Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-21
THE INEBRIATE's DAUGHTER.



There are lives which should be writ
ten. but which never archives hidden
away, from delicacy which ID not only
false but incxcusahie. IT has been with
great effort that have at last conquered
This innate aversion TO exposing events IN
nv life which seemed too sacred for the
eyes of the world. The hope OF inspiring
those with strength who may have the
same adverse path TO tread has alone given
me power 10 do 1t.
Women who are compelled to labor for
their support require much sympathy. 10
such my heart goes out responsiveiy
Their disheartening trials-their fierce
strupgles-are all before me. i know II
such women occupy high social posi-
ton they must lose it. 1t Is inevitable In
the present organization Of society. Their
success In business gives them no higher
claim, but rather the reverse; for 1t Is al
most q conceded point that the conflicts
and cares Of business life wear OF all thai
Is gentle and lOyable in their characters
This impression Of their character IL
their seyerest test. Many grow bitter un-
der its injustice. Now, If women could
as they ought, by success In the various
pursuits OF life establish the same posi-
ton and independence as the other sex
IL would develop their characters In
broader scale-enlarge the scope Of theii
being--opening up b. them more exalted
views OF life and IT'S duties without chang
ing their nature in the least. This is, how
ever, depression.
/ cannot 20 back in. this little history
further than my fifth year. am indebted
20 others for all previous events.
NV parents were Virginians. Their
bridal trip was West, where my father
had made preparations for residence by
building comfortable gothic cottage
Under It's roof were spent all the pleasant
wears of their married life. 1t was In
this cottage drew my first breath, and
was christened Virginia, after their birth
place. How vivid are my recollections
of this cottage home, and how love To
dwell upon It's beauty even nowl Sur
rounded by flowers, and almost hidden
by creeping vines, 1t seemed very bower
OF Eden, untouched by the fall. Two
years had scarce gone by ere the serpent
had entered its quiet Preside, and was
bearing one OF It's inmates to certain ruin
Aye! ~ insidiously and through the same
appetite as our first parents.
Ny father was physician and stood
high In his profession. His constitution
being rather delicate, the arduous duties
of his extensive practice often impaired
his health. For the mistaken purpose OF
restoring his overtasked powers he would
resort TO stimulants. These stimulants
after a time became necessity, and had
to be increased daily TO have the desired
effect. IL was but few years until he
became what he would have been shocked
to have called himsclf-a drunkard; but
IL was nevertheless true. His friends and
patrons saw with regret his ruinous
habits, and many attempts were made TO
reform him, but without avail, although
he often made strong vows of abstinence
vows which were broken ere the sun
went down. The means Of my father
were all invested in his little home; his
practice was his only dependence for sup.
port, and when IL was Withdrawn, as 1t
was for who could trust to his services
when he was forever excited by drinkingi),
he became bankrupt In character as
well as In fortune.
My fathers change of fortune was
rapid, but not more marked than his
personal appearance. He had been a
handsome, polished gentfeman, but the
indulgence in intoxicating drinks had
transformed him into a coarse, sensual.
looking person, without trace Of his
former self. lie was once DIR. William
st. Clair. Ten years had scarcely passed
ere he was an object OF amusement to
sse boys who ran in mobs after him In
the street To avoid these scenes often
took another street when returning from
school. What a consuming fire this love
OF drink becomes! Il had with my father
dried up all that was noble or manly In
1t. 49, 4. L. n.
here and his hopes in the great hereafter.
Why should / dwell longer upon this
sad careeri Such an one is familiar TO
every one Of common observation.
Ny first trial was the sale of our little
home. Hitherto had not realized the
condition of our Affairs. ! was gay
active child, full of play, having scarcely
reached my sixth year, but this event ma
tured me rapidly, until became morbidly
thoughtiul. The consent OF my mother
to this sale was only obtained by solemn
VOWS and protestations OF an entire refor
nation In my fathers life, which was moi
remembered long enough for our removal
into new home, such was his insanity
for drink. His library, the furniture
piece by piece, followed the house, until
we were left with life's barest necessities
III TWO Smhli TooihS, AZ uu oDocAio hSibh
borhood, the rent of which my mother
paid by sewing. From this time hel
needle was our only support, and with
what beautiful, accomplishing endurance
she piled 1t day by day, often giving m,
father the greater part Of her hard earn
ings, fearing ii she withheld 1t he nigh
be led into crime to crafty his Unsuitable
thirst.
God pity the woman with such hus
band !---the cultivated woman whose re
fined seRsibilities are so constantly
shocked by such brutality
Ny mother--ahl what hallowed asso
Citations cling around her name as | at
tempt to describe hcr--to tell how beauti
full, how graceful, and what an air Of
high breeding there was-Nbout her every
movement. Despite her life of care and
sorrow she retained this beauty to the
last, like G tall tree touched by the wintry
blast, more gorgeously beautiful in decay
than In the prime OF its foliage. My
mother had so long lived this wearisome
toiling life without even word of com
mendation, much less sympathy, that she
had forgotten that the word beautiful had
ever been coupled with her name. She