Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-01-23
Richard Hoffman.
4 TALE OF LOVE AND RETR1BUTIoN.

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 disinherited her and
discharged George. The latter being over
whelmed by disappointment, took to drink,
and in few years became habitual drunk
ard his wife supporting herself and two
children-Richard, now fine boy in his
thirteenth year, and Mary, sweet child of
six-by selling, one after another, the rem
nants Of her once costly wardrobe and jew
clry.
On the last day Of December Of the year
in which our story opens, Rachel was with
out 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
shop. aH
The agonized mother had but one more
article Of value left--a locket containing a
lock of her fathers hair. She had hoped to
be able to save this, the last nemento of her
once happy home But goaded by little
Mary's cries for food she seized the locket,
rushed TO a pawnbroker's obtained a few
shillings, put by 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 MangIes, who had ever
been kind to her, to consult him about send
ing Richard away from the communicating
influence with which he was surrounded
On Returning home late On New Years
eve from her fruitless visit. for tne Old clerk
was not at home. Rachel discovered that
her husband had been home and stolen the
sum SIZE put by for the rent from the place
where she had concealed it, and gone off
again to s'The Crown and Magpie" tavern
to waste 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 ont with her children to
the haunt Of vice whittier George Hoffman
had gone.
There was great crowd at the bar Of
1.-THE Crown and Maggie" The landlady-
a stout, vulgat%.oekiHg woman. with red
ribbons in hercap, a profuslof e false curls.
heavy gold chain round her neck, and
numerous rings on her fat fingers -ettas
huSly engaged in pouring out gin FOR her
customers; the regular ones she was treat
ing-for it must not be forgotten that it
was New-Y ears eve.
Such vas the scene 81 vice and dissipa-
tion which met the eye and sickened the
heart of Rachael when, with little Mary in
ii>I arms, and protected by Che presence Of
her son. she ventured into the house.
lis Mr.. Huffman here 2" 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 GUS
toners" replied tie mistress Of The Grown
and Maybe" snappishly..
Perhaps yoa Till ob.ige ne b faeeSer-
tanning"
TOO busy, ma am. Hot water Sally
Three AMI eight-pence, sir. Half-and-half
directly. -
you can't 70 in thcSc." shouted the
landlady as Rachel was making her way to-
wards the parlor mime is respectable
house; allow no females beyond the bar"
'.j;ut | am Mr. |Iofman's wife"
$50 they all sAT, answered He woman
with a sheer.
There was coarse, iliocking laugh from
{he crowd Of half drunken wretchcs stand
ING near. The eyes of Richard flashed an
srily: hut the voice, and still more, the
I'm ploring look of bis mother restrained
MIN.
..I.et us return home" she seid, in a
acsparing tone II feel faint .a2d sick at
heart"
And leai,TF>g On the arm Of her son, the
in happy VIII. tottercd rather than walked
from the place.
Tie keen. frosty air partially restored
nor strength and Rachel proceeded with
her children till size reached the thorough
fare leading through st. Margarets church
ward towards the Almonry, when faint
moan from Mary, whom she still carried in
her arms. arrested her steps. She placed
ner hand undor the thin faded shawl which
covered hel the ejlId vas cold as ice, and
shiyegine a~ if seized with an aens fit
she is lying" ernaned the terror stric'z-
en- parent dying for the want of fo Cd Y
The heart of her. boy could end ure no
lhore-it was breaking. The cup of misery
aud endurance had been filled 10 overflow
ing Ills brain was on frc--tcars could
not guHnch It,
Take her home mother.' he cried
'tako her home never fear but | will bring
you food ! Mary slant die. III beg beg"
lie added; anything TO save her!'
Richard Richard do not leave me-"
shFiescd his agonizcd parent. ''Let me
not lose both my children ! if YOU love your
mother, refHrn-for PHYS sake return.'
The appeal came too late Her son, stung,
nladdened beyond enas.ranoo by the suffer
ines of those so dear to him, had broken
from her feeble grasp, dartad down the
thorouglfare, and was already beyond the
reach of her voice.
Rachel chung to the ratings Of the church
gard for support, till second moan, still
fainter than the first, sent pang through
her maternal breast.
''She must not die in the street, muir
snurod Rachel "IIome-home if [ have
strength to reach it,
ooh, God p she cried with sudden
burst Of anguish, 'sprotect my boy Shield
him from crime, guard him against vices
and the hideous snares which in thousand
forms assail unfriended youth /; or take him."
she added solemnly, "take him in Thy
mercy"
It was Christians prayer .wrung from
mothers heart uttered in faith, in agony,