Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-06
The Drunkard's Family.

at was not always so with VI" said a pale,
female, seated with her shivering !
children around a few cmbers, in a miserable 4,
hovel on the outskirts Of the city. A char
liable female on an errand Of mercy had call
ed TO enquire after the welfare Of herself and
family. She was met on her angelerrand,
with the difidence, yet polite air of one who
had known better days, and welcomed in to
behold her now folOrn and degraded condi-
ton. A bright-eyed little girl who knew the
V%isitant, hastily brought a stool, chairs they
had mono, and the lady took her seat in the
midst of the group. After the usual inqui-
rics after the health of the family, the lady
said the morning is cold and comfortless,
are you out Of woOdg' "Yes mana" re-
piled the detected, despairing wife, while l
was able TO gather trash from the nearest
wood, we made out to keep warm, but my
poor health now denies me that resource and
my children are too mall to send after it,
"Why, where is your husband p said the la
dy. "Ahi poor creature" said she, while a
big tear stole down her check, 81 am not able
to tell" "Does he do nothing" said the la
dy, "to provide for your Eyes, some
times, but his health is feeble and you know
times are hard and work is very dull" said
the still devoted wife But madam, as hard
as times are, il he would work, he could get
something to do, to keep his family from free
zing. Does he drink p Here, the tears fell
faster, and the wife's bosom heaved with an
guish; but still anxious to conceal the worst
of her case, she repIied, when he meets with
his friends who indulge, he is so easily per-
suaded, he ell drink with them" Her kind
friend not willing TO probe the wound deeper,
delicatcly alluded to the ruin which Alcohol
was producing then said, 81 hope, madam,
you are supplied with provisions" ave
have made out 70 get along until this morn
ing" said the wife, "but o! how,iark is the
future" and burying her face in her hands,
she wept, bitterly. 81 see" said the guar
dian angel, "your sad case, and viii do what
| can to relieve you. know the story your
tears whisper. Hope in God; he will deliver
you" But in a moment, the beastly, ruin
Gus conduct Of the husband coming up vivid
ly to her mind, she could not help exclaim-
ing, "Ah, what brutes such men are they
arc not fit TO live" "Holdl y said the attic
ted wife, (" he deserves our pity. When so
Der, he is so kind, 1 can't wish him ill.,
GOOD woman" said the lady, you ar,
right you deserve a better fate; but | mus
leave you 10 make some arrangements to re
said the wife. net me tel n my Story itifl Il
surely | can confde in such a friend"
She continued: 1T was not always so wit
us. Few young married people began lii
with fairer promise tsan We did. The da
after our marriage, we catered a comfortably
mansion, neatly furnished, all our own. Or
parents gave us all that We could desire, an
my husband was engaged in a lucrative bus
ness. Our large circle offriends were amor
the intelligent and fashionable, and zoe seer
cd to be the pride of that circle. We liy,
IN a style becoming cur position. Many lar,
parties were given US, and Of course, we we,
obliged TO return the compliment. Ny hu
band was sober, and in other respects all
could wish Time thus pleasantly glided
almost imperccptbly, and | was a happy W
man. Until God gave us two sweet childre
never suspected aught of blight and m
dew, to my highest hopes. knew my hu
band loved company, andNsuld now andth
spend an evening with jovial friends, al
sometimes eyinced leyity in his manner
his return home, but ] never dreamed n
poor husband was treading so rapidly in t
footprints of the drunkard. By the til
that poor little innocent pratler was borr
pointing to a little ragged, taken headed b
in the corner, "{ discovered that business "
neglected his visits TO she drinking, gan
ling saloon were more frequent, and my hi
erto devoted husband became truant, and
ten would return nom late at night intoxi
ted. His kind temper at such times gave "
to chaTlish rudeness, and the most delic
illusions to the consequences on my D:
wound be met by angry threats and occasio
barbarous treatment His children who
cd him to distractionap and upon whom he fc
ly doated, soon discovered the change,
trembled in his presence. Ny heart was
most broken, but still l hoped on. Fail
in business was the early consequence.
mansion was sold and with it our nice flu
turc, a memento Of my father love-our
wants, equipage, all, all, at one fell swt
were gone. This drove him to madnes,
Our parents, happily, were denied the wre
cdness of such a sight, for God had remc
them, l trust, to a better world. With
poor children, | was driven out upon
world friendless and forlorn. But l h
will to work and a courage to bear up u
my heavy burden BY extraordinary eff
secured a little home and a few articl
furniture, and as long as my health la
these singers, by the blessing of God, fed
clothed my family. Day after day, witne
the growing ruin of my husband. At ii
when nearly sober, he would seem to
reused at my hard lot, and would pro
amendment. Ny fast falling tears would
and then melt his heart, but @ base
uation ha wauld paoonrarr o;nola opoon