Year: 1867

The bare mention of such incidents as the fol-
lowing, which we clip from the Virginia Trespdss
are more potent to warn against and prevent in-
temperance than long homilies or brilliant lhar
angues Such incidents are, alas, by no means
rare


ISrEMPERANcE.-We are free to confess that,
until lately, we have not properly realized the
terrible effects of whisky drinking upon the COM
munity at large. Although it has been for years
a conceded fact that intemperance has been, in
directly the cause of seven -eighths of tie crime,
and nncty-nne one hundredths of the pauper-


ism in both America and England, we have new
er been cognizant of its effects in sundering all
the ties of home and affection, until a case
which is but one in n thousand-came under our
personal inspection. While we knew that, daily,
hundreds of men, strong in all but their passion
for drink, abusing, by the use of ardent
spirits, the faculties that God has given them
that women, even, next to the angels, had so re-
sorted to the wine cup to drown domestic troub-
le that mere youths had become early devoted
to the enticing bowl, we never before felt tho
damning effect of inebration as we did upon
reading the following letter from a six months
bride to her hus band, who had sworn to protect
and cherish. but who alas loved the wine cup
better than his beautiful bride. Here 1t Is
read it, We who may scoff at its sentiments; re-
vile its tenderness curse, if you choose, its ap-





to himself or family, but read it:


VIRGINIA, Feb %, 1867.
Dear Charles four days and nights have
l in vain waited for the sound of your footsteps
upon the threshold of our home; for four nights
have ! rendered nightly petition to Almighty
God that YOU would come to see her who loves,
cherishes and respects you above all things ON
earth for four times twenty-four hours have |
| been besieged with anxious fears that you had
again become the victim of your only vice, in
temperance, which you solemnly swore to me


should never again be your besetting sin. To-
! night, as the clock struck twelve, you were as


sisted to your home, and in what condition? :?
| Alas soften the harsh word as woud-drunk


yes, miserably drunk. causedyou to be placed


on your bed rendering you every assistance that


you needed then prayed God to aid me in this,


my great grief; for you knew how dreaded the
! fearful fall of your manhood, for had sworn


las you know full welD that would never be
| the consort of drunkard, and God helping me,
will keep that oath.


l could have given you to death, without
struggle, and been resigned to the will of Him
who doeth all things well. | could have stood
beside you, seen the death shadows creep over
your pale face, watched the purple hues of dis
solution stain your eyelids, seen the gathering
films cloud the blue of your dear eyes, clasped
the hand that grew cold, to my warm grasp, felt
the faltering pulse as it tainted to perfect still
ness, and, after its fitful Pickering had been still
ed forever, have, with these hands, shrouded
your loved form for the grave could have listen
ed to the slow tolling bell, you silent in
death, heard the fall of clods upon your coffin
all, all could have borne, and looked for peace
beyond the grave. But to see the boated coun-
tenance, the bleared eye, the tottering form to
hear the idiotic laugh, the blasphemous curse,
the maudin voice these were worse to me than
DEATH God help you, Charley. May you do
better; be better and may yon be happy, is tho
only prayer of her who, leaving you, loves you
better than life but who can not-no, will not
be drunkard swife. Mary


Reader, this is no fancy sketch, but Incl
dent from life in Virginia. We are cognizant Of
the Details and glad to state that the erring hus-
band has taken q solemn oath to never again
- touch, taste handle the accursed wine cup
upon which assurance the wife of his heart has
again taken him to her bosom. May he keep
sacred his promise.