XUMBEll 3.
1
if
THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
IS PEBLI811ED EVKR-JUtDA , BY.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Tu single Subscribers, 91 50 per annum.
To Clubs of fire, and upwards, $1 each ;
Payable in ell east in advance.
Advertisements inserted at the usual rates.
All Letters to the Editor must be post paid.
(Original 5 apcrs.'
"the liquor traffic,
AS CONNECTED WITH THE VIO
LATION OF TIIE DECALOGUE.
BY A MSTHODIST MINISTER.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.
Thou $halt not kill."
" Onr blow, and life is gone ;
On erasn 'tis over now.
The blood streams fast from the gaping side,
And pallid is the brow ;
The cold dead eyes are staring wide.
Ah S murderer where ait thou 1"
and enter their protest against such an
accusation, declaring that though they
sell ardent spirits, it is with sorrow that
they contemplate the conduct of the
drunkard, or the condition of his family.
This alters not the matter and cannot re
lieve them, because their actions deny
their words.
But let us illustrate this subject farther,
by reference to two instances ; one re
corded in the book of God, and the other
of frequent occurrence in our country.
The instance to which I would first direct
your attention, is recorded in the 1 1th
Chapter of II Samuel. We are told that
David sent Joab and his servants to fight
against the children of Ammon, but he
tarried at Jerusalem. " And it came to
pass,in an eventide, that David arose from
off his bed, and walked upon the roof of
the king s houie , and there he saw a wo
man, with whom he became enamor-
ed, even to a grossly criminal extent
But she was the wife of another man
and how should he secure her as his wife?
The woman's husband was with Joab
on the battle-field. David sent for Uriah,
and after detaining hiin at Jerusalem for
a while, sent him back to the army with
a letter lrom the king to Joab. What was
the import of that letter? Why, that
Joab should put Uriah in the forepart of
the hottest battle, that there might be the
greatest proabihty that he would be kill
ed. His obiect was accomplished ; and
Uriah fell, as a brave man, fighting for
mm who desired bis wile, and was will
ing that he should lose his life, in order
to gratify that desire. After the death of
Uriah, David took Bathsheba to his own
house. Soon after this sad and disgrace'
ful occurrence, God sent his Prophet
Nathan, untoDavid, and he declared these
words unto him : " There were two men
in one City, the one rich and the other
poor, 1 be rich man bad exceeding ma
ny flocks, but the poor man had nothing,
save one little ewe lamb, which he had
brought and nourished up ; and it grew
up together with bim and witb bis chil
dren : it did eat of his own meat, and
drank of his own cup, and lay in his own
bosom, and was onto him as a daughter.
And there came a traveler unto the rich
man, and he spared to take of his own
flock and of his own herd, to dress for the
wayfaring man that was come unto him,
but took the poor man's lamb and dress
ed it for the man that was come to him.
And David's anger was greatly kindled
against the man, and be said to Nathan,
As the Lord liveth, the man that hath
done this thing shall surely die, and he
shall restore the lamb fourfold, because
he did this thin?, and because he had no
pity. And Nathan said unto David
Thou art the man." And now Nathan,
after recounting God's goodness to him,
said, " Wberelore hast thou despised the
what purpose, I knew not at the time, and
we saw him no more till the cars had pass
ed us. then we saw him arise to bis feet from
the track, with his right arm most horribly
mangled. He was intoxicated, and in at
tempting to get on the cars, made a misstep,
and fell under the wheel with his arm across
the track, which was crushed at the elbow to
atoms. We saw him with streaming blood,
the mangled limb shaking by bis side, and
with bitter lamentations, as he ran back to
the house at which he had secured the ac
cursed beverage. I saw the proprietor stan
ding at the door, when the young man en
tered his yard, and instead ot taking him in
to his house, and kindly administering to his
relief, so far as he might have been able, he
peremptorily torbade his entrance, and com
pelled him to remain in the yard, bleeding
and crying that he was ruined. At this
ing curse abroad in the land, withering the !
prospects, and consuming the lives of his fel
low men ; and sending thousands yearly to
their graves, and to hell. O, listen to the
voice that comes up from the drunken mur
derer's grave.and that of his murdered family
and friends, in dolorous notes : ' ' Thou shall
not kill."
Men of distinguished character, deci
ded talent and possessing a very exten
sive knowledge of theology, define mur
der to be something more than an un
provoked, and direct attack upon one's
person, whereby he is deprived of life.
A most excellent writer and theologian,
uses the following language, with refer
ence to the sixth commandment Be
sides the direct act of murder, every
thine that leads to it, or has a tendency
to endanger life, is to be considered as
forbidden. AU unkind and harsh treat
ment towards servants, dependants and
brute animals, by which life may be shor
tened or rendered intolerable all furi
cas and revengeful passions which may
dead to acts of violence all quarrelling
and fighting, either for bets, or the grat
ification of hatred or revenge all wish
es for the death of others, and all con
trivances either direct or indirect to com-
-pass the destruction of our neighbor
ail criminal negligence by which onr
own life or the life of others may be en
dangered or destroyed and all those
actions by which murder may be com
mitted as a probable effect, as the burn
ing of inhabited bouses, and the throw
ing of the instruments of death into the
midst of a crowd are to be regarded as
involving the principle of murder, as
well as the direct acts of suicide, duel
ing and assassination.
Perhaps the above view of the subject
will nnf mAAt with a virv wMmme re
ception ; but it is sustained by the law of commandment of the Lord to do evil in
find. Now St. Paul nses this language : his s'gnl ? Thou hast killed Uriah, the
"Whosoever hateth bis brother, is a Hittite, with the sword, and hast taken
ftninBKa." Is not hatred the parent " wife to be thy wife, and hast slain
f ill thnse acts and disoositions. refer- ma with the sword of the children of
edtoin the above quoted remarks? I Ammon."
Evidently love can have nothing to do J Now, it is evident from the divine record.
with them. Suppose I and my family I that David wanted Uriah's wife, and the most
were in a housr, and a distant part ol that successful way to get her, was to let him suf-
noose were to take fire, and amend were fer death by tlio hand of the Ammonites
to warn me of my danger, but at the
another individual
CHAPTER VIII.
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.
Thou shalt not commit adultery!
"But chief she lores the scenes of deep de-
oaucn,
When revelry, and dance, and frantic song
Disturbed the sleep of honest men. And where
The drunkard sat, she entered in, well pleased,
vvun eye orimiuli ol wanton mirihtulness,
And urged nun still to nil another cup."
' This commandment is to be viewed as
time I rode up, and told them that it was comprehending withii its prohibition, every
snameiui conduct and that they ought to species ot lewdness, 'jotti in word, thought
take care or him. Alter a while they sent ana action : as adultery, fornication, mcest.
him home in an old cart. I felt indignant polygamy, &c., and alio all those licentious
at such cold hearted inhumanity. But is 1 desires and affections trom which such ne-
not una an instance ol ordinary character, t uons proceed, in this comprehensive sen-:e
when compared with other instances connec- it is explained by our baviour, in his sermon
ted with the traffic? The othor instance to on the Mount, and by the Apostles, intiieir
which I referred as of frequent occurrence, letters to the Christian Churches. As the
is this. Many lives have been lost on our Saviour and his apostles arc refered to m
waters by steamboat explosions ; and they the abovo remarks, we will quote their lan-
trequenuy occur through negligence, and in guage upon ttie subiect. bays Christ : l e
all such cases, is not the Captain or proprie-1 have heard that it was said by them of old
tor of the boat in the eye of the civil law, a time, "Thou shalt not commit adultery: But
murderer l Are not Captains of steamboats 1 1 say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a
otten arraigned and tried before the bar of woman to lust alter her, hath committed a-
theircountrv.for nctrlect in such cason ? Sun- dultrv alreadv with he.r in his heart. K:iv
pose the Uaptain of a boat puts on more raul : iow the works of the flush aro man-
steam than is allowed, or than the boder can ltest.whichare these : Adultery, fornication
bear, and an explosion takes place, is he not unclcanness, lascivousness. Peter speak:
held as a murderer, even in the absence of as follows : Having eyes full of adultery, that
civu law i woum ne not oe con.svo.ered as cannot cease irom sin; Beguiling unstable
such, even liquor uealcrs " themselves being souls. We add one more quotation from
judges?" Even if his passengers in an ex- Paul. Be not deceived; neither fornic.-i-
cited moment, should request him to force tors, nor idolaters, nor caenunate, shall iu.
ma boat, he is by no means relieved. 1 have I nent the kingdom ot uod.
no doubt but liquor venders have condemn- The law of chastity is one which shoul
ed the course of such men frequently, as be held sacred ; and one to which all should
murucrers. oelt interest almost in variably aanere wim me moat scrupulous tenacity ;
prompts such men, on our seas and mere, I tor trie indulgence ot a simple unehast'
and they ought to be held accountable.
Now is the relation which liquor dealers sus
tain to the sixth commandment, less criminal
than m the case of those men referred to
above ? Certainly not. Are thev not neg-
man, is subjected to the mortification, of ac
knowleding to the negro who performs the
neancst drudfrery. and who is sunken into the
lepths of degradation and ignorance, as his
half brother, through the iiillucnce of a drun
ken father, made so by the rumseller ?
Ijo, stand beside tuat miserable croup m
the Tavern bar-room, or grog shop ; listen
to their conversation, is it chaste and useful .'
By no means ; but there is poured forth au
offjsion, full and abundant, of most licen
tious sentiments, and every one seems am
bitious to exceed his fellow, iu concocting
vulture-like schemes; and relating foul and
loathsome incidents. 1 here is a stench em
ulating and going forth, from such an asso
ciation, mot contaminating in its nature.
VV ho can doubt this '! And does not the li
quor vender, to all intents, contribute to the
violation of the seventh commandment V Is
it not violated in thought, deed and word '!
This is beyond contradiction. Who can de
ny but the path from the grog shop, and
tavern to the house of ill-fame, is a dcatcn
track 1 The young man is bound to pare
this track, till he is deluged in woe und
shame. O ! what a miserable connection
between these two houses. As hard as the
vender may struggle to got out of thi pol
luted predicament, yet it were all ineffectu
al, except by giving up the accursed traffic.
Ahen you find a community, a' '.dieted to
habits at war with this precept, it is there
you find drunkenness prevailing, and of
course the tavern and grog shop greatly pat
ronized. The free use of ardent snirits and
the commission of the sin forbidden by this
commandment, in a great many if not with
but few exceptions ; go hand in hand. Is it
not the frequent occasion of gross seduction?
Behold fair virtue prostrate and bleeding.
speak to her, and with piteous cries she
points toiler decoiver; turn to him, and he
imin-;di.-.teiy points you to the tavern bar
room, and grog Miop. ho can deny tins V
And lias the traffic no connection with such
inhuman deeds 1 O ! how deep ami dark
mo sr.uns or pollution made uivin man s
ii
came time, anotner individual were 10
tell me tbat there was no danger ; or c
ven keep silence, but attbesame time, be
feeding the flame with some combustible
substance, tbat he might get the old iron
and rubbish of the building, after it shall
hare been consumed : were I, and my
family thus to fill a fiery grave, would
not that man be considered as my ene
my : Tea. farther, would he not be con
sidered as my murderer ? Has not the
tenement of many a mortal taken fire,
and has not that flame been fed by the
liquor dealer? And for what ? The lit
tle trash he may have, or may leave be
hind when he is consumed. How can
the liquor vender indulge any other
thought, than that his daily employment
is of a murderous character? The word
of God is the rule by which to determine
the quality of a moral action ; therefore
if he is condemned thereby as a murder
er, he must abide it.
This subject maybe viewed in a two
fold light ; he deals in a liquid by which
tnen are killed ; and men when under
the influence of that liquid, commit mur
der. We shall endeavor to present the
subject to you in this light, in its further
prosecution, which involves the vender
pf spirituous liquors, directly and indi
rectly. It is too evident, that Alcohol
possesses no nourishing ingredient, it is
never digested. The testimony of a host
Pi Medical men declare that alcohol is i
poison, and when taken into the stom
ach, tends to destroy life. He then, who
lor the sake of gain, panders to the ap
petites of men, by giving them this poi
on, acts with no kind reference to the
life of bis fellow creatures; but must be
looked upon as greatly contributing to his
death. See that liquor dealer, as is of-
wn ine case, as he sells his pernicious
fluid to the half dead drunkard while he
.I"" that hU fami,y are destitute of
the most ordinary comforts of life. What
does this indicate ? Docs he not evince
a strong disposition to seize thefewxop
pers in the trembling ,a r .v.
inebriate whether 1.?, or his family live
oroier wen may consider makr.i.
impure thought, may lead to tl.3 most ag
gravated violation of the seventn command
ment; the most ucgrad ing results. This we
presume no one will doubt. Knowing the
pauperism, confusion, contention, miserv.
lectful and indifferent, respecting the life of I and blood shed, which is pronounced by the
the poor inebriate r lea, docs he not sell violation of the law ot chastity, does it not
him the very poison by which he is depri-! become every virtuous man, and good
ved of his IifeT 1 he only difference be- citizen, to detest the very idea of having any
tween the destructive conduct of the propri- connexion with this prominent sin of our
etor of a steamboat, and the proprietor of a country. And yet wo are compelled to ad-
iiquor estaoiisnment, is this, one hurries in mn, inatinero is a very intimate connexion
moment, a multitude into eternity, and existing between the traihe in ardent spirits
the other drags a multitude of unhappy and this abominable sin. By alluding to
creatures for a number of years through the this subject, I may subject myself to the
streets of the city of vice and woe ; and then charge ot imprudence and indelicacy ; but
buries them in the potter's field. With re- this a feature of the trafiie, that I do not now
terence to the violation of the Bixth com- remember to have seen set fortii ; its horrid
mandment, I would say to the liquor deal- deformity ought to exhibited to the gnze of
eras Nathan said to David: thou art the the world, to the confusion and oendiiima-
man. tion of all concerned. If the fact alluded
Not only is the trafficcr connected direct- to above actually exists, then I should prove
ly, but indirectly, with the violation of this recreant to the high trust committed to mo,
precept of the moral law. what 1 mean by were 1 not to expose it,
moral nature : and bow has the fair name of
nature been blasted and withered to ruin
and infamy, by tho unfeeling practice of li
quor dealing.
Look abroad upon onr land and see what
a host of iliejfitimaio children ; and are not
tuo indolent, reckless, lawless, peace-disturbing
part of the community, constituted
from this class of beiwrs '! And what an
expense to the country are such characters,
and how do such retard the progress of our
country in knowledge, virtue and useful
ness. Trace this polluted stream in all its
meamienngs, arid you will Und its source m
the traffic of ardent spirits. O ! how un
fortunate the occupation of that man, who is
engaged in preparing his fellow man for low,
. I' -I.. u-t r. i
aim viie inu:iig?nee. w nat a Uoj-provo-
King, Koiu-t!i;gr:;ding avocation. J
d"aler, you 1
loor to door.
then of course all would think that he fell as
many had done before. But notwithstand
ing he was at Jerusalem when Uriah died,
et, m the sight of uod, he was a murderer,
fliis he admitted, before he discovered that
Nathan's remarks were applicable to him.
Jow, I ask, does the liquor dealer sustain
a less criminal relation to the Sixth Com
mandment, than David ? It is true the ven
der may not want the wife of the drunkard :
but Ids money is the Bathsheba which he so
much desires, and he is aware that the only
....... : 1 i -. i
raj pwuit ii. in vu supply mm witn poison.
ine nqnor dealer lusts to such an extent af
ter his Bathsheba, that he is willing the drun
kard should drink even to death. Uriah
was slain by the sword of the Ammonites.
but trod charged David with the murder.
The drunkard falls groanine and dyine, by
the Bword of liquid vengeance, and will not
uod charge bun, the vender, with the mur
der? Who can doubt it? The rumseller
may say, that he docs not coerce men, that
they drink because they will. In cither did
Uavid compel the Ammonites to slay Uriah
but he knew that they would do it ; and by
that means he could get his wife. The ven
der of spirituous liquors know that men will
drink, and that it is a means by which he
can get their money. JJavid was glad ot an
opportunity of placing Uriah in a situation
that would deprive him of life ; that he
might gain his wife. Tho liquor vender
dare not deny, but that he is delighted when
his shop or bar room is hlled with custom
ers : because he can empty their pockets,
and enlarge the dimensions of his coffers.
Despite of all that he may say of his love.
for, and adherence to the principle ot hu
manity, yet is it not clear, that lie is per
fectly .willing, that men should die from
drunkenness, if he can advance his pe
cuniary interest thereby ?
I will relate tho following incident which
came under my own observation. A few
years ago, while travelling beside the Rail
lload, running through a section of country.
I discovered a train of cars in the distance
rapidly approaching. Just before me there
was a drinking establishment, and as the
cars came bearing down with speed, I saw
a young man run out from the d inking
house towards the rapidly moving train, for
this assertion is, that they deal out to their
fellow men a beverage, under the influence
of which, they are induced to commit mur
der in the most horrid form. Paracide, fra
tricide, infanticide, and homicide ; all, all
have grown out of the traffic in ardent spir
its. A drink is administered by the vender
to his fellow mortal, by which he is made al
most a. demon incarnate, and wite, children
father, mother, friend, have fallen under the
death dealing stroke of his arm, and at his
feet lay weltering in their blood. Go to
your Court Houses, and behold that pale,
miserable, haggard person, as he stands at
the bar ot his country gaze upon him as he
is compelled to listen to the rehearsal of his
bloody deeds, committed during a fit of drun
kenness, and ask how came he there. Go
to the gloomy prison, and behold its unhap
py inmates, awaiting the day of their execu
tion, and ask the cause ot their wretchedness
and woe. Go to tho spot of execution, and
behold that doomed culprit, and ask him
why he stands beneath the disgraceful gal
lows ; and all will freely acknowledge, that
it was through the influence of the traffic,
that they wero degraded and rumed. Ah,
there comes up a voice from beneath the mis
erable gallows, in sepulchral tones, 1 attri
bute my most unfortunate, and intensely de
graded end, to tho use of intoxicating li
quors ; but 1 was deluded ; the bar room,
tne grog snop nas ruined me. W hen 1 en
tered the vender's establishment, and placed
the sparkliug beverage to my lips, with an
unsuspecting heart, twas then, i got upon
the stream which glided away slowly ; and
might then have been resisted ; but soon
ah, very soon, I was borne off with rapid,
and accelerated velocity, and now 1 am a
bout to plunge the gulph of death, and will
soon be furiously dashed against the rocks,
that he concealed under its awtully agitated
bosom, and must float an eternal wreck up
on the boundless ocean ot hre.
0, Liquor Dealer, have you not caused
yonr fellow mortal to drink deep, when in
drinking, he has been the murderer ot those
whom he loved ? 'Tis unnecessary to refer
to prisons, poor houses, which have been
hlled by the murderous acts ot drunkards.
Enough has been said to show, that the ven
der of ardent spirits, is guilty of a violation
of this item of the divine law. Iu conclu
sion, let me entreat the merciless traffieer, to
reflect upon those murderous scenes which
have resulted from his daily business. Let
him remember that he is a'attcring a buxn-
iuor
ad better beg your bread trom
than to be the lirst to move in '
she put some'night clothes, and delioacies
in a basket, and went directly to tlm ho
tel. The poor girl was delirious, and in
a burning fever. Lucy had the doctor
sent for, and having made the poor girl
comfortable, tor she was laying in a trav
elling dress, she sat down beside hei.
The doctor was from home, and Lucv
done such things as her experience war
ranted, lor the relief of the sullerer.
Early in the morning the doctor arrived,
and as an eruption began to appear, he
declared the girl had the small-pox. Lucy
was very much distressed, as none of her
family had ever had the disease ; but
the doctor said be would inoculate them
all directly, and provide nuises so that
the disease should not spread. Lucy
went home very sorrowful. Every pre
caution was taken, but the fears of the
family were increased by the death of
the poor lone girl, occasioned as the
doctor declared, by exposure, during the
primary fever of the disease. The day
the stranger was hurried, Lucy Lee took
to her bed. Notice of the state of af
fairs was sent to Mr. Bailey, that he
might not expose himself by calling at
the house, during the season of infection.
Lucy was very sick, for several da)' de
lirious, and covered with eruption. Oth
er members of the family suffered severe
ly from inoculation, but the good doctor,
and the nurses, weie indefatigable, and
after a few days they were all couv ales-
cent.
When Lucy was able lo open her eyes,
and set up a little she got a view of
herself in a mirror and was terribly
shocked at her swollen and discolored
face and person. But the doctor as
sured her that the discolorations would
soon disappear, and that she would not
be badly marked. She was glad to hear
this, for her lover's sake, who she thought
would be grieved to see her badly dis
figured. But she was happy to believe
that her own and her family's health
would be re-established, so that there
need be no disappointment in Bailey's
arrangement. The simple girl earnest
ly returned thanks to heaven that she
was spared, for his sake, as during her
illness, the thought of his sorrow far his
loss, had been the most of her fears.
As soon as all danger of infection
was over, Mr. Bailev hastened to visit
his betrothed. But when he saw her
weak and emaciated, her hair gone, and
her head covered with a close cap, her
face swollen in spots and blotched with
purple, he shrunk from the lean, spotted
hand she extended toward him, sank
back upon a sofa, and gave way to tears.
Lucy was surprised. His emotion
might have been sympathy for what sho
had undergone, but there was notender-
ness in it.
There is no danger, I assure you, she
Awed by mortal frown, shall I
Conceal the word of tiod most high.'
How then before thee shall 1 dare
To stand, or how thine anger bear?
Shall I to soothe the unholy throng.
Soften thy truth, and smooth my tongue?
No ! We will try to tell you the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth :
.1 ... Till 1 . . -
men we snau ue clear m ine matter, rvow
I mean to assert, that the immediate, direct
and unwavering tendency of liquor vend
ing, is to prepare man for the violation of
this precept, in the grossest forms. When
the unfortunate man receives the fatal draught
at the hand of the vender, by which he be
comes intoxicated, is he not in a situation
to give unrestrained indulgence to his pas
sions ine poisonous draught that is dealt
out to him, divests him of judgment, and de
thrones reason ; and when these aro gone,
what has he left, by which to be governed ;
by which to control his sensual nature.
Hence, men have violated the seventh com
mandment when intoxicated, in the mo:-t a
bominable and desicstable manner ; and
when judgement has regained its position,
and reason ascended the throne, the remem
brance of their wickedness, has come upon
them like a mighty torrent, well nigh over
whelming them. I do not mean to say, that
this precept would never be violated, if men
did not traffic in ardent spirits, or become
intoxicated, any moro than they would break
every other precept of the moral law ; but I
mean to say, that tho instances would be
comparatively few. There aro men who, per
haps, would shudder at the thought of com
mitting such a crime when sober, but under
the deranging influence ot ardent spirits, un
hesitatingly yield ; he would be borne away
in the absence of reason, by the fiery stream
of passion, into this sin, in the most despi
cable shape. Instances have occured, in
which the intoxicated father, with demon
like purpose has sought to blast the spotless
virtue of his daughter. Who can suppose
tbat, that lather, when sober, would have in
dulged such a beastly, devilish purpose ?
No, he would have turned from the thought
as soon as from the mouth of the death-dealing
cannon. The liquor dealer's beverage
transformed the kind father into a hellish
fiend ; and the man into a hog. The liquor
business has sent forth a most pernicious, de
moralizing, and degrading influence. Many
a foul blot, and abominable stigma, has been
entailed upon the innocent tor generations
How many a genteel and talented young
inhin- vour fellow to s.-, W in tl.n ,.,... a'd and oilered to take his hand, tie
i f beitvr -, j t,i tu, (,n i l.x-. l ti. I,,-,.)., recoiled with a shudder, exclaiming.
O! how vastly low does he ston, in
mg himsolf with so much williugne:
progenitor of so much vile corruption ? O '.
brute. , .57
1 lend-1 1 touc" me' cannot recognize in
s tin- b'ou- the object of my affection. Oh I it
stop, reflect, and aid no longer in spreading
adultery over our happy land.
(To 1h continued.)
i-uiun.u inn -i iirwrssrim
cChairc ICtahirf.
A WOMAN'S RliVBK GB.
BY LYP1 A J. PIERS0X.
Lucy Lee was a very sweet and inno
cent village girl, handsome, modest and
Kinu neaiieu. vv nen sne was seven-
were better to have died, than to live
such a wreck of all loveliness. I am ut
terly bereaved. I cannot marry you,
as you are now. I would give the world
had I not seen you. Good bye, Lucy,
I shall die if I remain in your presence,
Forgive me. I am more unhappy than
you can be. And he hurried out of the
house and departed.
For a while Lucy sat utterly confoun
ded. She had never supposed the mar
ring of her beauty could excite any oth
er feeling than tender pity, in his bosom.
He had exhibited utter loathing. At
teen years old, she became acquainted ! 'irs' se co"'1' no' comprehend her mis-
wilh a young man, the son of a wealthy
merchant, in a neighboring city, of whom
Mr. Lee's family were iu the habit of
purchasing their groceries. The ac
quaintance did not speedily ripen into
love. Lucy did not think of marriage.
She was very happy at home, and had
no wish to leave the dear ones there, for
a home amongst strangers. After awhile
it became cvidentthat Alfred l?ailey ad
mired lieranuch; and she learned to pre
fer his society.
In two years they were decided lov
ers. Lucy's young heart had been all
this time reaching out its tendril?, and
takftig hold of his apparent excellency
and affection until now there was no way
to disregard them, but to tear them asun
der. She wondered how it could be
possible that love could have grown up
on ner nature, strong enough to draw her
from her father's house, with all its old
associations and holy affections. Yet
when Mr. Baity asked her to become his
wile and forsake all for him, she had no
course to refuse him. So they were
plighted, and the lover gave his bride el
ect, many splendid articles of dress and
ornaments, so that all her young com
panions envieuVher happy lot. But Lucy
was sad when she thought ot going lrom
her dear friends, relying on the sole pro
tection of one who was comparatively a
stranger. In three months the mintage
was to be solemnized, and Mr. liaily was
finishing and furnishing a handsome
house, in the city, for he was acting part
ner in his father's business. At this time
Lucy heard that a poor girl had come to
the village, in the stage, but loo ill to
proceed had been left at the tavern,
where she was lying, without friends er
money. I will go and see her, Lucy said,
peihaps 1 can t sometinc for her. So
fortune, her brain seemed bewildered
and dreamy , but at last the truth began
to appear distinctly before her. AU the
scenes, from her first acquaintance with
bim, passed in review. She saw all his
apparent excellencies, and all his affec
tionate words and actions.
She remembered every link in tne
magic chain that had bound her soul to.
him. She reviewed all the hopes of the
last year ; and saw them wrecked around,
herself a wreck. A cry of the most in
tense agony escaped her, and she fell up
on the floor just as her mother, summon
ed by her voice, entered the room. The
doctor was called and soon concluded
that something dreadful had occured be
tweeu her and Mr. Bailey.
Thirteen hours she remained without
sense or motion, and then she revived,
but her reason had departed. Very piti
ful it was to see her, with her meek pale
face and wasted form, lamenting for the
death of her lover and parents. For
tho' she knew them sometimes, she was
haunted with the belief that her father
and mother had died of small pox. 1
Bailey she insisted had fullen dead at her
feet.
And so she would weep, and sing
mournful songs, in a low broken voice.
And then she would pray for strength
and resignation.
In the meantime Mr. Bailey was
drawn into a hasty marriage with a dash
ing young widow, who came as a visitor,
to stay awhile with a family in the city.
She was one of those women, who, with
out being handsome or amiable, attract
by a certain polished boldness of man
ner, and dazzle men they cannot answer
why. People accounted for the ill-advised
marriage, by repeating a rurpor
that tince his desertion of poor Lucy he-