American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-03-18
THE LOST FoUSD.

|, -, ~ Po' " WIN Sai-
lon oil-can in his hand. His tattered
garment and melancholy face were
well calculated to excite observation
and pity. 1t was but too evident that
4 the vessel he carried had been diverted
from its legitimate use, and that it was
now used, not as an oilcan, but as a
whisky jug. Having seen him pass
twice in one day with his ever present
can, we had the curiosity to accost him,
and did SO by enquiring his residence.
Il live, said lie, five miles from the
city, on the -- road
you have been to the city once be-
fore to-day, have you not 2
, 'Yes, sir, came down in tho morn
ing, but could not get what l was
sent for, and 1 had to come again
what were you sent for my lad !?
1t must be something very important
to make it necessary for You to walk
twenty miles in this storm
why, sir, it was whisky that 1 was
sent for. Father had no money, and
he sent me to Mr.. -'s to get
trusted ). but he would not trust any
more, so l had to 60 home without tho
whisky; but father sent me back gain. ;
'How do you expect to get it now,
when you could not get it in the morn
ing 2
Why, sir, have brought pair OF
shoes which sister sent mother. Mr..
- - will give whisky for them
He has got two or three pairs of moth
er's shoes now
DO you like to carry whisky home,
my boy ?
'Oh, no, sir, for it makes all SO un-
happy; ; but l can't help it,.
We took the responsibility of advising
the boy not to fulfil his errand, and re.
turned home with him. The family,
We found, consisted of husband, wife
and four children; the Oldest (the boy J
was not more than ten years of age,
while the youngest was an infant of a
few months. 1t was cold, clustering
day. The north wind blew harshly,
and came roughly and unbidden through
the numberless creyices of the boor
mains; hovel, few black embers oc-
cupied the fire place, around which were
huddled tho half.nakcd children, and
the woe-stricken mother and Wife.
Her face was aggard-her eyes sunk
en-her hair dishevelled- clothes
tattercd and unclean.
She was seated upon an old broken
chair, and was mechanically swinging
to and fro, as endeavoring to quiet her
infant, which moaned pitifully its moth
er's arms. it had been sick from its
birth, and it was now seemingly to free
itself from the harsh world into which,
it had but few months previous, been
ushered. There was no tear in the
eye of the mother, as she gazed upon
the, expiring babe. The foundation
had been dried up by the internal fires
which alcohol had kindled and fed
Yet she was the picture of despair {;
and we could not but fancy as she sat
thus that her mind was wandering back
to the happy past, the days of her in
fancy and girlhood, and her early home.
Poor thing! She had given her affect.
ions and her hand to a man who had
taken the first steps into intemperanec
She had left her home full of buoyant
hopes, never to be realzed-to spend a
life of misery with sot. Broken
hearted, cast out from the society of
her former friends, frowned upon by
tho good society,", humancly spoken
Of Dis the miserable wife Of miserable
i drunkard-with no hand to help, no
heart to pity-she very soon became a
tippler and a drunkard herself.
BY TIE side OF this woe smitten moth.
er kneeled little girl of five or six
years, down whose sallow checks tears
were coursing; and who ever and anon
:, exclaimed, Poorlittle Willie, must you
dieT 'Oh, mother, must Willie die p
and then kissing tho clammy sweat
from tho little Wilie's brow, covered
her face with her tattered apron and
wept.
In the opposite corner oftbo chimney,
and among the ashes which covered
the hearth, sat boy of about seven
years, dragging from the half dead
embers a potato, which he broke open
with the remark, Mother, give this to
little Willie. Maybe he's hungry
I'm hungry, too, and so is sister but
Willie's sick. Give him his potato,
mother.
No, poor boy, said the MOTHER
Willie will never be hungry again.
lie will soon be dead.
This remark drew all the children
around the mother and the dying child.
The father was sitting upon what was