Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-01

NO answer.
Nellie, where are you? Are you
asleep?"
Again no answer.
After knocking at the door, but get
ting no response, she then proceeded
down stairs to the study, where she
knew her husband would be.
Alfred, do you know if Nellie has
gone out"
mo, certainly not. 1t is only about
an hour since she parted from me to
go to her own room. | saw her 90
in."
Well, it is very strange. I can
not understand it. | have been up
to her room and found the door lock-
ed. | called and knocked two or
three times, but could not make any
one hear. Can she be ill?"
Il am afraid so; let us go and try
again"
| Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hunter proceed
ed to the bOudoir known as Miss
Nellie's room" but the door was still
fastened, while deep silence reigned
within. 1t was plain she could not
have locked the door and gone out, as
it was fastened on the inside. A dread
OF something evil flashed on the minds
of both Mr.. and Mrs. Hunter. Was
Nellie i'll? Was she dead This
last thought was too much for Mr..
Hunter, So putting his knee to the
door, and eXerting his utmost force,
he drove it in with a crash.
Nellie was on the sofa asleep
The noise partially awoke her, and
sitting up in a maudin kind of man
ner she asked. what's the matter 2"
by her side was a bottle of gin, par
italy empty, aud on the floor, as if it
had fallen from her hands, was one OF
the fashionable novels of the day
Novel reading and Gin drinking -
Truly, here was enough to appal any
parents heart. The pang it produced
was something akin to the agony Of
seeing a child suddenly struck dead.
Nellie, said Mr.. Hunter, d" it
seems to me there is enough the mat
ter. How came this bottle Of gin
here? ? What are you doing with it ?''
Oh papa, don't be angry" she
replied, for the shame Of detection
had quickcned her perceptions; don't
be angry, and will tell you. I've
often taken it for pains in my head
and chest, and | suppose | took a lit
tie too much this morning, and so it
made me sleep heavily"
, " Sleep heavily! | should think so
= Indeed. The quantity you have taken
4 shows me that you are accustomed to
! this kind Of thing. / will not inquire
how you got it, but | presume You
bribed one of the servants to fetch it.
| AS | cannot make a general inquiry
r and so proclaim your shame and ours
to the whole family, will get rid Of
: them all, and remember that for the
0 future, there shall be 10 tampering
| with servants. ="
Nellie stared at this, but said moth
7 inc. 1t was something extraordinary
f for her father to use such language as
e this towards her. She knew that by
T this arrangement she should lose the
= means Of obtaining gin; but she haC
=. enough womanly modesty and woman
i Iy feeling to resolve to free herself
l. from the fearful vice to which she haC
J. become enslaved.
is And, added Mrs. Hunter, " mus
f side with your papa in this matter,
J. have long feared this, and now wha
d | have feared has come out. But
n Nellie, dear, surely you cannot mtenC
@ to continue this degrading habit
d For your own sake-for your own fu
e ture good implore you," and Mrs
d Hunters feelings overpowered her.
t, Il will, mother, | will, father;
n was almost gone, but | will conQue
)r that habit
20 Nellie Hunter did try, and to a Gel
s. tain extent she succeeded. Her rt
l. solve was to confne herself to tn
lie usual quantity allowed at the Dime
H. table, but here it was that she wa
at conquered. The one glass taken the
Ie broke down her resolutions, and mad
is her crave for more. Alas that he
r. own parents table should have bee
ln q snare to her. Alas that they coul
ry not, for their daughters sake, rcmoy
e. the temptation from the house, and S
Is, cease causing her to " stumble" V
Of rily, | know not whether the create
ic part of the guilt will ultimately res
We at the door of that father and mOthe
re More years passed by, and Nell
ng Hunter became a wife. She was jul
twenty-five. Her husband was kin
Of and loving, her worldly prospec
he bright, and to a casual observer, h,
ra- path all sunshine. But there was
ice cloud, "small as mans hand"
"a mar this happiness.
ill Her love of drink grew upon her,
-. the more especially as her husband {
en- lowed an unlimited quantity to
,he used in the household. But for b
to loves sake he continued blind to b
nd faults, and trusted that, as Nellie
ion health improved, she would resign h
'ol. liking for wine.
lot, At the expiration of two years
alb little boy was born, fine little fello
in named Johnny, after his father.
ay, seemed quite to steal away the heal
Dve of his parents, who dotted on him.
en- But even this new love did not suff
or to tear Nellie away from the driI
nst- She drank worse than ever, if pos
her BILE, and ultimately it became nee
her sary to send away little Johnny
rsa- fear that his mother would do so
lex. injury to him in her drunken fits.
ool No+ fo,r ,,onthC cinaa q cou