Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-01-22

lock of her fathers hair. She had hoped
to be able to save this, the last memento
of her once happy home. But goaded by
little Mary's cries for food she seized the
locket, rushed to pawnbroker's, obtained
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 conf
Dental clerk of her father, Peter Mangles,
who had ever been kind to her, to consult
him about sending Richard away from the
contaminating influences with which he
was surrounded.
On returning home late on New Y ear
eve from her fruitless visit, for the old
clerk was not at home, 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 off again to "The Grown 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 regaining portion of the money
taken by her husband, set out with her
children to the haunt of vice wither George
Hoffman had gone.
There was great croud at the bar of
"The Crown and Magpie." The landlady
"a stout, vulgar-looking woman, with red
ribbons in her cap, a profusion of false
curls, a heavy gold chain round her neck,
and numerous rings on her fat fingers
was buisily engaged in pouring out gin
for her customers; the regular ones she
was treating-for it must not be forgotten
that it was New Years eve.
Such was the scene of vice and dissipa-
ton which met the eye and sickened the
heart of Rachel when, with little Mary in
her arms, and protected by the presence of
her son she ventured into the house.
"Is Mr.. Hoffman here?" she inquired,
family.
The question had to be repeated sever
al times before she could get an answer.
"Cant tell the names of any of my Gus
TONER'S" replied the mistress of "The
Crown and Magpie," )" snappishly.
perhaps you will oblige me by ascer-
tanning"
"Too busy, maaml Hot water Sally!
Three and cight-pence, sir. Half.and-h half
directly!
"You can't go in therel'' shouted the
landlady, as Rachel was making her way
towards the parlor. "Mine is a respecta-
BILE house, allow no female beyond the
bar"
"But / am Mr.. Hoffman's wife"
$50 they all SAY" answered the woman,
with sneer.
There was coarse, mocking laugh from
the crowd of half drunken wretches stand
ing near. The eyes of Richard flashed
angrily; but the voice, and still more, the
imploring look of his mother restrained
him,
"Let us return home," she said, in a
desparingly tone. 81 feel faint and sick
at heart"
And leaning on the arm of her son, the
unhappy wife tottered rather than walked
from the place.
The keen, frosty air partially restored
her strength and Rachel proceeded with
here children till she reached the thorough
far leading through st. Margaret's church
yard towards the Almonry, when 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; the child was cold as
ice, and shivering. as if seized with an ague
fit
"She is dying!" groaned the terror
stricken parent-"dying for the want of
foodp'
The heart of her boy could endure no
mOre-it was breaking. The cup of mis-
cry and endurance had been filled to over
flowing. His brain was on fre--tears
could not quench it.
"Take her home motherr' he cried
stake her home! never fear but vii bring
youfoodl Mary shan't diel I'll beg-beg,"
he added; anything to save herl"
Orchard! RichardI do not leave mel
shrieked his agonized parent. "Let me
not lose both my children! if you love your
mother, return-for PHYS sake returnl"
The appeal came too late. Her son,
stung, maddened bEyond endurance by
the sufferings of bose so dear to him, had
broken from her feeble grasp, darted down