Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-10

what was looked for by her friends. She
sent for young man whom she had re.
jected, and told him she would marry him
at as early a day as he chose to name.
He chose the very night fixed for her
marriage with L., and thought himself the
happiest fellow in the world
After this, Martha became less inter.
ested in the meetings of the church, and
was rarely seen there, except half a dav
on Sunday, while her husband was ALWAYS
in his seat, although making no profession
of religion.
She soon grew careless in her dress, and
seemed to avoid her old friends. Her
house, too, showed the want of a mistress,
eye, and some were ready to think that
her happiness had been wrecked by her
disappointment. Others thought the old
ladies must have lost their property, and
that thus she had become discouraged
but all saw that sad change had come
over her in two short years.
One day the pastor was sent for to at.
tend the funeral of Martha's little babe.
six months old. She amazed all present
by her apparent indifference, while the
poor young father seemed heart broken
as he bent over the little coffin.
Two or three years passed after this,
during which Martha was rarely seen at
church. One day the young husband
called on the minister, and asked to see
him alone in his study.
have come on painful Grand" he
said. 81 have been bearing in silence,
trial no other man ever bore so patiently,
for three years-indeed, | may say almost
from the hour of my marriage"
I" / feared there was trouble at your
house." said the good minister "but have
never guessed the cause of it."
81 am ashamed to tell it, sir" replied
the young man, "but can bear this bur.
den no longer alone. Martha has used
wine from the time of my going there,
and probably before that, as the family
always have 1t at dinner. The habit has
increased gradually until now she keeps
her room, for the sake of privacy, half
the time, in state of intoxication p
90, is that possible ?" cried the minis.
ter THAT beautiful, gentle girl drunk
ard ?"
"Yes, sir; and worse than that It was
by her conduct that lost my little boy!
long flight of stairs. The doctors who
knew no more of it than did at the time,
said he died of water on the brain. But
learned the cause before he was buried,
and have carried that grief in my heart
ever since. | hate ardent spirits, and the
smell of it is disgusting to me; so you
may see what | have suffered in trying to
save my wife. | have bribed servants,
and pleaded with physicians and nurses to
keep the disgrace secret. But | have
given up all hope, and lost all patience
now My love for her is gone forever
hate my aoife ! | think of my murdered
child every time / see her. I've sold out
my business, and am going to leave the
country. l will provide for her as you
advise me, She can drink herself 10 death
as easily out of my sight as in it. She
cares nothing for me; nor, indeed, for
anybody nor anything but whisky, for
wine fails to satisfy her now"
TRY her one month, and give me leave
to use my influence over her, my poor
young friend" said the minister.
Yes, six months, if you have any hope,
but mine is gone" was the reply.
A desperate effort was made for Mar
tha's salvation. She herself said it was
no use that the passion had grown gradu-
ally on her from the cradle.
"This it was" she said . that separated
Mr. L. and me. He found that | drank
wine every day, and said that must give
up that or him. had my choice; and
now, if the choice comes up again be-
tween me and my husband, he must 90.
I'm too Tar gone to be saved. | don't
want to be saved unless it can be done
without cutting off llmy stimulants! You
must forgive Mr., H., and turn me out of
the church"
And that was all the depth there was to
her grief on the subject. Both her re-
quests were complied with.
BY the advice of the minister, Martha's
husband procured woman to guard her;
but the only effect Of this was to expose
the disgrace for when the restraint was
removed for moment, she would leave
the house. in search of the destroyer TAX
ing rings, books, or whatever came first to
hand, to pay for it.
But this worthy young man was soen
released, for the fire was burning into her
delicate system that consumed her life
before she reached the age of twenty
seven.
Is there no danger in girls as well as
boys, taking glass of wine? 1t is per.
feet madness to tempt the viper Youths
Companion.