The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-04-07
A BOTTLE AND ITS vICTIMs.

"Pshaw !" says the impatient, read
er, flirting the page over; "a tota
abstinence tract :"
Nv title is perhaps an unfortunat
one, and certainly wants the attrac
ton of novelty; but as it exDresse
my meaning, | shall let it stand.
1t has never been my lot TO NEE
with more domestic happiness unde
one roof than is to be found in th'
family of my opposite neighbor, Cap
tain Reuben Winslow, q bluff, geni
al, hearty gentleman, of fifty or NOR
years. His wife, still q handsom,
matron, from whom a quiet cheerful
ness, so to speak, seems to radiat'
throughout the household, is in ever
respect, worthy of her partner. A
son, grown TO young manhood TIVE
lovely blonde daughters, and littl'
George, who had flashed, unexpect
ediy, like a sunset ray, into the after
Eoon of their lives, are still at hom'
with the parents; while their mar
ried daughter (Mrs. Turner lives
but few doors of. She is in and
out at all hours of the day, appear
ing to have two homes, and to b
equally happy in both.
sat conversing with the captain
and his wife, one evening, as was my
wont. The daughter and her hus
band bad gone out but a few minutes
before, and i ventured remark upor
a subject which had many times oc
cupied my passing thoughts
What difference is sometime:
TO be observed in features and com
plexion among children of the same
parents," said |, in q half meditativ,
way,
Mrs Winslow most opportunely
had business to attend to upstairs a
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 NV face with /
strange kind Of inquisitive smile.
YES" | blusbingly said, as If il
answer to a question. 81 was think
ing that while all your other children
so strongly resemble each other, Mrs
Turner, thoagh quite as beautiful anC
attractive in her way, is totally IN
like them and you"
More like her mother, perhaps, ,
suggested the captain.
"She does resemble her mother il
some respects, admit; but still
cannot help thinking it strange there
should be such a marked contrast be
tween her and the younger member:
of the family"
"It's not strange to me at all,
said be drily. at wouldn't bt
strange TO you if you knew what
am going to tell you. Sophia is no,
my daughter"
"Not your daughter ~ | exclaimed
in surprise.
"I'll warrant you have wondered
a hundred times how she could be
mine, and now you ere yet more as.
tonished to learn that she Is not"
] had been intimate with the fsmi.
ly for several years, was present at
Sophia's marriage, knew that she
mad borne the name Of Winslow,
and how tenderly she had Away
been loved, at least, apparently, by
both parents, aBd nOw-what could
be mean;n
she was born" said the captai n
seriously, while her mother and !
were both victims Of the bottle"
| was conscious Of having acted
foolisbly enough before but now
was q mere drivelIer. If ] had "put
my foot in il' at the outset, | was
now, metaphorieally speaking, strng-
Cling knee deep. Could | believe
that the noble man before me, or,
still less his gentle lady-like wife.
had ever been debased BY intemper-
ancey Ny neigbbor enjoyed my
perplexity for a minute, aud then,
into laugh: Come" said
be, since have given hints enough
to excite your curiosity, it IS baI fair
that should explaia nay meaning.
| once did q very foolish act, in s
moment Of tbougbtlessuess, which
cost both my dear Jane and myself
years Of misery" The captain gave
me his story, making it as brief as
possible; but at subsequent times ]
learned all the particulars, and, with
bis permission, will give it TO the
reader in my own way
At the age Of twenty-five, Reuben
a reckless, care-for nothing
son Of Neptune, was shipped as sec
ond mate in the bark Ajax, of Bristol,
Tor a whaling voyage to the Indian
and Pacific oceans. But. for the FIRST
lire in bis life, be found, as the day
Of sailing drew near, that be could
not leave home 10 bis usual indifer-
ent, thOugbtless manner. He had
10 parents or near relatives living !;
but be had given all the wealth Of
lis great heart to Jane Athesrn, re-
,eiving in return the assurance that
hers would accompany him. through
storm and calm, wherever the stout
Ajax might wind her devious course.
Rich 10 love for each other, but poor
enough in worldly chattels, they look
d forward with high hopes to their
lnion at the termination cf the voy-
sge
Two months later the Ajax, hav-
ng made good use Of the time, lay
,ecalmed in the broad Atlantic. near
Y under the Southern rropic. Ii
vas Sunday. and there Was no work
,oing on but the officers, with clear
hirts and newly-sborn faces. were
alking of home, and otherwise kill