American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-01-01
AN AFFECTING STORY.

L Two gentlemen and female were in
Ia coach together, and the latter in an
Eswer toa question that had been pro-
posed to her, said: e
"I never drank any spirits till a
Ebout three years ago-just after my
youngest child was born"
She uttered this reply in suppress
scd tone of voice, and with evident G.
notion. XEa
"You have been married then?" ask
ed the English gentleman.
eyes sir, she replied, 81 was mar.
ried eight years since"
"Is your husband living ?" he in.
quired.
81 suppose he is" she said, 81 have
not seen him for more than two years,
and / do not know that he will ever
come back again"
4 AT this moment the old Dutchman
b shook his head, and the woman bowed
down her face. Her bonnet conceal
4 ed her features, but tears we're falling
] upon her cloak. After brief inter-
val the Englishman resumed:
81 am fearfal that you have a bad,
! perhaps an Incorporate husband"
His remarks seemed to summon her
to the rescue for whatever may be
the nature of domestic strife, foreign
/ interference is seldom welcomed bv
either party"
''No sir" she replied; 81 have as
good q husband as ever lived, and he
always was very temperate man.
He was a member of the temperance
society. My husband was carpen-
ter and worked as hard as any man,
but he never took strong drinks of any
kind, and if could say the same of
myself, we never should have parted. "
GLOW did you contract this habit?"
said he.
"After my last child was born," she
replied, 81 had a severe fever, and was
brought me very low. 1t seemed as
though / should never recover my
strength. Our doctor, who was skill
ful old gentleman, said nothing would
raise me as quick as little brandy
My husband asked if nothing else wo d
do as well, and opposed my taking it.
1t was not so pleasant at first, but /
soon began to relish it with sugar, and
after months trial, | got myself into
such state that could not live with
out it. My husband was greatly dis.
tressed about it, and said he would not
have it in his house. Ithcn got it pri-
vatcly, and the habit grew so strong
upon me, that / used to lie awake Of
ten, thinking how good it would taste
In the morning. ] have often said and
say now, that | would give the world
It it were mine to be cured of this han.
kering after strong drink. Atlast my
poor children"
"Poor leetle children!" cried the
Dutchman as he brushed away tear
from his eye.
"My poor children" continued the
woman, "began to suffer, and my hus.
bard became desperate. At one time
he would coax me, and after i had
kept myself clear Of it for week OIL
80, he would make me present though
no could poorly afford it. At anoth.
er time whom could hold out no lon.
ger, and he returned and found moth
ing ready for dinner or supper, ant
the children crying, and his wife unfit.
ted for everything, he would talk very
harshly and threaten to leave me.
~ deserved it all, said she weeping
bitterly; "and | have thought that i
he should come back, I would try tc
DO better and leave of, though / feared
that | could not. never Thought he
would really go away. lie seemed a,
last to be giving the matter up. He
ret mo SO on pretty much as ] pleased
lie used to take the two elder children
upon a Sunday to meeting, ard leave
me at home for / was ashamed to 90
there, as folks began to take notice ol
me. A few days before he went off,
ne said very little to me, and seemed
70 be busy packing his chest. / tho't
oil this was done to deceive me so
took no notice Of it. lie finally pu,
MS chest On awheel barrow and wheel
ed i away. Goodbye, john said ],
thinking he was not in earnest; and
was sure he was not, when | saw him
PaIning back in abou, half an hour with