MARY DRAYDON'S DREAM.

THE dew of youth was wet upon that brow where beauty also had its seat. The husband of her youth was the man of her love and choice. The world, as she thought, was all before her-the bitterness of its frowns having been as yet untasted, and the falsity of its pleasures as yet untried. The young wife rejoiced in the preference she had given to Mr. Draydon. Mr. Draydon rejoiced in the untold treasure he had found in her who had given him that preference; and so full did he find his cup of earthly bliss, that it might be said he knew not it was capable of holding more, until the day that he first smiled upon his infant daughter; and saw, or thought he saw, the image of his lovely wife blended in its infant features. Mr. Draydon's general good conduct, at the same time, so far gained him the confidence and esteem of his employer, that in the course of a few years he raised himself from a subordinate office, and placed himself at the head of his business-which was that of a wine merchant and spirit dealer.

In this situation the affectionate husband had less time to spend with his wife and child-he was also more exposed to company and other convivial habits than formerly; and as these things were quite uncongenial with his feelings, he thought of resigning his new situation. But again he bethought himself, that after getting more intimately acquainted with his customers, he would be less called upon to drink, or to take a glass with them. As a stranger, he felt it necessary to do something to ingratiate himself with them in the first instance; but by and by, he thought, he would be less called upon to do so, in which case his

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new position in society would be less unpleasant. So it was, however, that ere long those habits became less unpleasant to him, whilst his longer hours of absence from his family became less a privation; so much so, indeed, that after a number of years spent in hope and disappointment, in fear and anxiety, on the part of his wife, she began more earnestly to expostulate with him. Charles, my dear, I fear this habit is growing upon you. Can you not give it up altogether ?"

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"Impossible, Mary! Look at the nature of my business, and look at our increasing family. I must do something for you and the children; and if I would promote my employer's interest, I must at least call for a glass with his customers."

Mrs. Draydon was amazed at this; for her husband was not only impoverishing his family, but his employer was at the same time beginning to intimate to him that such habits were quite opposed to his wishes: and she essayed to reason with, and inform Mr. Draydon on these subjects. But it is seldom that logic and love of strong drink dwell together in unity; and the only reply he made to his wife's reasoning was, "that he supposed he must either do as he was doing, or give up his situation."

In after years, when his wife again entreated and besought him,

"O Charles! you were not wont to be so fretful. Drink is souring your temper. Will you not give it

"O yes!" said he, "you are quite fit to sour the temper of any man-always finding fault."

Mary raised her voice;-if not in anger, it was in

conscious innocence.

"Charles! my own-my first-loved Charles," said she, "did I ever see, or say, there was fault or flaw in my husband, except in what proceeded from this one

cause?"

Mr. Draydon merely replied, "that he did not drink for the love of it."

Thus Mrs. Draydon at one time attempted to argue with, and entreat her husband; but speedily it came to

pass, that even such meekness of entreaty was not allowed, and the once beloved wife was happy if she could in any measure pacify her frowning husband on his return from his nightly revels. The term "happy" must, of course, be taken in the most limited sense when applied to a wife in such circumstances; and the shock the humiliation which Mrs. Draydon's delicate feelings and high-toned mind felt in submitting to the grossness of an inebriated husband-cannot obtain admission into this narrative.

Coming home at an earlier hour than usual one day, and addressing his wife,

"No power on earth shall induce me to serve that man another day," said he.

"Serve whom, Charles ?" said his wife, not without a little dismay.

"O Mr.," said he, naming his employer; "and no man of common spirit would serve him."

"But, my dear," said Mrs. Draydon, "what would become of you and your family if you were to give up this situation? You may not, perhaps, meet with another."

"I don't care," said he; "if you have not an independent spirit, I have.”

Mrs. Draydon was of opinion that an independent spirit and poverty are quietest in separate establishments; and she again urged her husband to continue with his present employer.

"Continue!" said he, "who would continue ?-He has had the assurance to tell me I may seek another situation."

This was a fresh shock to Mrs. Draydon's feelings; but being both beloved and respected by all who knew her, she, after much perseverance, and receiving many humiliating hints and rebuffs, the degrading nature of which is only known to the drunkard's wife--the full extent of which is, perhaps, only known to that wife who has a heart to feel, and a soul to soar—at last obtained employment for her husband. It was to deliver parcels, and collect small accounts; and he was only to

be engaged on condition that he abstained from his former habits.

It was therefore with a throbbing heart that Mrs. Draydon waited her husband's return, on the evening of the day on which he entered upon his new employment; and, to her great joy, he came home quite sober.

"I knew it that my husband would one day become a sober man," said she to herself. And much, and largely, did she draw upon her stores of love and ingenuity, in order to make his evening hours pass lightly away. Not that the strength of strong love requires the aid of device; but where the stimulants of strong drink have left their dregs, some unwonted expedients are necessary to purge them away. Where more than natural excitement has done violence to the system, more than natural restoratives is required as an antidote to the evil thus induced.

It was not long, however, that either the aid of device, or the warmth of affection, or the strength of restoratives, or aught that is amiable or lovely in a wife, were availing. Not that fulness of affection were either sealed up or seared; for the blood was yet young and warm at that heart where warmer affections dwelt. Grief had, indeed, left its traces on her brow; yet there was still that expression in her care-worn features, which told of their native loveliness. But beauty is unnoted, youth inspires no sympathy, and affection is a thing of nought with the man of dissipation; for the fumes of the tavern veil beauty from his eyes, and the strength of strong drink binds his affections as with bars of iron that they may not pass through.

So it was with Mr. Draydon; his greatest pleasure was in the public house-the consequence of which was, that he was soon deprived of his new situation. Yet he seemed not to care, so long as money could be obtained at the pawnbroker's for either furniture or apparel. "We cannot, Charles-we really cannot part with that article," his wife would imploringly say, as her husband went relentlessly off with one piece of furniture after another, with the intent of pawning it.

"They may as well go into the pawnbroker's hands as the bailiff's," was all the unfeeling husband replied to his wife's further entreaty or remonstrance; and it was not long until their few remaining articles of furniture were put into the hands of the bailiff.

Mrs. Draydon thought she had the money for her forthcoming rent secure, having concealed it in a place where she supposed her husband would not be likely to discover it; but the drunkard's craving is keen sighted -he spied the treasure, and carried it greedily off to the public house. His wife was at a loss to know where, from day to day, he found supplies for his intemperance; whilst she and her family were almost destitute of the necessaries of life. And what was the amount of her sorrow and disappointment! when, on the day on which her rent was due, she went to the place where her little treasure had been deposited, and found it was gone! The proprietor of their house felt irritated when he heard of Mr. Draydon's conduct, and immediately distrained for the amount of his rent. "Much misery may be told in few words." This circumstance is soon recorded; but who can describe the fears and feelings of the awe-stricken wife and children when the bailiffs entered the house, and took possession of the remaining goods and chattels.

"Are these men going to put us in gaol, mother?" enquired the terrified little Martha, a girl about five or six years of age.

"Are they not going to kill us all?" said Richard, who was two years younger than his sister.

"No, my darlings-they are only going to take our furniture from us," replied their mother.

"And where shall we sleep?-and what shall we sit upon?-and where shall we get a table, on which to take our dinner?" Martha again enquired.

"We don't get no dinner now," said Richard, greatly relieved at the information, that no violent hands were to be laid upon his person; and nothing complaining at the reason assigned, for the dining table had lately become a superfluous piece of furniture.