Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-29
THURSDAY MORNING DECEMBE

o ihlng as my becoming too strongly at
tached to my cups. My wife thought
foolish little love of woman, and mysel
a very strong minded man, capable o
drinking bottle of brandy now and
then, without becoming drunkard. Or
the present decision found no difficult,
in disposing Of the brandy without tn,
assistance ofmy staid companion. Wher
We arrived at Dodge's / had drank the
last drop, and drew rein for the purpose
of repenishing my flask.
\ /" Not here, not here, friend for Heav
ems sake, have respect enough. for my
feelings not to enter this miserable. place
Drive On have something totell ynu. \
| Grasping the rein as he sspoke, Old
Sorrel shot by in an instant, aud went
trotting OH toward Righforil .sg,He had
got something to tell mel What in the
name of nature could it be 2? Was itspos
sible that so stupid companion had had
a bit of romance in his life! Nothing oil
the kind, | was sure. Perhaps he meant
to regale me with some hackuied temper.
ance lecture. | consoled myself with
the thought that in the course Of two
hours should be back to Dodge's again
Do you see that ruin yonder, like the
remains Of one OF the primitive log.
| houses 2" .rra, ,,f5. .,.,..,...-
Plainly said L." gr5 ia -7.
Well. sir, ten years ago this winter,
found dear sister there-found her. sir
found her! Rum did it and must
ltel you the tale. I was one of family
1'of eight children; brought up in the good
toid State of Connecticut. My brothers
and sisters were all dear to me--but
inot alike dear. Alice, younger than my.
Iself, the Companion of buthful hopes and
Struggles, was dearest Of all to me-
Amiable and gentle, she seemed pure as
the beings of nv imagination concen
tration Of all that was good and lovely.
| o, how ! loved olr Alice To well, too
fzoetts She haRas dol.srsk=ss;EsasHHb
how wished to chde hef for giving pal |
of her love to George Dane, the village
lawyed. / wished to be all that was dear
to her. .na-5t
George was manly aud intelligent,
and | had 10 reason I'd oppose her choice.
Neither did l, only that regretted losing
from the home society bne so dear. They
were married, and life Of Happiness
seemed sure reward for theit purity
and happiness. For two years@years
have reason to believe of unsullled joys
to them-they livod in the same village
with US. At the end Of that time. George
determined to go to Northern Vermont.
They moved to T., and for time, long
and endearing letters of their condition
aud prospects in their new home. were
received and eagerly read in the home
circle. But after time they grew less
| frequent-less encouraging--and at the
end Of year and half, ceased altogeth.
er. There was cloud in our old home,
shadow on the hearihstone, forebodings
were felt by that band of loving hearts.
Again and again we wrote, but months
rolled around and no tidings came. But
one source remained-I must seek my
lost sister
Permit me to observe here, my friend
that my scruples were not at this time
opposed to spirit drinking. | was not a
drunkard, but carried bottle with me
at times-drank when | wanted it, and
was always in for jolly time. Twas in
common parlance; moderate dtinker, as
the most debauched are previous to he.
coming drunkards. If there were no
moderate drinkers, there would be no
drunkards.
In due course of time, / arrived at my
destination In r. was surprised
q the thriftless and general woe BECOME
| of In
OF enterprise and business, bit look OF
wretchedness and poverty that made me
shudder for the fate of my poor Alice
| But Alice was gone! In answer to ms
inquiries, l ascertained that they had
lived for while in comparative comfort
and responsibility, but that lattetly they
had cHhe to want and left the village
Nothing more satisfactory coald be
elicited-no clue to their whereabouts
they had disappesred-no one knew
where.
l spen; week in the village, and then
returned home. The JOY of our household
lad departed forever
About year afterward, an oppdftuni
ty occurred for engaging in business, as
| y,
which required travel in Vermont and
Canada. Ia the course Of this tour, one
cold day in wihter--so cold and stormy
that the travelling was impracticable,
found myself Ibid up to Dodge's, with a
fair prospect of week stay, and to tell
the truth. rather liked the idea. had
in my travels become tiiore addicted to
the ardent, and as was the lion Of the
place, the rich stranger, who was SO
liberal with his treats, found time pass
ed swiftly, and l blush to own 1t now,
sir, pleasantly. The storm continded Tor
three days without intermission-one of
those cold northwestern blows and snow
storms, that leaves the snow piled id huge
drifts, or wreathed fancifully into shapes
of wondfous beauty.
in the evening of the third day, a lit.
tie girl. thinly Clad, and benumbed With
cold, came softly into. the bar room and
staggered in between the1yreat stove snd