Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-10-17
HE w D OW.
\ TRCETALE.

| IL was cllleF -iTui. ne snow
| had been falling in heecy flights dur
| ing the greater portion of the dav. and
the cold was so intense that little
business Of any knd had been prose
cuted by the Industrious and enter
prising inhabitants Of the village.
Night had succeeded day. The snow
and sleet was still descending, and the
spirit of the storm seemed to howl
around the house, and through the
fields and orchards, aud forests, and
among the distant mountains.
Mr.. Rowland had returned from his
counting-house at an etrlier hour than
usual. Supper had b'en served, and
the family had gathe'ed around the
sparkling fire. The children had been
put to bed in an adjoining apartment,
and the infant was siseping in the
cradle under the immediate notice of
its mother. Mr.. Rowl,nd was read
ing a newspaper, and as The ftful blast
moaned around his commsdious dwell
ing he would make some remark rela-
tive to the severity of the weather.
Mrs. Rowland was parting the faxen
curls upon the head of the sleeping
babe, and occasionally she imprinted
the warm kiss of maternal affection
upon the ruddy cheek.
Suddenly some one raped at the
door. 1t was opened, when little
| girl about seven years of age was ad-
mltted. Her scanty dress was latter
ed and torn, a ragged quilt thrown
around her shoulders, and a pair of
miserable old shoes upon her feet.
She was almost frozen.
4" You are the widow Watkins
daughter 2" said Mrs Rowland, in
quiringly.
The little girl answeredin the affirm
ative, and added that her ma was sick.
and wished Mr.. Rowland to step over
and see her, she thought she would
surely die.
Mr.. Rowland owned the place on
which the sick woman resided. She
was very INDECENT, and but poorly able
to pay the eXtravagant rent which the
untcellng owner exacted The pro
perty was once her husbands, or rath-
er her own, being gift from her faith
er on the day Of her wedding. Mr..
Watkins was wealthy when young
man, and GdHHiGateAfI FER, ita be- be ,a,3d 10
ri IN his profession. He and Mr..
Rowland were early associates. The
latter, a few wears before that period
at which we now find him, had com
menced the nefarious and contempti-
bic traffic in ardent spirts--had grown
rich-had induced Watkins to drink
had made him drunk, and by degrees a
dr1nkari and when the poor, besotted
victim was unable to pay his debts,
contracted for rum, and partly by ne
glecting his professional duties, his
former associate, his pretended friend,
his destroyer, was the first to decry
and oppress him. His horses and OK
en- were sold bv the sheriff, next his
household and kitchen furniture was
seized and finally, mortgage was
given to Rowland upon the homestead
Of the drunkard, TO secure the rum
dealer in the payment Of a pItlful
balance in his favor.
This calamity did not check the pro
digal career of the inebriate. He still
quai1ed the liquid poison, and still did
the heartless dealer hold out induce
ments to prevail upon him to sink low
er and lower into wretchedness and
shame. 4 few weeks after, he was
| found one morning dead IN the street.
He had left the grocery at a very late
/ hour the preceding III ght, IN a state
! of intoxication. The night was dark,
and he probably missed his way, fell
I into gutter. found himself unable to
get out, and being stupetied with rum,
/ he went to sleep and froze to death.
Rowland. in a short time, foreclosed
/ the mortgage, and the home of the
! drunkard's wife became the legal pro
pertv Of the man who had destroyed
/ her peace. and reduced her to beggarv
and want. He permitted her to re-
main on the premises, exacting an ex-
travagant rate Of rent. Mental an
| guish, excessive labor, want of proper
nourishment, ana exposure, had well
nigh worn her out, and she was sink
ing into the grave, where the weary
are at rest No one had been near
her: no one seemed to care for her
in fact it was not known to even her
nearest neighbors that she was sick.
Mr.. Rowland felt anxious for his
rent, there being at that time a small
sum due And perhaps it was owing
to that circumstance that he so readily
consented to accompany the little girl
to the room Of her sick mother. He
| drew on his overcoat. tied woolen
comforter around his neck, drew on
his gloves, and taking his umbrella,
set out through the drifting snow and
. sleet, bending lis way TO the widow
uncomfortable home.
} He found her lying on a miserable
bed of straw with her head slightly
elevated, the only chair left in the
: house being placed under her pillow
: and evidently near the hour Of disso
luton Mr.. Rowland being seated or
! a rude wooden stool, she said in atee.
; bic. but decided tone Of voice:
= have sent for you, sir, to pay me
visit, that I might make you an heil
to my estate. Ny estate l know
YOU are ready to ask what estate
: have to bequeath. And well you may
! ask that I was once happy = thi
house was once mine, it was my faith
J. er's sift-my Wedding portion. hac