Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-07-29

But she loved him-loved him almost
too we'll, or ] should say, too blindly
I could say no more. l only prayed
that God would guard him, and then
we conversed on other subjects. I
could spend but a day with him, but we
promised to correspond often.
Three more years passed, during
which John Anderson wrote to me at
least once q month, and sometimes Oft
ener; but at the end Of that time his
letters ceased coming, and received
no more for two years, when I again
found myself in his native town. 1t
was early in the afternoon, when I ar
rived, and l took dinner at the hotel.
| Lad finished my meal, and was loung-
ing in front Of the hotel, when / saw a
funeral procession winding into dis
tant churchyard. l asked the landlord
whose funeral it was. ~
"Mrs. Anderson's," he said and US
he told me this he turned away. But
q gentlemen near by who had overheard
the conversation, at once took up the
theme
"Our host don't seem inclined to
converse upon that subject" he remark
ed, with shrug, inquiring: "Did
you know John Anderson 20
"He was my schoolmate in boyhood
and my bosom friend in youth" / told
him.
He then led me to one side, and spoke
as follows: =
"Poor John! He was the pride Of
the town six years ago. This man
opened this hotel at that time, and
sought custom by giving wine suppers.
John was present at many Of them
the gayest of the gay, and the most
generous of the party. In fact he
paid for nearly all Of them. Then he
began to 60 down hill, and has been
ever since. At times, true friends have
prevailed on him to stop, but his stops
were Of short duration. A short season
Of sunshine would CLEAN upon his home,
and then the night came, more dark
and dreary than before.
''He said be never would get drunk
again but still he would take glass
of wine with friend. That glass of
wine was but the gate that let in the
food. Six years ago he was worth sixty
thousand dollars yesterday he borrow
ed the sum Of fifty dollars to pay his
mothers funeral expenses That poor
mother bore up as long as she could.
She saw her son--her darling boy,' as
she always called him-brought home
drunk many times and-she even bore
blows from him But now she is at
rest. Her darling wore her life away,
and brought her gray hairs in sorrow
to the grave! Oh, l hope this may
reform him -
"But his wife?'' inquired.
'Her heavenly love has held her up
thus far, but she is only . shadow Of
the wife she was six years ago." he re-
piled.
My informant was deeply affected,
and so was l consequently asked no
more. During the remainder of the af-
ternoon I debated with myself whether
to call upon John at all. Finally l re-
solved to go, though I waited till after
tea. found John and his wife alone.
They had both been weeping, though I
could see at glance that Ellen's face
was beaming with high hope and love.
But, oh! she was changed sadly,
painfully changed! They were glad
to see me, aud my hand was shaken
warmly. $751;
"Dear c., don't say word of
the past" urged John, shaking my
hand a second time; 81 know you
spoke the truth five years ago-I was
going doaUn hill. But I have gone as
far as l can here I stop at the foot.
Every thing is gone but my wife! l
have sworn--and my oath shall be kept
and I are going to be happy
now"
The poor fellow burst into tears :;
Ellen followed suit, and l kept them
company. could not help crying like
a child. My God what sight! The
once noble, true man, so fallen-be-
come a mere broken glass-the last
fragment only rejecting the image it
once bore; a poor suppliant, at the
foot of hope, begging a grain of
warmth for the hearts Of himself and
wife! And how 1 had honored and
loved that man, and how I loved him
still Oh, how I hoped-aye, more
than hoped-I believed that be Would
be saved. And, as I gazsd upon that
wifs-so trusting, so loving, so true,
and so hopeful, even in the midst Of
living DEATH prayed more fervently
than l ever prayed before, that God
would help him up and lead him back
to the hill. ~
In the morning l saw the children
grown to two intelligent boys; and
though they looked pale and wan, yet
they smiled and seemed happy when
heir father kissed them. When I went
away, John took me by the hand, and
the words he said were:
''Trust me. Believe me low; I will
be man henceforth while life lastsi:'
A little more than two years had pass
ed, when I read in q newspaper the
death Of Ellen Anderson. I started for
the town where they had lived as soon
as possible, thinking might help some!
A fearful presentiment possessed my
mind.
"Where is John Anderson 20 I asked.
'Don't know, Pm sure. He's been
gone these three months. His wife
died in the mad-honse last veekiO