Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-12-20
THE WTD WILL
-
a TRUE -TALE-

.F.-.F1 - e..<Z EsEa 4rl
It was a bitter night The snow had beer
falling iR heeey flights during the greater por
tion Of the day, and the cold was so inteDsC
that little business Of any kind had been pros
ecuted BY the industrious and enterprising citi-
zens Of the village Night had succeeded day
The snow and sleet were still descending, and
the spirit of the storm seemed to howl around
the house, and through the fields and orch
ards and forests, and among the distant noun
tains.
Mr.. Rowland had returned from his count
ing house at an earlier hour than usual. Sup
per had been served, and the family had gath
cred around the sparkling FIRE. The children
had been put 10 bed in an adjoining apartment,
and the infant was sleeping in the cradle under
the immediate notice of its mother Mr.. Row
land was reading newspaper, and as the fitfuI
blast moaned around his commodious dwelling,
he would make some remarks relative to the
severity of the weather. Mrs. R. was parting
the fiaxen curls upon the head of the sleeping
babe, and occasionally she imprinted the
warm kiss Of maternal affection upon its ruddy
check. r
Suddenly some one raped at the door. II
was opened, when little girl Of about seven
years old was admitted. Her scanty dress was
tattered and torn, ragged quilt thrown a.
round her slender shoulders, and pair of mis-
cradle old shoes upon her feet. She was almost
frozen. ----s-
you are the widow Watkins little daugh-
ter ?" said Mrs. Rowland, inquiringly.
The little girl answered in the Affirmative,
ard added that her Ma was sick, and wished
Mr.. Rowland to step over and see her, for she
thought she would surely die. Eeb 20 a1 p.
Mr.. Rowland owned the place on which the
sick woman resided. She was very INDECENT,
and but poorly able TO pay the extravagant
tent which the unleeling owner exaeted. The
was once her husbands, or rather her
own; being giit from her father on the very
day of her wedding. Mr. Watkins was wealthy
when young man. and was educated for the
bar, and no one seemed more likely to be sue
cessfhl in his profession. He and Mr.. Row
land were early associates. I he latter, few
years before the period at which we find him,
had commenced the nelarious traffic in ardent
spirits-had grown richi had induced Watkins
TO 6rink-made him drunk, and by degrees a
and when the poor beSotted victim
was unable to pay his debts, contracted mostly
for rum, but partly by negleeting his profession
al duties, he, his former associate, his pretend
ed friend, his destroyer, was the first to decry
and oppress him. His horses and oxen were
sold by the sheriff, next his household and
kitchen furniture were seized, and finally
mortgage was given to. Rowland, upon the
homestead of the drunkard, and to secure the
rum dealer IN thetpayment Of a pitiful balance
in his favor.
This calamity did not check the prodigal
career Of the inebriate. He still quafFed the
liquid poison, and still did the heartless dealer
hold out inducements to prevail upon him to
sink lower into wretchedness and shame. a
lew weeks after, he was enc morning found
dead in the street. He had LETT the grocery
at late hour The preceding night, in a state
pf intoxicaiion. The night was dark, aud he
probably missed his way-fell into gutter
found himself unable 10 get out-and being
s.upefed with rum, he went TO sleep, and frcze
10 death. .-.. -e.
Rowland in short time forcclQsed the mort
gage, aud the home of the drunkards wife be-
came the legal property of the mar who had
destroyed her peace, aud reduced her to beg
gary and want. He permitted her to remain
On the premises, -exaeting an extraTagant rate !
Of rent. Mental anguish, excessive labor. want |
Of proper nourishment, and exposure, had well
nigh worn her out and she was fast sinking |
nto the grave, where the weary are at rest |
No one had been near hery no one seemed TO
;are for her in fact it was not known even to
ler nearest neighbors that she was sick.
Mr..RoWlaBd felt anxious only for his rent
here being at that time a small sum due
And perhaps it is owing to that circumstance
hat be so readily consented to accompany the |
title giFlto the room Of her sick mother, He |
lrew on his overcOat, tied wOolen comforter
round his neck, drew Oh his gloves, and taking |
lis umbrella, sat off through the drifting snow
and sleet, and bent his way 10 the widows un-
comfortable home
b He found her lying on a miserable bed of
straw, with her head slightly elevated, the on
y chair belonging to her house being placed
under her pillow. She was pale and CHASTITY, |
ard evidently near the hour of dissolution
Mr.. Rowland being seated on rude wooden |
stool, she said, in feeble, but decided tone Of
voice, s- .eE-I
''E have sent for you, sir, to pay me visit 4
hat may make you the heir to my eSlatc.--
My estate? l know you are ready to ask what
estate have TO bequeath. And well may you
lsk what. i was oHce happy. This house was
once mine, it was my fatheF'G gift-my we'd
ling portion, had horses and oxen, aud cows
aud sheep, and orchards and meadows. Twas
Tou that induced my poor erring husband to
drink. 1t was you who placed before him the
liquid poison, and pressed him TO take it,
Twas you that took away my horses and COWS,
md meadows and orchards, and my own home.
Twas you that ruined my own peace, destroy
ID my husband and in the very noon of life
ient him down sto drunkard's dshonored
grave. Twas you that made me beggar, and
,ast my poor starving babes upon the charity
of pitiless world. have nothing left but
hese ragged quilts them you do not want
ret have determined to bequeath you my es.
ate Here, sir, as my last will and testament.
do bequeath to you this vial OF tears that /
lave shed-tears that yop have caused. Take
his vial; wear it about your vie person; and
Ehen hereafter you present the flowing bow;
% the lips of husband and father, remember
hat you are inheriling another vial OF widows
cars t
An hour more and the poor widow, the wild
'w Of thousand sorrows, the once favored
;hild of fortune, the once lovely and wealthy
bride, the once affectiOnate wife aud devoted
roung mother, lay cold and senseless in DEATH
md her soul had been summoned to that God
who had said, Vengeance is mine, and will !
epay."