The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-05-07

sanitary condition Of our State So much
depends Massachusetts, Plouglman
4 Victim OF Intcmperauce.
Who was it? In my curly days / sat
at school with gentle, refined high
principled girl Our school friendship
strengthened into a settled affection
which advancing years and separation
failed 20 weaken. How little we Thought
that our wood ramblcs and flower hunt
ing our fun and froic would he suc-
cceded even in early life by those sad
dened hours and dreaded anticipa6ons
which vice brings into the bosom Of
quiet and Christian family
Even before our school days were
ended, my friend began TO be afflicted
with strange attacks Of illness. AS
nearly as | now Iecollect, il was a sus-
pension Of consciousness accompanied
by extreme ngdity Of the limbs, and q
death-hke coldness OF the hands. These
attacks came to be called Ellcn's
spells and il was intimatcd by some
that she gave way too much, and that
little resolution would prevent their re-
curreuce. But those who knew her
never thought so, for sho was distin-
guishod orguod judgment and collected
feelings, and was the furthcst possible
from propensity to make u sensation
Her parents leaned upon her. friends
conhded IN her; but no one knew the
heavy pressure which was crowding on
her young life
Aftor many years Of Joyous compan-
ionship we we're separated. N.Y. parents
/ removed to a distant residence, and my
friend was married 4 pleasant home,
an indulgent husband and two children
eeemed to begin for her new and hap
py lie, but from time to time | heard
Of her falIing health, and t4at disease
OF the heart was feared
] arranged to visit this dear friend.
| found her very feeble, but just herself
calm, quiet persistent ii All the duties
which her falling health allowed her TO
meet | had been with her one norm
ing, and we had enjoyed a cheerful talk
until woarines8 induced her to seek tie
lounge She lay with her hands clasp
ed, her eyes closed, and on ber face
rested somewhat troubled expression.
/ / supposed she was considering whether
she should speak unreseryedly to her
early friend, or seal her lips in silence
on the subject Of her thoughts. As
was watching her in hope that sleep
would steal on impercoptibly, how was
| startled to hear these fearful words
am dying, a victim TO intemper-
anee
! raised my eyes i'll astonishment.
She then proceeded to state that this
was the cause Of her lifelong illness
from girlhood she knew it TO be the
cause
She knew that ! was acquainted with
the general facts Of her family troubles,
and She went ON to say that her eldest
brother began in her early days to ago
nize her By his drunken reyels, which
caused palpitation Of tho heart from
the fright which always assailed her.
But as he did not live at home. she be-
came, by degrees, less affected by his
+ excuses, But when her youngest
brother. at home, began to show IN
mistakable signs Of the same terrific
vice, her distress was unspeakable AS
her parents we're advancing IN years
she mentally resolved TO devote herself
If she died in the attempt, to winning
her brother back 20 honorable conduct,
and in the meantime TO conceal his oc-
casional intoXication from thcm for
with the infatuatiUu Of youth and mex.
perience, she'persueded herself that one
50 Young could be easily influenced Il
good by the efforts she would make aud
the persuasiyes she would employ
A her parents were Of extremely reg.
ular domestic habits, she knew that tic
hour Of nine would witness their retire
mcnt, as il had for years, leaving her ii
possession Of the premises. and ther
began her painful watch for the I'M
steady footsteps along the sidewalk, tht
pause at The door dreaded and yet
longed for, and the fumhling at thC
lock. Regardless Of the shock at hei
heart, always occasioned by bis ap-
proach, she would Al to open tic dooi
noisclessly, 70 hclp ii the wrctched inc.
b1ate, 10 hush his voice, and aid him L
ascend two fights of stairs to his room
Then followed the hfeashlcs listening
until the drunkad's sleep released hel
TO her own wretcAed pillow III tic
morning It was her FIRST care 70 remove
from his room the disgusting traces ol
disorder which might pa silly meet hef
mothers eye ia tie course oi tie day
Incredible as it may seen, she succeed
/ ed Ia concealiug his fatal propensity ioi
one whole year from those b whom size
Thought IL knowledge would prove inn
medlately fatal
This was foolish and injudicious
course, bat IL was prompted by love
and supposed ~ ha al sAe could do.
Alas her valuable llfe was the forfeit.
for though she lived many years, she
never reQained her health, aud she