Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-28

kettle was singing cheerily by the side Of
the FIRE; little Ellen was playing with the
Sat and her doll, on little low stool, and
Edith herself sat knitting by the Preside,
pausing every few moments to listen for the
rumbling of wheels. But four o. clock struck.
then FIVE, then half past, CO., she said to
herself, business has detained him unex-
pectedly ; but still she felt Uneasy, and when
six o'clock came, and no Harry, she began
to grow really uneasy.
"Can it be possible that he has" she
thought, but she suppressed the very idea
with an 20, no, he never could after what
he said. !"
But it was of no use, and when the VII
lage clock struck seven, she hastily swallowed
cup Of tea, put the baby to bed, and once
more resumed her knitting, her little, hind
ering Ellen unconsclously lacerating her
heart BY her now querulous demands Of when
father would bring home her pretty new
shoes?
All. child, child! better had it been for
thee that thou hadst never been toasted in
q tavern by an intoxicated fathers drink
polluted lips! Strange infatuation, that
health and happiness should be wished for
one whom the insane wisher was at that mo-
ment dragging down with himself to misery.
degradation, and an early grave!
The shock came at last just before nine
o'clock came, the long expected sounds were
heard, and in another moment the wagon
stopped at the open door where the anx-
ious wife now stood looking out into the
dark night. The wagon stopped, but no
Harrys voice called out cheerfully as Of
lyore, Here I am, wife," No footstep
sounded on the pathway; no husband, LIANT
ern in hand and laden with parcels, made
bis appearance. What could be the reason
Had he fallen from his seat on the road p
No; by the light Of a candle which she ran
in for, and snatched from the table, she saw
Harry-her Harry, the husband who with
a fair promise on his lips, left her that mern-
stretched at fnll length on the parcels
ia his cart in drunken doze.
The sudden stoppage Of the vehicle awoke
him, and the sight Of his wife's agonized
features partially reused the miserable young
man With awkward haste he removed the
packages, as well as he could. with his wife's
assistance, for she would not for worlds ex-
pose him by calling in the help Of a neigh
Dor \; stabbed the horse and then, gently
guided by her, he staggered to the house
and sank into chair. Not word of re-
reproof did poor Edith utter; she hurried
the poor, wondering little Ellen to bed,
that, young as she was, she should not be-
hold her fathers shame then carefully loos-
sning Harry's neckcloth, she bathed his
heated temples, forced him to take some tea
and at length had the poor satisfaction of
beholding him somewhat restored to reason
As soon as possible she induced him to re-
tire to rest, and so did she but not to sleep;
she felt that the knell Of her happiness had
tolled, and with throbbing brow and ach-
ing heart she lay on her tear moistened pill
low until the gray dawn stole into her cham
Der. Then she crept noiselessly down stairs,
set her house in order, so that when Harry
appeared he should find everything comfort
able about him, and having dressed her
children, arranged the parcels in due order
for delivery. Then she put on as cheerful
countenance as possible, though her heart
seemed half breaking, and never were Harry
Langley's little wants more cheerfully an.
ticipated and effectually ministered to than
they were on that morning.
| 1t is we'll that some sius bring their own
immediate punishment with them. When
the carrier woke from his unnatural sleep,
with beating temples and disordered stom-
ach, shame and remorse took possession of
him, for he now began fully to comprehend
the disgracefulness of the situation in which
he had placed himself. Tremblingly he
descended the stairs, hesitatingly. as though
he had forfeited all right to be there, be
took his seat at the head of his table. And
the measure of his modification was COM
plete when little Ellen. defiant of e:iquette
placed her little heels on the snowy table
cloth, and joyously exclaimed, "Look at
my shoes, fadder, dear''
! The morocco itself was not redder than
Harry's cheeks at that moment For the
good. loving wife, in hunting among the
parcels, had found little pair of shoes in
the bottom Of the cart, where the husband
had carelessly tossed them when be accepted
the invitation to drink Nellie's health.
..Ahr y she sighed to herself, as she took
them up, $50 long as he thinks Of his child
there is hope, .nd here is the proof that he
has not forgot his first born.''
If there be ono spectacle on earth more
lamentable than another it surely must be
that Of man the morning after debauch,
when the excitement Of drink having sub
sided the blue devils have taken possession
Of tie reason-abandoned fortress of the brain
Miserable is the sufferer himself, and the
cause Of misery In others. and the suffering
is all the more acute thst it was self-infict-
le'.
The sun was high over meadow and noun
tain glad children shouted in merry play
among the daisies and clover blossoms the
lark sang in the air, and all nature smiled
but in great armchair, with rueful face,
and splitting skull, sat Harry Langley. ut
terly unable to pursue his usual avocations.
A good -nasured neighbor had gone to Bath.
with the cart, and 50 he was GRABBED to rest
for the day. It is needless to recount here
how many promises Of amendment we're
made; how repentance was declared on one
side, and forgiveness accorded on the other.
Enough to say that hope once more entered
the heart Of poor Edith.
"Look here, Harry" said old Farmer
Vowles, who looked in, in the afternoon,
''this sort Of going on soil never do, can
tell ye. You'll 60 to rack and ruin afore
you knows ont. Fake your cup Of home