Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-12-03
The Stprp Teller.
A BOTTLE AND ITS VICTIMS.

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A BOTTLE AND ITS VICTIMS.
"Pshaw |" says the impatient reader, flirting
the page over; "a total abstinence tract!
We've had q surfet of these things"
Just so but bottle, as it is my present
purpose to illustrate, may contain other matter
quite as dangerous to the peace of mind OF its
victims as spirits or wine. My title is perhaps
an unfortunate one, and certainly wants the
attraction of novelty but, as it expresses my
meaning, shall let it stand.
1t has never been my lot to meet with more
domestic happiness under one roof than is to
be found in the family of my opposite neigh
Dor, Captain Reuben Winslow. A bluff, gen.
ial, hearty gentleman, of fifty or more years,
bearing about him, wherever he goes, that
air of unalloyed contentment, of satisfaction
with his past life, and pleasant anticipation OF
the future, which ought to be, though it is not
always, characteristic Of the retired mariner
in easy circumstances His wife, still hand
some matron, from whom quiet cheerfulness,
so to speak, seems to radiate throughout the
household, is, in every respect, worthy OF her
partner. A son, grown to manhood; two
lovely blonde daughters, the bellies of our
street and little George, who had flashed un-
expectedly, like sunset ray, into the after
noon of their lives, are still at home with the
parents while their married daughter Mrs.
Turner) lives but few doors of, on my side
of the way. She is in and out at all hours of
the day, appearing to have two homes, and to
be equally happy in both.
l sat conversing with the captain and his
wife, one evening, as was my won't The
daughter and her husband had gone out but
few minutes BEFORE and 1 ventured re-
mark upon subject which had many times
occupied my passing thoughts.
"What difference is sometimes to be OBJ
served in features and complexion among chill
dreu of the same parents" said I, in half
meditative way.
Mrs. Winslow most opportunely had busl-
ness to attend to up stairs at this moment,
and left us alone. | have since thought that
her feminine perception may have OWNED my
meaning. After she retired, my friend looked
in my face with a strange kind of inquistive
SMILE
EYES," blushingly said, as if in answer to
question, II suas thinking that, while all
your other children so strongly resemble each
other, Mrs Turner, though quite as beautiful
and attractive in her way, is totally unlike
them and you"
"More like her mother, perhaps?" suggest
ed the captain.
"She does resemble her mother in some re-
spects, admit but still I cannot help think
ing itstrange there should be such marked
contrast between her and the younger men,
bers of the family"
"It's not strange to me at all, said he, drily.
"It wouldn't be strange to you if you knew
what am going to tell you. Sophia is not
my daughter"
'"Not your daughter!" I exclaimed in sur
prise.
"I'll warrant you have wondered hundred
times how she could be mine, and now you
are vet more astonished that she is not. If it
were not being guilty of an objectionable
bull, I might say that she ought to have been" !"
And my friend laughed at the crooked con-
ceit.
must have looked very foolish as sat re-
volving the matter in my mind but what
could l say? Mrs. Winslow's daughter-not
his daughter-but ought to have been! He
took the matter coolly, at any rate-even
laughed at it. 1 had been intimate with the
family for several years, was present at So
phia's marriage, knew that she had borne the
name of Winslow, and how tenderly she had
always been loved, at least, apparently, by
both parents, and now-what could it mean ?
"She was born" said the captain, seriously,
"while her mother and were both victims of
the bottle
I was conscious Of having acted foolishly
enough before but now was mere drivel-
ler. If l had "put my foot in it, at the out
set, was now, metaphorically speaking,
struggling knee-deep. Could I believe that
the noble man before me, or, still less, his
gentle, lady-like wife, had ever been debased
by intemperance My neighbor enjoyed my
perplexity for minute, and then, bursting into
a laugh, "Come," said he, "since l have given
hints enough to excite your curiosity, it is but
fair that l should explain my meaning.
once did very foolish thing, in moment Of
thoughtlessness, which cost both my dear
Jane and myself years of misery. l have
done my best to atone for it since and though
we can never forget it, so many years of hap
piness have since passed over US, that may
be excused if do laugh ut the recollection.
But you can judge Of that for yourself l
acknowledge that have never since been free
from reproach, though Jane has forgiven me
long ago."
The captain gave me his story, or confes.
sion, as it really was, on his part, making it
as brief as possible; but at subsequent times
I learned all the particulars, and, with his
permission, will give it to the reader in my
own way.
At the age of TWENTY-FIVE. Reuben Winslow,
a reckless, care-for-nothing son of Neptune,
was shipped as second mate in the barque
Ajax, of Bristol, for whaling voyage to the
Indian and Pacific Oceans. But, for the first
time in his life, he found as the day of sailing
drew near, that he could not leave home in
his usual Indifferent, thoughtless manner.
He had no parents or near relatives living
but he had given all the wealth of his heart
to Jane Athearn, receiving in return the assu-
rance that hers would accompany him.
through storm and calm, wherever the stout
Ajax might wind her devious course. Rich
in love for each other, but poor in worldly
chattels, they looked forward with high hopes
to their union at the termination of the voy-
age. So young Winslow dashed the film from
before his eyes, gave his first orders to his
subordinates in husky voice, and sought
temporary relief in the excitement of "Up
anchor and sheet home" while Jane, in her
humble home away down in the country, shed
tears over a cheap photograph of her bold
sailor-boy, its most striking points consisting
in the extreme blueness of the round Jacket
and the greenness Of the countruance aud at.
titude.
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