The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-07-15
The Drunkard's Wife-A Voice to
the Many.
From the New Orleans Times.

from the New Orleans Times.
How beautiful the bride is. I wish
very much she had married one of our vii
age boys. She could have had any one of
them then we would not have to part
with her. But she has chosen this CITY
merchant, whose private life she knows
nothing of, and we must give up the bird
ling of our village. A gayer, brighter, gen
tier bird never caroled it's spring gladness,
from shrub or bough, than Mary Thornton.
There IS scarcely a dumb animal in our
village but will miss her, and as for our
people they know not how to do without
Der. The tears filed the sightless eyes of
even old Bartimus as we all spoke of it
this morning, and he said. Though l
cannot see her, her light, quick step, her
bright, joyous laugh, her kind words, have
become like music to my old life, and I
shall miss her all the short days l have to
live.'
:" I do not feel satisfied with her choice ::
there is rumor that he is too fond of gay
companions, but after all, this. and the fact
that we are to lose her, may influence my
opinion. But look at our Mary--the
beautiful creature is so natural that she
has neither bushes nor signs for her we'd
ding night, but is one radiant smile of hap
piness. Mr.. Sherwood looks delighted and
proud, but would rather see far down in
the depths of a bridgroom's eyes the gen
tie tenderness of great love, which is too
full, too entirely part of himself to dance
and glitter forth from his eyes in that
style.
"The former may flow from a gratifed
pride in her beauty and many destinations
while the latter can only spring from full
appreciation Of the nobility and virtue OF
the woman. l do not like to be prophet
of ill-omen, particularly to our ioyons bird
ling, but greatly fear that William sher-
wood is only capable of the former feeling,
which is far too often mistaken by woman
for love, and even by the man himself"
Thus did the village minister comment to
bis young wife upon the two whom he had
just united by Gods holy sacrament of
marriage.
Three years after this wedding night, let
us look into home of luxury and ease in
this our Crescent City. The icy breath Of
an unusual winter night has glazed over
the banquettes and stone steps with a thin
shooting of ice, the embers have burned
low in the crate and seem to be ftfully
sobbing out their glowing life in the cold
winter blasts; the solemn, monitory tones
OF the great old city clock had slowly peal
ed out the hour of twelve; yet, by that
street window, slightly raised that she may
distinguish every foot step, sits woman,
not more than twenty, pressing her delicate
cheek against the cold glass vainly trying
to peer out into the street, while every
nerve is alive to each passing foot-tread !;
until weary, disappointed and half sick, she
sinks back in her chair, presses her cold,
numb hands over the lava tide flowing deep
i'm her struggling heart, and pours forth its
agony unto the only friend to whom a
wretched wife may speak.
40, my God! he comes not I cannot
bear this long; oh was it for nights of
neglect and loneliness; for the great pain
of sighted love, that left my beautiful
village home, mother, father, sisters and
brothers, all fondly loving me, to wed my
life to his; is this the return for all the
devotion of my young life so fully lavished
upon him? o, God, Thou knowest the
longing, aching agony of an uno ed wife's
heart; Thou knowest the dark desolation
of life like mine oh have mercy have
mercy"
Did this cry of anguish go up from a
heart naturally sad and despofiding? Her
husband often told her that it was her ma
ture, aud that she could not be happy in
Heaven but was this so? Oh! no; for
three short years ago she was the spirit of
light and joy-she was the village birding
| never had the loved ones in that dear home
heard sigh from her lips-but she is now
the neglected wife of drunkard. God
have mercy upon her; for earth holds not
a single balm for woe like hers. Apart
from her husband she knows that his de-
graduation is hers she is too proud to seek
sympathy and comfort from the loved ones
at home; so hides her woe from every eye
save Gods, and in silence and Loneliness
broods over her wrongs. Herinfant daugh-
ter, SO winning, SO beautiful, feels the hot
tears drop upon her baby face even while
she smiles Down upon her, and presses her
closer to her aching heart; for what future
is there for a drunkard's daughter?
Ten years from that night in that home
of wealth, and the luxurious abode is gone,
and group of three are huddled in the
corner, the babe is between them, the bet
ter to protect the emaciated little one from