The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-25

them both; they were pass onata, gu ck
tempered, but forgiving when the heat nf
anger passed awsy, and they loved each
other sol As usual that eventful night
sat in my night-dress beside the win
dow il was IL o'clock when laid my head
YEARLY on the sill, it was later than
usual for them, but was not uneasy !;
perhaps the game was more interest
ing than it commonly was, or they
might have met new friends or any
thing else; indeed | could think of
dozen things that might have made
them late.
lie was nearly 10 o'clock, when l could
see a crowd down the street, in the dim
shadows ere they came into the moon
light; no thought of harm entered my
mind, when they came into the mooa
light | could see neither Girls nor
Charlie.
There were seven or eight men
together; they seemed to be carrying
something or some one. Watched them
in'ently and when they came close
under my window | heard some one ask: +:
"Who will tell his wifeF'
A ring at the door. | went down stairs
and opened it; they were standing on
euC steps ~ hhs ufidS uay VIII IChscih
Der how the moonlight shone clearly and
brightly on the blood stained burden
they bore; never can | forget the eyes
of my husband, once such beautiful
blue, now glaring, sightless eyes that
would recognize me no more.
Never again will / receive the fond
embrace and loving kiss of my idol-he
is dead-oh heavenl stabbed to death
in bar room! Oh, saiosn keeper-you
who caused it-can you imagine my
feelings as | sat beside the rigid form of
my husband during the long, long
dreary hours that followed?
AS ] kissed again and egain the
purple lips and disfgured face, and held
the cold, cold hands In mine, only
God knows the intense agony of those
hours spent with ~ y dead husband! Oh
If only could have died! B 1T death
does not come when we call for it, and
so | lived as Others live in our land To
day, a drunkard's widow, with desc
late aching heart and loving a drunk
ards name and drunkard's grave ten
thousand times better than my own life
1t was several days before learned the
horrible truth that nay only brother had
killed my husband in a drunken fight
over game of cards.
Years have passed away. / am all
alone in the world. Father and mother
sleep beside their parents in another
State. Charlie, when he sleeps at al,
sleeps in a murderer's cell he WAS tried,
condemned and sentenced to ninety
nine years in the State prison.
often visit Charlie. he is all have to
love now, and do not think he can live
much longer; he cannot even remember
the game of cards on that fatal night
when the curse of liquor blotted all the
brightness out of our lives forever.
These are the words he repeats every
time we meet:
"Poor little sister, you are weak, | know,
but with all the strength you have, fight
against the sale of intoxicating liquors ;
Over half the men in these walls were
put here by drink.
'Our lives are ruined; save Others if
you can.
l will try to obey him; am weak,
but will do all the good | can.
do not see how men can read my
story, then look in my face and tell me
they still advocate the sale of liquor.
think if saloon keepers could realize
the suffering and death they cause, they
would close their saloons and go to some
upright. honorable business that would
be blessing instead of curse to their
fellow beings.
Jackson, Nov. g. 1885.