Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-01
Under the AUSPICES Of The Good TempIars
Extract from a Letter Written by Jane
WEIGH Carlyle.


AT present have rather heavy bur-
den on my shoulders, the guarding of
human being from the perdition OF
strong liquors. My poor little Helen
has been gradually getting more and
more into the habit OF tipping, until,
some fortnight ago, she rushed down
into fit OF the most decided drunken
ness that l ever happened to witness.
Figure the head OF the mystic school,
and a delicate female like myself, up
till after three III the morning, trying
to get the maddened creature to bed;not
daring to leave her at large for fear she
should set fire to the house or cut her
own throat. Finally we got her bolted
into the kitchen, in corner OF which
she had established herself all coiled up
and fuffing like young tiger about to
spring, or like the Bride of Hammer
moor Gf you ever heard OF that pro-
fame book.) Next day she looked black
with shame and despair; and the next
following, overcome by her tears and
promises and self-upraiding / forgave
her again, very much to my own sur
prise. About half an hour after this
forgiveness had been accorded, 1 called
her to make me some batter; it was long
OF coming, and | rang the bell; no an
swer. / went down to the kitchen, to
see the meaning of all this delay, and
the meaning was very clear, my peni-
tent was lying on the floor, dead-drunk,
with a chair upset beside her, and in
the midst Of perfect chaos OF dirty
dishes and fragn ents OF broken crock
cry; the whole scene was lively cpl
tome of place that shall be nameless.
And this happened at ten in the morn
ingl All that day she remained lying
on the floor nsible, or occasionally
sitting up like little bundle of dirt,
executing sort of WINNER; we could
not imagine how she came to be so long
in SOLDERING; but it turned out she had
whole bottle of whisky hidden within
reach, to which she crawled till it Was
finished throughout the day.
After this, OF course, | was deter
mined that she should leave. My friends
here setto work with all their zeal to find
me servant; and very promising
young woman came to stay with me till
a permanent character should turn up.
This last scene "transpired" on the
Wednesday; on the Monday she was to
sail for Kirkcaldy. All the interven-
ing days, / held out against her place,
her tears, her despair; but l suffered
terribly, for / am really much attached
to the poor rech, who has no fault I'M
der heaven but this one. On the Sun.
day night called her up to a pay her
her wages, and to inquire into her fu-
ture prospects. Her future prospects
it was enough to break anybodys heart
to hear how she talked OF them. Ii
was all over for her on this earth
plainly, if l drove her away from me
who alone have any influence with her
Beside me, she would struggle; away
from me, there was no possibility OF re-
sisting what she had come to regard as
her fate. You may guess the sequel
! forgave her third time, and last
time, ] could not deny her this one
more chance. The creature is so good
otherwise. Since then she has abstained
from drink, / believe in every shape
finding abstinence, like old Samue
Johnson, easier than temperance; but
how long she may be strong enough tc
preserve in this rigid course, in which
lies her only strength, God knows.
am not very sanguine, meanwhile fee
as if had adopted child, find il
necessary to take such incessant charge
of her, bodily and mentally; and my
own body and soul generally keep me
in work enough without any additiona
reponsibili