The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-08-21


worn, and not even the most meagre
comforts OF life were 10 be found
within its squalid interior.
} The dying wife, with two daughters
of the respective ages Of three ana
fourteen years, comprised the half
starved and otherwise neglected fam
fly of Enoch GOldwait. The half-naked
children were wailing out their misery
and grief at their mothers bedside,
for she had just acquainted Ruth, the
elder. with the startling fact that the
dreaded moment in which she must
leave them 10 the cold mercies OF the
world was now rapidly approaching.
Enoch Goldwait was stretched out
npon the bare boards in drunken
stupor. n quart bottle half filed with
whisky within easy reach Of him. He
was snoring heavily, his face purple
and bloated, and his whole appear
ance betokened a most miserable ana
degraded wretch. But in the midst
of his besetting sin Enoch GOldwait
was not without some redeeming quail
ties.
treat his family either by word or
blow, but through his inordinate love
for strong drink was led to neglect
them in n most shameful and unpar-
donable manner. To use trite phrase,
rum had mastered him"-had got the
complete upper hand Of him. III 1t was
10 be but one thing, either drink for
90
would have taken the drink, though he
saw the gaunt figure Of starvation
staring his sick wife and hungry chill
dren in the face.
He knew that his wife was failing
daily. and that the physician who at
tended her as n matter OF humanity,
not pay-to his praise be il spoken
encouraged no hopes Of her recovery;
and yet 10 his stupefied senses II could
only appear that she must ever con
tinue the drudge and martyr she had
been. He could not seem TO realize
the possibility Of her dying, or the
still more startling reality that il was
himself who was killing her.
He had once loved her truly and
earnestly, and would still were not all
his senses blunted or paralyzed by the
poison. But now, as he lay out
stretched upon the bare boards. bl0at-
ed and beastly. and odorous with the
disgusting efiluvia OF vile rum, he
looked, az he really was. besotted
brute; and yet this man had been
blessed by nature in the beginning with
more than average intellect,
For some minutes the dying woman
had been lying quite still ana calm,
scarcely seeming 10 notice the heart
rending grief Of the children, when
she suddenly aroused herself from the
temporary state Of apathy into which
she had fallen, end said;
Ruth, darling, wake your father.
I must not die without making one last
effort TO reclaim him. when ! first
knew him no truer or more loyal heart
over beat in the breast OF man; but,
alas! the accursed rum has deadoned
all it's finer impulses"
Ruth the older daughter, went hast
lily, and shook her father somewhat
roughly by the shoulder before she
could arouse him. At length he raised
himself on his elbow. and his blood
shot eyes wandered vacantly for n
moment around ihe desolate room, He
then reached for his bottle, exclaiming,
as he did so:
"Whats-hic-up? Nobody hurt-I
guess not"
"Hushv said Ruth tearfully. 81
fear poor mother is dying, and she
wishes to talk with you Don't drink
again. papa-at least not now-it VIII
only stupefy you; you won't remember
what she says"
Without needing the child's appeal
or the sad means of the heartbroken
wife, he drew ont the cork with an
unsteady hand. and took deep
draught Of the fiery poison.
Its victuals and drink. Rutby," he
said staggering 10 his feet and ap-
preaching the bed. What's the mat
Ter, Susie-hic? Amt the neighbors
brought in nothing?"
1T is not of the neighbors' kindness
or neglect that | would now speak
said Susie Goldwait. in n feeble hut
earnest voice 1T is OF you, Enoch,
and the wretched end you are surely
coming TO unless you abandon that
which has brutalized and will destroy
you body ana soul. | have always
been q good and true wife 10 you; al
ways willing 10 take my share and
much more than my share, of the bur
den"
"Hic ] know it, Susie. You're n
nice old gal; but what the deuce is
up?" interrupted the inebriate, with n
maudlin attempt TO make light of the
wife's solemn warning.
I'm the last five years have drudCed
myself to death for you and the chill
dren, and rum-accursed rum-has
been the whole cause Of it. / do not
mention IL 10 censure you for the past,
or waste further words about what
might have been. But il is Of the
future that / would now speak; for
am dying. can already feel the
touch of death upon me"
"Tell you amt going TO die tall,
Susie" interrupted the slightly startled
inebriate, stubbornly. "Tell you-hic
no such thing! Live fif-years longer,
bet sweet life on IT,"
"No, Enoch. / shall not last till the
midnight hour-I know. / feel t.. but
Il am too weak TO discuss the point
longer. / want you TO be a sober man,
Enock, so that our children will have
some one beside strangers TO look after
them, and provide for them when / am