The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-05-15
knew not what was before me. At last
my guide put his hand to latch Il could
only tell it was such by the sound) and

my guide put his hand to latch q could
only tell it was such by the sound) and
opened a,dOor.,, ,sm
Allow, garret looking room, with but
two small windows, half of the lights
stuffed with rags. The ceiling broken,
cracked and dirty. A small table and a
light (oh poverty J one bit of tallow can
dler-fiekering aud wastingby tho, wind
from the Window Astuck between three
nails on block Of wood, threw a din
glare over the greater portion of the
apartment. TG Tsnf7 ....,
In one corner there lay heap Of rags
meant I suppose, for bed, and in an,
other lot Of old kettles and stove.-
This, az far as l could see, constituted
the possessions therein. Everything be.
tokened want and wretohedness.
"And this is where you live, my boy p
/ asked.
ayes, SIR"
"And where is your father ?" ns1I
I had scarcely spoken-even before ar
answer could be given, heavy, clumsy
step could be heard outside on the stairs.
and a hQarse, gruff voice singing some
profane gong.
"It's father" whispered little Lam
bert.
!, Good heavens could fellow creature
be SO degraded Even on the night Of
his wife's burial % & tE
A coarse, drunken bloat, in the worst
state Of intoxication, l saw as he tum
bled into the room and cast his wild
bleared eyes upon me. His POOR boy
so young, and to experience such misery,
such degradation in his only parent !
That tyranny ruled there I saw in mo
ment, as the child crouchcd from his
sight And what the dead wife mus
have suffered! The very thought bid me
thank God that he had taken her to him
self. q rrse-s ar7sst-
With an oath, the man demanded my
business. informdd him of the circum,
stance in which / had found his son, and
politely requested that he would deal
merciiully with him.
"That's my business, and none Of
your'n," he grunted savagely.
And, in defiance CT me, or to slut Q
hungry and ferocious temper, he rolled
toward the child, seized him roughly, and
commenced beating him in the most bru-
tai manner. demonstrated, and man
aged to get the victim from his clutches
with the determination of taking lin
from the place. As l reached the door,
the drunken brute, with terrible curses
on his lips, ordered me away from the
house, staggered upon me, and raised his
huge fist to strike me down. evaded
the blow but he, reeling from the force
of the intention, fell forward through the
doorway, headlong over the stair, down,
down into the darkness head over heels,
with frightful velOcity-fell heavily at
the bottom Of the stairs, and all was still.
Greatly excited and fearful.of the re-
suit, rushed for the light, leaped down
the steps in almost as quick time as the
drunkard before me, and bent over his
body. - VII t
A frightful spectacle indeed Bruised
and bloody, he lay with his back broken,
expiring. It was his fate.
Oh, intemperancc ! abominable fend,
objectionable abuser of nature, most damn.
able appetite, heading the crime.list Of
earth, how many bleeding hearts curse
thee at this moment! How many earth
ly graves bear witness Of the fatal poison.
How many homes of poverty, f terror, of
disgrace, hoarsely whisper of tho powers.
How many blood spotted stains on the
page Of history bear testimony against
thee OF sorrowing, abused widows,
helpless and i'll treated orphans Of sui
cide-of murders Thousands Of weep
ing, tortured mortals cry out before Gods
high judgment seat for avangement.
Another victim lay before me. Sick
at heart. had scarcely noticed the crowd
of neighbors who had assembled at the
confession and the screams of the child
Lambert. ,gsa# ".-H.
A physician was called, but all in vain,
1t was too late. iA Do l3 .g
The dying man raised his eyes for an
instant to his much.wronged boy, with an
expression Of recognition, muttered one
sentenoe-"My poor wife P-and all was
over.
/ took tho charge Of the orphan. He
has lived to be my best friend; and /
thank Heaven he has escaped the deadly
viper which ruined his home and murder.
edihis parcrts1 Tsgw FgT NJ
t7 l1bS.I L y lf VI r