The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-28
How Woman Saved Her Husband from
Drink,

The August American Magazine con-
| tains remarkable temperance docu-
ment written by wife and entitled
How Saved Ny Husband"
The husband was an able, prosperous
young business man who began to neg
lect his wife and children and spend his
leisure time drinking particularly at
the club. This went ON for number of
years and gradually the man began to
lose his business grip and self-respeCt.
Younger men were placed above him in
his business and he was slowly but GER
tainly going down hill. Finally at half
past one o'clock one morning his wife
confronted him when he came home and
told him frankly that she no longer
loved him and that she positively de-
spised him, She told him calmly that
she had prepared room for him across
the hall from her and that he could no
longer expect to share the home with
her From this point the story goes
on as follows:
"rhe next three days are yet night
mares of horror in my memory. Philip
left the house before breakfast; he came
in late at night and went Immediately
to his own room; he was not in for a
single meal. | saw him only once dur
ing the time-met him on the piazza as
he was going ont in the morning. He
looked ashen and haggard-eyed. II was
all ] could do not to throw my arms
about his neck tell him, in spite of all,
loved him, loved him; beg for even my
old, dishonored place In his heart. But
resolutely l erucihed my yearning-
having staked all. must not stand the
hazard of the deY
There was no sleep those nights for
me. Had ! lostG What was Philip
doing? Was he drinking instead OF eat
ing? almost screamed at the sound of
the doorbell or the telephone. l was
dry-eyed, but such physical weight sat
on my chest that often ] gasped for
breath. realized the feminine truism,
that no matter what a rascal, cad, crimi-
nal husband had proven, it is on.g him
at his best that a wife can see lost.
However faulty held my mind to Phil
ip's failures, my heart mourned its
bridegroom lover and refused to be com
forted. The children added to my an
guish by their insistent inquiries about
their father.
"Those days seemed years. Was my
life to be like thisl
"On the fourth day / answered tele-
phone call.
els this Mrs. Austin? I assented
feebly, all a-tremble. This is Ragsdale
at the Office. Don't be alarmed but
your husband has had slight fainting
attack. No; nothing serious, the doctor
says. just the heat, suspect; he hasn't
seemed himself for several days. Dr.
Murphy and l are bringing him home
"All day ] sat by my husband; he
dozed heavily, and occasionally muttered
words ] could not catch. Once thought
il was my own name. 1t was nearing
night when he aroused
"'You there, Rachel3' he murmured.
For answer l took his hand in both mine
and held it close, silently. There was a
pause before he spoke again; his voice
was weak. Z remember now keeled
over in the office To tell you the truth, |
I've neither eaten nor slept the last !
three days. I feel like I've been beaten
to a pulp I've been finding out that |
you are right about my friends and
and the drinks. Please God wife, it's |
face the-other-way for me from this day |
on, and ii You'll stick to me III win |
hack your respect and love- | was on |
my knees, my arms about him.
"'You have them already, Philip
both' ! cried wildly, while the denied /
tears swept me away on such tide as 4
YOU would never have dreamed one small |
woman could she'd The tears on my
husbands cheek are sacred memories.
chat was three years ago. To-day /
Philip has his partnership, his self
respect, and the truest love of his wife
and children.
"He has since told me that it took up
to the very point of physical exhaustion
to fasten his guilt upon him; that had
weakened he was prepared to make it
up handsomely and go on his way.
True, my reason and my body alike
nearly snapped under the strain, but !
what wife will say the price was not
we'll paid!"