“That night I talked with my husband about it.  He thought that there was no danger; that social enjoyment would harm no one; and seemed astonished, to use his own words, ’that such a sensible woman as I was should express any anxiety about the matter.’  That night, to me, was a long and sad one.  I feared the result of the too much dependence on self which he seemed to cherish.

“The rumseller soon gathered a number of townsmen about him.  His establishment became a place of frequent resort by many, and soon we had quarrelling neighbors, and disturbances at night.  Boys became dishonest, and thus the fruits of the iniquitous traffic became visible.

“I noticed that Alfred was not as punctual in his return as formerly; and my fears that he visited this pest-house of the town were soon confirmed.  I hinted to him my suspicions.  He was frank, and freely admitted that he visited the bar-room; said he had become acquainted with a few choice spirits, true friends, who had sworn eternal friendship.  ‘Danger,’ said he, ’there is none!  If I thought I endangered your happiness, I would not visit it again.’  I recollect the moment.  He looked me steadily in the face, and, as he did so, a tear escaped my eye.  He, smiling, wiped it away, promised that when he saw evil he would avoid it, and left me alone to my reflections.

“But I will be brief.  I need not tell you how, step by step, he descended that ladder whose end rested in the grave.  I need not tell you how I warned him of dander; how I entreated him to avoid it; how I watched him in sickness, and bathed his fevered brow; how my heart was gladdened when I saw his health returning, and heard his solemn promise to reform.

“Nor need I tell you how he was again led astray, and his hand encircled that cup which he had once dashed aside.  O, sir, he was a good man; and, in his sober moments, he would weep like a child, as he thought of his situation!  He would come to me and pour out his soul in gratitude for my kindness; and would beg my forgiveness, in the tenderest manner, till his heart became too full for utterance, and his repentance found vent in his tears.

“What could I do but forgive him, as I did a hundred times!

“Disheartened, I became sick.  I was not expected to survive; and Jenny, poor, child, watched by my side, and contracted an illness, from which, I fear, she will not be freed till the God she loves calls her home to himself.

“When I recovered, Alfred remained for some time sober and happy.  But he fell!  Yes, sir; but God knows he tried to stand, and would have done so had not the owner of that groggery, by foul stratagem, hurled him to the ground.  I went, my daughter went, friends went, to ask the destroyer of our happiness to desist; but he turned us away with an oath and a laugh, saying, ‘he would sell to all who wanted.’

“Frequent exposure brought disease; disease brought death, and my husband died.