The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
THE DRUNKARD'S DEATH.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

Is there any man who has mixed much
with society, or whose avocations have
caused him to mingle, at one time or
other, with q great number of people,
who cannot call to mind the time when some
shabby, miserable wretch in rags and filth,
who shuf1ies past him now in all the squalor
of disease and poverty, was a respectable
tradesman, or clerk, or a man following some
thriving pursuit, with good prospects? Alas
such cases are of too frequent occurrencesto be
rare items in any mans experience; and but
too often arise from one cauSe-drunkenness-
that fierce rage for the slow. sure poison. that
oVersteps every other consideration; that casts
aside wife, children, friends, happiness, and
station and hurries its victims madly on to
DEGRADATION and death,
Such a man as this once stood by the bedside
of his dying wife, while his children knelt
around and mingled low bursts of grief with
their innocet prayers. The room was scantily
and meanly furnished and it need but a glance
at the pale form from which the light of life
was fast passing away, to know that grief, and
want, and anxious care, had been busy at the
heart for many weary year An elderly wo-
man, with her face bathed in tears, was sup
porting the head of the dying woman-her
daughter-on her arm. But it was not to-
wards her that the wan face was turned; it
was not her hand that the cold and trembling
fingers clasped; they pressed the husbands
arm the eyes so soon to be closed in death
rested on his face, and the man shook beneath
their gaze. His dress was slovenly and disor-
dered, his face intlamed, his eyes bloodshot
and heavy. He had been summoned from
some wild debauch TO the bed OF sorrow and
death.
A shaded lamp by the bedside cast dim
Hight on the figures around. and left the re-
mainder of the room in thick, deep shadow.
The silence of night prevailed without the
house. and the stiffness of death was in the
chamber. A watch hung over the mantle
shelf lifts low ticking was the only sound that
broke the profound quiet, but it was solemn
one for well they knew, who heard it, that be-
fore it had recorded the passing of another
hour it would beat the knel of departed
spirit.
1t is dreadful thing to wait and watch for
the approach of DEATH to know that hope is
gone. and recovery impossible; and to sit and
count the dreary hours through long, lor@
nights--such nights as only watchers by the
bed of sickness know. 1t chills the blood to
hear the dearest secrets of the heart--the
pent-up, hidden secrets OF many years-pour-
ed forth by the unconscious, helpless being be-
fore you, and to think how little the reserve
and cunning Of a whole life will avail, when
fever and delirium tear off the mask at last.
But no such rawlings were to be heard at the
bedside by which the children knelt. Their
half-sti1ed sobs and means alone broke the
silence of the lonely chamber. And when at
last the mothers grasp relaxed, and turning
one look from the children to the father, she
V0lDly StTONS 10 SPEAK, dnN lclt bdth0dEu Oh
the pillow, all was so calm and tranquil that
she seemed to sink to sleep. They leaned
over her; they called upon her name, softly at
first and then in the loud and piercing tones
of desperation. But there was no reply. They
listened for her breath, but no sound came.
They felt for the palpitation of the heart, but
no faint throb responded to the touch. That
heart was broken, and she was dead
The busbad sunk into a chair by the bed
SIDE and clasped his hands upon his burning
forehead. He gazed from child to child, but
when weeping eye met his, he quailed be-
meath its look. No word OF comfort was
whispered in his ear, no look Of kindness
ljghted on his face. All shrunk from and
avoided him; and when at last he staggered
from thH room, no one sought to follow or
console the widower.
Tho time had been when many a friend
would have crowded round him in his affiic-
ton and many heartfelt coincidence would
have met him in his grief. Where were they
now? One by one, friends, relations the COM
mon acquaintance even, had fallen off from
and deserted the drunkard. His wife alone
had chung to him in good and evil, in sickness
and poverty; and how had he rewarded her?
He had reeled from the tavern to her bedside
in time to see her die.
Herushed from the house and walked swiftly
through the streets. Remorse, fear, shame,
all crowded on his mind. Stupetied with
drink and bewildered with the scene he had
lust witnessed he re-entered tho tavern he
had Quilted shortly before. Glass succeeded
glass. His blood mounted, and his brain
Thirled round. Death Everyone must die,
and why not she. She was too good for him
her relations had often told hin so. Curses
Oh theml Had they not deserted ner, and
left her to whine away the time at
home? Weli-she was dead and happy per
haps. 1t was better as IL was. Another
glass one more! Hurrah! 1t was a merry
life while it lasted; and he would make the
most of it.
Time went on the three children who
4 i Lit
no longer. The father remained the same
poorer, shabbier, and more dissolute-looking,
but the same confirmed and irreclaimable
drunkaTd. The boys had long ago run wild in
the streets, and left him; the girl alone re-
manned, but she worked hard, and words or
blows could always procure him something for
The tavern, So lie went on IN the old course,
and merry life he led.
Ono night, as early as ten o'clock-for the
girl had been sick for many days and there was
consequently, little TO spend at the public
house-he bent his steps homeward, be-thiuk-
ing himself that if he would have her able to
Darn money, it would be as well 10 apply 10
the parish surgeon, or, at all events, to take
the trouble Of inguirng what allied her, which
he had not yet thought it worth willie TO do.
Il was wet December night the wind blew
.p!ercing cold, and tho rain poured heavily
down He begged q few halipence from a
passer-by, and having bought a small loaf Tor
II was his interest to keep the girl alive, ii he
oould) he shuilied ouwards us fast as the wind
and rain would let him.
. Tic alley into which he turned, might, Tor
flth and misery, have competed with the
darke,t corner Of this ancient sanctuary in It's
dirticst and most lawlcss time.
The windows were patched with paper,
and stuffed with the f1uicst rags; the doors
Sere falling from their hinges; poles with
zines on which 90 dry clothes oiected from
eycry cascmeu', and md VI QuIuellirg ID
drunkenness issued from every room.
Tho ufnu whom WrNdre followed INTO filf
don, walked Ou 10 iuo uarkutss, sometimes
stumbling into tie main gutter, and al other'
Into some branch repositories Of garbage which
had been formed ny the "a y, until he reached
Tho last h0re3 m the court
slIe wa 1.lliua step ottwO u his room d00i
sghtn q ,peuel, and O. 4lri, wlosa mlaera5ll
aud cmaciated Appearance was only ~ BE- equal
I'd BE- TINT vi tie candle which she shaded Will
Der hand, poepsd aaIiously cat