Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-20

I Tar there mac been no scriov. Ols1ly
Tiahes had increased 80 that the little place
/ in which they lived was noE their OWL free
+ from ali debts The business was still thriv-
I ing, and would become more so, as the
village increased in size, aud William still
continued his old habits of industry Every
I one pronounced him rising man, and
! what everybody said must be tine. Even
his old friend Jim had cessei 10 urge the
/ Temperance cause 50 strongly upon him,
and haG nearly arrived e. the conclusion
that William james YVES one or the very
few who might, with safety, indulge In
"three glasses day"
Regularly were the three glasses taken
at the village saloon, tha. stood near the
blacksmith shop, and s. regularly was 8
sum equivalent 10 their cost handed TO
Lizzie upon his return from daily work.
At first it was done in joke, but soon be
came thing of course-a fixed habit,
which would have been difficult to break
up. No question was ever asked &C 10 the
! disposition Of the money. Here are
your three glasses" he would say, and
quiet thank you was the wife's reply.
/ LiZzie's pleasant reflections were inter
rupted by the sound of footsteps. She
listened il was certainly William. Yes,
it was his step and yet it fell on the wife 5
ear with different sound from usual, and
! it was with an uncertain and almost hest
tating feeling that she rose TO open the
! door
as il Won. William: 2" she asked, before
she turned the key.
"Who else should il be- Open the
door quickly, and do not keep me stand
ing on the steps all night.
a. l. l. Il H.,
abrupt and hasty q manner, and Lizzie
| looked at him in establishment as she has
/ lily did as he desired.
What is the woman looking ST." he
exclaimed, In the same harsh voice. One
would think she never saw a man before.
| Cannot you give me some support"
Your supper is ready, William, the
wife replied, mildly. She said no more,
for her heart was very full, and she could
/ with difficulty restrain her tears. A mo-
ment's reflection, however, restored her
composure Something very unusual must
I have occurred to irritate her husband TO
! go uncommon degree. 1t was her duty
/ 10 endeavor TO soothe him to divert his
! mind and bring him into better state
With this View, after placing his supper
| before him, she chatted cheerfully con.
corning the little incidents OF the after
/ noon. Of the pleasant tea at fathers,
| her disappointment that he could not Join
her there, and how little Willie had wished
that father had piece Of grandma's nice
| cake, and baby Lizzie had seemed to miss
| him when they returned home and would
| be carried from room TO room, as if search
! ing for something.
To all this, and much more, he listened
in silence, and made no kindly response.
Lizzie was sad but not discouraged, and
when he left the table, and threw himself
upon the old fashioned lounge, which was
his favorite place Of evening rest, she seat
ed herself upon low stool at his side, and
looked affectionately in his face, as she
whispered
What is the matter, dear Will? This
is the anniversary of our marriage, and
you have not spoken one kind word TO
| your poor little wife,"
This appeal in some degree restored him
to himself, and, indeed, the nice cup of tea
had done him good.
Never heed me tonight. Lizzie" he
| said II am tired, and out Of sorts. To
tell you the truth, / was persuaded TO take
an extra glass or two where have been
this afternoon, and 1t was little too much
for me. My good supper has nearly set
me right, however, and good nights rest
will make all well. What Is the matter
now, little woman?" he asked, as Lizzie
sat motionless, and made no response. 81
will treat you as well as have done my
self. Here is the price of six glasses"
The money dropped upon the floor, as
with clasped hands she exclaimed:
my dear husband, oh, my husband,
will you not give it up altogether? 1t
would be but little sacrifice now; and
oh, believe me, it is the only safe course
Think of our dear children. Surely you
will do it for their sakes!
"No, no, foolish child, will not give il
up; but will take care to keep within
my allowance in future. Three glasses 8
day never harmed any one.
Lizzie would have urged him still
further, but look of Impotence checked
her, and with a secret prayer that hi
might never again be led into temptation
she locked her fears in her own bosom
Long after her husband slept, her tears
her little ones and remembered her owr
miserable childhood, and her poor mother
unhappy life and early death,
This was but the beginning of SORROWS
For another week all went well; ther
! came second excess. There wa
still some good excuse-some pecu
liar circumstances which he sale
might never occur again. But the patti
down hill is a slippery one, and of quicl
descent. Before another year had passet
, his unsteady habits were known aud com
mented upon by those who had once re
spected him as thriving industrious man
Several times he had been seen in tn,
, street in a state little short of absolute in
, toxication, and his work was often neg
, lected, even at the most busy season of the
year. The parents had demonstrated, ant
his wife plead in vain. Opposition seemed
to serve but as fuel to the flames.
1--WE can but do our duty and trust IL
} God" said Lizzie, sadly, as, after the mos
trying scene that had yet occurred, she
took her children to her grandfather's fol
: an hour or two, thinking that change
would be useful to them and to herself
"But tell me, my poor child" said the
mother, to whom the remark was address
ed, sis my son very unkind to you and
the little onesY Surely, he cannot forget
himself so far as to use personal violence
mo, mother, he Is rather more surly
than violent. At such times he dislikes
to be spoken to, and is angry if the chill.