Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-31
The Story Of One WOman's Wrongs.


The following story is narrated by we'll
known lecturer as one that had been told
him by an aged woman, in the same words,
as nearly as may be, in which he gives it,
and is published in The Church and Home
Illustrated: al was married young, too
young-Oh, that was the terrible mistake of
my life. My husband determined to go
west. l must leave my home. Father was
drunkard, mother an invalid, with large
family younger than myself about her.
Many time | had stood between her and
an Infatuated father maddened with liquor.
Oh, those were sad days, from which 1t is
not to be wondered at If | longed to escape.
The day came for parting. My dear invalid
mother chung to me in passionate flood of
tears and 1t seemed as if she could not let
me go. | knew | never should see her
again. oh, that last scene in my fathers
family 1t is present with me to-day-those
sad, despairing looks OF my gentle mother
the unrestrained grief which filled the room
with sobs and cries from my dear little
brothers and sisters. The end came, and as
journeyed to my western home it seemed to
me that no heavier sorrow could ever befall
me. We bought tract of land on the
banks OF small river, put it under heavy
mortgage for our purse was light, and be-
our home, and we were gaining slowly, when
the demon which had made all my life thus
far miserable came on again in hot pursuit.
My husband, in his visits to a neighboring
city Tor market, was ensnared by designing
men. was too well skilled in reading even
the smallest signs OF the presence OF alcohol
not TO marx the beginning oil my husbands
rum. pleaded with him. told him the
history oil my father. lie promised, but 1t
is the Old story have to tell Meantime
our Oldest cnlld was stricken with lever;
we hung breathlessly over MIN Tor seven
Gays ana nights, ana then at sunset one
evenlng-wnile crimson glory hlled the
west-our little one was taken In the I'M
seen army OF angels ana carried 10 tne
BOSOM Oh the father, ANA as we stood
above the white lace OF the dead and g. zed
lnto the calm ana painless features oil our
hrst-oorn, once so pain.distorted, l. asked
my husband solemnly TO pledge himself
never to touch, taste or handle the accursed
poison. lie promised and the star OF hope
shone IN the rayless darkness Oh thls great
sorrow year passed and the star sank
10 rise no MORE Late IN autumn, while my
husband was revenng IN drunken orgies IN
the Guy, terrible STORM arose. the river
overhowed lts banks, and In the morning
scene terriDle enough 10 appal tne stoutest
heart burst upon my vlew' Inc waters
were threatening TO carry away our little
house every moment, and we must flee Tor
our lives. upon boards and logs we tried
to float, but one by one saw the helpless
little dears cast white and frightened look at
me, utter cry of despair, and sink beneath
the waves. l escaped with babe upon my
bosom. When the father became sober enough
to comprehend the situation he uttered a
groan of despair, and from that time forth
yielded himself entirely to his appetite for
strong drink, and In le So than three months
died in drunken hit. AT each OF these
blows l thought l knew what sorrow was /;
still deeper revelation awaited me. After
my husband died the land was wrested from
me by fraud, and was alone with my babe
in the world. cannot tell you what fear
full struggle had to supply our daily wants.
Oh, those were years OF loneliness, poverty,
want, toll and suffering L would bear till
my heart seemed bursting, then an uncon-
trollable flood OF tears would restore me to
calmness. determined, by the help of God,
that my son should not follow the footsteps
of his father and grandfather. If | could
leave him no dowry OF wealth, would leave
him my OWN untarnished name and those
godly principles. OF truth and soberness
which should make man OF him. lie was
bright and respectful, and promised to tie
the fulfillment OF the fondest mothers ex-
pectations. But necessity compelled me to
bind him over as an apprentice to man
knew little OIL but VINO held out iiatterln
inducements: soon found out my sad
mistake. win MS other WORK he Kept
bar. MY son objected to tending bar; l
had filled his soul with mortal hatred to
the traffic, tearing lest II did not tortify
his principles, inherited tendencies to drink
might destroy him. On IL was demon to
whom had committed my SON. lie used
brute violence to make him tend that bar
My boy would come home some nlghts-he
had to run away TO do lt-and show me
great blue marks across his back, and he