Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-03-17

: are visited upon the children. Ht
walked in the footprints of hi,
father. | talked with him, | beg
ged and entreated him for my sake
: aud for his own, to pause in. bis
mad career, but he only replied
what difference does it make?
: am disgraced already by my faith
er's shameful death. could moi
be anybody but the son OF jim
. Brenton that was killed in drum.
ken fight. Well, the end OF the
, second chapter soon came. One
day last winter he was brought to
me sliffened corpse. He had
left the saloon about twelve o'clock,
but being too drunk to get home,
he had fallen by the way and re-
mained there the rest of the night.
II was bitter cold and his clothes
, were frozen on him, for a heavy
sleet had fallen. This was no
new grief; scarcely shed tear,
for had given up all hopes Of
a reformation. He had been dead
so long 10 all that was noble and
pure, even bis love for his mother
was dead !!
"0hl sir, those drinking estab-
lishments are the very doors of
hell, and their proprietors in CO.
partnership with the devil Oh!
they are murderous! Yes, they yare
murderers aud TIE broken hearts
for which they viii have to an.
swer, and the lost souls that will
cry GU: against them at the Judg-
ment day, will be terrible indeed
What is mans punishment com
pared to the justice of God, when
His mercy has been refused to the
last p
Had been arraigned before
judge and jury, and heard the
sentence pronounced guilty, and
known the gallows was my desti-
NY. my wretchedness would not
have equalled the agony of that.
moment.
"Soon after the death Of my son,
my home, and everything | had
on earth was sold to pay Mrs
bill, which began with that very
dinner, for which it made no differ
ence about paying!
81 came to this house and got
work enough to obtain the few
things | shall need until the end
of the third chapter Now, sir,
sou have heard my story; let me
beg OF you to shun that refresh
ment saloon as you would house
of pestilence."
Thanking her, for her kind som-
pliance with my request, | bade
her good evening and left the
place.
7 No one need envy my feelings
as | strobe back home, without
making my intended visit. | was
fearlully tempted to put an end to
my own existence, but the thought
OF her who SO truly loved me re-
strained me.
I went to the saloon and IN a
sapulchral voice, ordered them all
out telling them it was time they
were all at home. The drunken
fellows as they passed out stared
at me as if they thought | was
crazy those at the card-tabie did
not stare but looked very much in
suited ! spoke then in thunder
Gus tones, told them | was wait
ing to close the door, and calling
to servant, ordered him to put
out the lights. | waited till the
last one was out, the door bcked,
and the key in my pocket, walk
ed homeward with Mrs. Brenton's
words ringing in my ear. | felt
myselt to be murderer. A re-
morse so deep, SO terrible, had ta-
ken possession of me, | could not
go to bed. | looked at the pale,
sad face. of my wife, she opened
her eyes at my entrance, but clos
ed them again without speaking,
yet low sigh quivered through
her lips, and fell on my heart
with the weight of mountain, /
saying "murderer! murderer"
Whv had I not noticed the sad.