The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1877-11-13

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vines Struggling over the porch in un-
trimmed confusion. I knocked and a
little girl about eight years Of age, one
Of the twins, / conjectured, opened the
door, and when l asked for MIR. aud
Mrs Henderson, asked me with a grave,
old.fashioncd air, to "walk ip." Then,
turning to small urchin who was star
ing at me with his fathers big blue eyes,
she said -
Run, Harry, tell mamma gentleman
is here"
An order obeyed as soon as lie had
seen my coat tails disappear in the
room into which | was ushcred.
There / found the other twin walk.
ing quickly about the room, und singing
heartily to sickly looking baby in her
arms. She sat down when / entered,
and began dancing the fretful child on
her knee. l soon found from her pratt
Ting that she was Rosy" and that
"Gracey" was cutting her teeth, and
Susy was net able to come and take
her, as mamma was busy. Presently
mamma" came in, looking flushed and
worried. She recognized me at once,
though I should never have known this
care worn. middle-aged woman to be
tho same blooming, happy young ma
trou whom l had met only six summers
before. We talked a little about my
travels, and she spoke Of her children,
talking fast and nervously, and avoid.
ing, thought, her husbands name.
When inquired for him she colored
painfully, and said
"IIe is out, but may soon come
home"
saw something was wrong, and SO,
after an half hours visit, Fred not re-
turning, 1 took my leave. As walked
back to the town, I saw Fred standing,
smoking, at the door Of a liquor shop.
lie came out and shook hands, then
after talking awhile, invited me to "go
in and have glass of brandy" l de-
clincd, and, sn,ing that he had already
been drinking, his Dyes looking heavy
and bloodshot, left him with sad
heart at the change in his once bright,
open face. NV friend Harper was abb
sent, and, having nothing to keep me
in Exmouth, left next day, and again
heard nothing of Fred Henderson until
business again called me to the cid town
of Exmouth. / was the guest of Harper,
and, as we walked about, noting the
improvements and changes which had
taken place since l was there four
years previous, we passed the cottage
where | had seen Henderson amid his
happy family. l stopped, saying as I
did so,-
"Ah, I am glad to find the place look
ing so trim and cosy. l was afraid from
appearances last tina was here, that
Fred was going to the bad. Come, let
us give him call"
Harper took my arm and walked
quickly on, saying,-
"No. Tom, you won't find Henderson
there. Poor fellow. His is a sad tale.
You know how talented he was at col
lege, bearing OF prizes without seeming
to study half 90 hard as We poor, dull
wretcbes, and yet how jovial aud jolly
he was. After leaving college, ard 90.
ing through the course of lazy studies,
he was admitted to the bar and came
to Exmouth to practice. Here he fell
in love with Alice Morton. Her parents
had bnt ono objection to him; that was
his rather unsteady habits lie was
very fond Of Alice, and for the love of
her would do almost anything; so, as
jus. ut that time there was a great tenn
pcrance movement, he became one Of
the most Jealous members Of their So
ciety, and prom inent in all matters con-
uected with it. He was powerful lee.
turcr for SO young man, and never
serned weary Of speaking on that sub
ject. Alice encouraged him by her in-
terest in the matter, aud by attending
the public meetings. lie seemed to
have quite left of his bad habits His
business was Hourishing. and he was
considered a coed lawyer. So. after
a years probation, they were married,
with bright prospect of happiness.
"For time nll went on well; but,
after a while, the novelty of being a
temperance orator w"re of, Old com
panions offered him wine, aud jccred at
his refusal to drink it. When, for va
rious reasons, the society was broken
up, and Fred, feeling himself at liberty
again, fell into tho habit Of taking
glass of wine or brandy wherever he
net friend; still his wife had inAur
ence enough to keep him from excess.
When you saw him ten years ngo
he was doing good business. Soon
after he began to neglect it, and then
fell into debt. No one would trust i'm
portant cases in the hands cf ap intem-
pcrate man. Then they had to give
up the pretty cottage home and 20 to
live with her father. He still had his
Office, but very soon had to give that up
also. Old friends, for old acquaintance
sake, gave him some convcyancing bus
ness, but his mistakes were 50 frequent
that the papers We useless. Nav,
what little he earns goes for drink His
wife aud children are dependent on her
father, who is an old man, and poor
himself. Sho suffered in silence so long,
from anxiety and poverty, that her
health is broken, and she is unable To
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