Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-11-10
A DAUGHTERS STRATEGEM.

Of great river In the West. Every year he
went to ashineton, and his voice was often
heard in the halls of Congress. Yet though
he was called great he was not good, because
he was very fond of drinking wine brandy,
&c, and frequented the gambling rooms SO
numerous in that city. These habits gained
upon him daily, until they conquered all his
moral strength His towasnen refused to
send him as their delegate any longer.
Judge Rose had an alniable wife and three
pretty l.auehters. Mary, the eldest daugh-
ter, was his especial pet. Lie thought more
Of iel than he did Of himself, and no wish Of
hers went unsatislied. She was Of a sweet
disposition, and 50 obelient and respectful to
Der parents, and kind to every one about,
that she was beloved by everybody. And
though her fathers dwelling was the most
elegant, and they had beautiful grounds, and
! servants, and horses and carriages, and fine
clothes, she never put On airs as many do, but
was modest and retireing.
A.r. Rose and his wife and daughter were
all members of Il Christian church. He was
! often suspended from its fellowship, and on
promiies Of repentance received again. His
influential position IN society, and pious con-
duct Of his wife and daughter, caused much
pity for them and elected much patience =
! They hoped by love and patience to restore
him wholly. But all the love of his family
and the church could not stop this erring
man II, his downward course.
y At last SO low did he fall as to lose all self
respect and frequent the lowest whiskcy
shops in the town. Daily he went out
unshaved, unwashed, ragged and almost
naked, and when drunk would sing a
low song which would draw around him a
crowd Of buys to .leer and laugh and scorn
the once dignifed Judge. In personal appear
ance be was now the lowest of the low.
1t is not to be supposed that Christians
and temperance N allowed such man to
ruin himself without efforts to save him
Earnest and persevering endeavors were put
forth, prayers were offered up, and his family
Left no avenue 10 his heart unentered. But
all were alike useless and hopeless His wife
and daughters wept ald prayed, but despair
Ell entirely.
Mary, his pet, often labored to save her
father from open disgrace, if not from
private I'm. She became very sad, and re-
fused to attend church or 60 into society,"
When her father was sober he had sense
enough to see the change in his once happy
Mary and seemed to regret his course more
for her sake than his own.
! One morning he started as usual for the
drinking shop He was horrible object,
indecent to look at, as we'll as filthy His
wife tried to hold him back and get him at
least to put on some decent clothing, but he
would not yield. Mary made her appearance
by his side, clothed in rags, low at the neck,
bare armed and bonnetless, with an old
whiskey bottle in her hand Taking her IA
theirs arm she sane, -
s'Come, father, I'm going too"
"Going where % SAID he, staring at her as
if horror struck
'sro tho dram shop. What is good for
you is good fol me-"
Then she began to flourish her bottle and
F. to sing one Of the low songs she had heard
him sing III the streets.
Go back, girl, you arc crazy. Mother,
! take her in =
But lam going, father, with you, to ruin
my soul and body. 1t is Of no use to me tc
be good, while you are going of to the bad
place. You'll be lonely there without youl
Mary"
eco away, girl, you'll drive me mad
''But you have been mad for a long time
and AN going mad, too. What do care,
my father is only poor old despisea drunk
ard; his daughter may as well drink and lie
i'll the gutter, too.
So Mary pulled away at her fathers arm
and went Oh TO open the gate. He drew
back, still she dragged on and sung louder
A few boys began to run towards them, and
then her father broke from her hold, ant
went into the house There he sat down
and putting his face in his hands, wept anc
sobbed aloud Still Mary staid out.
s.What is the natter asked Mrs. Rose
''hIary is crazy, and l made her so.
wish I was dead, Do go and get her in
] wont 90 out to-day
Mrs. Rose went out and told Mary wha
her father had said, and then she went in
She sat down with her bottle in her hand
and all day she kept on the old rags. Mr.
Rose was in terrible state for the want o
his accustomed stimulous, and frequently
would go to the door but Mary was ready a
his side on every occasion, Mrs. Rose pre-
| pared her meals with extra care and gave hel
husband two cups Of coffee, and the latte