Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-05
The Drunkard's Death.


were sunken, and their sight was dim.
HIS legs trembled beneath his weight.
and a cold shiver ran through every
limb.
And now the long forgotten scenes
Of misspent life crowded thick and fast
upon him. He thought of the time
when he had home-a happy, cheer
full home-and of those who peopled it,
and focked about him then, until the
forms of his elder children seemed to
rise from the grave and stand about him
so plain, so clear and so distinct they
were. thai he could touch and feel them.
Looks that he had long forgotten were
fixed upon him once more; voices lsng
since hushed in death sounded in his
ears like the music ofyillage bells. But
it was only tor an instant. The rain
beat heavily upon him; and cold and
hunger were gnawing at his heart again.
He rose, aud dragged his feeble limbs a
few PAGES further. The street was ST.
lent and empty; the few passengers
who passed by, at the late hour, hur-
ried quickly on, andhis tremulouS voice
was lost IN the violence Of the Storm
Again that heavy chill struck through
his frame. and his blood seemed to
stagnate beneath 1t. He colled himself
up In a projecting doorway, and tried
to sleep.
But sleep had fled from his dull and
Glazed eyes. His mind wandered
strangely, but he was awake and con-
scious. The well.known shout OF drunk
en- mirth sounded in his car, the glass
was at his lips, the board was covered
with choice rich food-they were before
him: he could see them all, he had but
TO reach out his hand, and take them
and, though the illusion was reality 1t
self. he knew that he was sitting alone
in the deserted street, watching the ra in
dreps as they pattered on the stones !;
that death was coming upon him by
inches-and that there were none to
care for Or help him. Suddenly he start
cd IN in the extremity of terror. He
hoor1 his own voice shouting in the
night air. he knew not what or why
IIark! 4 groan another. His senses
were leaving him half-formed and IN
coherent words burst from his lips !;
and his hands sought to tear and lacer-
ate his flesh. lie was going mad and
he shrieGcd for help till his voice failed
him.
He eralsed his head and looked up the
the long dismal street. He recollected
that outcasts like himself condemned
to wander day and night in those dread
ful streets, had sometimes gone dis
tracted with their own loneliness. He
remembered TO have heard many years
before that homeless wretch mad once
hoon found in a solitary corner sharpen
ing a rusty knife to plunge INTO his own
heart, preferring death to that endless
weary. wandering TO and fro. In an
instant his resolve was taken, his LIMBS
received new life he ran quickly from
the spot, and paused not for breath un-
III he reached the river side. lie crep'
softly down the steep stone stairs that
load from the commencement oil wafer
loo Bridge down to the waters lever
he crouched into corner, and held his
breath. as the patrol passed. Never
did prisoners heart throb with the nope
ofliberty and life half so eagerly as did
,ho+ of the wrctched man at the pros
noct Of death. TIE watch passed
close to him, but he remained unoo-
soryod. and after waiting till the sound
Of footsteps had died away in the diS.
tance. he cautiously descended au"
stood beneath the gloomy arch that
forms the landing place from the river
The tide was in, and the water iiowed
et hi. feet The rain had ceased the
wind was lulled and all was, for the
moment. still and quiet-so quiet that
tbe SLIGHTEST sound on the opposite bank
even the ripping of the water agal nst
tho baroes that were moored there, was
distinctly audible to his ear. The stream
stole languidly and slugglshly on
Strange and fantastic forms rose to the
surface, .and bcckoned him to approach :
dark cleaning eyes peered from the
wafer and seemed to mock his heslta-
,ion while hollow murmurs from be-
hind, urged him onward. He retroa'ed
few PAGES, took short run, desper-
ate leap and plunged into the water
Not five seconds had passed when he
rose to the waters surface-but what a
change had taken place IN that snort
fine in all his thoughts and feelings
Iife-life-in any fOrm-poyerty, mis-
orv starvation-anything but DEATH
Io fought and struggled with the water
that closed over his head, and screamed
N ooonies of terror. The curse OF his
own son rang in his ears. The shore
but one foot of dry ground-he could
almost touch the step. One hand's
breadth nearer, and he was saved-bu'
the tide bore him onward, under the
dark arches of the bridge, and he suns
70 tbs bottom. Again he rose an'
e STRUGGLED for life. For, one Instant
Cor one brief instant-the buildings Oh
tbo rivers banks, the lights on The
d bridge through which the current ha'
= horne him, the black water, and thu
n fast flying clouds. were distinctly visible
u once more he sank, ana once agalI
C he rose. Bright flames oil hre sho
III. 90 hoavau and rpelel