and lawyers whose names were prominent in the early history of our
country.

General Abercrombie while a young man had fallen into the vice of the
army, and had acquired the habit of drinking.

The effects of alcohol are various. On some they are seen in the
bloated flesh and reddened eyes. Others grow pale, and their skin takes
on a dead and ashen hue. With some the whole nervous system becomes
shattered; while with others organic derangements, gout, rheumatism and
kindred evils attend the assimilation of this poison.

Quite as varied are the moral and mental effects of alcoholic
disturbance. Some are mild and weak inebriates, growing passive or
stupid in their cups. Others become excited, talkative and intrusive;
others good-natured and merry; not a few coarse, arbitrary, brutal and
unfeeling; and some jealous, savage and fiend-like.

Of the last-named class was General Abercrombie. When sober, a kinder,
gentler or more considerate man toward his wife could hardly be found;
but when intoxicated, he was half a fiend, and seemed to take a
devilish delight in tormenting her. It had been no uncommon thing for
him to point a loaded pistol at her heart, and threaten to shoot her
dead if she moved or cried out; to hold a razor at his own throat, or
place the keen edge, close to hers; to open a window at midnight and
threaten to fling himself to the ground, or to drag her across the
floor, swearing that they should take the leap together.

For years the wretched wife had borne all this, and worse if possible,
hiding her dreadful secret as best she could, and doing all in her
power to hold her husband, for whom she retained a strong attachment,
away from temptation. Friends who only half suspected the truth
wondered that Time was so aggressive, taking the flash and merriment
out of her beautiful eyes, the color and fullness from her cheeks, the
smiles from her lips and the glossy, blackness from her hair.

"Mrs. Abercrombie is such a wreck," one would say on meeting her after
a few years. "I would hardly have known her; and she doesn't look at
all happy."

"I wonder if the general drinks as hard as ever?" would in all
probability be replied to this remark, followed by the response:

"I was not aware that he was a hard drinker. He doesn't look like it."

"No, you would not suspect so much; but I am sorry to say that he has
very little control over his appetite."

At which a stronger surprise would be expressed.