The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-07-28
FINDLAY, OHIO, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 28 1876

."H.ii 'fFt' III. t'H IRE = ACltt.IL-
e,i for or" qni,, shabby. Ruths dress
H-c,iII- = Y. rft -sirick -; ner husband
from iu"ruit... ur'il ii.slir. and yet she
ri-'.. f1 him. AMI ia sri.cr moments
Ia" loved ilcr a fondly a. ever. Some
tiai'= 'iir old strength and the old hope
wuI.il b,. lrousei 10 him, and he would
struggle 20 C;.ir his lost position. but it
was AL ia vain; gin triumphcd, and
five years from her wedding day Ruth
found herself with her one remaining
child rthe first had died within a year
of It's BIRTH in the dingiest of wretch
eh houses, in a state bordering on beg
gary.
Edward had been more madly intoX-
icated that day than ever before; he
had given her blow, and now, as the
night wore on, he muttered and raved,
and called for gin, and cursed her and
himself, until she trembled with fear
At last, as the clock struck ten, he
started to his feet, and staggered out of
the room, vowing to get drunk some
where.
Poor Ruth stood where he had left
her for few moments. The memory
Of the past was strong on her that
night. On that day, five years before,
they had fed from her fathers home
together. How tender he was, how
loving, how gentle. How he,had VOW
ed that she should never regret that
day, and how had he kept those prom
ises? lie had broken every vow-he
neither cherished or protected her.
His worldly good he had given to the ra-
venous demon, drink; his love had be-
come ii something scarcely worth hav-
ing; and yet she loved him and clung
to lin. She tried TO feel cold and hard
to him, but she could not; she strove
t. remember The blow he had given
her, the oaths ne had uttered, but she
answered herself rs she did so. sit
WAS not he who did tit was drink"
She listened to the uncertain, reeling
foot-stcp in the street below, and burst
into tears.
MY poor darling!" she whispered, as
she thought some grevious calamity
had smitten him into the the thing he
was, and he had not himself ''put an
enemy into his mouth to steal away
his BRAIN" unmindful of her pleading,
unmindful of her woe and shame She
Thought of him reeling helplessly along
the street, and feared that some harm
would come to him. He might injure
himself, or some one might iniure him.
He might fall in some out of the way
place. and lie there undiscovered and
so freeze to death that bitter night;
and in her agony OF terror, poor Ruth
could not restrain herself from follow
ing him.
Her poor weakly babe slept; she
wrapped it in II blanket and laid it in
its poor cradle Then she threw her
warm shawl over her head aud hasten
ed down the street. busy this Saturday
night with market going people of the
poorer class.
4 little way before her reeied the
handsome, broad shouldered figure of
U.r husband; and she, II lady bred and
born, fastidiOus, elegant, accomplished,
reared in luxury, heard poor laborers'
wives warn their children TO beware of
that drunken fellow"
She heard course laugEs at his ex
pense, and under the shadoy of her
shawl her cheeks burned hotly; but
for all of that she never thought of
going back and leaving him to himself
As soon as she could, she gained his
side and called to him by name, Ed
ward! Edwardi"
He turned, and unsteadily looked at
her, III a bewiIdered way.
"You?" he said, 'You ought to be at
home at this time of night"
so ought we both" said Ruth.
Come dear"
lie threw her hand of.
"I'm my own MASTER" he said; "Iu
not tied To any woinan's apron strings
and staggered away again. Ruth fol-
lowing, through the long street, with
every face turned toward them as they
passed-soine langhing. some con-
temptuous, some terrified; out Mt last
upon the wharves, aud there the be-
sotted man sat down more supplied by
the liquor he had swallowed, in that
fresh, cold air.
Ruth was thinly clad the chill of
the night wind seemed to reach her
very heart She thought Of the babe
at home, and tears coursed down her
cheeks. Again and again she pleaded
wi..l the mad man at her side. Again
and again she tried to bring to his mind
some lingering memory of the past
days when his love and protection had
beeL hers. Ia yaiu; wild fancies filled
his brain; demons, born of the fumes
OF strong drink, held possession of his
senses. Sometimes he thrust her from
him; sometimes lie gave her a naudlin
embrace, and bade her bring him more
liquor; but go home he would not.
The hum of the great city died out at
last; all was still with the strange still
ness of a city at night. The frosty
stars twinkled over head. Now and
then a boat passed up the river, with
measured beat and throb. Once, a
rough looking man sauntered past
them on the wharf; but though he
flung her an inSolent word, and yet a
more insolent laugh, and went away
singing more insolently, lie did not ap-
proach them. SO benumbed had Ruth
grown, SO cold to the very heart was
she, that the power of motion had
almost deserted her. when at last, as
the church clock not far away tolled
the hour of four, the degraded man
staggered to his feet and reeled home
ward. She followed feebly; only by