Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-02-25
GcIctte0 alistfIlonD.
"THE POWER OF WOMAN. ;,


well remember the first time | ven
tured homo in state of intoxication.
knew my situation, and dreaded that my
wife should discover it. | exerted my
self to conceal it. affected to be witty,
ahectionate, and social, but it was a total
failure. felt the fatal poison momenta-
rily increasing saw the inquiring eye
Of my wife fixed upon me with look of
unutterablo grief. 1t was only with her
aid that | was able to reach my pillow.
All restraint was soon swept away I
came home night after night in Il state
most revolving to the feelings Of deli
cate, ad'ectiOnato wife. In vain my low
ing companion wept and expostulated,
| was too much cntanglod and corrupted
to break away either from my vices or
associates They neither feared God nor
regarded man. l was led captive by
their devices
l became, I will not say an infdel, for
| was too ignorant Of the theory of scep-
tic;sm to be one. ] became mocker.
Fools make a mock at sin, and such q
fool was ] knew just enough Of the
Bible to make it my jest-book. | saw
that this part Of my conduct was ex-
tremely painful to my pious wife, and
tried to restrain myself from trifing with
the Bible in Der presence; but / loved
to raise loud laughter among my bolster
Gus companions, and the indulgence sorv-
ed so to strengthen the pornicious habit,
that | was often detected in the use Of
this offensive language.
1t was not till / became a father that
her touching appeals on this subject
reached my conscience
"Must this child" She would say with
tears be trained up under these bane-
full influences? Must he be taught BIZ
parental example to despiso and ridiculo
the Scriptures with his lisping tongue
before he is able to read their contents,
or realize their heavenly origin Z"
Our son had NOW become an interest.
ing little prattler initiating what he
heard or saw. | perceived with diabol-
zeal pleasure that the first effort Of hi.
infant tongue was to initiate my profanc
language, the recollection Of which now
sends a thrill Of grief aud horror through
my bosom. In vain did his sorrowing
mother eudeayor to countcract the indu,
ence Of my most wicked example
continued to swear, and he to initiate my
/ profanity, unconscious Of lis turpitude
/ On a certain occasion returned from
one Of my gambling excursions, anC
found my wife and child absent. Or
/ in9piry, ! ascertained that she lad gone
to her accustomed place Of retirement in
grove some distance from the house
knew that she bad gone there for deyo-
ton, ] had been accustomed to sec hen
retire thither at the evening twilight
and though / thought her piety unncces-
sary, ! bad no objection to It as a sourcc
Of enjoyment to her, but that she should
take her child with her excited my sur.
prise
! felt curiosity 70 follow her. 7 did
50, and took position unseen r. her
but where ! had full view Of her att.
tule and features. She was kncolina
before a rock, on which lay her Biblc
before her. One hand was placed on IT.
open pages; the other held the hand Of
her fair boy, who was kneeling beside.
bis eyes Hitenty fixed on her face. She
was pale and care-worn Her eyes were
closed, but the tears were chasing each
other down her checks, as she poured
forth her burdcnod soul in prayer Grsi
for her husband, that he might be re-
claimed and saved; but especially did
she plead with God that her son, whom
she unrescrvedly dedicated to him. might
be saved from those sins which were
taught him by his fathers example. ~
"Save him, " she cried with agony, "sayo
him from taking thy great and holy name
in vain; and give his anxious mother
wisdom, fortitude, and grace, ofectually
to correct and break up the habit Of pro-
faneness."
crept silently from my hiding place,
and returned home with conscience
narrowed up by the kcencst self re-
proaches. / knew that her feelings were
not the ftrul ebuliiions Of passion or cx-
element J had long been convinced
that her conduct was regulated by firm
and viriuous priurplcs. and that the