The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-27
From The 81. Louis Chfistisn 1dvoeate.1
An Incident I'm a Drunkartiss
Family

Little Albert, the youngest
of the children, a sweet, sprightly
child of some six years. and great
pet of the whole family, complained of
slight headache one afternoon. How
ever, his illness was not thought to be
of serious nature, and excited little
or no alarm, until about sunset, when
he became sick at the stomach, and
vomited once or twice. Dudley was
at some one of the taverns, as was
common with him when not at work,
but he returned home earlier that nighi
than was usual for him to do, and find
ing his ''little boy" as he always low
ingly called him, was sick, he imme-
diately sent for physician. The
physician came, but not considering
his case serious one, he Gained the
excited fears of the family by assuring
them that the child would be better by
morning, and, leaving some simple
powders to be given at intervals during
the night, returned home.
But "liltle Bertie," as he was affec-
tiopately called by the family, did not
rest well through the night, and
morning found him butlittle improved.
However, he appeared easy through
day, and Dudley, experimenting no
danger to his child, left to seek en-
ployment, or to enjoy himself at the
tavern.
But toward evening the symptoms
of fearful disease became truly
alarming, and about dusk he was taken
with spasmodic commissions. Fanny
Immediately sent for the physician. but
the disease appeared stubborn and un-
yielding, and he left without giving
the family much agement to
hope. The poor child, as if conscious
of his own dangerous condition, ex-
pressed an earnest desire to see his
father. But Dudley was nowhere to
be found In the village 1t was
thought that he had probably gone to
the country.
1t was cold, dark and dreary
night. A snow-stolm was raging, and
the elements kept up an incessant
connection and uproar. while the winds
whistled and howled through the
cracks of the old, dilapidated building
that the unfortunate family was by
necessity forced 10 occupy, and pite-
ously drove the snow through the
openings and upon what few rags they
possessed to protect them from the in
clemency of the weather. The fire
was low, but the last stick of wood
had been laid On and was now nearly
consumed Fanny stirred the Goals,
which shed pale, lurd light upon the
scanty remains of the wreck belong
ing to once happy but now ruined
family
Little Berries paroxysms became
more frequent and violent as the night
advanced, and the poor child would
shudder with cold during the short in
tervals between the spasmodic convul-
sions. Fanny tucked the thin covers
around him, and knelt to pray This
was a new source of grief, compared
to which all other trials that she had
endured were petty annoyances Oh!
it was so hard for her to Rave to give
up her darling child. Her children
were her only treasure. Their pres
ence and childish prattle were all that
were left to bring ray Of C smtort to
her sad heart. And now, in the midst
Of all her other troubles, were her sor-
rows to flow from more bitter foun
talns? Was this the commencement,
and, in addition to her other Affections,
was she to suffer that of bereavement?
The fact of the possibility of losing
her Chi dren by death had never before
been forcibly brought to her mind; and
the thought of losing this dear pet in
this way seemed to wiring the last
drop of happiness from her heart,
while she felt that it would forever
close to comfort and consolation every
avenue to her mind 1t was bitter
drug in the cup of her sorrows; and
while sh, prayed the will of the Lord
be done, her grief was so oppressive
that.she almost murmured in her heart
at the inscrutable ways of Providence,
and was ready to arraign the wisdom
of God. An involuntary doubt rose as
to His mercy and goodness. She sup