Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-05-28
THE DRUNK ARDS DAUGHTER.

AT a TEN perance meeting in Now Bedford, q
few days since. Mr.. Adams, who lie now connected
with the 'Home for the Fallen" related the fol-
lowing narrative Of his own daughter. II shows
the influence Of %paternal affection over the erring
heart
"a few years ago there was a serious conflagra-
tion in Boston. l was sitting at the time at the
dinner table, in company with my wife and chill
dren, when the tones of the alarm bell indicated
that the fire was near my own house. Soon the
smoke and cinders were flying about in every d.
%rectioni and the quick tramp of hundreds were
heard on the puvements, ~hurrying on to witness
the raging of the devouring element. My daugh-
ter, then about thirteen years of age, as we sup
posed, with the intention Of looking out Of an open
window, or to look upon the thousands who were
running by in the widest state Of excitement,
suddenly quilted the room.
In about half an hour after the alarm was given,
the door bell was loudly rung, and q little girl
very much excited, informed us thai, our daughter
had been run over by an engine. l remarked that
such q thing could hardly be possible, and that
she must be about the house. We found that she
was not of home. l Immediately went out to en-
quire if the story related by the little girl was
true.
In turning out Of the place in which we lived
into Salem street, l saw quite a large crowd. l
went towards them, and there witnessed a sight
that overcame me. My brain reeled, and l could
only say in broken accents, 20, my daughter I"
Borne in the arms Of two men, lay my only dau-
ghter, her hair diJ,evelled, blood streamed from
her mouth, nose, and eyes one of tho eyes was
entirely closed her skull fractured presenting a
spectacle which, to a fathers heart, was painful
in the extreme.
A consultation Of physicians was held, the re-
suit Of the investigation made known the fact that
my daughters wounds were of a serious character,
ard that her life hung by o single thread. They
concluded, in consequence of her age and excel
lent constitution, not to perform an operation, but
to trust to nature and simple remedies, as her
condition from time to time might suggest. For a
few days she lay in an Unconscious state, the still.
ness Of the sick room being only occasionally bro
ken by the deep, beart-rending groans of the little
sufferer"
Being 10 the room alone one night, my soul
bowed down in deep despair, my heart panied aud
tortured with the most painful emotions at the
thought that my only daughter might soon enter
the valley Of the shadow of death, and that the
portals of tho tomb would soon be open to receive
that dear girl, on whom had lavished so much af.
lection, / thought of the sad hour when l had
seen her little heart beating, breaking in wild
emotions, as the soft bosom of the silver lake is
sometimes moved and rufled by the passing
winds.
Not one year before. in that vefv room, the child
who lay suffering had been wounded in spirit by
the careless remark of a schoolmate, during a
childish dispute. l came home and found her in
tears. 1 asked her tenderly and affectionately
what troubled her, but her heart was too full 10
give utterahce to q single word. She left the
room, and fastened to her chamber, and gave
vent to the sobs which she could not suppress.
Calling upon her mother, / enquirea the cause of
the deep grief manifested by our daughter. and
felt anxious to find out the person that had insult
ed my child. Imagine my feelings when my wife
informed me that the occasion of her deep grief
was caused by a schoolmate telling her that she
had a drunken father. l felt as though / should
have fallen to the floor. 1t was ] who did that
!, act.
While engaged in the revery, l heard for the
first time since the accident, a weak and %tremuloue
voice pronounce the name OF 'Father'-tbe first
> distinct name that she had uttered. l went imme.
diately 20 her bedside, and she asked me to take
her hand, as che could not see me-she wished to
feel the warm pressure of the hand. o, what Lam
guage poured forth from those pure lips. They
seemed to be touched as with a live coal from off
the altar, and the sweet, tremulous, silver words
were such as an angel might express
Father, l feel that | must die there is a terri
:, bic pressure on my brain. l fell down and hurt
my head to-day. l am sick, father, but l am not
afraid to die. Father. when l 60 away TO the
spirit land, will you not think Of me often Fa-
Their, don't drink any more from the intoxicating
cup. If you do, you will be left all alone, with no
one to love you, for mother will die very soon. too,
= if you persist in drinking. and what will become
- of poor Willie. and sweet little Harry ?"
Her mind began to wander, and she seemed to
!" be conversing with q little sister who had gone be-
fore her, as a messenger bird to the spirit land.
=. She repeated a verse which she had learned
That sister is an angel now,
A harp is in her hand
Now she is cl1thed in robes of light,
Dwells in the spirit land.'
The daughter recovered, but the teaching Of
her sick bed | never forgot, nor shall | do so as
long as life remains. Never again shall. ny
IS daughter have to lament tina, her father is a drunk.
h ard. Never shall q stain like that mar my ehild's
comfor. and happiness" .a,l
1T IS MORE BLESSED 10 GIVE THAN TC
RECEIVE.