if he should
come back would try to do better and leave
off, tho | am afraid I should not be able to.
never thought he would really go away.
He seemed ut last to be giving the matter
up. lie let me go on pretty much as pleas
ed. lie used to take the two elder children
upon Sunday to meeting, and leave me at
home, for was ashamed to 60 there, as
folks began to take some notice of me. A
few days before he went off, he said very
little to me, but seemed to be busy packing
his chest thought all this was done to
deceive me; 50 | took no notice of it. He
finally put his chest upon wheelbarrow,
and wheeled it away. "GoOd bye, john"
said | , thinking he was not in earnest; and
| was sure he was not, when | saw him COM
ing back in about half an hour without it,
| told him he had made a short voyage of it.
He said nothing-not a word-bnt he took
the children on his lap and kissed them. and
cried over them as if his heart would break.
His silence and his taking on worried me
more than all his threats. Next morning
he asked me to take the children and go
with him to see his mother, who lived about
a mile off. So | got ready. We had an old
dog that watched around the house. My
husband patted him d-bye, Cesar"
said he, and sobbed aloud as he said it |
then began to fear he was going; and as |
thought how kindly he had always used me,
and what a miserable wife | had been to
him, could not help shedding tears. But
said nothing. for still thought he wanted
to try me. When we got to his mothers I
saw his chest outside the gate. We went in,
and the old woman began to shed tears. but
leave me, lie looked at the clock, and said
turning to me he took my hand, but 1t was
some time before he could speak.
At last, mastering his feelings, he said,
Fanny there is but one way to convince
you that am in earnest, and that is to leave
you. | took you for better or for worse,
but did not take you for drunkard and
cannot live with you as such. You have
often said you was willing to part, and could
support yourself if | would the children, and
you have agreed that they should live with
their grandmother. | have sold my tools
and some other matters, and have raised a
few dollars which | have placed in her care
for their use; and if God spares my life, they
shall never want. When she writes me
word that you have kept clear from this
habit for six months, l will gladly come
back, but never till then" While he was
speaking the stage arrived, and | saw him
lashing on his chest. then had no longer
II doubt. He kissed the children and his
mother and rushed out Of the house. | fol-
lowed him to the door. so, dear John, -
said |, edo not go, John-try me once
more, but he never looked back; and the
stage was soon out OF sight. ''fle is a cruel
cold hearted man. said |, as sat down on
the threshold of the door. "Fanny," said
his mother, as she sat wiping her eyes, will
you abide by these words at the great judg-
ment day?' "No," said |, after pause
"he is the kinpest, best of husbands and
fathers" "Then try to kill the sinful habit
and win back your happy fireside.' 81
,ciH try" said |. And hare tried, but how
poorly nave succeeueu, every person ac'
quai nted with me knows too well.
When the poor creature had finished hei
narrative, which bore irresistible marks Of
truth in the very manner of its delivery, tn,
Englishman gave her the most admirabl,
counsel. The old Dutchman turned rounC
and gazed upon her, while the tears tricklec
down his weather beaten features.
"Mine Cot taking off his hat with al
air of deepest reverence while he spoke, ''ver
vii dare be an end of this acc,irsed traid
Ven vii body leave off selling de fires O
hell to his neighbor in exchange for de poo
leetle children bread -
An AWKWARD ARCHDEACoN. Some littl
time since, small boy of ten or eleve
years of age, might have been seen driving
donkey before him, in one of the wild lane
i IL L L IL IL