Thus she had gone on for two or three years, at the time she was again introduced, with her mother and sister, to the reader.

As for their father, his whole stock of liquors had been exhausted for nearly two years, and, during that time, he had resorted to many expedients to obtain the potations he so much loved.  Finally, he became so lost to all sense of right or feeling, that he would take money, or anything he could carry off from the house, for the purpose of obtaining liquor.  This system had stripped them of many necessary articles, as well as money, and added very greatly to their distress, as well as embarrassments.

At last, everything that he could take had been taken, and as neither his wife nor daughters would give him any money, his supply of stimulus was cut off, and he became almost mad with the intolerable desire that was burning within him for the fiery poison which had robbed him of rationality and freedom.

“Give me some money!” he said, in an excited tone, to his wife, coming in hurriedly from the street, one day about this time.  His face was dark and red, as if there were a congestion of the blood in the veins of the skin, while his hands trembled, and his whole frame was strongly agitated.  Those who had been familiar with that old man, years before, would hardly have recognized him now, in his old worn and faded garments.

“I have no money for you,” his wife replied.  “You have already stripped us of nearly everything.”

“Buy me some brandy, then.”

“No.  I cannot do that either.  Brandy has cursed you and your family.  Why do you not abandon it for ever?”

“I must have brandy, or die!  Give me something to drink, in the name of heaven!”

The wild look that her husband threw upon her, alarmed Mrs. Graham, and she hesitated no longer, but handed him a small piece of money.  Quick as thought, he turned away and darted from the house.

It was, perhaps, after the lapse of about half an hour that he returned.  He opened the door, when he did so, quietly, and stood looking into the room for a few moments.  Then he turned his head quickly from the right to the left, glancing fearfully behind him once or twice.  In a moment or two afterwards he started forward, with a strong expression of alarm upon his countenance, and seated himself close beside Mrs. Graham, evidently in the hope of receiving her protection from some dreaded evil.

“What is the matter?” quickly exclaimed Mrs. Graham, starting up with a frightened look.

“It is really dreadful!” he said.  “What can it all mean?”

“What is dreadful?” asked his wife, her heart throbbing with an unknown terror.

“There!  Did you ever see such an awful sight?  Ugh!” and he shrunk behind her chair, and covered his eyes with his hands.

“I see nothing, Mr. Graham,” his wife said, after a few moments of hurried thought, in which she began to comprehend the fact that her husband’s mind was wandering.