Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-26

had plunged head foremost beneath
it's waves from one Of the piers. She
was recovering from a drunken de-
bauch, and had settled so low into the
gulf of despair, that she had deter
mined to rid the world and her family
of respectable children Of her worth
less life. She pleaded with the officer,
with tears and prayers to let her die.
He was inexorable, and conducted
her to the police station. She was
placed in a cell and her eldest daugh-
ter sent for. That dutiful young wo-
man never uttered q word Of blame
when she arrived, but in the tenderest
kindness set about making her mother
comfortable. She removed the wet
garments and replaced the soaked
stockings and Undertaking with her
own. Food was brought from home,
and everything done that could be to
comfort and cheer the poor woman.
The other children came and shed the
fragrance of their love and affection
on the heart of their dcspairing
mother. On the following morning
morning they appeared in tho police
court and became her attorneys in
simple pleas for mitigated punish
ment, which outweighed any defense
that the ablest lawyer could have
made.
Mrs. Creigle was once the wife Of u
prosperous and comfortably situated
man Of business. He died the second
year after the fire, but left the family
provided with good homo and the
means ofsupport which a well-equip-
ned and wcll-stocked grocery store
could furnish. All these were clear
Of debt and furnished good income.
Soon after Mr.. Cpigle's death the
| widow commenced to drink, and be-
came an actual drunkard. Six months
after her husband died child was
born, which has lived till to-day, but
which is physically helpless. The
property was mortgaged from time to
time, as the business in the store de-
clincd through lack Of attention, to
furnish her with the means of dissipa-
ton. At length all the property had
slipped from her, and she became
destitute.
The children were always kind t.
their mother, and did what they coult
to furnish support for the family
| Now the eldest girl, young lady O
twenty -one, and the Oldest boy, two
years younger, have good situations
and, each week, turn in to thei
mother with which she pays rent
buys coal, provisions and clothing fo'
herself and the smaller children. Will
the balance of their wages they sup
port themselves. They dcplore deepl.
the disgraceful conduct Of their onl,
parent, but have endured it for year.
without a murmur or the least indica
ton of wavering affection. They ga,
they never saw a better mother thar
she when she let's liquor alone.
1t is only once in three or fou
weeks that she yields to the overpow
ering temptation to drink, and the1
she INDUCES in u prolonged "spree
of several days. Their cntreatie
have always been in vain, and a
length they had patiently submitte'
to this affection in their otherwis
happy life, and tried to keep her fro'
harm.
The children are all honest an
industrious, and have made the mos
of their narrow resources for improve
ment mentally. They are highly re
spected by the neighbors and deserv
encOmiums for their tilial affectio
such as few others deserve. Th
eldest have occupied themselves j
earning money; the younget in stay
ing faithfully at home. and caring fc
their six-year-old helpless little siste
The family consists Of eight children
r and when it is considered that BIZ
two Of them succeed in turning
c any money for the support of til
whole, the circumstances apprOM
/; nearer to the pitiful.
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A., I.sL.l.....,., 81 LII IL.