My Mother's Gold Ring

GOLD RING. 13 to remember the anguish I felt, when the constable took him to jail, upon the dram-seller’s execution. Till that moment, I did not believe, that my affection could have survived, under the pressure of that misery, which he had brought upon us all. I put up such things, of the little that remained to us, as I thought might be of use, and turned my back upon a spot, where I had been very happy and very wretched. Our five little children followed, weeping bitterly. The jail was situated in the next town. “ Oh George,” said J, “if you had only signed the pledge, it would not have come to this.” He sighed, and said nothing; and we walked nearly a mile, in perfect silence. As we were leaving the village, we encountered our Clergyman, going forth upon his morning ride. When I reflected, that a few words from him would Lave induced my poor husband to sign the pledge, and that, if lie had done so, he might have been the kind father and the affectionate husband that he once was, I own, it cost me wme considerable effort to suppress my emo­

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