The Shasta courier., 1863-06-27
The Reclaimed Inebriate.
4 SCENE BY xorHER's GRAVE.

York. The weather was extremely pleasant,
and the grass had assumed its bright emer-
aid hue, but yet the roads were in very bad
condition, so much so, that it was with great
difficulty that our horses could drag the lum-
bering coach along. Darkness came on some
hours before we reached our intended stop.
ping place for the night; the road worse
the coach began suddealy to pitch toward the
left, and from the peculiar sound of the strain
ing wheels we could understand that they
had sunk into the deep mud BY the road side.
The driver cracked his whip, the horses gave
desperate leap, and we started on. There
was for an instant a gToaning, rumbling
sound beneath US, the coach was slightly
raised nearer TO its true position, and Just as
we fondly hoped all danger had passed. we
were hurled from our seats in one promiscu-
Gus. struggling mass, and our vehicle was
bottom side up in deep, wide ditch Two
OF the lady passengers were slightly bruised.
but further than that there was DO one hurt,
and save from the mud and water, we crawl
ed out from the wreck with thankful hearts.
The scene of our disaster was about three
and half miles from the small village OF
B, but near at hand was farm house,
and having received assistance from the good
people there, we got our baggage up TO the
AOuSSf bhC ldQitS were IccOlUInDUlIeu Win
comfortable quarters with the old farmer,
and the rest Of us set off on foot for the vii
lage. When the driver brought our baggage
up in the morning. he told us that we should
have to remain at the village inn another
day and night, the coach being so much dam
aged that it could not be repaired before that
time.
Nearly opposite the inn stood the village
rnnrcb--a small ctr anl h, al
it was the mound dotted churchyard. en-.
closed by rough granite wall, and adorned
here and there with the juniper and weep
ing willow. Toward the middle OF the fore
noon, saw the old sexton. with his spade
and pick upon his shoulder, passing in through
the gateway. He kept along until he arri-
we'd at the extreme corner Of the ground, and
there he began to remove the green sods.
which he cut out in squares and laid carefully
on one side, after which he commenced dig
ging grave. A strange feeling prompted
me to go over and join that old man, but it
was rather sympathy for those who mourn
ed, and sort of reaching forth of my soul to-
ward the calm world of the unearthed spirits.
| stood by the side of the old sexton, and
for a moment he leaned upon his spade, and
wiped the sweat from his bald brow. We
passed a few words such as strangers natur-
ally call up, but his voice was slow and SOL
emn. as though he was fearful of waking
those who slept around The grave was
long and narrow, and at length it was finish
ed, and the old man clambered up to my side.
g Is it sickly here?" asked, with de-
sire to bring .he old man into conversation.
" Look about you and see," he returned.
| cast my eyes around through the yard,
but the graves were all waving with long
grass. There was none of them new.
" Death has not been very busy with you,"
l said.
"No," answered the sexton: and then
gazing for moment into the grave he had
just dug, he continued in low, sympathetic
tone This grave is for a woman; and the
sleep she now sleeps is the first sleep of quiet
peace she has had for years. Most truly she
has gone where the weary is at rest and
God grant that her soul may be happy"
Then her lot has been a hard one.'' |
uttered, as | turned my eyes from the grave,
and gazed into the face of the old man.
g 1t has, indeed said he. Her name
was Danforth. She was left widow many
years ago, with only one child-a boy, whom
she called George. Her son grew up to be a
young man; and not a likelier youth was
there in the village. He married one of our
fairest daughters, and in the morning of his
life the sky was without dimming cloud
but in an evil hour the tempter came and
laid his evil finger upon George Danforth's
household. The intoxicated bowl had been
placed to his lips and he had drank his own
ruin. He was not one of those who could in
dulge in drink to limited extent. but with
him the appetite became mania. His moth
er urged and prayed, and his gentle wife
wept and besought him to return from his
destruction. He often promised, and as Of
ten did he fall back. His social disposition
led him into the society of those who laughed
and joked with him over the cup, and he be-
came sot.
His wife had borne him two children,
boy and girl; but even these pledges of af-
feetion failed to reclaim him, and in few
short years his home had become the abode
only of poverty and wretchedness. That was
eight years ago. and since then nothing has
been heard of him. His poor mother will
sleep here. His still poorer wife and chill
dren must, fear, become inmates of the aims
house,
The old man scraped off the dirt from the
shovel, and set it against the wall then he
wiped tear from his furrowed cheek. and
without another word, he passed out from the
churchyard For some time after the gray
haired sexton had gone, stood and gazed in
to that deep grave, and l thought, if all the
graves in our land could find tongues for
speech, how many of them would put forth a
story similar to the one | had just heard.
Toward the close of the day, saw the fun
eral procession vending its way into the place
of burial, end Joined with those who wert
to pay the last tribune Of respect to the re-
mains of the departed. Silently we gathered
around the grave. The coffin was placed
upon its verge, and | saw female, not much
past the bloom of womanhood, sink down
upon her knees and weep over the bier, and
by her side knelt boy and girl. l knew
that thar woman was Eliza Danforth, and
that those were her children. There were
deep grief marks upon her brow sorrow and
suffering were stamped there in almost start
ling lines, and even the children looked wan
and pale from long and acute misery.
The clergyman made t-touchiug pray
er. the people stepped back from the grave,
and the sexton was about 10 close the lid of
the coffin, when those who stood toward the
road gave way, and on the next instant man
came bursting into the center of the assem-
bled throng. He was poorly. roughly clad,
and his features were wild and haggard. For