Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-03

the blow, the only tie binding me to earth
will thus be severed, and nothing will re-
main for me but the suicides gravel"
'Edwardr' cried Mr.. Willard, ''you are
truly penitent, and l forgive you. Your
crime has been great, but you have my SYM
pathy and love. But to guard you from
future danger you shall hear my story"
| "a boy OF sixteen I came to this great
city. readily procured employment, and
at the age Of twenty two I held the respon-
sible position you now occupy. But my
companions we're my ruin. First was in
duced to join them in the social glass, aud
the attendant follies were soon fastened up
on me. l found my salary insufficient to
supply my extravagances, and l entered the
gamblers haunt became an expert play
er, and for time fortune seemed to smile
upon me. l became, in a measure reckless,
my sensibilities were blunted with wine but
possessing some regard for the teachings of
my youth. often felt the sting of remorse.
At length l was united to one l had loved
from childhood-one whose gentle voice and
smile of innocence always made me feel as
! If an angel was beside me- For her sake /
resolved to quit my life of crime did SO
for time, and was supremely happy. The
wife loved so fondly was all could desire
| Early left friendless, she seemed to cling to
me with all the fervor OF her soul. will
pass over the first two years of my welded
life, as my purpose is to present to you the
dark side of the picture first
''One evening 1 was prevailed upon to
visit one of my former places of resort, and
at late hour l returned to my home, my
brain heated, my lips parched, and my breath
tainted with the fumes of wine. never
can forget the look my wife cast upon me
as entered my home. Her head was bow
ed upon her hands, but hearing my foot
step, she sprang to my side, exclaiming:
oh, Henry, feared something terri
BILE had happened 1t is the first time you
have been absent at such an hour, but you
were safe -
She threw her fond arms around my
neck, waiting for the accustomed kiss. l
pressed my lips to hers, when starting, she
gazed upon me for moment, then with
look of surprise and agony, she bent her
head upon my breast anu Durst ii:c iI:c tears.
Why do you weep?' 1 asked.
Because you are i'll, dear husband
came the sweet response.
No other words were spoken then upon
this subject. tried ,oappear cheerful, but
could not drive that look Of agony from my
mind. At last | told her all and begged
her to forgive me. She only nestled closer
to my breast, and spoke the simple words:
s. III enry, 1 love you dearly-I cannot
find within my heart one word of reproach.
Il resolved in the future not to grieve
the one who loved me SO fondly. Did l keep
this resolve? All no, MOI | thought my
passion for gambling had been entirely Grad
icated, but that one visit awakened within
my breast the demon sleeping there. be-
came a constant visitor, constant gambler
but my fortune had turned-I was inva-
riable the loser. As my losses wore upon
me my wife observed the change, and strove
by every possible means to make me happy.
She supposed that my duties kept me till
late in the evening. She did not suspect
the real cause, or if she did she kept the
secret buried in her own breast
-''One evening l was returning to my
home earlier than usual, when heard vol
ees in my own room. paused in the hall
and listened.
His duties are too severer heard
my wife exclaim. 1t is injuring his healthi
Do you not observe the paleness of his face,
his care-worn look? Till ten clock each
night-it is too much
Mrs. Willard, replied the well-known
voice of my employer, your husband has
never been detained at the store after six |
o clock.
Il heard groan and then rushed from
the house. That night was taken home
in state of intoxication. have an indis-
tinct recollection of gentle hand soothing
my brow, and hot tears falling on my cheeks |
but heard no word Of reproach. When |
eft home the next morning. the only words
she spoke we're: Come home early, dear
Henry.
"Oh! how much of agony, of earnest ap-
peal, of love, were contained in those few
words. l believe that the angel would have
prevailed, and l should have returned to
iuty, but [ had already robbed my employ
sr, and fearing disgrace determined to con-
inue until L had won sufficient to replace
he money had stolen"
" That night visited gamblers haunt
lgain, with large sum of money belonging
@ my employer. met stranger and at
lis solicitation joined him in the game. For
! few moments fortune seemed to favor me,
,ut at last at one hazard lost all. Mad
leued | left the place, cursing the world
md myself. l returned to my home, but
he Find words of my wife were living Goals
lpon my heart, and | spurned her in my
lrunken fury. She murmured not, she
Eept not, but was silent-patient.
"Ohl how l longed for evening of the
ollowing day, hoping to win back the sum
had lost But evening came, and sank
leeper in my guilt and shame. This con-
inued tour nights longer, during which
line l had lost eight thousand dollars of
nv EMPLOYERS money