The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-09-24
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could be called, became starless, my
heart petrified. But, sir, you will
find it all, and more, in the bottle
of tears. I need not tell you of the
next few sorrow-laden years, and the
coming of the second girl; of the
fight of luxury, of the desertion of
friends; of the absence Of visitors;
of the curtailing of expenses and en-
forced economy, in order to meet
your liquor claims; of the loss of my
health; of other efforts to keep the
wolf from the dodor; of the times
I have fed, by night, with fright
ened children, from rum-crazed
husband and father; Of a cheer
less hearthstone; of a bare table,
and the birth of the third child,
in the midst of the squalor, to which
only drunkard's home is familiar;
of my vain efforts to keep the chill
dren clothed and fed; of the deeper
depth into which you pulled my, now
helpless, husband. One night there
was such pain in my heart that
cried out. It awoke Mary, who came
to me and asked what the matter
was. told her that was in so much
pain, that I must be dying-that she
would have to take mammals place
and care for papa and little sisters
that papa was a hopeless drunkard,
and that she would soon be the only
bread winner. You will find in the
bottle of tears, how we spent that
night, Mary and I, in praying and
planning; how little Mary took her
seat at dawn, in the doorway, and
watched for her papa's return, how
with the rising of the sun, he came
staggering up the once flower-bord-
cred, now weed-infested, road, how
Mary ran down, threw her arms
about her father and said-O, my
papa! Our. mama came near to
death last night. She said I would
have to care for you and little sisters,
too. o, my sweet papa, you won't
drink any more, will you? With an
oath, which might become demon,
he raised his strong arm, and slapped
the child-a blow that sent her to
the gravelled walk, and left her
bleeding and weeping, while he came
on to curse and beat me. But you
can read it all, sir, in the bottle OF
tears, the only thing I had in my
own name and right to leave you, as
a reminder of what the possessions
have cost.
Only three mornings ago four OF
your obedient henchmen bore my
precious husband home to me, at
break Of day, and laid him dead on
the floor, and hurried back, I sup
pose, to the gambling table, ovel
which your victim had just been shot.
1 found some friendly negroes to dig
the grave-in what I thought was
my garden, and we laid him down
under his favorite apple tree.
thought to put flowers there in the
summer and shells in winter, and
teach my girls of how noble he was
before he fell into your clutches. But
it seems buried him in your garden
and under your apple tree! Indeed
he was laid on your floor. 1t is
marked with your victims blood
After some kind colored friends help
ed me to shroud him, and while
sitting up with his precious remains
that night, I tried to wash out the
stains of blood, thinking I could not
bear to look at it and walk over 1t
But it turns out that it is your floor
on which he who gave you his vast
property, his manhood, his family
his very soul, found cooling board
You will find it all, sir, in the bottle
of tears. You order me to vacate.
obey. When you read this note
will be on my way, down the road
east. I take that route, only be-
cause it leads me away from you and
your den of destruction. I don't
know where I, with my three girls
will spend the night. But one thing
promise you. Whatever there Is IN
a widows wall, or an orphans cry
If there really be God, we will meet
you at His judgment bar-there to
tell, and the truth to say, as to how
you came by this home, which we
now leave. You will find it all, sir
in the bottle of tears"