Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-11
WRITTEN FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
SUNBEAMS AND SHADOWS:
oh
Temperance Versus Intemperance.
nv ANNIE cropcr
CHAPTER III.
BY ANNIE GEORGE.

CHAPTER iii. Il
'What are our joys but dreams? and what our
hopes T.
goodly shadows in the summer cloud?
There's not a wind that blows but bears with it
Some rainbow promise ;-"-H.K L. WHIrE.
Had Ella possessed the firmness of charac-
and strength of principle that was Allies,
her husband might have been saved. He
was not yet entirely lost. But this she had
not her heart shrank with indignation and
loathing from him, when about a week from
the evening referred to in the last chapter,
he returned home at two o'clock in the night,
beastly drunk, and supported by two of his
companions She had remained in the sit
ting room awaiting him, with a foreboding of
evil at her heart, which made her too misera-
bic to sleep, and too restless to lie down.
Oh how she longed for her faithful friend
thenl She had none to whom she could turn,
for she felt she must not commit to writing
the faults Of her husband. She resolved to
speak to him, kindly and tenderly, when he
returned, and implore him not to leave her
again in the evenings for though before he
had never been intoxicated to her knowledge,
she was fully aware he had been drinking
each night very freely. But, when he was
brought nome in this state, and placed on a
lounge in the sitting room, she felt her heart
grow hard towards him, her husband and
in that state, she almost depised him. Ia
king light, she left him lying there, and
proceeded to her room. She did not stop to
analyze her feelings. Throwing off her
clothes, she lay on the couch, and was soon
in a troubled slumber, while dreams of him,
who was lying so hideously drunk below,
disturbed her. She dreamed he was in some
imminent danger, and called upon her to help
him. No one could help him but herself, and
this she refused to do. She thought her love
for him was gone, and in its place, came con-
tempt and dislike. She awoke feeling weary
and sick and when the events of the past
night rushed into her mind, she felt anger
and impotence towards her husband. She
did not weep as many would have done, but
sprang from her bed, with a determination
to reproach him. Stop and think, Ella you
will cast from you your happiness. Be pa
tient, be firm, suffer long. This is woman's
mission. But, alas she did not realize what
she did. Her life had had no hardships.-
She had never needed patience, or forbear-
ance, in a great degree. She descended to
the sitting room, when she found her hus.
band reclining on the lounge still, but not
asleep. He looked pale and sick from the
nights debauch, and was evidently in nc
very agreeable humor. He had never spo
ken angrily to his wife, and he was not con
scious she knew anything of the occurrence
of the past night, of which he was himsel
ignorant to a great degree He half rose from
the lounge and bid her "Good morning. ~
Instead of the usual smile and kiss, will
which she greeted him, she returned a cold
formal courtesy, and without taking an,
farther notice of him, proceeded to arrang
the books upon the centre-table. He felt an
noyed, as all persons are apt to do, whe
their consciences are accusing them, an
said, You seem out of humor, Ella, what
the cause !" She turned around, and locke
steadily in his eyes. Ifshe had stopped Their,
it might have been well for he quailed b.
meath that look of contempt. But, full
aroused, she replied angrily:
"You ask me the causel But | do not SUI
pose yOu are asoars, that last night you wei
brought home, and placed upon the loung
insensible, from what cause you already know
l was sitting here awaiting your return, ar
this was the thanks I received. | left yo
there just as they placed you and now 70
know why | am tout of humor." You ha'
neglected me ever since my illness, and
!. have cause to feel angry that l should be lie
alone, while you are with a set Of"
! 'Hold, Ella, say no more; / will not be
: it. You are speaking of my friends. Al
j, now, Mrs. Forest" Kissed, rather than spoI
the angry man, 81 wish you distinctly to u
derstand, | will spend my evenings-na
l nights-if / please, where / wish. / will
{ glad if you will remember this" And
:. saying, he took his hat and left the house.
This was their first quarrel. Bitter, ang
feelings reigned in each bosom. Ella we
long and bitterly, but they were rather t
b. tears of anger, than those of repentance. s
felt exhausted, for never before in her Ii
had she been so angry as on that mornir
The day passed away in sadness. Lit
Minnie smiled and played in her innocen
f little dreaming her fond mother was so m
cradle. Dinner time came and no Henry.
Ella was restless and uneasy, but still felt
repentance. She did not seem to- know 6
| had done wrong. Night came. Henry
turned to tea, feeling sorry for the ang
words he had spoken, and if he had seen I
5 ~faintest sign of tenderness in her greetil
i that night would have witnessed their rec
Citation but she met him coldly, and see
!, ed to be absorbed in her babe. He felt
anger returning, and hastily swallowing
q tea, went forth to meet his club. And Il
l. passed week after week. Matters grew VOL
n Ella relapsed again in the dreamer, and SEE
ed to care for nothing, save to pore over a
els, as of yore, seeking there the happin
!" her own folly had partly thrown from her
Even her babe would have been neglected
u the good nurse, who had charge of her,
re not doubled her attentions to the sweet Ii
creature, to whom she was so much attach
o. and who chung so endearingly to her, vi
others drew near. The father seldom mott
the child. The household was neglected
Servants had almost entire charge, and
ter rything was wasted. Oh! it was q sad S
va- Of affairs
g And Henry, findirg his home unpleas
" he spent but little time there. He grew
no. different towards her whom he had prom
err to "love, cherish and protect" and rus
into a perfect whirl of excitement, to dr.
his disappointment. From his club he G
his resorted to the gambling table, for evil il
Iiss checked, will ever Tend to worse. Nigh
ter night he might have been seen there,
king large sums of money, sometimes
her ming, but oftener losing. Sleeping his
wn with sin, and drowning in the ~intoxic,
her bowl all the noble impulses of his natur
ull, Months, aye, another year has passed
hen little Minnie now begins to walk, and
speak a few words, good nurse has taught
yes, She is a beautiful child, and very interes
eek How strange such a sweet tie could not
Ient together the hearts of the parents. Blu
air. each was to blame. Neither sought no
mes love or sympathy from the other.
her sometimes quarreled, sometimes spoke,