Litchfield enquirer., 1875-01-21

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 herewith transmit copies of documents containing moro specific information as to the Subiecs matter of the resolution. l zz---3 z7ali- s,r'f ssA.- U. s. GRANT.
 Executive Mansion, January 13, 1875.
 THE MAN WHO COULD TAKE CARE 1 OF HIMSELF.
 BY MRS J. D. CHAPLIN.
 | Sensational stories, however good their moral, fade away like pictures in the 1 cloud; but facts, properly presented, re- main before the mind with lessons of hope or warning. There is no fiction in the following sad story. Gods eye looks down to-day on the desolate scene des- cribed, and His ear hears the groans that are pressed from mothers heart by the evil doing of those she loves.
 Some years ago there lived in a neigh boring city, in great style, 8 rich and ele- gant man of the world, with gentle Christian wife whose chief earthly joy and care lay in her three beautiful boys. This gentleman drank wine at his dinner and at the club-room; but had no fear of be- ing drunkard than of being leper He drank, however, ''a little more every year; indeed he ''felt the need of it, as l all moderate drinkers do. Finally the boys began to taste the cup; and, while yet at school, could judge of wines, and | criticlse their flavor as skillfully as did their father. The mother had, thus far, been asleep tc the danger. but she now began to urge her husband to s'give up wine for the sake of his example on her sons." But he ''knew what he was about, 1-1~ the help of womanr'
 This sharp speech was new demonstra- | ton of the destroyers hand. Then she admitted for the first time to herself that he was drunkard!
 Before long there was proof that one of the sons could not 'stake care of himself;' and heavy loss in business reducing the wealth of the family about this time, led the mother to lay plans for their saliva I ton.
 She proposed leaving the city, and find ing some pleasant rural home, where their reduced income would be an an ample | support; but while she was planning and urging and entreating, the club-room, the l gilded saloon, and the meaner ''bar, I were doing their work on these fine-1ook- ing youths who were just entering man. hood.
 Before long the degradation of the ia thec ceased to be secret in the neighbor- hood; and frequently it required all the strength of two men to get him from his carriage to his chamber Business was now utterly neglected, rash schemes were l entered into, and mad risks were run, till there was no longer money to keep up such an extravagant style of living with out seizlng on the lady's patrimony, which had hitherto, according to her fathers ex- pressed wish, been kept sacred against some great emergency.
 The husband, seeing the wreck of his own estates, felt that ''the great emergen- cy" had come; and consented to leave the city if she would pass her property over to him for family uses! A The poor woman DOW realized fully that she was the wife and mother of drunkards, l and thought this small sacrifice for their salvation. Before her plan could be carried out, however, the hopeful mother had fierce flames to pass through. Hith- erto Ter youngest son had but once or twice "gone," in his fathers words, ga little too far" But one night, as she sat watching for his return while the small | hours were passing, she was startled by violent ringing at the door, accompanied by loud voices and terrific cursing. This was the death knell of her hopes for that time, Two policemen brought in her boy | of seventeen years, the darling of her heart. raging with drink, and pouring out l profanity till then stranger to his lips When he saw her pale face he burst into fit of wild weeping; and throwing his l arms around her neck, he shrieked out | ''Oh mother! I'm your boy for all thisl 1 Oh, love me stilli Can't you save me? | They are trying to ruin me, body and soul Take me away from father and the boys, and never let me out of you sight againl Take me away from them! Hide me-anywhere-in prison-in the grave only where there no brandy! It is burning out my brain! Oh mother, mother!'' Let all women who have yielded up pure-hearted and undefiled young sons to God. stand dumb before this mothers an- guish, and thank Heaven that their boys are safe, beyond the reach of the tempter! In rich, but almost wilderness region, long days journey from the city, there lay a farm with wondrous advantages for cultivation as we'll as of scenery. Hills rose on every side, forming, as 1t seemed to this crushed woman, little world of her own to which the destroyer could not gain access. A lovely lake, shadowing on | 1bS SuIldC0 ulRn duu Gdll lOI0SG trees, | lay before the house; and far of, between openings in the hills, were seen other | lakes and distant villages and towns.
 The road which led to this (what seem ed a mansion of peace to that poor tired heart) led no farther; no stages brought dangerous passengers, n6 sly expressman conveyed mysterious packages, boxes, or demijohns. She felt that new paradise had been found; and again, as when her boys were in their cradle, her poor heart
 began to draw fair pictures of an honora-
 ble and happy manhood for them. The husband consented to ge there, as there was fine hunting and fishing therel
 The plan of this family was not to take up a rude life, but to carry all that be- tokened their intelligence and refinement with them to their new home Their costly library, their rare gems of art many of which they had inherited-were so much part of their home that no place would seem like home without them. And these pictures, marbles and bronzes made strange display in the low broad l parlor of the old farm house.
 l The autumn was in it's glory; and heaven seemed opening new joys to this fond mother as she gathered her family around her, nine miles away from any stronghold of their enemy! If ever poor heart turned to heaven in gratitude, it l was hers, in the few short days of triumph that followed. The world was dead to ner, now that she had saved her family! But very soon the dream was broken; for when they came, Satan came also" to that quiet retreat. Among the furniture and supplies there had come a cask of brandy, and cases of rare wines, which very soon revealed their work to her! l Vixen the heart-broken woman asked, ''What did you come up here for?" Her husband replied: q came to drink myself to death away from the eyes of the multi l tude!'' ''And what can I do for my sons?" she cried in despair. s'Let them drink themselves to death. too; they are too far gone now for anything else;" was the heartless reply. @ sa 7 .t.s -sa
 But still her hope did not fail, and she