Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-02-11
The Drunkards Death.
m cHAELEs DICKENS.

At last, one bitter night, he sunk
down or the door step, faint and III.
The premature decayof vice and pro-
feacy had worn him to the bone. -
His cheeks were hollow and livid; his
eyes were sunken, and their sight wa
dim. His legs trembled beneath his
weight, and cold SILVER ran through
every limb.
And now the long forgotten scenes
Of a misspent fife crowded thick and
fast upon him. He thought Of the
time when he had home--a happy,
cheerful homeland 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, that
he could touch and feel them. Looks
that he had long forgotten were fixed
upon him once more; voices long
since hushed in death, sounded in his
ears like the music of viIIagebell. -
But it is only for an instant. The
rain beat heavily upon him; and cold
and hunger were gnawing at his heart
again. He rose, and dragged his
feeble limbs few PAGES further. The
streets were silent and empty; the few
passengers who passed by, at that late
hour, hurried quickly on, and his
tremulous voice was lost in the VIC.
lcncc of the storm. Again that heavy
chill struck through his frame, and
the blood seemed to stagnate beneath
It. He coilcd himself up in pro-
jccted door way, and tried to sleep.
But sleep had fled from his dull and
blazcd eyes. His mind wandered
strangely, but he was awake and con-
scious. The well known shout Of
drunken mirth sounded in his ear, the
glass was at his lips, the board was
covered with choice rich food--they
were befoc him; he could see them
all, he had but to reach out his hand
and take them ard, though the il.
hsion was reality itself, he Knew that
he was sitting alone in the deserted
street, watching the rain drops as they
battered Oh the stones; that death was
coming upon him by inches--and
that there were none to care for or
help him. Suddenly he started up in
the extremity Of terror. He heard
his own voice shouting in the night
air, he knew not what or why. Harkl
A groan l-anotbrr ! His senses were
leaving him; half formed and incohe.
rent words burst from his lips; and his
hands sought TO tear and lacerate t,is
flesh. He was goins mad, nd he
s. Tor " E...p til his vc' &C failed
IAN.
lie raj ed his h"Gu and looked up
the LONE dismal street. He recollect-
III thAt outcarS like himself, con-
dc.ned to w4nder day and night in
those dreadful streets, had sometimes
gone distracted with their own loneli
ness. He remembered to have heard
many years before that homeless
wretch had once been found in q
solitary corner sharpening a rusty
knife to plunge into his own heart,
preferring death to that endless, wea-
ry, wandering to and fro. In an in
slant his resolve was taken, his limbs
received new life; he ran quickly from
the spot, and paused not for breath
until he had reached the river side. -
He crept softly down the steep stone
stairs that led from the commence
ment of Waterloo Bridge down to .ht
waters level. He crouched into q
corner, and held his breath, as The
patrol passed Never did prisoners
heart throb with the hope Of libert,
and life half so eagerly as did that Of
the wretched man ut the prospect o.
death. The watch passed close tc
him, but he remained unobScrved
and after waiting till the sound o
footsteps had died away in the dis
lance, he cautiously descended ant
stood beneath the gloomy arch thai
forms the landing place from the
river.
The tide was in, and the water flow
ed at his feet, The rain had ceased
the wind was iulled and all was, fol
the moment, still and quiet--so quieI
that the slightest sound on the oppo-
site bank, even the ripping OF The
water against the barges that were
moored there, was distinctly audible
to his ear The stream stole languid'
ly and sluggiShly on. Strange and
fantastic forms rose to the surface, and
beckoned him to approach dark
cleaning eyes peered from the water,
and seemed to mock his hesitation,
while hollow murmurS from behind,
urged him onward. PIE rctrcated a
few PAGES, took n short run, q desper-
ate leap and plunged into the water,
Not five seconds had passed when
he rose to the waters surlace--but
what change had taken place in that
short time in all his thoughts and
feelings Liie--.life--n any form,
poverty, misery, starvation anything
but death. And he fought and strug.
glcd with the water that closed ovei
his head, and screamed IN agonies Of
terror. The curse Of his own son rang
in his eays. The shore--bui one fool