Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-05-18
That Wretched Wife.

| know her well. She is the wife
of beastly, bloated, miserable drunk
ard, and he was made brute by that
landlord who gets his living by feed.
ing him and those like him, with rum.
Let us look at this wife, husband and
their destroyer, as they are, and in
their relations to each other and the
community.
The wife is noble specimen of a
woman, as she was and is. She is
Intelligent, yirtuous kind and faithful
in all relation Of life. She is indnstri-
Gus and frugal, patient and perSever-
ing, but heart-broken and disconsolate.
But for that cruel rum-scller she aud
her husband might be independent in
the world, useful citizens, and mutual
ly happy.
She tolls from morn till night, to
procure daily bread for her little fami-
ly, with no assistance from him who
promised at the altar that he would
love and protect her, as long as they
lived. She is compelled to proved for
him ever, and receives in return only
abuse and neglect.
The husband spends his time in the
bar-room laboring onl y when necessa-
ry to procure the means to buy more
rum. He has become a loathsome,
living pestilence! a candidate for the
deIerium tremens and is fast hasten
ING to the drunkard's grave. He is no
longer man, and no longer respect
ed among men, And his shame and
disgrace reflect upon his poor, ragged,
wretched and forsaken family. Oh!
what grief and agony has that wife
endured. She is more than widow
and her children more than orphans.
Her husband is not only lost but
curse to his family and the community
III which he lives.
Now let US turn from the victims TO
their DESTROYER. He has dealt out the
madening poison to his neighbor.-
He tempted him to drink his first
glass; aided him TO form his unnatu-
raj appetite; he has made him d drunk
ard holds mortgage on his farm =
has changed the man into brute: and
the husband and father into a tiend,
and now drives him from his door, if
he cannot pay for his last glass of
liquor. The rumseller, in the mean
time, smokes his cigar, drives fast
horses, curses Temperance men, and
holds respectable position in our civ
ilized and christian community.
And what is his plea of Justification
for engaging in this infamous business ?
He tells us that his tavern cannot be
sustained unless he sells rum. Let it
sink then and its proprietor with it,
unless he is willing to engage in a
more useful and honorable employ
ment. But he assures US that some
body will sell liquor if does not, and
he thinks he may as well have the
profits Us others. 30 argues the thief
and the midnight assassin. Robbery
and murder will be committed, by
a somebody, and may as well have the
! profits as others.
And he designs to keep an orderly
; respectable house. He will not allow
b the miserable "drunkard about his
: premises, to disturb the peace. Oh
yes. | understand this plea and it;
full meaning Our order loving, timt
i serving rumseller will not allow th'
/ noisy drunkard about his house! Bu
d he will call in the artless young man
It induce him to drink, make him a drunk
a ard, rob him of his property and rea
e son, beggar his wife and children anC
l. when all this is done. will close th,
it door upon him and drive him away :
| A respectable bar-room where liquor |
sold. cannot be found. 1t is mocker,
to talk of it. Label the rumseller, o
le his traffic, or his tavern with sue
le titles as we please, that will not aite
the real character of the man, nor hi
O. business. And besides, this traffic
illegal This is admitted, but tn
IS rumseller don't like the Maine Law
no more does the thief and murdere
It like the law that brings him to justice
OF He argues with DR.. Bacon and man
ne Others who think that more liquor
used than before the law was enacted
er But what are we to do. if each ma
may be his own judge of The justie
and propriety OF law, and violate it
", pleasure? Anarchy would reign an
Ill human society become intolerable.-
r. The law must be executed In ever
". instance where it is not obeyed.
i'll must be honored. We have no otht
Is, security.
to Suppose man should open hou'
is to deal out the cholera to his unfortu
he ate neighbors, for the purpose OF gal
.ot or with reckless Indifference tothe CO.
i'd sequences How long would tn
he house stand over his head or he e
We cape the gibbet? Yet, there a. a
an MANY all over the State and natle
vn- who are engaged in a more runio'
business-RuM-sELLING.