Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-02
What Rum Can DO.

When the engagement between John
Blinn and winsome Nora Cowley first tran
spired. the world--their world--a small and
humble world wondered and criticised
Nora was in the freshness and bloom Of
youth, while john Blinn had attained to
middle age this made the marriage most
unsuitable one in the eyes of Mrs. Grundy
Had those Penetrating orbs been anointed
with heavenly eye-salve, they would have
discovered a far more important objection 10
the union for John Blinn was one Of those
whom the prophet saws their tables are full
Of vomt and flthiress." Bat he had prom
ised Nora that he woull turn his back upon
the tenpter at once and forever aud She
believed and trusted him, as women will
So he took this pure wild rose 10 his sin
stained bosom.
When Nora saw that the solemn antenup-
tial promises were disregarded. and that she
was the wife Of a drunkard, what pen shall
picture the agony Of her heart-break and de-
spair Her husband earned good wages.
but nearly all his money was squandered in
drunken revels. Nora had a strong arm, and
could readily obtain employment. Herein
she had the advantage Of her cultivated sis
ters, when they are thrown upon their own
resources she knew what she could do, and
the work lay ready to her hand. Thus she
perforce accepted the burden Of nearly the
entire support Of the family.
The years dragged wearily by How full
Of care and anguish for poor Nora The
sickness of hope deferred not only. but daily
bruised and dying, the weight of misery, the
quick catching Of her breath when she heard
her husbands step at night, the eager listen
ing, the deathly codness at her heart when
lN.. ..ea 4 tN...a 81 4
sober man-ah, IL was like being chained to
fostering corpse. But she never once told
the tale TO human ear; even to her nearest
and dearest her lips were dumb.
! have said her arm was strong and so it
was but it was not strong enough TO bear
her husbands burden in addition to her own.
At last, while vet her thirtieth birthday was
beckoning TO her from the future, she sank
beneath the weight Her home friends has
tened to her bedside, and were shocked TO
find her destitute Of the common comforts Of
life. The best advice was sought as for
lom hope. 1t was unsuccessful.
With bleared eyes and bloated visage
John Blinn stood 10y the death-bed of the
woman whose life he had trodden out.
Patient and uncompaining to the end, not a
moan escaped her, and after few suffering
moments, she slept 10 waken where all wrongs
are righted-to repose forever in the bosom
Of Him who healeth the broken ia heart,
and bindeth up their wounds" Friends
and strangers standing by her bedside
even the attending surgeons--were greatly
moved. Her sad life, the fate of her babes,
now made motheress as well as worse than
fathersss touched their hearts. But her
husband stood unconcenedly by, looking
with cool indifference upon her pain-marked
features, until the last futtering sigh had
faded from her lips, then went his way, un-
repentaut unmoyed. His conscience was
scared, and all the tender feelings of his heart
were burned to ashes by the fires which
rum had kindled there. CoagregatioRqlid.