Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-10-01
THE BROKEN PLEDGE.


eyes closed in the sleep of death her. hands
folded on her pulseless heart, aud the little
slippered feet-the feet that had danced so
merrily aud gracefully at the many balls
were still enough now. e
The handsome, dark-eyed Madge stood at
the side of her dead sister. Her agony was
intense. Together they had shared the limos
cence of childhood and the charming pleas
ures of girlhocd. They had knelt side by
side at the death. bed of their parents. and
had lived en- since then depending on each
other for love. Blu, now the gentle Emily
was dead, and poor Madge was alone
All, what depth of meaning is in that
little word alone How many persons we
meet wear the bright smiles of eladneSs,
proudly trying to cover the sad loneliness of
their hearts Yet there was one standing
beside the handsome NIadge, who longed to,
take the lonely eirl to his home.
Charley Brown had been engaged to Madpe
for four years Three times the marriage
day had been appointed, and each time Emi>
y hsd caused its pnstponement. Her reason
tor this was Charlcy's intemperauce. At
present ae was only what is called .sa fast
youu" mar, hut the sensible Emily knew
that his 1--we inr wine would grow, and she
tenr"'i ''r tcr sisters happiness But now
poor Wall. ha1 snon the last of her kindred
c'''"'i t. tae promised home, and the diving
words VI i'm. dear one we're:
'lhr'ng sister Madge make Charley take
the n'cd"" before you marry him."
Charley had heard this, and the pledge was
taken. -Four weeks after, Charley called the
handsome, ue'hearted Madge his bride :
Two years of happiness and content followed
To>nisht we will look into their lovely home.
for to morrow commences new year.
All, what charming home-scene meet.
our view. A bright fire burns in the highly
polished CRATE soft, richly, colored carpet
covers the tiOnr-in short, taste and refine>
inent is everywhere to be seeu On sofa
sits Charley, his arm around the golden little
l1m at his side, and his eyes resting lovingly
on Madge, who sits a short distance away
singing softly, while her fingers are busy with
the bright colnred cloud, which must be fin,
ished for little Emily to wear to. morrow.
On New Years day Charley and some oc
his companions made their calls together
That night when he returned, there was a reck.
less ring 10 his voice, and a restless fire in his
eye Alas he had tempted by the sweet
voiced, smiling sirens-women, will not call
them For no true woman will offer the
tempting wine cup--and when refused. sing
out IN the most charming, musical tones:
''Ah. please do just this once ! just to
please me! All, do, for my sakel"
And when the fatal cup is cmpticd, thcv
turn away satisfied. Their pride is fattered.
for the wine is drank to please them. and no
thought of misery that may follow this mo-
ment, enters their minds. Thus did Charley
Brown fall. lie was tempted, and broke his
pledge, and returned home to his beautiful
young wife intoxicated
After this his appetite for wine increased
wonderfully, and happiness flew tar from the
home of Madge
We will pass over the next seven years
Charley is now an habitual druukard. and
not following his busiues, his business ceased
to follow him. and his substance is, a, last, n
total wreck. And the lovely Madge is now
detected and broken hearted mother. Their
house is now up many flights of rickctv stairs,
10 small attic. There is neither FIRE nor
light IN the room; but the snow from the
roofs OF the houses without reflects n flint
g!in'ner of light. sufficient for us to perceive
heap OF coarse mating serving as bed.
lying IN one corner of the narrow floor. On
broken chair sits the once handsome Madse
"a prey to filthncss and disease at her side
stands her little Emily, in the same condition
a heavy, uncertain step is on the stairs, and
little Emily exclaims
so mamma, he is coming ogain. What
will we do ?''
In another moment tho sot stood before
them, his red eyes g!arng upon their fam
ishcd cheeks, and heartlessly demanded his
supper. But Madge now met his rage with the
silent scowl ofhesrt- broken and challous Gef>
ance, which tended but to ipfame the infu
rated mad. man. Ard staggering forward
with cienched hand, he struck tn the ground
the once gentle and beautiful Nudge. whom
he had sworn before God t. protect, and the
dcilca'e cnilG! who clung TO her mother for
protection. Ttb heaEt-rending screams of
the i"n" patient wife, brought an Irish wash
"r ~"ms'', wh" ':y.G in the next attic. to the
room y, ~" ar',d "s;nred woman, who had
kcp' :a,iG" ana her children froun etarva>
ton s'' -" r.St "nrk, stood at the door. sho
".rIa''".h: Och! och God be wild us Ia
!: m'"'t"r'n IT," jewels. We are ye brute :"
A"h Ff''n" ng past him, she raised Emily up
"a Trr aims.
i'ht alas she was too late; the child had
hreati'ed her last, and the blood was Oozipo
freely from deep cash in her forehead. Tn
the confusion which followed, Madge escaped
unnnt;ced, and the woman carried the ead
chiin to her own attic.
When morning dawned again, the kind
hearted woman returned to the room to speak
TO Msdge, but stood speIl>bound at lie door
~, ''S"' "''"'H met Her eyes
Charley brown, the fine, dashing handsome
young man OF few years "yo, lay on the
floor, horrible looking CORPSE: his ,h1oa,
cut, and in his right hand bloody knife
Alas! for the transformations of intepperauceI
Closing the door, the woman murmured to
herself: "Och! och /! Good God but
dhr'nkin is curse to the human crathur-it
is, aghra it is /"
That afternoon Charley Brown and his
child were consigned to paupers grave, and
the broken-hearted Madge was nowhere to be
found. But week afterwards the frozen
corpse of Madge was found Oh her sisters
grave, in Greenwood Cemetery" And few
ever knew this poor woman was the brilliant,