The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-02-16

I put She uNcu Tue iittIe one up AS best she
could, and family Aopiny that she nigh,
not sutier, the mother saw her child de
part. In vain was it that Mrs. Eerv
tried to Danish the unpleasant feelings
that had taken possession of her mind
for long mad she suffered in silence anI
alone; ami throughout the day she was
sad and unhappy.
Charles E,cry WAS good mechanic,
andhe worked very steadily, ~ d h,s pay
amounted 10 ten dolars ~ week His
( house rent WAS only one dollar and TWEEN.
tr five ccmts per week, his furniture WAS
all pad for, and hrs provisions did not
average over four dollars week at the
HrlhcSt, aud yet his wil. aud child actu
ally suffered. NJ times, for the want Of
clothing. Not that they were ever rag
gcd, or even short of decent wearing ap.
parel. but there were many little things
I that would have really conluccd to their
c" "'urt au! happiness which ihrv were
." IIed 10 do w,.hout and then, whcu
tt " wife did obtain souo triiliny article Of
dr -, the money with which TO paw for
ur"nc 50 hard aud ungraciouslv, that
shc would almost rather have done with
rortl,. There M, another thing that ad
deed to hei weight Of sorrows For long
time her husband had passed his evenings
away from home, even remaining awa>
TIL midnight, and often later, and that
atsuch times he made freCuen; use of AL.
cuholic beverages; Tut against this she
had never made a decided fcmonS,ranse
t"r h" hAd never returned to hI> lu,.ie n
IA state Of imtoNic ,tiou, and she hal no
idca 'hat What Il;t!e he drank could make
much d ttrrrnce IN pecuuiarv puint of
view. Yet Sarah Elery WAS not without
her fears, and rs nght after night passed,
an found her husband absent SO late
t,ou! Iii .Eumc, she could not but ,remble
iur the future.
That night little Lucy returned from
school wei and cold; and With mother 5
find care, Mrs. Eiery changed her gar
memiS AMI placed her 10y the warm fire
but p" cold Shiver seemed to have taken
,,iossession Of tie 2yhil,', whih 10 outward
warmth could overcome, AMI the mother
,ln>tly feared th,: her daughter would Le
SICK. Charles came home to his .uppcr.
and as the eveu,s 1T the morning had
passed from hIS mind, lie WAS comparau
lively happy anl cheerful; but still lac
c"u.l not help noticing that his little
clIi!i was not so sptightly rs usual and
that his wife was sad and thoughtiul.- -
Then ;he thought came over him that
this was the effect Of the morning s scene
amG he hccame moU6y sUd ;sci'Um, anl
at length he took his hat to go out.
'CharIrs,' said his wife. in Il kind i'm.
pIorinS manner, couldn't yoa stay with
me this evening ! I'm afraid Lucy is
going to be sick, and it is SO dark and
stormy, that really feel lonesome. You
used Ia SpenG your evenings with your
, wife
%, I'll be back in good season. Sarah.
I'm jus, goiug out to sec what's going on.
Lucy'iI do well enough, guess
'Thcn YOU will be at home early, wont
You:
'tes, .getupcd Mr.. EIlery, in sort Of
hesitating, uudeciSive manner: and with
ont further remark he left the house.
Now ~ Charles EIIerv walk"l along
away from his home, he made up his
mind that he would return earlv-he
would look in At one or two places where
his companions were IN the habi; Of CON
gregaling, smoke cigar, have little
chat AMI then return. The first place he
came la was Al oyster saloon. kept by
one Of his Old friends, and as he entered
he was greeted 10y hearty welcome from
all hands.
Come, boys said one Of the party,
shortly after Charles had entered, lets
shake for the drinks.
Charles EIlery might have resisted n
direct invitation to drink, fr his appeti te
d'd not crave II; but the accompanying
ainusement WAS so entertaining. so social
that be could not say no, and 50 he J"il.e,l
with tie rest in the sport The dice box
was procured, and the party. eight in all,
commenced the game. Round and round
went The dics--ona al!e- another nf the
party were freed from the treat and AT
leagth Charles Ellery was decided the
looser Hot brandy punches were called
Tor, aud Charles paid the hl! fifty cents
but that was notaing-'twas mere Sport;
and without thought, save Of pleasure,
he threw a three dollar bill upon the bar,
( from which TO have the expense Of the
ght punches taken. The sport was SO
exciting that ,he dice boz WAS called for
again, and though Charles cot clear Of
the bill, yet be drank with the rest, and
then third time was the game played,
and third time did Charles Elery drink.
All hands were now ready for amuse
ment. One thing after another was pro.
posed, until it was at length agreed to
! have coy game Of billiards. Hal
Charles been asked hall an hour previ
ouSly to have gone on such nights en-.
tertainmeni, he nigh; have said no; : but
now, with three glasses Of brandy.punch
sending its fumes up iEto his brain, he
mos; unhesitatingly sad yes and so to
the billiard room they went, and il was
not till the city bell struck tie hour Of
midnight that the party broke up.
! When Charles EIlery lef, his jolly com
panions, he found that he bad spent 5ust
i Il III A .