Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-01-07

The husband grasped the worn bible
: and again and again repeated the oatl
and then sealed it with kiss, and fe
( backward exhausted and fainting.
Mrs. Brewer stepped tb the little clos
: ct AID laid by the pistol; then return
Il ing, she raised his head from the foo
!. and placed it on pillow, and takin:
! from her bosom paper, she mixed tn
4 contents with water, and held it to he
husbands lips. With difficulty it wa
swallowed, and in few moments after
air. Brewer commenced vomiting, an,
then his pains grew less.
Mrs. Brewer did not nurse her hus
band with tender care, but much tn,
same as maniac would nurse some ia
vorite pet--anxious at times and ther
neglectful. But it was several week,
ere he ventured to go out from his home
for his wife acted SO strangely, that he
feared she would do injury to herself OF
children-and well he knew if she had
been sane, she would not have tried tc
poison him, even though he had been
more Incorporate than he was.
Mr.. Brewer did not like to expose
what his wife had done, nor did he al
Jude to it even to her, for he felt he was
the cause of her mental arrangement
But when after his recovery, she propo.
sed they should move into another neigh.
borhood, where he would not meet with
so many of his old associates, he readi-
ly agreed to it, and from this time there
was a gradual change working in Mr.
Brewers home. The black bottle was
broken, the old furniture was cast off for
some of better quality, the children
went to school better clad, and little
Mary no longer sewed on slopwork that
she might purchase shoes for the Sab
bath. The wife's mind grew more calm
and peaceful now, though she never al
luded to the past; and so years rolled by
and the husband still kept the oath he
took when he thought death so near.
His sons and daughters had now at
tanned the stature of men and women,
amid peace and plenty, and though time
had added to the fathers age, one would
have thought him younger than when
he took the oath. And so had time dealt
gently with the mother, for bloom still
fingered on her cheek, and happy
smile rested permanently on her face.
One evening dark haired youth-the
accepted lover of Maryland closed the
outer door and left the eldest daughter
and her mother alone, seated beside the
wintry CRATE.
:" Mother" said Mary, edo you not
remember, many years ago, when we
were very poor and father was intern
perate, what you whispered in my ear
one EVENING""
81 do, Mary"
"Well, | have often thought it very
strange that you would never allow me
TO allude to it afterwards, but knew
something unusal took place about that
time, for one day when | came home
from school, | found father very sick,
and you would not permit me TO ask him
any questions. But recollect well from
that time he never drank again, and we
are better off. Say, mother, did you ev-
er attempt to poison %
The mother sat silent for moment,
and then looking up with smile, she
answered:
"No, Mary, never diG but he tho't
| did, and | have never undeceived him.
1t was desperate game | played-one
in which | knew if | was successful
should never regret it; and if | was not
| could not be more miserable than
was, as i saw his Incorporate habits i'll.
creasing."
"And will you tell me all the particu
lars?"
Eyes, child" And Mrs. Brewer look
ed cautiously around the room, to max,
sure they were alone-and when she be
came satisfied they were, she comlnenc
ed:
"When your father first became in
temperate, it grieved me to the heart
and | tried to reason with him and t.
convince him how hard would be OH
lot if he did not desist. But he paid lit
tie attention to me, except for the mo
ment, and then sought his old compan
ions again. Then begged him witt
tears to shun intoxication-but all to n,
purpose. He would make me fair prom
Uses only to break them, and thus yea
after year wore on, until / resolved II
try another plan, and this | told a neigh
Dor whom l could trust, and to our fam
iy physician, who knew my trials ant
felt great sympathy for me. 1t was tina
before yourfather should appearslight
i " insane, and then, at given time
u should threaten to poison him. / knew
your.father always had great dread O
, a maniac, and well he knew he had Civ
:, EN- me trouble enough to make me III
J sane; SO | acted well my part, for wa
always called a good mimic, and now
had too much at.stake not to do my bes
| You heard me make the threat, but
r knew I could trust you; so whispers
in your ear thatit was all pretence Bu
1 still YOU feared, and | did not like t
talk about afterwards, for that mornin
r scene did well nigh drive me mad, an
nothing but the greatest firmness pre-
r served me. Well, DIR. Shelby prepare
a Il could not say what-but it had til
desired effect, ard / knew if he died,
: would be fright alone, and that had a
? antidote for his pains when l saw tit
: give it"
"Aud would you indeed have shot m
!, father % inquired Mary trembling.
I Mrs. Brewer could not refrain froi
. smiling.
81 guess not, Mary, as the pistol ha
no lock on it, or | should have been :
fraid to handle it. 1t was an old one
found in my neighbours attic that morn
: ing, and / hardly know what prompte
) me to take it. But it answered a yer
! good purpose, as he was too frightene
o know a pistol from cane"
"And when that scene was over, di
you recover YOU mental faculties all ;