Hill to be opened in the town, and the manager knowing that I had a good voice and sung pretty well, thought my comic singing would constitute an attraction; so he engaged me to give songs every evening, and to assist in the general business of the Diorama. In this occupation I continued about three weeks or a month, and when the exhibition closed in Newburyport, by invitation, I remained with the proprietor and proceeded with him to Lowell. As it was uncertain when I should return, the manager wishing me to travel with him, I sold off what few articles of furniture yet remained in my possession, and my wife arranged to stay, during my absence, with her sister. I stayed in the town of Lowell for the space of three months, my habits of intemperance increasing, as might be expected, for in a wandering life my outbreaks were not so much noticed as when I was residing at home. As had been the case often before, rum claimed nearly all my attention, and consequently the business I was called upon to perform was entirely neglected or carelessly attended to. On several occasions when I repaired to the place where the Diorama was exhibited, I was in such a state that I could do nothing required of me, and severe were the rebukes I received in consequence from my employer. These remarks incensed me highly, and only made me drink more, so that ere long my name and that of an incorrigible drunkard were synonymous. We next proceeded to Worcester, and there remained a fortnight. I experienced great difficulty in procuring the meagre salary which was promised me, and many priva tions had I to endure in consequence; my stock of wearing apparel was scanty enough, and hardly fit to appear in the street. This was in the month of October, and as the winter was drawing on fast, I miserably contemplated what

my situation would be through the approaching severe season. Want and cold appeared before me in all their frightful realities, and I again resolved to abstain from the maddening influences which governed me with despotic rule.

I sent to my wife, requesting her to return, and transmitted her three dollars, for her expenses to Worcester, being the first money I had sent to her for four months, except five dollars which I received as part of the proceeds of a concert I gave at Lowell. I adhered, in a great measure, to my resolution not to become intoxicated, and had written to my wife, telling her of my determination to reform. On the day I expected her to return home, I met with an acquaintance, who asked me to stroll about with him, in order that he might see the town. We drank together; and our walk ended by my getting drunk, and forgetting the good resolutions which I had made. In the evening, when I was reeling along from the hotel towards the exhibition, I chanced to see a stage, and approached it, in order to see if my wife was there. She had arrived; and I took her with me to the hotel, where she discovered I had been drinking, and when she reminded me of the promise I had made her to abandon the destructive habit, I felt thoroughly ashamed of my weakness. I then went to the performance, and managed to get through my work. Soon after this, I quitted the service of the proprietor of the Diorama; and, putting as sober a face upon matters as I could, I applied to Messrs. Hutchinson and Crosby for employment. These gentlemen agreed to take me on trial, stating that, if they were satisfied with my work, they would engage me. My work was approved of; and, once more installed in a good situation, I had a chance of pushing my fortune.

My wife now began to exhibit symptoms of declining health, and my prospects as before were none of the brightest. I managed to keep my situation, and fancied that my intemperate habits were known only to myself, as I carefully avoided any open or flagrant violation of propriety, — but drunkenness, more than any other vice, cannot long be hidden. It seems as if the very walls whispered it; and there is scarcely an action of the drinking man which does not betray him. I did not, however, long remain cautious; for one morning, after having drank freely the evening before, I felt unable to work, and was compelled to remain at home during that day and the next. All my property, which I could by any means render available, I had disposed of, in order to procure money for purchasing drink; and the man in whose house I boarded, having watched my proceedings with a very vigilant and interested eye, became, I suppose, fearful that I should not be able to pay for my board, and informed my employers, Messrs. Hutchinson and Crosby, that I was detained at home in consequence of what is called a drunken spree. I do not think the information was given from any motive of kindness towards myself, but believe it was a selfish motive which prompted the interference.

I felt wretched enough when I proceeded to the shop to resume my work. Mr. Hutchinson was a man of great moral purity of character, but he had a strong hatred of intemperance, and looked not very lightly on my transgression. As soon as he saw me, he sternly informed me that he did not want any men in his employ who were in the habit of being the worse for liquor; and threatened me with instant dismissal, should I ever again neglect my business for the bottle. I assured him that he should not again have occasion to complain of my inebriety, and I inwardly resolv

ed to profit by the warning I had received. Having & sick wife, and being almost utterly destitute of means, reflection would force itself upon me. I was startled at the idea of her and myself coming to want, entirely in consequence of my evil habit, and I resolved again to attempt the work of reformation.

In order to render myself less liable to temptation, and to avoid the dissipated society which I was constantly falling into at the hotel, where I lived, I left it, and engaged board at the house of a gentleman, who happened to be the president of a temperance society. Here I attempted to restrain my appetite for drink, but the struggle was terrible; so mighty a power would not be conquered without contesting every inch of his dominion; and I, trusting to my own strength, assailed it with but a feeble weapon. I felt as if I could not do without the draughts which I had been so long accustomed to, and yet I was ashamed to display the weakness which prompted me to indulge in them. To procure liquor, I was compelled to resort to every kind of stratagem, and the services of my inventive faculties were in constant requisition. Many a time would I steal out, when no one noticed me, and proceed, with a bottle in my pocket, to the farthest extremity of the town, where I would purchase a supply of rum, which I would take home with me. Оссаsionally I would procure spirit at the apothecary's shop, alleging, as an excuse, that it was required in a case of sickness; and the pint I would generally divide into three portions, one of which I took in the morning, another at noon, and the remainder I disposed of in the evening. My habits were not naturally of a deceptive character, and I always felt degraded in my own esteem, whenever I had occasion to resort to the expedients I have mentioned,— but what will not a drunkard do, in order to procure the

My wife now began to exhibit symptoms of declining health, and my prospects as before were none of the brightest. I managed to keep my situation, and fancied that my intemperate habits were known only to myself, as I carefully avoided any open or flagrant violation of propriety, — but drunkenness, more than any other vice, cannot long be hidden. It seems as if the very walls whispered it; and there is scarcely an action of the drinking man which does not betray him. I did not, however, long remain cautious; for one morning, after having drank freely the evening before, I felt unable to work, and was compelled to remain at home during that day and the next. All my property, which I could by any means render available, I had disposed of, in order to procure money for purchasing drink; and the man in whose house I boarded, having watched my proceedings with a very vigilant and interested eye, became, I suppose, fearful that I should not be able to pay for my board, and informed my employers, Messrs. Hutchinson and Crosby, that I was detained at home in consequence of what is called a drunken spree. I do not think the information was given from any motive of kindness towards myself, but believe it was a selfish motive which prompted the interference.

I felt wretched enough when I proceeded to the shop to resume my work. Mr. Hutchinson was a man of great moral purity of character, but he had a strong hatred of intemperance, and looked not very lightly on my transgression. As soon as he saw me, he sternly informed me that he did not want any men in his employ who were in the habit of being the worse for liquor; and threatened me with instant dismissal, should I ever again neglect my business for the bottle. I assured him that he should not again have occasion to complain of my inebriety, and I inwardly resolv