Phenix Gazette

Vol. V.

ONE WAY TO REFORM A DRUNKEN HUSBAND.

The Western Intelligencer relates the story of a lady in the State of New York, who took the following summary means to avenge the frequent insults and injuries she had received from her drunken partner. She had married him with a fair prospect of enjoying competency and happiness: but in the course of a year he joined himself to a club of merry fellows, and became a toper. She bore his abuse, and even his blows, for a long time, with no other complaint but her tears; but at length her situation became so intolerable, that she resolved on a desperate expedient; and on his return from his usual haunt of dissipation, just drunk enough to leave him strength to beat her, she put her plan in execution. As soon as he was fast asleep, she sewed him up in a sheet with a strong twine, leaving him only a little space to breathe. She then packed up her clothing, dressed her child, saddled a horse, and waited calmly for her husband to awake from his slumbers. At daylight he began to stir, and finding the predicament he was in, poured forth a torrent of curses upon his wife, ordering her to release him instantly. She rose, took down a raw hide which he had often exercised upon her own person, and approaching the bed, with perfect composure, recounted the injuries she had received--the ruin he had brought upon himself and family, the patience with which she had endured her sufferings, and even declared that she then loved him as she did her own life--but she could endure his tyranny no longer--she was going to her father's house, taking nothing but her child and a few articles of clothing: before she went, however, she had a painful account to settle with him. Suspecting her intention, he promised amendment, but she commenced the work of flagellation with all the strength she could exert: he cried for mercy and attempted to extricate himself, but his arms were too firmly pinioned; he rolled from the bed to the floor, but his wife kept the whip moving until she thought she had pretty well repaid his kindness, when she bid him good morning, took up her child, mounted her horse, and rode away. She called at a neighbor's house, made known the situation of her husband, and requested that, at a certain hour he might be released, which was accordingly done. Shame and mortification overpowered his love of drink: he lived soberly for a year, when his wife consented to return to his house, and they have since lived happily and affectionately together, rearing up a numerous and well ordered family.