The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-07

and not want OF NINE did he Ieay un-
satisfied it it was In his power. Never
having been accustomed to- hard labor,
my constitution failed daily, but have
kept about nv work, sometimes for few
hours at time, sometimes for a half
day, till this spring, when | could not go
out, and all have had to cat has been
given to me by my poor neighbors, who
find it hard enough to support their own
families. He now seldom comes home
oftener than once in three or four days,
ard then he is SO changed Far his very
presence. But he was once fhr kindest
of men, and Oh. loved him much =
Here her voice broke and she could
say no more strove to COMFORT her by
saying that she and her husband shonld
be cared for, and I doubted not that he
would yet become a good man.
''Oh, sir, if you will see, him know
you can do something for him. want
nothing. Care for him and shall be
happy" ~ e-
l lonked around on the miserable look
ing furniture, and the Lare walls, then
at the suffering woman before me, and
contrasted her hon with the sunIptuous
one of my ow, wife and little ones, aud
1 resolved to be friend to the noble
hearted creature VINO still clung to the
husband of her youth even in his degra-
dation
/ left the miserable hut and sought my
own home. AS its lofty structure loom
ed up before me, thought how much the
owner OF such mansion might do for
his suffering brothers. What is wealth
Il ut it should be treasured to the exlcu-
sion of noble deed ?
soon learned that the womans state
ment was correct, and that she was a
worthy person and he once the first me-
chanic in the place, but intemperance
had made him the outcast he then was.
/ saw before me noble work, that Of re-
storing the inebriate again to the stand
ard of man and his wife to peace and
happiness. Immediately set about pre-
pairing some necessaries for the woman,
in which my good wife Joined; and see
ing them off accompanied by her and
her maid, who went as she said to make
things look mere comfortable, started
in quest of Mr.. s. l had not long To
search. l found him in one of the low
est drinking rooms of the place, surround
ed by his vile associates. They were the
most forbidling set of fellows l ever saw;
literally clothed in rags and filth. Their
loud voices reached my ear long before [
entered. | hesitated at the door, for I
was unused to such scenes, but rcmem-
bering my object hesitated no longer.
They were seated around ru lie table,
on which hay the fragments of a moal-
They arose from their seats as entered
and demanded with an oath Why iutru-
ded on their privacy. [ req Tested to
speak with Mr.. 5. --
eMr. ST. saidone in an ironical tone.
ave have no Histers here like your sort
of folks. We are honest, decent folks,
and are not ashamed to be called by our
right names. Here is Ned Smith, sup,
pose he is the MiSte, you want"
approached him and extend ID my
hand. lie looked into my face with
puzzled air. and with confused blush
and downcast eyes he accepted it.
saw by his agitation that the sense of
tshame had not forsaken him. aid fei:
that once in my power he would never
enter that vile den again. said:
''Core, Mr.. Smith, I have job for
you. My house is sadly o'rt of repair
aud want YOU to commence woik upon
it Immediately. want thorouee. good
mechanic, and your friends recommend
yon as Just .he man wanted"
/ talked to him az though he was all
represented him. and in silence lie listen
ed. l watched his varying color. as l
proceeded, with delight. As talked
drew hin' gently towards the door. The
voices of his companions were heard call
ing him to return long after we had
reached the street, but pretended not
to hear them, and still continued to con-
verse:
"You can commence this immedi ltcly,
Ircsume, or have you other engage
ments which must be attended TO first 7"
He answered that he had noIe, and seem
ed little inclined to converse. ~
well, then, you may as well go di-
rectly to my house and commence to-day.
/ will pay you as soon as the work is
done. If your family require it. will
advance you months wages. 1t is all
the same to me-"
AT mention of his family a visible
tremor shook his frame. He looked up
into my face. and while the tears rolled
silently down his face. he said:
''You do not mock meY You will
give me work, as you say Z"
3 ''To be sure will" e.fslt 7e
"How strangely you talk. You have
have been the first to speak kind words
to me for long, long time. ] know
not what induced me to come with you.
but there was something in your face
tha; told me you would not lead me deep
er into misery. l have sought employ
ment, but all turned from me with con-
tempt, and said they wanted no vaga-
bond drunkards about them there were
decent men enough who would be glad
of the work, and who would spend their
earnings for their family and not for
drink. Oh, sir! if they had but spoken
kindly to me then 1 might not have fall
en- so low. But their words stung my
heart 1 knew had no friends. and
without money. what could do? Twas
wrong to go deeper into sin on that ac-
count, but when is the case different p
l sought for employment but little after
this, but gave myself up to drink more
fully than before Now have nothing
to work with my tools, which cost me
$500, are sold to supply me with the
liquor that has sunk me SO low, and for
aut ht know, murdered my wife. /
have no right to ask anything # you,
but if you will go to her and see that
she does not saffer, [ will repay you
some day for all you do"
"Do not be uneasy about your wife.
she is we'll and wants nothing. l will
zee that. 1-our chest oe tocls u,.c ,ot,,.noA